Book Review: The Devil in Music by Kate Ross

3/5

Pages: 447

Published: 1997

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Overview:

The Devil In Musicstarts off in 1821 Italy with a music loving Marchese by the name of Lodovico Melvezzi. He becomes entranced by a young singer who, on a whimsical night of Italian Carnival, sings below his window. As a rich and powerful man, Lodovico acquires this talented young man as his personal project. He hires the best Maestro his money can buy to train the young singer who Lodovico has given the alias of “Orfeo”. Lodovico is a very proud man, but sometimes he can become quite selfish. His fascination with Orfeo becoming a singing sensation is one instance where he becomes completely obsessed. By his strict instruction, Orfeo is forbidden to leave the confines of Lodovio’s property for fear that another music enthusiast may hear Orfeo’s beautiful voice and steal him away from the Marchese.

Out of nowhere a package is left for Lodovico on the steps of his villa. Inside was a lady’s glove with a diamond arrow piercing a ruby heart. A sinister not accompanied the glove, Lodovico was to meet the mysterious sender at a belvedere on his property late that night unless Lodovico wanted the identiy of the other of the glove to be revealed. His trip to meet the stranger was last he ever took.

While on a brisk walk the next morning in search for a suddenly missing Orfeo, the Maestro stumbles over the corpse of Marchese Lodovico. The police are called to inspect the body. A large bullet hole in the Marchese’s chest revealed that he had been shot at a close range. With the mysterious package that Lodovio received unknown to anyone, but his servant, only one clue is found at the crime scene. A wad of sheet music was lodged in the wound. Lodivico’s murderer had shoved the wadded paper into the gun before firing. Until the murderer was found, Orfeo being the top suspect, Lodovico’s death was released to the public as a result of a heart attack.

Four and a half years later Julian Kestrel, an English dandy, offers his detective services to Lodovico’s widow and his surviving family members. He assured them that he will be able to solve the untimely murder of Lodovico Malvezzi and capture the illusive Orfeo. It’s not too far into the investigation that Julian realizes that this is the most complex case he has ever taken. He is fighting against a family as rich with secrets as they are rich in luxuries. Hidden marriage, unfaithful partners, and a surly police official are only the beginning of the emotional whirlwind Julian must face. No matter how mentally taxing, he is determined to keep his promise to solve Lodovici’s murder and, as he continues to learn more about the people who were close to the Marchese, prove that Orfeo may indeed be innocent despite overwhelming evidence against the young singer.

As The Devil in Music comes to a close, Julian has fought for not only his life, but for the lives of the suspects as well. The identity of the murderer becomes clear when a second murder is committed right under his nose, but the true surprise comes when he discovers that Orfeo has returned to the scene of the crime to place a firm twist in the investigation.

 

Plot:

Although generally intriguing the plot does have some dry patches. However, the last 100 pages are impossible to put down. There is a nice flow as the murder investigation progresses.

Characters:

All in all, the characters are quite diverse and enjoyable to read about. Julian is the main protagonist of the novel. He’s a very likeable character with his quick wit and generally good nature. However, he does hide secrets from the reader. As a result there are some points in the novel that causes the reader to second guess their initial impression of him.

Since this is a whodunit, every character introduced is a potential suspect. Kate Ross does a good job of keeping the murderer nameless throughout the majority of the novel. Depending on how experienced the reader is in reading murders mysteries, the murderer can be deduced by paying close attention to context clues.

Book Review: Roses by Lelia Meacham

4/5

Roses is an enthralling novel that tells the story of how a piece of land can tear a family apart for generations. Mary Toliver DuMont begins the novel as an old woman on a mission. Aware of the cancer rapidly deteriorating her otherwise commanding, proud frame, she makes one last trip to her lawyer. Her lawyer, Amos, is an old friend and he is completely shocked at the desired changes Mary is making to her will. Although dazed at her revelations, Amos is resigned to obey her wishes. After returning home, Mary prepares for her unannounced trip to her niece, Rachel. It is imperative that Mary explains to Rachel the changes she has made to her will. She is prepared for Rache’s hurt and anger that were sure to come from the news, but Mary is determined on not allowing Rachel to make the same mistake she did; loving the Toliver farm, Somerset, more than anyone else in the world. Despite the balmy Texas heat, Mary sits on her veranda with a glass of champagne while the past creeps up on her.

The reader is then transported back to the early 1900s when Mary, at the tender age of 15, inherits all of Somerset after her father’s death. Believing in a Toliver curse, Mary’s father bequeathed everything to his young daughter hoping that his wife and son would understand. Unfortunately, Mary becomes ostracized by her mother and brother, but that doesn’t stop her from taking the reins of the large cotton plantation. As a strong-minded, independent young woman, Mary’s dedication to her family’s land and loyalty to her father allows her to focus entirely on Somerset.

However, Mary’s heart is torn with the blossoming love she feels for one of her brother’s best friends, Percy Warwick. As the heir to a successful lumbering legacy the marriage between Percy and Mary would bring together the two most powerful businesses in the town of Howbutker, Texas. Despite all of her attempts, Mary can’t help but fall for the handsome Percy. These two young lovers plan their marriage, but although her love for Percy is strong, Mary’s love for Somerset is stronger. She decides to postpone their wedding until after the cotton harvest. Fed up with being put second to a stretch of land, Percy flees to Canada to clear his mind and try to forget about Mary Toliver.

Percy and Mary remain closer throughout the rest of their lives even though they married different people. It takes many years for Mary to understand the Toliver curse her father tried to save her from When she finally takes Somerset out of her primary focus, it’s too late. She had already lost all that she loved which is why she is so determined to save her niece from the same fate.

Roses are an important symbolism throughout the novel. When the fictional town of Howbutke rwas founded, the two powerful families, the Tolivers and Warwicks, had panted large rose garden on their estates. These rose gardens represented their ancestors who fought in the historic War of the Roses. In Roses, the color of the flower is extremely important. A red rose is used to ask forgiveness. A white signifies forgiveness and a pink rose states un-forgiveness.

Book Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

 

CONTAINS SPOILERS!

3/5

As the final installment of the trilogy that began with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest falls short of its two predecessors. The novels picks up where the second one left off. Lisabeth Salander, who has been wanted for a triple murder, is being transported to a nearby hospital after being found by Mikael Blomkvist with a bullet in her head. Lisabeth’s sheer stubbornness and the killed hands of a talented doctor bring her away from the brink of death.

Because Salander’s face has been plastered all over the media, she is heavily guarded as she recuperates from her injuries inflicted by her father, Alexander Zalachenko and her half brother, Ronald Niedermann. As each day passes, Salander begins to regain her strength and exceptional mentality. Although no one–apart from her doctor, nurses, and her lawyer, Blomkvist’s sister Annika Giannini—as authority to see her in the hospital, it doesn’t stop Blomkvist from smuggling her hand-held computer to her so she can have access to the outside world.

The remainder of the novel is filled with information leading up to Salander’s trial; information that, after awhile, seemed to be just inconsequential filler. Along with the filler there were about 100 pages devoted to a sub plot that seemed out of place. This sub plot didn’t seem to fit into the trilogy’s plot which, after completing the series, has proved to be Salander’s road to justice and revenge after a lifetime of turmoil.

What caught me most off guard about this trilogy was how did the first novel fit into the plot? My assumption was that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was written as an introduction to Mikael and Lisabeth; to their relationship both professional and intimate. Although I loved The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest didn’t possess the page turning qualities that the first two novels had.

–As always, I would love to hear your opinion! Leave a comment below!–

Book Review: Titanic by Tony Aspler

Rating: 3/5

I purchased this novel from a used book store a couple of years ago. While not one of my favorite finds, the title intrigued me. I love anything about the Titanic.

Mystery…murder…money on board the world’s most famous and tragic ship.

This fictional story is centered around Henry Blexill, an English butler who was plucked from his life long place of work in London by a rich American banker. Accustomed to being treated like family from his previous employer, Henry is treated very differently at his new place of service. His boss, Thaddeus Tarr, is a brutish man intent on making even more money to add to his substantial wealth. One of the things that he stresses to Henry is loyalty. Anyone working for Thaddeus Tarr must be loyal to him and only him.

Henry soon realizes that not only is Tarr the most greedy man he has ever met, but also the most ruthless. Tarr becomes furious when people have things that he doesn’t; a characteristic that hurts his reputation more than he knows. He is intent on matching the wealth of his main competitor, J.P. Morgan.

Despite Tarr’s insistent rules of royalty, Henry is fired for breaking this key rule. Henry flees from the Tarr’s summer residence after being caught in bed with Tarr’s mistress. Before leaving the grounds, Henry discovers a bloodied fire poker and realizes that Tarr has blood on his hands. Fearing for his life, Henry returns to New York and snags a job as a wine steward with the White Star Line.

Not long after joining the White Star Line, Henry is able to secure a job on the company’s newest ship, the Titanic. The Titanic was said to be the biggest and grandest ship that had ever been built. There were even rumors that the man-made ship was unsinkable, not even God Himself could sink that ship. Naturally, Thaddeus Tarr and his family were sailing on Titanic’s maiden voyage. However, Tarr isn’t looking to enjoy rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s wealthiest, he’s looking to uphold his position as a wealthy businessman despite the fact that he is losing millions because of his falling stocks. Despite the dangers that surround Tarr and his unsavory way of business, he can’t escape his pursuers even in the middle of the Atlantic.

When Henry realizes that his previous employer is on the ship he becomes obsessed with bringing Tarr to justice for the crimes he has committed. He attempts to find out who has followed Tarr on the Titanic with the intent on murder. Although he discovers the identity of the assailant, it’s too late. The Titanic had already struck the deadly iceberg and was sinking head first into the Atlantic ocean.

Even though Titanic has an intriguing plot, the storyline doesn’t bring many results. Some scenes tend to become a bit dry and even seem out of place. One particular example was the emphasis on Henry’s relationship with a woman named Kittie. They meet after Henry becomes a wine steward for the White Star Line. The explanation of their relationship is short, but Henry secures a position for her on the Titanic as a second class stewardess. The last we read of her occurs when the crew is desperately trying to board passengers on life boats. With one last kiss and the promise to meet up in New York, Kittie is places on a life boat and lowered into the frigid Atlantic. The novel ends abruptly with Henry being hoisted out of the ocean not long after the ship is completely submerged. We never find out if he makes it to New York to start a happy life with Kittie.

Book Review: My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due

Rating: 4/5

Immortality, a blessing or a curse?

My Soul Keep by Tananarive Due tells the story of a group of men who have become immortal. They are each hundreds of years old. Each have gone through a ritual called the Life Ritual which allowed them to obtain a miracle blood that dispels death. One man, Dawit, is the center of the novel’s plot.

Over 500 years ago, Dawit attended a secluded meeting with his good friend, Mahmoud. This small group of men are anxiously waiting to hear from a man who seeks those interested in knowledge. Apprehension hangs around the group as they listen to the man, named Khaldun, speak of miracles. Khaldun reveals that he was present at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. One of the men he was with stole some of Christ’s blood after his body was taken from the cross. A small amount of the blood, aptly called the Life Blood once Christ was resurrected, could heal any wound, virus, or even death. Khaldun explained to the awed men that he underwent the Life Ritual; a ritual performed on a recently dead corpse by injecting the Life blood into the dying veins. Those injected would never die. To prove his words, Khaldun sliced his belly open in front of the group. Each watched in horror as the man died before them. By morning, the men were awoken by Khaldun, who only had a fading scar across his abdomen; the only remnant of his brutal mutilation. Completely enthralled, each of the men agree to partake in the Life Ritual and accept poisoned bread to stop their heart and then some of Khaldun’s blood to restart it.

Centuries later, in the late 1990’s, Dawit is married to Jessica, a journalist, with a five year old daughter named Kira. After some unfortunate events including three murders, two of those being family or close friends to Jessica, she begins to question the odd circumstances surrounding her husband. Jessica starts to notice that his cuts and scrapes heal almost immediately. Even when he fell out of a tree in their backyard, his broken bones and deep gashes healed overnight. Dawit old excuse of having special blood has worn thin and Jessica is demanding the truth.

Reluctantly, Dawit takes Jessica to a secluded cabin deep in the Florida swamp where he shows her just how special the blood flowing through his veins is. He slices open his stomach, similar to Khaldun’s wound, in the cabin’s bathtub. Jessica is distraught when she finds her husband barely conscious, floating in a pool of his own blood. She tries her to best to stop the blood gusting from his self inflicted wound, but it’s too late. To her horror, Dawit’s life fades away. Knowing that help won’t arrive until the following evening, Jessica sobs herself to sleep on the bathroom floor next to her husband’s corpse.

Jessica awaken the next morning to see Dawit smiling apologetically from the tub. In a moment’s disbelief, Jessica tears away the sheet she used to stop the bleeding. All that remained from the previous nightmarish night was a jagged scar across his abdomen. Dawit then revealed some of the truth surrounding his miraculous awakening, mainly that he underwent a ritual that made him immortal. He told her that he had lived for over 500 years and has seen his friends, coworkers, and family succumb to death.

Not long after Dawit exposes some of the mystery surrounding his special blood, Mahmoud pays him a visit. The visit is not a friendly one, Dawit has broken the Covenant’s most important rule; secrecy. Mahmoud explains that Searchers will be coming to take Dawit away from his family, back to the Covenant’s secluded home. Not wanting to leave Jessica and Kira, Dawit makes a split second decision, he and his family were going to uproot from their Florida home and move to Africa where they were going to be together forever.

By this part of the novel, Jessica has developed conflicting feelings towards her husband. Although she continues to love him, she can’t fathom all the lies he has fed to her the entire time they knew each other. Frantically, she gathers her daughter and flees not knowing that she has been followed. She doesn’t get far until her follower catches up. While making a pit stop at a gas station, Mahmoud sabotages Jessica’s car. Terror creeps down Jessica’s spine when she realizes that Mahmoud is here to kill her and Kira.

Just before he can fire his gun, Dawit runs over his old friend. Dawit forcefully persuades Jessica to accompany him. After leaving Mahmoud’s slowly regenerating body in a secluded area, Dawit takes his wife and daughter to a run-down little motel where he prepares to perform the Life Ritual.

My Soul to Keep ends with Dawit and Jessica living apart from each other, both immortal. Jessica decides to put her new blood to good use. She and her sister set up a children’s clinic in Africa where they use Jessica’s blood to heal sick and dying children. Dawit eventually finds her to inform her that the clinic can’t be open forever, people outside of the area are beginning to notice the miraculous healing. Jessica coolly replies that they are prepared to move if necessary. Leaving Dawit to leave, somewhat reluctantly, his wife while patiently waiting for her to come back to him.

Although the beginning of the novel was a bit slow, I did enjoy this book. There were some parts that did seem a bit out of place, but they didn’t cause too much distraction from the plot. Tananarive Due is a great storyteller.

Book Review: The Good House by Tananarive Due

Rating: 4/5

The Good House is a chilling tale about a curse set upon an African American family, the Toussaints. In the early 1920s Maria Toussaint moved into the small town of Sacajawea, Washington with her baby daughter. Marie, a young woman who has supernatural talents, is being led by Papa Legba. Papa Legba is Marie’s spirit God, he is the one she prays to and gives sacrifices to. After the brutal death of her first husband, Marie received visions of a large house on a steep hill that is guarded by a large oak tree. The oak tree, she feels, harbors the spirit of her grandmother who also had supernatural talents.

She arrives at the house in Sacajawea where she discovers that the house is owned by an old man by the name of Elijah Goode. With some persuading, Maria convinces Goode to allow her and her daughter to live with him. When Goode passes away he leaves the house entirely to Marie. This action does not sit well with Goode’s family and the small community of Sacajawea.

Despite the trouble, Marie was able to secure her place in the community. She did her best to subtly help the people of Sacajawea with her abilities. Some residents valued her abilities. These are the people who rely on her advice or the healing teas and other concoctions she makes. However, there are those who are completely against everything Marie believes in. These are the residents who want her and her second husband, a Native American the locals called Red John, out of Sacajawea and have no trouble expressing their distaste. The sheriff, who is among those who dislike Marie, even put bullet holes into her font door, hoping that would scare her off.

In a moment of emotional weakness, Marie loses her temper. In a fit of rage, she casts a curse over the entire small town by rejecting Papa Legba’s wishes. The evil she unleashes brings not only a destructive mud slide to the town, but also a demonic spirit that possesses one of the local girls. Marie does her best to vanquish the demon from the girl, but she realizes that the evil she unleashed is not only destructive to Sacajawea, but to her and her descendants.

Decades later, in 2001, Marie’s great-great grandson, Corey, kills himself in the basement of her old home. The rest of the novel focuses on Corey’s mother, Angela. She is determined to uncover the reason why her son killed himself. Angela must come to terms with her grandmother’s abilities; something that she tossed aside as a family legend. As she uncovers more clues about her son’s odd behavior leading up to his death, she realizes that the rituals her Grandmother Marie used to perform were no useless fluff.

This evil entity that Marie Toussaint mistakenly unleashed wraps its hold on some of Angela’s closest friends. Like an invisible smoke, the entity seeps into Angel’s friends, making them do unthinkable things; such as possessing a loving father to hold his young son’s head underwater until the boy’s lungs were filled with water or possessing a man to walk, grinning, into an oncoming truck.

Despite an otherworldly force trying to scare her away, Angela fights through the many obstacles thrown at her. She finally is able to uncover the truth behind her son’s death. The novel ends with Angela finally opening her mind to her grandmother’s powers in order to banish the evil that has taken away her son, ex-husband, best friend, and lover.

The last couple of pages bring together what I feel is the general moral of the novel; the importance of family. Without the love for her family, Angela Toussaint would never have been able to save her son, her marriage, or her grandmother’s spirit.

Book Review: The Green Mile by Stephen King

Rating: 5/5

I remember seeing “The Green Mile” when I was in fifth grade which was in 2000 or 2001. Ever since then this has been one of my favorite movies of all time. Not long after I saw the movie, my parents let me read the book. Keep in mind that I was eleven or twelve at the time. Even though I understood the general idea of the novel/movie, I never really understood the true meaning of the story. Throughout the past thirteen years I’ve revisited the Green Mile. It’s been a few years since I’ve either seen the movie or read the book. After rereading the book, I’ve rekindled my love for this heart wrenching story.

The Green Mile starts out in the Georgia Pines retirement home. Paul Edgecombe is drawn by an unknown force to write down his experiences as a prison guard on death row in the year 1932. Through Paul, the odd events that occur when John Coffey arrived on the Green Mile are brought back to life.

John Coffey, his last name is like the drink only not spelled the same, is a towering black man who has been condemned to die in the electric chair for the rape and murder to two, white little girls. He is escorted to E block just like every other prisoner. However, it’s not long before Paul and the other guards find out that Coffey is far from ordinary.

As Paul continues to recount his memories, it becomes clear that John Coffey has healing powers. He healed Paul’s painful urinary infection, brought Mr. Jingles, a strangely intelligent mouse, back from the brink of death, and removed an non-operational brain tumor from the Warden’s wife. One of the most important lines in this novel is something that John Coffey repeats quite often; “I couldn’t help it. I tried to take it back, but it was too late“.

Stephen King has a natural talent for creating three-dimensional characters that pull at the reader’s emotions. The regular guards on the Green Mile: Paul Edgecombe, Brutus Howell, Dean Stanton, and Harry Terwwilliger, are characters that the reader can trust. It’s extremely difficult to dislike these guys because of their caring, good natured personalities. Stephen King also has a great talent for creating characters that are easy to hate.

Percy Wetmore and William “Wild Bill” Wharton can be considered the two main antagonists of the novel. What’s interesting that these characters portray two different types of evil. Percy is a mean, vindictive young man who not only hides behind, but also threatens with his family’s government ties. Although he attempts to have a tough front while on the Mile, he is a true coward at heart. At the first sign of confrontation, Percy Wetmore will freeze in terror or wet his pants…literally. Wild Bill, on the other hand, is just an evil young man. He has no remorse for any of the crimes he has committed, including the rape and murder charges John Coffey was condemned for. Even though Wild Bill’s stay on the Mile is cut short, he utilizes his time to cause as much hell as he possibly can.

Both the novel and the movie end with heartbreaking scenes. Although each end with John’s execution, the novel continues on for at least another 20 or 30 pages. Paul reveals the fate of his friends and loved ones that he has outlived. The novel ends with the death of Mr. Jingles who died peacefully after rolling his spool one last time. 64 years after rolling it across the floor colored like fading limes. Paul and his friend, who has read through his memoir, bury the old mouse. Paul knows that, like all of God’s creations, he will die. His last thought left for the readers is, since he has written about the miracle that was John Coffey, that he will follow Mr. Jingles shortly.

Book Review: The Shining by Stephen King

Rating: 4.5/5

Like many examples of book-t0-movie adaptations, The Shining by Stephen King is much better than its movie counterpart. Although the movie is a long and eerie retelling of the Torrance’s stay at the Overlook hotel, thanks to Jack Nicholson’s creepy performance as Jack Torrance, the novel gives much more insight into the characters themselves. This in-depth look into the characters’ minds allows for more of an insight to what internal conflicts the characters are struggling with; a very important key to understanding the novel’s plot.

The Torrance family, consisting of Jack, Wendy, and five-year old Danny, are each susceptible to very strong emotions. Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic, is attempting to pull his career and marriage back together. After being fired from his comfy job as an English teacher at a private boy’s school, his best friend, and former drinking buddy, Al, gets him an interview at the Overlook hotel. The large Colorado hotel is in need of a winter caretaker.

Wendy Torrance, Jack’s wife, struggles with thoughts on how to keep her family out of the poor house. She is constantly fearing that her husband will hop back on the wagon in order to forget the pain and humiliation of his bad temper. Throughout the majority of the novel, Wendy can come off as a beaten down woman who is constantly being berated by her husband and by the memory of her mother’s disapproval. However, her demeanor changes towards the end of then novel. When it becomes horribly certain that her son is in danger, Wendy loses her wet-blanket tendencies to become a woman who will give her life in order to protect her son from the horror and immense power of the Overlook hotel.

Danny Torrance, the son of Jack and Wendy, is The Shining‘s main focus. At the tender age of five, he proves to have knowledge well beyond his years. This knowledge comes from his ability to “shine” which gives him the power to read minds, see the future, talk to his imaginary friend (who turns out to be his future self), and other unexplainable things. Before Jack returns from his interview, Danny already knows that he got the job. He also knows that something very bad, something called redrum, is going to happen when his family goes to stay at the Overlook. Despite his young age, Danny is an intelligent boy. He knows and understands things beyond a normal five year old comprehension. However, it’s his “shine” that the Overlook hotel craves.

Unlike the movie, the Overlook itself is a living, thinking, demonic character. Many horrible things have occurred inside its decorated walls; things that have never left the hotel. From a deadly group of hedge animals, to a dead woman in the bathtub of room 217, the Overlook hotel pulls all of its tricks to possess Jack’s already fragile mind. Once Jack’s mind was under the hotel’s control, he could hand over his son. What kind of horror could the hotel unleash if it had Danny’s abilities? Fortunately, the Overlook would never find out. Despite all of its planning, the hotel overlooked one crucial component; its unstable furnace.

On the night when Jack goes on a killing spree he doesn’t release the furnace’s pressure which results in the pressure gauge to slowly creep upward. Before the task is remembered, it’s too late. The furnace explodes, destroying everything in its path. Including the endless party filled with ghostly attendees. Danny, Wendy and Dick Hallorann, the Overlook’s head chef who also possesses a “shine, barely escape the hotel with their lives. The three of them are able to heal their wounds far away from the snowed in Colorado. Although it’s not explained how the hotel’s manager reacts when he finds a smoldering pile where the Overlook one stood, there is a concluding feeling that the remaining Torrances and Hallorann are going to be just fine.

Book Review: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Rating: 5/5

Written in 1844-45

Quick note: The count of Monte Cristo is considered a classic novel. If you’re unfamiliar with literature written in the 19th century, the writing style may be difficult to understand at first. Don’t be discouraged! Do some research on the time period and the novel itself if you’re interested.

The Count of Monte Cristo is a thrilling novel about betrayal, love, vengeance, and forgiveness. We follow the story of Edmond Dantes, a young man just returning from a long trip at sea. He’s returning with sad news, the Captain of the ship had passed away. The deceased Captain has named Edmond as his successor along with entrusting Edmond with unknown dying requests. After fulfilling these requests, Edmond returns to his father’s home and readies himself for his betrothal dinner with his fiancé, Mercedes.

During the feast Edmond is arrested for treason. He is sent to Monsieur de Villefort, the Deputy Procureur. Utterly confused, Edmond truthfully relays his story to M. de Villefort. The Deputy Procureur listens then reads the letter that Edmond was asked to deliver to an unknown source in Paris. M. de Villefort realizes, in horror and unknown to Edmond, that the letter is addressed to his father, Monsieur Noirtier, who took part in the Revolution. Edmond watches incomprehensibly as de Villefort burns the letter and Edmond is sent to prison.

Edmond remains in prison for fourteen years. While incarcerated he meets a fellow prisoner who had dug his way into Edmond’s cell. Together Edmond and the old abbe, Faria, devise a plan to escape from the prison. During their short time together Faira reveals a hidden treasure on the Isle of Monte Cristo to his young friend. Unfortunately, the abbe dies before their plans of escape. Edmond, although terribly saddened at his friend’s death, is able to escape and heads to the Isle of Monte Cristo. The islands hides a huge treasure that is all Edmond’s.

With his new fortune, Edmond reenters society under the alias of the Count of Monte Cristo. His new stature allows him to track down the three men that had sent him to prison over a decade ago. Through intricately devised acts, Edmond becomes close to these men and then takes his revenge by taking away what they love most; their wealth and their family.

In the end, love and forgiveness takes precedence. Edmond helps a young couple find love. In return he’s able to live in happiness after being wronged so horribly.