The year is 1806, and a magnificent new French Empire rises from the blood-soaked ruins of the Reign of Terror. The same citizens who once cried “Death to Kings” now fervently chant “Vive l’Empereur!” for Napoleon Bonaparte, whose iron grip on power tightens with each passing day. While Paris drowns in decadent luxury and the promised prosperity he swore to deliver, a shadow of dread creeps across Europe as a formidable coalition of nations rallies against his ambitions.
In the frost-bitten landscapes of Poland, Andre Valiere’s desperate quest to fulfill his military service and return to his beloved family becomes entangled in a dangerous web of intrigue when he is unwittingly drawn into a conspiracy to capture a legendary hidden fortune. With wealth vast enough to bestow unprecedented glory upon whoever presents it to the Emperor, this coveted treasure soon attracts the attention of ruthless and powerful forces determined to claim it for themselves.
Meanwhile, in the rolling countryside of Normandy, Sophie Valiere battles against mounting odds to preserve the family estate during Andre’s absence. Her valiant efforts crumble beneath the weight of an unexpected flood of desperate refugees and their escalating conflicts with resentful local farmers. As the province teeters on the brink of violent upheaval, the arrival of an enigmatic Count returning from exile captivates her attention—but this beguiling nobleman soon reveals his sights are set on a prize far more valuable than mere land.
In the glittering salons of Paris, Jean-luc St. Clair, once a passionate republican lawyer and fiery revolutionary, finds himself reluctantly pulled back into the treacherous arena of imperial politics. As his influence and fortune flourish, so too does his roster of dangerous enemies, proving that the opulent boulevards of the capital conceal daggers as sharp and deadly as any on Napoleon’s blood-soaked battlefields.
Praise for ‘Searchers in Winter’
“Owen Pataki’s second novel emerges from the rubble of the French Revolution into the legendary conquests of Napoleon. Readers will love the richly drawn characters and evocative settings in this story that pits the values of humanity against those lusting after power and greed.”
“From the very first page of Searchers in Winter, you know you’re in the hands of a master storyteller. Owen Pataki brings Napoleon’s era to such vivid life you will think you spent time with the people themselves. An utterly absorbing and completely fantastic read!”
“Armchair time travelers who’ve wondered what it’s like to be embedded in Napoleon’s Grande Armée will devour Owen Pataki’s Searchers in Winter.”
“Pataki’s keen attention to historical detail and devotion to his subject matter bring readers directly into the heart and grit of the Napoleonic wars. Searchers in Winter boldly plants two feet in the past and never flinches.”
