Laetitia Talbot has received a postcard from the grave. Her godfather
had been murdered in Burgundy, France, yet following his death and her
return from Egypt she has received the postcard from him. It was
written in a code the pair of them had devised when she was a child. It
suggests that she travel there to do some investigating.
Her father gives her permission to travel if she has a suitable
bodyguard. She plans on travelling incognito. Unfortunately she is
unaware that her travel plans are known by people who don't want her
travelling to where she is going. She does manage to get a bodyguard;
William Gunning is a former chaplain who served in the Great War,
therefore is acceptable to Letty's father.
Letty travels under the guise of working at an archeological dig at
Fontigny. Gunning has already earned himself a spot there as an artist
of the dig. On her first evening there Letty upsets a local nobleman.
Much to her surprise she later finds out that the nobleman knew her
godfather.
A short time later a body is found in one of the archeological trenches.
Earth has collapsed on it. It is a recent death, and Letty discovers
that the watch on the body and the wallet belonged to her godfather.
She and Gunning are sure that the murder has been staged just for her
as a warning.
Letty is convinced by the nobleman to continue her godfather's search
amongst the papers he owns. However, Letty continues to distrust him.
He has ideas about a group led by a persuasive man in Germany who is a
threat to France. She finds this idea chilling.
From that point, author Barbara Cleverly builds the tension in this
murder mystery. Intrigue, suspense, and treachery all play a role in
developing the story. An entirely good read.
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