France, 1643: The young Louis XIV, barely eleven years old, ascends to the throne after the early death of his father—and instantly becomes the target of dangerous schemes. A sophisticated poisoning attempt shakes the royal court, thwarted only by chance. But Coquotte, the young king’s beloved dog, dies in agony. The shadow of betrayal looms heavily over the Palais Royal.

Cardinal Mazarin, the powerful prime minister, suspects a conspiracy reaching far beyond Paris—to the highest circles of the Vatican and the court of Madrid. To unmask the plotters, he sends his most loyal agent: the sharp-minded and daring Marquis François de Toucy. François’s trail leads him across a Europe torn by mistrust, war, and religious strife—from the secret corridors of the Palais Royal, through the swamps of southern France, to the opulent yet deadly halls of Spanish power.

But the closer François comes to the heart of the conspiracy, the deadlier the game becomes. Whom can he still trust, when even priests turn into murderers—and Queen Anne herself seems willing to sacrifice her own brother, the King of Spain?

For readers who…

A spy novel in historical disguise – captivating, multi-layered, and full of surprises until the very last page!

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