Exiled to a Caribbean island, Paoletta Cadoville and her family cling to the hope of one day returning to their Parisian home. But in a single, devastating moment, that dream is shattered. Alone and horrifically scarred, Paoletta embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind her family’s tragic fate, only to become entangled in a web of political intrigue, secret societies, and dangerous alliances.
In a Paris overshadowed by the guillotine, Paoletta must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of vengeance. Will she achieve justice for her family or lose herself to the darkness that threatens to consume her?
Paoletta – An Eye for an Eye is a gripping historical thriller set during the French Revolution and a stark reminder that in times of upheaval, innocence is the first to fall, and revenge demands a price paid in blood.
I set out to create a piece of historical fiction that captures the grit and suspense of a contemporary thriller. The French Revolution has always interested me, yet it remains surprisingly underrepresented in the thriller shelves. What makes the Revolution so compelling is how relevant it still feels today – a period defined by unbridled greed and ambition, civil war and repression, and ruthless leaders willing to spill blood for power. And, of course, the Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic era helped shape the foundations of modern Europe.
Opting for a young female protagonist was a deliberate risk. When we picture the chaos and carnage of Revolutionary Paris – the bloodletting, betrayals, and deadly loyalties – few of us perhaps instinctively picture a girl at the centre of it all, especially one so seemingly ill-equipped for what awaits her. Paoletta is no imposing figure; when we meet her at fifteen, she is small and thin-boned, her presence so muted she nearly disappears. At first glance, she is unassuming, unremarkable, and easily overlooked, but that is her most dangerous quality. Her inconspicuousness allows her to slip under the radar of both readers and her fellow cast members, giving her an edge that her male counterparts might not enjoy.
Some might argue it’s a cliché to set a novel about the French Revolution in Paris, especially given the legacy of classics like A Tale of Two Cities or The Scarlet Pimpernel, and the fact that other cities – Lyon or Bordeaux, for instance – experienced equally rich and bloody upheavals. Paris, however, is a city I know well, having lived there for four years and being drawn in by the city’s history. Despite Napoleon III’s sweeping boulevards and the devastation of the Second World War, many parts of Paris remain strikingly unchanged since the Revolution. Away from famous landmarks like the Louvre and the Palais du Luxembourg, which still carry that history in their stones, it’s very easy to wander the pokey little passages of the Marais or the Latin Quarter and imagine shadowy figures, hidden blades beneath their coats, lying in wait in the darkness.
Originally from the UK, J.R. Powell lives in Germany, where he works as a translator and editor.
His debut novel was published in 2024, marking the first instalment of a new historical thriller series. Paoletta – an Eye for an Eye follows Paoletta Cadoville, a young woman driven by vengeance after the murder of her family during the French Revolution.
Drawing inspiration from his time living in Paris, Powell immersed himself in the city’s rich and brutal history to craft a story that brings a lesser-explored period to life with the momentum and intensity of a gritty, modern thriller.
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Thanks so much for hosting J.R. Powell today, with a fascinating guest post linked to his compelling novel, Paoletta: an Eye for an Eye!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club