Blood Royal

A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris

By: Eric Jager

Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois

A riveting true story of murder and detection in 15th-century Paris, by one of the most brilliant medievalists of his generation.

On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer -- and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

A rich portrait of a distant world, Blood Royal is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.

Critic reviews

Praise for THE LAST DUEL:

"This high-suspense, sanguinary tale ensnares readers. . . . The tension is nearly unendurable. . . . Sex, savagery, and high-level political maneuvers energize a splendid piece of popular history."—Kirkus Reviews

"Jager provides an excellent depiction of feudal society, placing the reader into the lives of knights and nobles, detailing their relationships with each other and their lords. The ongoing Hundred Years' War and each man's role in it give this personal conflict its historical context. The story of the duel and the rivalry leading up to it make for quick reading as enthralling and engrossing as any about a high-profile celebrity scandal today."—Gavin Quinn, Booklist

"If you read only one book about the Middle Ages, Eric Jager's thriller is the one to read."—Steven Ozment, author of A Mighty Fortress and The Burgermeister's Daughter

Great Medieval True Crime Narrative

This was written so well, especially given the sometimes dry “dates-and-places” subject matter, which is sometimes all we have from this time period. I found this story fascinating and had no idea that this one event became so pivotal in French history. To be more specific, I had heard of the battles fought between Burgundians and Orleans, but never knew that it all stemmed from the actions taken by these two cousins. And thank you, thank you Hachette Audio for finding someone to read this book who actually knows how to pronounce French words and names. (Other books I’ve listened to recently were painful in this regard.) René Auberjonois does a great job of reading this book.

Fascinating

What made the experience of listening to Blood Royal the most enjoyable?

Rene Auberjonois is a fantastic narrator for this book because he is able to pronounce the French names without stumbling.

What other book might you compare Blood Royal to and why?

Blood Royal reads almost like some of Ann Rule's true crime novels. It does a great job of laying the foundation for the crime and discussing the climate and culture of the times.

Any additional comments?

I thought the book was very interesting. In some ways it was more like a thriller than a nonfiction work.

Narrative Non-fiction at its Best

A beautiful listen - Jager tell what could be dry facts from compelling point of view and Rene Auberjonios heartfelt reading.

Finally some "Medieval true crime!"

if you're looking for Medieval Paris, History, Crime and a detective "who-done-it?"- look no further.

highly recommended.

Reader can't pronounce French

The producer of the audiobook should have paid attention. French names and places so garbled it is an embarrassment. Otherwise for those who don't care about this, the reading is lively.