Louis Bayard Bücher

»Vidocq!« Der Name bringt die Pariser Unterwelt zum Erzittern. Der Chef der Geheimpolizei hat die berüchtigsten Verbrecher hinter Schloß und Riegel gebracht. Nun ist er einem Fall auf der Spur, bei dem das Schicksal ganz Frankreichs auf dem Spiel steht … Paris 1818: Die Rufe nach Revolution sind längst verklungen, die Bourbonen wieder an der Macht. Doch schon verbreitet sich eine neue Schreckensmeldung: Louis-Charles, Sohn Marie Antoinettes und Ludwigs XVI., der die letzten Monate seines jungen Lebens in einem schwarzen Turm gefangengehalten wurde und schon seit Jahren als tot gilt, scheint wieder unter den Lebenden zu weilen. François Vidocq folgt den Gerüchten durch die dunklen Gassen des Quartier Latin und die verwahrlosten Salons des alten Adels. Ist der einstige Kronprinz tatsächlich noch am Leben? Politische Intrigen und hinterhältige Verschwörungen, Rache, Verrat und Verbrechen vermischen sich in »Die Geheimnisse des schwarzen Turms« zu einem packenden historischen Thriller.

Im England des Jahres 1603 trifft sich "Die Schule der Nacht", eine Gruppe von Gelehrten, um über Politik, Astronomie und schwarze Magie zu diskutieren. Thomas Harriot und seine Geliebte Margaret bewahren ein dunkles Geheimnis. Jahrhunderte später bringt ein mysteriöser Brief ein neues Paar auf ihre Spur.

Ein atemberaubender Kriminalroman mit Edgar Allan Poe als Ermittler 1830: An der angesehenen West Point Academy wird ein junger Kadett tot aufgefunden – er wurde erhängt und sein Herz herausgeschnitten. Keinesfalls darf die Öffentlichkeit von dem grauenhaften Verbrechen erfahren, so beauftragt man Augustus Landor, einen ehemaligen New Yorker Polizeidetektiv, mit den Ermittlungen. Schon bald folgen weitere brutale Morde, und der Fall wird immer rätselhafter. Doch Landor erhält unerwartet Hilfe – von einem jungen Kadetten mit dunkler Vergangenheit, Hang zum Trinken und poetischen Ader: Edgar Allan Poe …

England, 1603: Regelmäßig kommen im Schutz der Nacht die fünf größten Geister ihrer Generation auf einem Anwesen in Dorset zusammen, sprechen über Politik und Astronomie, Gott und Schwarze Magie und ihre verbotenen Studien. Unter ihnen der Mathematiker und Universalgelehrte Thomas Harriot, der in seinem Hausmädchen Margaret eine verwandte Seele und kongeniale Assistentin für seine Versuche findet – bis Margaret beschließt, weiter zu gehen, als Harriot es jemals gewagt hätte … Washington, 2009: Der Historiker Henry Cavendish wird von einem dubiosen Antiquitätenhändler damit beauftragt, einen Brief aus dem frühen 17. Jahrhundert aufzuspüren, der zu einem verschollenen Schatz führen soll. Bei seinen Nachforschungen begegnet Henry der schönen Clarissa Dale. Den Spuren des Briefes folgend, stoßen die beiden auf das Geheimnis eines vergessenen Genies und seiner großen Liebe und geraten dabei in eine todbringende Verschwörung. Ein verschwundener Brief weist über Zeiten und Kontinente hinweg den Weg zu einer geheimen Bruderschaft, einem genialen Wissenschaftler und einer Liebe, die keine Grenzen kennt.

Set in 1818 Paris, the story follows Vidocq, a formidable figure in law enforcement known for his expertise in disguise and surveillance. As the head of a newly established plainclothes police force, he relentlessly pursues dangerous criminals. His latest challenge involves unraveling the mystery surrounding the young dauphin Louis-Charles, the son of Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XVI, adding a historical intrigue to his thrilling investigations.

Welcome to the world of a grown-up Timothy Cratchit, as created by the astonishing imagination of author Louis Bayard. Mr. Timothy Cratchit has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by losing himself in the thick of London's underbelly. He boards at a brothel in exchange for teaching the mistress how to read and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets. Timothy's life takes a sharp turn when he discovers the bodies of two dead girls, each seared with the same cruel brand on the upper arm. The sight of their horror-struck faces compels Timothy to become the protector of another young girl, the enigmatic Philomela. Spurred on by the unwavering enthusiasm of a street-smart, fast-talking homeless boy who calls himself Colin the Melodious, Timothy soon finds that he's on the trail of something far worse -- and far more dangerous -- than an ordinary killer. This breathless flight through the teeming markets, shadowy passageways, and rolling brown fog of 1860s London is wrought with remarkable depth and intelligence, complete with surprising twists and extraordinary heart.

Amelia, recently orphaned and responsible for her younger siblings and their family gas station, faces a looming threat from Harley Blevins, a local fuel magnate intent on monopolizing the market. To protect her family from foster care, she devises a plan to find a father figure quickly. When a hobo unexpectedly arrives, Amelia seizes the chance to create a façade. The story explores her determination and resourcefulness as she navigates challenges to keep her family together until she can secure their future.

"A miracle; an exquisite story exquisitely told ... If you love Jane Austen, or Hamilton, or fiction--of any era--that transports and transforms in equal measure, look no further."--A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window. From the prizewinning author of Mr. Timothy and The Pale Blue Eye comes Courting Mr. Lincoln, the page-turning and surprising story of a young Abraham Lincoln and the two people who loved him best: a young, marriageable Mary Todd and Lincoln's best friend, Joshua Speed. When sparky and independent Mary Todd arrives in Springfield, Illinois, in the 1840s to live with her sister, who is determined to find Mary a husband, she is astonished to find herself drawn to an awkward, melancholic lawyer with a gift for oratory. The two share ambition, an obsession with politics--and a need to be suitably married off. Always at Lincoln's side, however, is the charming Joshua Speed, a shopkeeper who became his mentor in society, loyal friend, roommate--and possible lover. Told in alternating chapters from the points of view of Todd and Speed, this witty, psychologically astute, and brilliantly plotted novel follows the threesome during Todd and Lincoln's tumultuous courtship, with all the suspense and delight of the best Jane Austen novels. Historians have long speculated that Lincoln and Speed had a romantic relationship, and here Bayard explores that forbidden possibility with deep empathy. Rich with both period detail and contemporary insight, Courting Mr. Lincoln offers smart storytelling at the highest level."

Set in 1860s London, this Christmas story follows a grown-up Tiny Tim as he navigates the bustling markets and mysterious streets of the city. With unexpected twists and a deep emotional core, the narrative captures the spirit of Dickensian storytelling. The protagonist's adventures reveal the challenges and joys of life, showcasing resilience and hope against a backdrop of foggy London. This tale promises to engage readers with its rich atmosphere and heartfelt moments.

"In his witty and beautifully written novels, Louis Bayard is establishing Washington D.C. as the District of Comedy."-Bob Smith, author of Openly Bob , and Way to Go Smith The Broome family is facing an uncertain future; however no one but youngest son Nick seems to notice. Driven by an inexplicable but driving certainty that they are on the brink of extinction, Nick vows to bring a child into the world by whatever means necessary. The problem? Nick is gay. The brave new world of parenting is explored as never before in Louis Bayard's new novel, which is full of the dry wit, snaking plot turns, and vivid, well-rounded characters that earned raves and fans for his first novel, Fool's Errand. Nick's quest for a surrogate mother will draw him to schizophrenics, Hispanic immigrants, body-pierced teenagers, female escorts, a God-fearing phlebotomist, an itinerant matchmaker, and an unbalanced but irrepressible young woman named Nattie, who ultimately may provide what he is seeking in the way he least expected. Alternately moving and very, very funny, Nick Broome's quest to leave a mark on the world drives straight to the heart of the evolving nature of love and family. Louis Bayard is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nerve.Com, Genre, Lambda Book Report, and the Washington Blade among others. He is the author of Fool's Errand, and lives in Washington, D.C.