The Cavalier of the Apocalypse
An Aristile Raven Mystery, No 3
Susanne Allyne

Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press
July 2009 / 9780312379889
Historical mystery / Paris 1786
Amazon

Reviewed by Barbara Buhrer

Aristole Raven, a struggling writer, who writes political tracts against the royal court, has the routine of roaming his churchyard searching for subjects for his writing. He finds a man with his throat cut surrounded by strange Masonic symbols. He is suspected by the police because of his writings, but questioning by Police Inspector Brasseur proves him innocent. Brasseur is impressed by Raven's observations and deductions and appoints him to be his assistant. Together they uncover a plot by the Duc D'Orleans to overthrow the king (Louis XVI) and endeavor to find out if the Masonic Order is involved. They become embroiled in royal politics and the royal scandal about the Queen's necklace.

The Cavalier of the Apocalypse is the prequel to the previous two mysteries. Alleyne has introduced Aristole Raven, a struggling writer who becomes one of France's most illustrious detectives.

The year 1789 is the last year of the ancient regime, and the atmosphere of the unrest and future turmoil is in evidence. The author has portrayed the political atmosphere in depth.