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The Black Tower by Louis Bayard
The Black Tower is set in Paris in 1881 and is narrated by Hector Carpentier, whose name is found on a note in a murdered man's pocket. This initially makes him a suspect in the eyes of famed Parisian Detective Eugene Vidocq. Vidocq soon clears Hector of suspicion and enlists his aid to unravel the mystery which seems to relate to the dauphin, son of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. The dauphin, though, supposedly died after being imprisoned in the Temple, Paris's black tower. They must solve the mystery while avoiding those who don't want the truth uncovered, and when they discover a man whey think might be the dauphin, they must protect him too. Louis Bayard's novel has received positive reviews with BookPage saying, "In his previous novels, Bayard has had the courage to keep the ending honest - as in life, not every loose end is left neatly tied. The Black Tower is no exception, and it includes a final twist that will leave even the closest of readers flipping back through the pages to find clues they've overlooked. A perfectly balanced blend of compelling characters, elegant writing and spellbinding plot, The Black Tower will keep fans of historical fiction riveted."
