Chronique du crime et de l'innocence, tome 7/8

A sweeping chronicle of France’s darkest moments, this volume gathers the most notorious crimes—from poisonings and assassinations to massacres and parricides—spanning the entire history of the monarchy to the early nineteenth century. Drawn from old chronicles, judicial reports and contemporary gazettes, the collection reads like a somber museum of human folly, each entry offering a glimpse into the social and legal forces that shaped a nation’s sense of justice.

Among the many cases, the story of a once‑respected parish priest, Étienne Pacot, stands out. After surviving the turmoil of the Revolution, Pacot retreats to his estate in Bourberain, only to be haunted by the violent thief Prétot, who repeatedly attempts murder and later claims a mysterious poisoning. As the community grapples with conflicting testimonies and a fragile legal system, Pacot’s desperate pleas expose how easily innocence can be swallowed by the very institutions meant to protect it. The early chapters set the stage for a tense investigation into truth, revenge, and the limits of law.