Judith Rock

The Whispering of Bones, 4th in the Charles du Luc series, comes out Nov. 5th--up for pre-order now!

CRITICS' REVIEWS OF THE Charles du Luc series

"The Charles du Luc adventures continue with a riveting installment...[A Plague of Lies is] a great mix of mystery, excitement, and intrigue...[a] truly excellent series." Derek Gunn, Irish novelist and critic, reviewing A Plague of Lies in The Big Thrill, October 2012.

"Rock provides meticulous details of everyday life...with an engaging style [and] touches of humor...This is the second mystery featuring du Luc...It isn't necessary to have read the first to find oneself quickly pulled into du Luc's world, however...In du Luc, Rock has created a highly likeable scholar-detective. I hope that his adventures will play out for many books to come." L.K. Mason, Historical Novels Review, November 2011

"[Rock's] intriguing plot and protagonists with whom readers are becoming good friends make this a necessary read for all who enjoy historical mysteries..." *Starred Review: Susan Hayes, Library Journal, September 2011

"Set in Paris in 1686 during the Christmas season, Rock's second novel featuring Charles du Luc is every bit the equal of her impressive historical thriller debut, The Rhetoric of Death... Readers will hope this energetic and engrossing sequel will be the first of many." *Starred Review: Publishers Weekly, September 1, 2011

SKYPE, ANYONE?

Is your book group planning to read The Eloquence of Blood or The Rhetoric of Death? Would you like to SKYPE with me about it? Let me know--I'm available for SKYPE sessions with book groups: contact me at wingrock@att.net to set up a date.

RHETORIC OF DEATH REVIEWS:

From the Historical Novel Society (which also made THE RHETORIC OF DEATH an Editor's Choice book):

"Rock skillfully builds her suspense plot, all the while incorporating splendid detail of 17th-century Parisian monastic and street life and the relationship between church and Crown, along with the intricate political and religious conflicts of the era. She proves herself a promising new talent by creating this powerful, absorbing, complex, and thoroughly satisfying novel."

Margaret Barr (Nov. 2010)

The Rhetoric of Death also had starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly (excerpted below).

Publishers Weekly, August 2, 2010:

"Rock's superb historical debut opens with 28-year-old Charles du Luc arriving in 1686 Paris to serve as a teacher of rhetoric in a Jesuit school...With an experienced writer's ease, Rock incorporates details of the political issues of the day into a suspenseful story line. Fans of Brother Cadfael, another military man turned priest sleuth, will be pleased."

"AN ARTIST IS ONE ON WHOM NOTHING IS WASTED..."

Years go, I came across these words, though I don't remember whose they are. But I know how true they are.

Before I was a novelist, I was a dancer and choreographer; actress and playwright; professor and police officer; lecturer and researcher. Each of those passions and adventures has deepened and expanded my writing.

WANT TO KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND THE NOVELS?

Visit my website, judithrock.com; and you might want to take a loot at

TERPSICHORE AT LOUIS LE GRAND(Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996), the doctoral dissertation on which the books are based.

My other writing includes Performer as Priest and Prophet (Harper and Row, 1988) co-authored with musician Dr. Norman Mealy (now out of print, but used copies are available on Amazon); and many articles and essays published in the U.S., Canada, Israel--and, of course, France!