Synopsis

A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars must travel from France to Louisiana to rescue a young noblewoman, but he is quickly ensnared in a complex web of intrigue and violence.As the War of 1812 rages, Marcel Moreau, wounded in service with Napoleons Grand Arme, must journey to New Orleans to find Celeste de Beaumais, a young aristocrat who has fled her family and has settled herself on a sprawling Louisiana plantation. Standing in Moreau’s way are various factions in and around the citysoldiers, slave hunters, marooned slaves, and Baratarian piratesall of whom have their own interests, and enemies. As he ventures deeper into the city and the vast cypress swamps beyond, Moreau will find that circumstances are much more complexand dangerousthan he could have imagined.Meanwhile, a massive English fleet looms on the horizon, causing panic in New Orleans and desperation from the outgunned and outnumbered Louisiana militia. Hoping to benefit from his years of experience with Napoleons Grande Arme, these French-speaking creole farmers and townsfolk, and their American allies, enlist Moreau to help train them for the coming fight. As he does what he can to help this motley fighting forceled by General Andrew Jackson and bolstered by Jean Lafitte’s Baratarian piratesMoreau soon comes up against another enemy. With the city’s eyes on the battlefield, a ruthless plantation master plots his own designs. But those who’ve escaped his clutches have no plans to return to a life in chains, and Moreau must decide where his experience and instincts must be put to the best use.

About The Author

Owen Pataki graduated from Cornell University in 2010 with a degree in history. In 2011, Owen joined the army, and in 2014 was deployed to Afghanistan, serving with the 10th Mountain Division. Following his military service, he attended the MetFilm School in London. His first novel was Where the Light Falls (2017) followed by Searchers in Winter (2021). He now lives in New York where he is working as a screenwriter and filmmaker.

This is a standard paperback/soft cover version.