A riveting and engaging read. So fantastic, my husband even read it and devoured it. Thank you for opportunity to read and review this book!

Historical fiction is my preferred genre, and I really enjoyed the intrigue this alternate historical fiction novel provided. The assassination of Napoleon, the passion of the conspirators and the concurrent dispassion of the assassin made the book even more intriguing. The assassin's skewed moral compass allows readers to see politics in a different light. And the little tidbits about Napoleon's personality create a quasi-voyeuristic experience.

The Eagle and the Viper by Loren Estleman starts with an unsuccessful attempt to blow up Napoleon Bonaparte and continues with a plot to place an assassin close to Napoleon for another try. The French authorities and the conspirators are shown in parallel as the assassin crosses France to get in place next to Napoleon. The policing and spying within France are shown in detail. A great thriller and police procedural.

I have two things to say about this book, as follows:

1. It starts with a great inflection point, and then goes in another direction. The attempt on Napoleon's life in December 1800 was real, and happened more or less how Estleman describes it. Napoleon walked away unscathed from the explosion, and history went its way. Most alt-histories start off with an inflection point just like this--what if Napoleon had been killed in 1800? What if Oswald missed Kennedy? What if the Russians made it to the moon first? (I am watching the terrific FOR ALL MANKIND, which makes this supposition.) The natural thing to do, from the alt-history perspective, would be to let Napoleon die here, and play the rest of it out. Estleman doesn't do that; he lets history take its proper course and then introduces a new element.

2. Everyone in this book is a <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MagnificentBastard">Magnificent Bastard</a>, or else they get killed. Napoleon is, of course, as is the head of his secret police. But the other main character, the shadowy assassin code-named Viper, man of many names and accents, is a magnificent bastard among magnificent bastards. If reading about magnificent bastards is your thing, this is your book.

That's all. Other than that, highly recommended, fun historical fiction.

It’s Christmas Eve, 1800, and a bomb explodes in Paris, leaving behind destruction and death. The target was the First Consul of the Republic of France, Napoleon Bonaparte. With this failed attempt, the stakes become higher and the assassin more determined to complete his mission.

The Eagle and the Viper is based on the true account of the attempt to kill Napoleon. There is no evidence that an assassin, nicknamed the Viper, ever existed or that there were multiple attempts on Napoleon’s life by this elusive figure. Nevertheless, Loren Estelman has created a fictional story that is steeped in historical facts. The research is well-done and the author has produced a descriptive account of France and England during this time frame. The novel is very readable, although I found the story to be somewhat of a repeat of another “assassination” book that takes place in a different historical period. For this reason, as the book concluded, I found myself somewhat disappointed. Therefore, I’m giving this book 3 stars, although it deserves 4 stars for the history lessons.

Mr Estleman is a talented author who can weave a story that a reader will find most compelling. The Eagle and the Viper is no exception.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Loren Estleman’s latest, 'The Eagle and the Viper', is the story of an attempt to assassinate Napoleon. In fact, it's the story of two attempts to assassinate Napoleon: the first the real-life attempt in 1800 which is often cited as the first-ever use of a vehicular IED, the second a fictional effort the following year. Spoiler: Napoleon survives..

There's a lot of research gone into this book, especially the account of the 1800 attempt which is more dramatised documentary than fiction. And Estleman can write (sadly not a given these days). His prose flows and his pacing is good too, bursts of violent action alternating with more descriptive narrative. His characters are rounded and credible – in part because he is happy to invent details that make them more relatable, though much of the personality of people like Napoleon fits well with what we know of him. With his fictitious characters he has full scope for invention and his villain is given an interesting sexual life which means that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to the vicar.

Overall, it's an exciting book with a convincing historical background. In the end, the climax parts company with the historical record and, after all the meticulous planning, I feel the assassination attempt itself lacks finesse. Definitely worth a read if you are a Napoleonic era adventure fan.

Napoleon Bonaparte is First Consul of France, but there is a plot afoot to kill him. Written by the
brilliant, award-winning Loren D. Estelman, this book takes a look at the attempted assassination of
Napoleon on Christmas Eve, 1800, and creates a fictional, second attempt to kill the famous dictator. We
follow an intricately crafted tale from France to England and back again, as the Eagle, Napoleon, is pursued
by a highly secretive and highly skilled assassin, The Viper.

The characters, from the fictional Viper to the very real Napoleon, are well developed. Besides
Napoleon and Josephine, other actual figures from history are portrayed in this book, such as Georges
Cadoudal, a Royalist and one of those involved in the original Christmas Eve assassination attempt.
Estelman's ability to weave the fictional and nonfictional aspects of the story together is masterful. The
characters, real and fictional, interact seamlessly to make a fascinating story. The fictional Viper is a cunning
master of impersonation and disguise whose pursuit of Napoleon will leave the reader spellbound. The way
of life at that time is described in intricate and realistic detail, as plots and suspicions abound and everyone is
looking over their shoulders. This is a fascinating look by Estelman at the actual failed Christmas Eve plot
and what could have happened afterwards. Estelman weaves a masterful tale, filled with historical accuracy
and awe-inspiring writing, which I would recommend to anyone interested in Napoleonic history or historical thrillers.

Francois Rene De Chateaubriand wrote in his memoirs; Memoirs From Beyond the Grave, that he had a roommate, in the boarding school that he attended, who had tried to assassinate Napoleon Bonaparte later in his life.

The Eagle and The Viper is an historical fiction account of a group of man who are intent on restoring the Bourbon King to the throne and only means is by assassinating Napoleon Bonaparte.
Loren Estleman has written a high explosive thriller of a novel. Putting the reader into the streets of Paris and the streets of London in 1800's.

It all begins on 4 Nivose. Christmas Eve. When the streets were packed with onlookers waiting for the carriage carrying the First Counsel Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. Lurking in the shadows are men wanting to restore the Bourbon King to the throne.
An explosion rockes the streets maiming and killing innocent people. Josephine had gotten the wrong scarf. If she hadn't the the men would have their way.
What follows in this intense narrative is a cat and mouse game as the French police had been given orders by the First Counsel to stop at nothing in apprehending the person's responsible.

Little does the French police know that across the channel is a man who will stop at nothing to kill the First Counsel.


The author includes a recommended reading list in the last pages in the book.

Estleman's book delivers a France like most of us haven't seen before. We know France and Napoleon from the war movies and even from The Count of Monte Cristo, but here we get a political thriller that brings France closer to us. We see the atmosphere of fear, intrigue, spies, informants and assassins. It also warns us of the dangers of the cult of a leader and the problems of discovering truth in a sea of lies that is the political scene even today.
A gripping novel for lovers of history, politics and thirllers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forge Books for this free Advance copy in return for my honest review.
Despite over 200,000 books being written about Napoleon, Loren Estleman tackles a much overlooked subject in his latest Historical Fiction/Suspense novel, an attempted assassination of Napoleon.
Little really has been written in recent years about the plot to kill Napoleon on Christmas Eve in 1800. Estleman uses this real world event to spin a tale about a fictional assassination attempt that is hatched after the Christmas Eve plot failed.
From the very beginning this book grips you as we follow the original plotters of the failed Christmas Eve bombing, and come to realize just how close those men came to altering the course of history. Napoleon rose to power while revolution was still in the air, and there were many both inside and outside of France who wanted to see him ousted as First Consul. Despite the many Civil Law reforms he created, the overall stability he brought to France, as well as the countries standing as a world power, many wanted him ousted since he turned the cannons on Parisians to quell rioting a few years prior to this.
Upon learning of the failed Christmas Eve attempt to kill Napoleon, the Pro-Royalist movement decided they would take matters into their own hands. These individuals had many supporters in England, a great many of whom were powerful and wealthy aristocrats who wanted a return of the Bourbon Monarchy to France so as to keep Republicanism from jumping the channel into England. The plotters are led by Georges Cadoudal, a former officer in the French army who has fled to England to live under the protection of the Earl of Rexborough, and while there we meet a mysterious stranger who will come to dominate this book. While refusing to give his real name or background this man who will eventually be known as the Viper, is a hired assassin and provides sufficient information and details that Cadodal agrees to hire him for the price of 5 Million francs.
The book is filled with both historical characters such as Cadoudal, Napoleon and Josephine, French police minister Joseph Fouche and Nicolas Dubois the Prefect of Police, as well as fictional characters who play a major part in the book.
The action moves back and forth from Paris to England, to rural France and Estleman paints a very realistic story about how life was at that time, since plotters were believed to be everywhere, spies and police informants blanketed the land, and people were afraid to speak out loud for fear of saying something that might land them in prison.
We never learn the identity of the Viper, nor what his connection was to the French military or his hatred of Napoleon, but along the way from England to Paris he weaves even more tales as to his identity and intimidates many. Despite what appears to Viper to be a foolproof journey and assassination, little troubles plague his once he gets to France, and he lets his guard down a few times which has major consequences for both Viper and those who cross him.
How will he get close to Napoleon? How will he attempt to kill him and escape are never known until the very end. And all the while as Viper makes his way to Paris we are also privy to the efforts being made by Fouche, Dubois and others to sift through stacks of reports on suspicious characters, as well as trying to stop Viper and arrest those who are behind this plot.
A well written book that is filled with historical accuracy, The Eagle and The Viper is a page-turner that kept this reader up to 4:00 AM to finish. When it ended you are just amazed at how wonderful a tale Estleman has written and hope he will again delve into the fascinating world of The Eagle, better known as Napoleon. Originally posted at mystery and suspense.com

A fine historical novel, with such a detailed description of revolutionary France and the attempts to kill Napoleon, before he became an Emperor. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical novels. Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for letting me read an advance review copy.

Estelman, as I have often said and written, is the most under appreciated historical fiction writer working today. His books are literate, intelligent, exciting , well written, plotted and brimming with excellent characters. And most importantly perhaps is the way he seamlessly blends history with his story. The Eagle and the Viper exemplifies all of these attributes. A thrilling story of an assassination plot against Napoleon played out in England and France is fascinating and thrilling. And its not a by numbers assassination story. The plot is complex without being convoluted or hard to follow. Each character is different and not a card board cut out. I could go on. Read the book and then read all his other books. A treasure trove.

An extremely well researched book based on a little-known event in the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. The man had recently been elected as First Consul of France during the latter period of the revolution. The threat of the Guillotine was still prevalent in a country that was engrossed in attempting to wipe out all traces of royalty without any clear idea of what form of government should eventually prevail. What was termed an "infernal machine" - a huge explosion - was set off on one of the busiest streets in Paris. It was exploded on Christmas Eve 1800 and construed to be an attempt to assassinate Napoleon.
Mr. Estleman describes the France of the moment, a virtual police state with the head Policeman able to assume complete power over the nation indicating that he does so in his role dictated by The First Consul for the good of the country. The author also postulates a professional assassin termed "The Viper" and hired by members of the government to kill Napoleon. The Viper's movements to infiltrate the country and complete his mission to kill The First Consul are outlined in the novel. There was no indication of such an individual actually existing at that time, but the author presents a very readable novel detailing seizure of power and blame accruing to many places with blame on the assassination attempt. A forward does indicate that Mr. Estleman might be using his book as a vehicle to alert people to the damage that could be done if the truth is hidden and falsehoods take its place. The act is character assassination and certainly might be a weapon used in changing the image of person or persons that are deemed to be hindering the paths of others from their goals.