The Woman of Mystery

In 1898, a young boy watches in horror as his father is stabbed to death by a mysterious woman wearing a black lace scarf and an ornate brooch, Years later, when he arrives with his new bride at the chateau that was part of her dowry, he sees in a portrait the face of his father's murderer, wearing the same black lace and brooch -- his wife's late mother. Then he himself is attacked by a man resembling that same woman. Torn between love and repulsion for his bride, and plagued by self doubt, he answers the call to arms as world war begins. And in that war lies the answer to questions that have tormented him since the night of the original murder. - Summary by Jacquerie (8 hr 2 min)

Chapters

Chapter I, The Murder	20:00	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter II, The Locked Room	24:06	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter III, The Call to Arms	29:23	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter IV, A Letter from Elisabeth	25:33	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter V, The Peasant Woman at Corvigny	24:05	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter VI, What Paul Saw at Ornequin	20:07	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter VII, H.E.R.M.	25:33	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter VIII, Elisabeth's Diary	20:56	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter IX, A Sprig of Empire	20:46	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter X, 75 or 155?	14:06	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XI, "Ysery, Misery"	21:04	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XII, Major Hermann	21:19	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XIII, The Ferryman's House	29:45	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XIV, A Masterpiece of Kultur	22:42	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XV, Prince Conrad Makes Merry	30:00	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XVI, The Impossible Struggle	24:39	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XVII, The Law of the Conqueror	19:50	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XVIII, Hill 132	24:58	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XIX, Hohenzollern	30:45	Read by Jacquerie
Chapter XX, The Death Penalty -- And a Capital Punishment	32:28	Read by Jacquerie

Reviews

WW1 intrigue

(4 stars)

Corvid Crowman

Intriguing spy story set in the years leading up to WW1 near the French-German border. The deep anti-German sentiment is an interesting historical artifact worth noting. Ingenious and typically (for Leblanc) preposterous plot twists. Loved it! Beautifully read bt Cate Barratt.

(5 stars)

Granny G

Part way through, I was feeling ambivalent but it kept drawing me in until I was more than eager for the next chapter. Really enjoyed it.

(5 stars)

ms SV

This is the second time I’ve listened to this one. The horrors of war, along with a good mystery all in one book

GERMAN/FRENCH War story

(5 stars)

Angela Stallard

Rather horrific story but justice is delivered in the end.