This is a complex mystery set within a beautifully-realised background of late eighteenth-century Vienna and Paris. Do be warned that the politics are complex and there is lots of name dropping of players at both courts so Google will be your best friend. The writing, though, is nuanced as are the characters, and there's a sense of humour here was well as a concern with the intricacies of European politics in the years running up to the French Revolution.

Parot is very sympathetic to Marie-Antoinette and the monarchy in general, somewhat unusual in French literature though much more the case in English books.

There is a murder mystery to keep the pages turning but what makes this stand out from the usual run of historical crime is the attention to the political, cultural and diplomatic backgrounds. Far more historical than many historical thrillers, this is an intelligent addition to the genre - recommended to history fans who like dense and detailed narrative.

This is a pretty good French historical mystery series that a friend sends me. Now, by 1775 and the 6th installment, we're into the reign of Louis XVI, and the plot sees our protagonist sent to Vienna to deliver a bust of Marie-Antoinette to Maria Theresa, while investigating the collapse of France's network of intelligence agents in Hapsburg territory. This gets extra points for being uncompromising about historical reality--the aristocratic protagonist has an illegitimate son whose social status will (as far as they know) always be denigrated, his ability to marry hinges on political favor, peasant lives count for less, the court system is easy to manipulate, etc.

Police Commissioner, Nicholas le Floch, must solve the murder of master baker Jacques Mourut found dead in his kneading trough. To complicate matters, the citizens are inflamed over the rising cost of bread and the grain and flour monopolies. Mobs smash shop windows and stores are looted. Set in 1775 France, a complicated web of politics and greed entwines the commissioner’s duty just as a new King (Louis XVI) is about to be crowned—the seeds are sown for the revolution that follows 13 years later. This is a beautifully told mystery with rich detail and many endearing characters. One of the unexpected treats in this novel are the descriptions of the voluptuous meals shared. The Baker’s Blood is the sixth book in the Nicholas le Floch series. I found it perfectly understandable, even though I have not yet read the previous books. The plot is complex, the action non-stop, and Le Floch is sublime. Read it and be entranced.

This is a really good read. The historical context is convincing and important to the richness of the story. It is very well written and translated with a story line that holds the reader's attention throughout. The characters are diverse and believable with entertaining eccentricities.