Smoke in the Cypress: A Napoleonic Officer in New Orleans

A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars travels from France to Louisiana to rescue a young French noblewoman, but is quickly ensnared in a complex web of intrigue and violence.

As the War of 1812 rages, Marcel Moreau, wounded in service with Napoleon’s Grand Armée, must journey to New Orleans to find Celeste de Beaumais, a young aristocrat who has fled her family and found herself on a sprawling Louisiana plantation. 

Standing in Moreau’s way are a motley array of soldiers, slave catchers, marooned slaves, and Baratarian pirates—all of whom have their own interests in and around New Orleans. If Moreau can manage to evade these groups and bring Celeste home before the end of the year, he may survive to repay the bounty on his head. 

With the looming arrival of a massive English fleet on the horizon, Moreau will come face to face with the outgunned and outnumbered French-speaking Louisiana militia, who stand to benefit from his many years of service fighting in Napoleon’s armies…but have no interest in setting him free to carry out his mission.