The Rhetoric of Death

Master Charles du Luc, a Jesuit priest in training is on his way to Paris to teach rhetoric, Latin and French at the Jesuit school there.  The king had recently revoked the Edict of Nantes, and Charles had helped his second cousin Pernelle, a Huguenot, escape to Geneva.  As a result another cousin, the Bishop of Marseille has now sent him into exile.  Charles will be working with Father Jouvancy, who is also in charge of dancing instruction at the school.

The day after his arrival, a young student of the school is run down by a man on a horse. The lad's godfather, is Father Guise, librarian of the school, and he states that it was an accident.  However, another witness tells Charles that the rider deliberately targeted the boy.  Charles tries to reconcile the reports of the different witnesses.  Had the lad been out looking for his older brother who had gone missing a day earlier?

Charles is ordered by the rector to halt his investigation.  However, the next day, he discovers the body of the older brother in the latrine.  This time he is asked to determine how the boy was killed.  Later, Antoine, the victim's younger brother tells Charles that his brother had sent him a note, which a friend saw his godfather take from him while he was unconscious.

Later, Charles is informed of a secret set of stairs that lead into the school from a bakery.  Could this be the way the killer moved about?  A day after this, Charles is found with the body of a witness by the head of the police.  He threatens Charles and demands that he become a police spy within the school.  What choice does Charles have?  That same day, the rector assigns Charles the task of finding out who the killer is.

Charles then learns that the death of the student might be connected to a possible French interference in the government of England.

Author Judith Rock has more death awaiting plus plenty of treachery.  Can Charles save those that mean so much to him and stay within his vows as a Jesuit?  Well written and based on historical fact.  A good read.