City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris | 
I‘ve listened to 5 of this 9 hour audiobook and I‘m sorely disappointed. The vast majority of the book is about King Louis in Versailles and various royal relations and mistresses and little of the “crimes.” The title especially and somewhat the book description are misleading. This month when I‘m trying to read as much as I can, I just can‘t spend the last 4 hours on it. So bailing for now. ⬇️
So excited to read this one. It‘s been on my tbr so long. Thanks to @CSeydel for choosing it for #trappedinaspookyhouse!
#halloweenatoz #letterC
#hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper
#Scarathon #Murder
A historical fiction that reads like a novel. Very interesting and captivating.
@catiewithac thank you so much for the #litsylovesummerswap goodies. Everything looks wonderful!
Thanks for hosting @Bookgoil and @rsteve388 !
pickDo not skip the epilogue - in which Tucker outlines the fascinating research methods librarians, historians and authors have employed over the last 300 years to catalogue, preserve, retell and embellish this story of poison, murder and royal adultery in seventeenth century Paris. Tucker tells the story brilliantly - it is a Netflix series just waiting to be made!
#bookmail 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 AND we‘re just coming out of the worlds longest lockdown and I have an appointment next week to have my haircut! It‘s the small things that count...! 👍🏼
pickI enjoyed this meticulously researched historical true crime! It seems some people very close to the Sun King may have dabbled in poison. This book placed me in the center of 17th century Paris: the smells, the sounds, the furtive actions of charlatans and thieves. I‘m also thankful that I‘ve never been subject to 17th century French “justice.” It‘s difficult to gauge what‘s worse, poison or hours of gruesome torture! ☠️ 🐸 👑
#OppositeDay #Light
This book not only has light but the darker side of Paris. A very intriguing novel!
Rachel, OMG I don‘t know why I waited all day to open this package?!? I‘m super excited to read these especially the true crime poison one! ☠️ You have no idea how much this box made me happy! My cherished #LitsyLove friends really saved what promised to be a rather grim birthday. Thank you for thinking of me and choosing perfect books!!! 📚🐾👯♀️ You are the BESTEST!!!!
#12coloursofdecember Dec 17 Gold 10 points plus 1 #wintergames #merryreaders @Clwojick
Day 2: I‘m following the idea to post a book from my tbr list from @StaceyKondla and @Cortg
No description or reason for wanting to read it is necessary if you want to join along. #tbrpile
pickThis was utterly engrossing and well written. This book took on the mammoth task of digesting the mess that was the Affair of Poisons in France and turned it into something compulsively readable. Some of the names at the end got confusing, mostly because of how many similar names there are, but ultimately this was a quick and entertaining glimpse into a part of the past I am very happy to not be a part of. #bookspin #bookspinbonanza
1. Tagged, Outpost and A Dance of Cloaks.
2. Both really, but I do tend to lean more towards fantasy.
3. Survive by Stephen Llewelyn I think.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain
Here is my newly rearranged #bookspin stack for the month! I moved the books into the positions they were drawn for. The tagged book is my #bookspin and Darkwood is my #doublespin for the month. We‘ll see how much of the rest of these I get through. I find it funny how some of the genres wound up grouped together. 2 sci-fi back to back, 2 mysteries back to back, another 3 mysteries together etc. Fingers crossed this goes well! @TheAromaofBooks
pickVery readable history of poisonings among the aristocracy during the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The author spends little space on the murders (perhaps to avoid glamorizing them) which lessens their impact when we get deep into the interrogations. Terrific insight into the Court of Miracles.
History Ebook on sale today
pickThis was an interesting listen, and it felt appropriate for October. I enjoyed the history and was fascinated by the different types of poison and methods described. The only thing that tripped me up a bit was my lack on familiarity with French which made it sometimes difficult to keep up with all the names in audio. #audiobook #nonfiction
Second book completed for the #readathon. #DeweysReadathon #DeweyOct
pickBook 5 for #24in48! An enjoyable work of true crime/history read by Kate Reading. I‘d known a bit about the Affair of the Poisons (Nancy Mitford covers a bit in The Sun King but waaaay dishier) but this is a more in depth account of the Paris Chief of Police La Renier and his involvement. There are a LOT of historical figures introduced very quickly. If you‘re not familiar with 17th century French history you may want to brush up on it beforehand.
so-soNot for the faint of heart... but I learned a lot more about Louis Quatorze‘s era! #howjessreadsin2019
so-soNot for the faint of heart... but I learned a lot more about Louis Quatorze‘s era! #jesshowreadsin2019
Currently reading, among others.
Day 6 of #adventrecommends and one of the few non-fiction books on my list. I like the cover that my book has, but this cover is gorgeous! @emilyrose_x
pickFantastic non fiction about Paris during the reign of Louis IXV “the sun king”. This intriguing tale exposes murder plots, the Paris underground and how the man appointed to the newly created position of “police chief” worked to clean up the city and bring a network of murders to justice. Great snapshot of 17th century Paris that reads like a mystery. Highly recommend 5/5
pickI have been meaning to read this since I met Holly Tucker at the Decatur Book Festival in 2017 and am so glad that I finally did. I was fascinated by the amount of research she did for this book, but I was truly impressed by the way she wove all of that meticulous research into a compelling, page-turning narrative. It has everything, murder, magic, revenge, satanic sacrifices, you name it. You really couldn‘t make this up!
Wasn‘t sure what book to read as I sat in the sun and reintroduced my ghastly pale legs to the sun. So I just brought them all!
1. Funny Little Creature by Nothing More 🖤
2. Reading the tagged book and right now I‘d give it four stars. Really enjoying it so far! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. Uhh...Game of Thrones? Order of the Phoenix? The Lord of the Rings bindup? I honestly have no idea. Probably one of those three.
4. Whoever hasn‘t done this yet and wants to!
@GarthRanzz #trivialthursday
Continuing on with one of these tonight, just not sure which one. The time change has really screwed me up, I feel way too tired to read but these are due back to the library soon 😪 Also @BookwormAHN I finally sent my reply to you out in the mail! Sorry it took so long to write back and please forgive my atrocious handwriting 😅
“The priests who presided over this church lived not in the light, but twilight.”
The Hunchback of Notre Dame vibes anyone?
That moment when the book you‘re currently reading features a female serial killer that you just read about in a previous book 🙄😁 Marie-Madeleine d‘Aubray, marquis of Brinvilliers. Previous book was Lady Killers by Tori Telfer
Taking a bit of a break from the graphic novels. Plus it helps that this is technically due back to the library today 🙈 oops. Oh well. Been wanting to read this for a while!
so-soWhat started out as really interesting turned into a bit of a slog. Endless descriptions of the same torture method almost became that in and of itself. However, it does make me want to read Antonia Frasier‘s book about Louis XIV‘s mistresses. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #audiobook
This was Audible‘s daily deal yesterday. Started listening on my way home from work. Really interesting so far! #audibledailydeal #audible #audiotravel #audiobook #ilovemynewairpods
Here‘s a great idea for the #nonfiction2018 folks and anyone looking to explore audiobooks for nonfiction. This is a GREAT book that, while completely true, reads like fiction. It‘s got a lot of intrigue and twists! Plus @hollytucker is here on Litsy. Go get it ... I dare you.
pick#BestNewAuthorOfTheYear #DeckTheShelves
A great non-fiction book that reads like fiction! Poisons, murder, and intrigue. ☠️
pickSo much crazy treachery it‘s hard to believe it‘s nonfiction.
Finally made it to #DBFestival!! Starting my day with a little Francophilia and murder.
pickHolly Tucker has accomplished a feat of research in creating City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris. More than that, Tucker has made the detailed historical events and personages into an incredibly readable story. It's extraordinary!
I'm absolutely planning to hunt down copies of Tucker's previous books, tout de suite!
Full review at www.TheBibliophage.com
When the King leaves town, the prisoners get a wine upgrade so they behave better. It's details like this that have made this book priceless! 👑🍷
Starting this one by @hollytucker today as I recover from this morning's #migraine. It's really quite fascinating.
#paris #history #nonfictionchallenge #sundayquiet #litsymigrainebookclub
I had intentions to read other books, and I'm sure this isn't the whole list for July. But when I was returning a book at the library, these also jumped in my bag! #iregretnothing #happybibliophage #julymostanticipated #jubilantjuly #libraryhaul
pickFull disclosure I received an ARC for an honest review.
So, I don't read a whole lot of non-fiction books that are not biographical, that being said I thoroughly enjoyed this one! It sucked me in and brought to life Paris of long ago. I got a little lost with the changing of titles that happened, but that is on me ;). All in all a pleasure to read!
