Have you ever seen the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.? It’s one of my absolute favorite exhibits. This book seeks to fill in some holes in its story when historians are unsure of its exact location.

This is a grand adventure tale set in revolutionary France, The Crown Jewels of France, including the stone that will become the Hope Diamond, have been stolen, and the king and his family are imprisoned. But the war seems far away from sisters Claudie and Mathilde’s family inn in a tiny village, only entering through tales told by the mail courier, Jacques. But then escaping fugitives and a plotting group called the Legion bring soldiers and destruction to their very doorstep.

This galloping romp brings its characters across war-torn France all the way to the French refugee community in England. Danger lurks around every corner, whether the characters are taking shelter in a burned out village or attending an elegant ball. When they are forced from their village, Claudie and Mathilde must bargain with the enigmatic Rooster, leader of a secret organization called the Legion, to attempt to secure their future.

Claudie is a strong, sympathetic character, and the witty dialogue and electric chemistry between her and The Rooster is a delight. Mathilde is fun as the dramatic flirt who wishes she could be taken seriously every now and again.

I appreciated the historical accuracy of the ending. We all know what happened to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, so the book had to stay true to that. It was fun to speculate on how the Hope Diamond ended up where it did. Don’t skip the author’s note at the end. I found the additional history of the diamond fascinating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.