A Royal Prisoner

"A Royal Prisoner" by Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Jerome Fandor, a journalist, who finds himself entangled in a murder case involving a royal figure, Frederick-Christian II, King of Hesse-Weimar, and his mistress, Susy d'Orsel. As events unfold, the narrative weaves a complex tapestry of intrigue, mistaken identities, and societal dynamics in Paris. The opening of the novel introduces us to Fandor celebrating New Year's Eve as he strolls through Paris, only to encounter a mysterious stranger who leads him to a series of unexpected events and ultimately to the apartment of Susy. Following a night of revelry and drunken escapades, Fandor witnesses a shocking tragedy when Susy falls to her death, prompting an investigation that reveals layers of deceit. He soon discovers that the King was present at the scene, complicating his situation and raising suspicions of murder. As the plot thickens, Fandor's relationship with both the royal and the detective, Juve, becomes pivotal in unraveling the truth behind the scandal.