
BearCat Press
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, AudioGenre: Historical Mystery
About the Book:
Young American painter Theodora Faraday struggles to become an artist in Belle Époque Paris. She’s tasted the champagne of success, illustrating poems for the Revenants, a group of poets led by her adored cousin, Averill. When children she knows vanish mysteriously, Theo confronts Inspecteur Michel Devaux who suspects the Revenants are involved. Theo refuses to believe the killer could be a friend—could be the man she loves. Classic detection and occult revelation lead Michel and Theo through the dark underbelly of Paris, from catacombs to asylums, to the obscene ritual of a Black Mass. Following the maze of clues they discover the murderer believes he is the reincarnation of the most evil serial killer in the history of France—Gilles de Rais. Once Joan of Arc’s lieutenant, after her death he plunged into an orgy of evil. The Church burned him at the stake for heresy, sorcery, and the depraved murder of hundreds of peasant children. Whether deranged mind or demonic passion incite him, the killer must be found before he strikes again.
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Review:
In Bel Epoque Paris, Inspector Michel Devaux has been given a tip about several missing children. The missing children are all street children, pickpocket, runners, children of the poor. Michel figures the consequences of their lives have simply caught up to them. American artist Theodora Faraday, part of a group of artists known as the Revenants, manages to save a young orphaned girl from a fire one night, only to have her cousin Averill find the girl brutally murdered and arranged in a gruesome artistic display the next day. Michel suspects that the girl might be connected to the other missing children, and now suspects members of the Revenants as the murderers.
A perfect historical mystery for this time of year, dark and intriguing. Floats the Dark Shadow brought me through the underbelly of Bell Epoque Paris, vivid descriptions of the catacombs, occult practices, medical examinations and the teachings of Taxil. I was also immersed into the beauty of the period with the vivid historical details of the buildings, artistry and people of the time which created a contrast for brutality of the murders. That being said, Yves Fey has not held back with the scenes involving the murderer and the chosen children, these scenes are horrific, yet just snapshots into the actions of the murderer. A colorful cast of characters, including many real historical figures, creates a clash between artistry and science as well as heart and mind as Theodora becomes involved with Michel. I loved the point of view of the murderer and actually wish that I could have read more. The murderer's obsession with Joan of Arc and the interwoven theme of fire. As in any well written mystery, Floats the Dark Shadow held me captivated through the end.

Floats the Dark Shadow, Yves Fey’s debut mystery set in the dynamic and decadent world of Belle Époque Paris, has won the Silver Medal “IPPY” Independent Publishers Award in mystery, and both the Mystery and Historical Finalist Awards from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. It’s also nominated for ForeWord’s Independent Publishers BookTwitter of the Year Award in the Mystery Category.
Yves has an MFA in Creative Writing from Eugene Oregon, and a BA in Pictorial Arts from UCLA. She has read, written, and created art from childhood, and is an ardent movie buff. In her varied career, she has been a tie dye artist, go-go dancer, baker, creator of ceramic beasties, illustrator, fiction teacher, and now, novelist. A chocolate connoisseur, she’s won prizes for her desserts. Her current fascination is creating perfumes inspired by her new novel.
Yves has traveled to many countries in Europe and lived for two years in Indonesia. Currently, she resides in the San Francisco area with her husband and three cats, Marlowe the Investigator and Charlotte and Emily, the Flying Brontë Sisters.
Writing as Gayle Feyrer and Taylor Chase, she previously published four unusually dark and mysterious historical romances, The Prince of Cups, The Thief’s Mistress, Heart of Deception and Heart of Night. She plans to rerelease these with her own cover designs in the coming year. Her fantasy, House of the Twin Jewels, appears in Erotic Interludes.
For more information please visit Yves Fey’s website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.