1812: Metz is filled with excitement. The emperor is coming with the young empress Marie-Louise. He is preparing the Russian Campaign. Léonard Legrand, a guard, is late. He fought the day before in a duel against a cadet officer from military school. Wounded by his opponent, he was led to a hospital, but he never made it there. In the middle of a large crowd, Léonard is killed.
Meanwhile, Thomas Drouin, the cadet officer who hurt Léonard, is relieved. He is part of the five best students chosen to go fight in Russia. It is time to both prove himself and get away from Metz where several issues make him uncomfortable, most notably his duel with Léonard.
Is Thomas guilty? Or is the truth hiding away? Despite the misgivings of her husband Police Chief Montfort, Victoire gets involved in the investigation. But in this case, the leads are numerous and some people want it to never be resolved...
Anne Villemin-Sicherman is a doctor. She is passionate about 18th century and has been awarded many prizes for her books: Prix de la ville d'Hagondange in 2015 for Le Bûcher de Lafayette, Prix Historia 2019 for L'Abbé Grégoire s'en mêle and Prix Littré du Groupement des écrivains médecins in 2019 for Rumeur 1789. Her historical thrillers have sold nearly 30,000 copies at 10/18.