‘Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books’ – Alison Weir
'Historical fans will be well satisfied.' - Publishers Weekly
In eighteenth-century London, porcelain is the most seductive of commodities; fortunes are made and lost upon it. Kings do battle with knights and knaves for possession of the finest pieces and the secrets of their manufacture.
For Genevieve Planché, an English-born descendant of Huguenot refugees, porcelain holds far less allure; she wants to be an artist, a painter of international repute, but nobody takes the idea of a female artist seriously in London. If only she could reach Venice.
When Genevieve meets the charming Sir Gabriel Courtenay, he offers her an opportunity she can’t refuse; if she learns the secrets of porcelain, he will send her to Venice. But in particular, she must learn the secrets of the colour blue…
The ensuing events take Genevieve deep into England’s emerging industrial heartlands, where not only does she learn about porcelain, but also about the art of industrial espionage.
With the heart and spirit of her Huguenot ancestors, Genevieve faces her challenges head on, but how much is she willing to suffer in pursuit and protection of the colour blue?
‘...transports the reader into the heart of the 18th century porcelain trade—where the price of beauty was death.’ - E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mystery series.
'Bilyeau is an impressive talent who brings to life a heart-stopping story of adventure, art, and espionage during the Seven Years War.' - Stephanie Dray, bestselling author of My Dear Hamilton
'With rich writing, surprising twists, and a riveting sense of 'you are there,' The Blue is spine-tingling entertainment.' – Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Assassins
Kindle Edition, 430 pages
Published December 3rd, 2018
by Endeavour Quill
*****
Nancy Bilyeau is one of those authors that is a 'must read' for me. I absolutely loved her Joanna Stafford series and was thrilled when I heard she had a new release this fall (Dec 3rd).
Sometimes I feel that I repeat myself when talking about books that I really enjoyed. But for me having the author make me feel like I am right in the middle of the action is a big plus. It shows not just her (or his) passion for the era but also the amount of research that went into the story. Which is exactly what happened here. I was planted right there beside Genevieve, I could feel her emotional state as her life was turned upside down. Who she should trust and whom not to? The desire for something different in life, but what and how was that to be achieved? The other characters depicting the many layers of society, I learned more about what a Huguenot endured and women's roles in that time were reinforced for their lack of control of their own lives
As for the plot, I loved it. Mysterious, suspenseful and kept me glued to the pages. The obsession over 'blue' was interesting and unique with a very satisfying ending. Definitely a book I recommend to those that love a good historical mystery off the beaten track. Nancy Bilyeau has delivered yet again. My only hope is that we don't have to wait too long for another book.
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Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, DuJour, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She is currently a regular contributor to Town & Country, Purist, and The Strand. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. 
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