Duke de Richleau Series by Dennis Wheatley, Nick Mercer

The prequel which introduces one of his favourite characters, the Duc de Richleau. The story interleaves the Duc's early life and introduction to occultism with accurately-researched French history and political intrigue from La Belle Epoque.

31 May 1906 - 14 Sep 1909Spain in 1906. The Duke de Richleau has not yet succeeded his father, and is still the Count de Quesnoy. Anarchism, then, permeated every country in Europe. Not a night passes without groups of fanatics meeting in cellars to plan attempts with knives, pistols or bombs against the representatives of law and order. An historic bomb outrage gives de Quesnoy ample cause to vow vengeance on the assassins... more31 May 1906 - 14 Sep 1909Spain in 1906. The Duke de Richleau has not yet succeeded his father, and is still the Count de Quesnoy. Anarchism, then, permeated every country in Europe. Not a night passes without groups of fanatics meeting in cellars to plan attempts with knives, pistols or bombs against the representatives of law and order. An historic bomb outrage gives de Quesnoy ample cause to vow vengeance on the assassins. His attempt to penetrate anarchist circles in Barcelona nearly costs him his life. In San Sebastian, Granada and Cadiz he hunts and is hunted by them in a ruthless vendetta. Against this background a bitter-sweet romance develops between him and the beautiful Condesa Gulia. less

Apr 1914 - 18 Sep 1914Spring 1914. At a masked ball, the Duke de Richleau has an intriguing meeting with a beautiful woman.An incident that was to lead the Duke into a series of desperate adventures as he became involved, firstly with The Black Hand, a Serbian, secret, terrorist society, and then, as a British secret agent, at the Austrian Supreme Headquarters... moreApr 1914 - 18 Sep 1914Spring 1914. At a masked ball, the Duke de Richleau has an intriguing meeting with a beautiful woman.An incident that was to lead the Duke into a series of desperate adventures as he became involved, firstly with The Black Hand, a Serbian, secret, terrorist society, and then, as a British secret agent, at the Austrian Supreme Headquarters.Finally, at the Kaiser's headquarters, he was to take a hand in the Battle of the Marne – the operation that shattered Germany's chance of victory.And through the violence, intrigue and hair's-breadth escapes, there runs also the story of a great love. less

22 Nov 1931 - Jun 1932MURDERin the rich atmosphere of London's Clubland – here is Dennis Wheatley at his thrilling best.MEETa somewhat unusual detective force: the connoisseur Duke de Richleau, a husky American millionaire and a young man-about-town on a charge of matricide.FOLLOWthe delicious young Lady Felicity and you have a sensational love-affair on your hands... more22 Nov 1931 - Jun 1932MURDERin the rich atmosphere of London's Clubland – here is Dennis Wheatley at his thrilling best.MEETa somewhat unusual detective force: the connoisseur Duke de Richleau, a husky American millionaire and a young man-about-town on a charge of matricide.FOLLOWthe delicious young Lady Felicity and you have a sensational love-affair on your hands.PLANTa dead body in a bath and go to tea with an old lady in Sussex, and you have a twist that only Wheatley can give to a first-rate crime story. less

Dennis Wheatley’s first published novel, introducing his modern trinity of musketeers in the epicurean Duc de Richleau, financier Simon Aron, and the wealthy young American, Rex Van Ryn.The Duc receives a coded message from his missing friend Van Ryn who, while hunting for treasure lost during the Soviet takeover of Russia, is now in prison somewhere in that vast country. Along with the Duc, good friends Simon Aron and Richard Eaton set off on a secret mission to secure his escape... moreDennis Wheatley’s first published novel, introducing his modern trinity of musketeers in the epicurean Duc de Richleau, financier Simon Aron, and the wealthy young American, Rex Van Ryn.The Duc receives a coded message from his missing friend Van Ryn who, while hunting for treasure lost during the Soviet takeover of Russia, is now in prison somewhere in that vast country. Along with the Duc, good friends Simon Aron and Richard Eaton set off on a secret mission to secure his escape. Without official papers they lead a thrilling caper, hunted by the Secret Police, through Siberia and across the plains of Soviet Russia.Dennis Yates Wheatley (1897—1977) was an English author whose prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's bestselling writers from the 1930s through the 1960s. His Gregory Sallust series was one of the main inspirations for Ian Fleming's James Bond stories.Born in South London, he was the eldest of three children of an upper-middle-class family, the owners of Wheatley & Son of Mayfair, a wine business. He admitted to little aptitude for schooling, and was expelled from Dulwich College. Soon after his expulsion Wheatley became a British Merchant Navy officer cadet on the training ship HMS Worcester. During the Second World War, Wheatley was a member of the London Controlling Section, which secretly coordinated strategic military deception and cover plans. His literary talents gained him employment with planning staffs for the War Office. He wrote numerous papers for the War Office, including suggestions for dealing with a German invasion of Britain. Dennis Wheatley died on 11th November 1977. During his life he wrote over 70 books and sold over 50 million copies. less

29 Apr 1935 - 4 May 1935Black Magic is still practised in all the great cities of the world. This novel tells with macabre detail of a beautiful woman caught in a web of Satanists, of a young man brought to the verge of madness through his dabbling with the powers of evil.As in Dennis Wheatley's The Forbidden Territory we meet the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, the Princess Marie Lou, and other characters... more29 Apr 1935 - 4 May 1935Black Magic is still practised in all the great cities of the world. This novel tells with macabre detail of a beautiful woman caught in a web of Satanists, of a young man brought to the verge of madness through his dabbling with the powers of evil.As in Dennis Wheatley's The Forbidden Territory we meet the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, the Princess Marie Lou, and other characters. From London to the West Country, from the slums of Paris to a Christian monastery, the action of this powerful occult thriller moves with fantastic, compelling force.. less

2 Jul 1936 - 7 Dec 1936Spain writhed in the torment of Civil War. In a Madrid bank lay ten tons of gold: and both sides wanted it. Its owner was the lovely Countess Lucretia Coralles – who, known to the rebels as 'the golden Spaniard', led the double life of a secret agent... more2 Jul 1936 - 7 Dec 1936Spain writhed in the torment of Civil War. In a Madrid bank lay ten tons of gold: and both sides wanted it. Its owner was the lovely Countess Lucretia Coralles – who, known to the rebels as 'the golden Spaniard', led the double life of a secret agent.She had other secrets too – and one of them was the reason why the Duke de Richleau responded so quickly to her appeal for help, throwing himself into the desperate struggle in which his own closest companions of earlier adventures were now his most dangerous foes. . . . less

28 Jul 1939 - Oct 1939When the Second World War opened, the Duke de Richleau and his friends Simon Aron, Rex van Ryn and Richard Eaton–the indomitable four–were in Poland. Here is the story of how they came to be there and found themselves even before the outbreak of hostilities involved in a most damnable conspiracy... more28 Jul 1939 - Oct 1939When the Second World War opened, the Duke de Richleau and his friends Simon Aron, Rex van Ryn and Richard Eaton–the indomitable four–were in Poland. Here is the story of how they came to be there and found themselves even before the outbreak of hostilities involved in a most damnable conspiracy. In Codeword–Golden Fleece the scenes of intrigue, violence and escape in Warsaw are exceeded only by those which follow in Bucharest–whence the friends are carried in a desperate attempt to sabotage Hitler's war economy and force Germany to ask for peace before she can muster her full might for an assault on Western Europe.(1963 Arrow): It can now be revealed that the plot of Codeword–Golden Fleece is based on fact. Actually, it was given to Dennis Wheatley when he was a member of the Joint Planning Staff of the War Cabinet by a Foreign Office colleague there. On behalf of the Allied governments a French nobleman did actually succeed in acquiring a controlling interest in the Danube oil barges and their tugs. The Germans failed with the Vichy government in an action for its return and half the Fleet had been got out to Turkish waters. Supplies of fuel for the Luftwaffe were seriously crippled by this ingenious secret stroke. less

When the bombs fall on London, the elderly Duke de Richleau is forced to consider a problem of the utmost urgency. What methods are the Germans using to discover—with sinister effect—the secret routes of the Atlantic convoys? His answer is bizarre and fantastic... moreWhen the bombs fall on London, the elderly Duke de Richleau is forced to consider a problem of the utmost urgency. What methods are the Germans using to discover—with sinister effect—the secret routes of the Atlantic convoys? His answer is bizarre and fantastic. Could it really be that the enemy are in touch with supernatural powers? Can these powers only be overcome by those who have the knowledge and courage to join battle with them on the Astral Plane? The Duke and his supporters face the terrifying challenge from the Powers of Darkness.Dennis Yates Wheatley (1897—1977) was an English author whose prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's bestselling writers from the 1930s through the 1960s. His Gregory Sallust series was one of the main inspirations for Ian Fleming's James Bond stories.Born in South London, he was the eldest of three children of an upper-middle-class family, the owners of Wheatley & Son of Mayfair, a wine business. He admitted to little aptitude for schooling, and was expelled from Dulwich College. Soon after his expulsion Wheatley became a British Merchant Navy officer cadet on the training ship HMS Worcester. During the Second World War, Wheatley was a member of the London Controlling Section, which secretly coordinated strategic military deception and cover plans. His literary talents gained him employment with planning staffs for the War Office. He wrote numerous papers for the War Office, including suggestions for dealing with a German invasion of Britain. Dennis Wheatley died on 11th November 1977. During his life he wrote over 70 books and sold over 50 million copies. less

The door was not locked, and opened easily. He switched on the light, and Richard followed him into the room. Nella lay on the bed. She had on the nightdress she had been lent, but the bedclothes had been pulled halfway down. Her head was twisted back grotesquely. Her mouth gaped open and her tongue had been cut out. It had been carefully placed in the valley between her naked breasts.The Duke de Richleau and his friends had faced many dangers in Russia, Spain, and Nazi Germany... moreThe door was not locked, and opened easily. He switched on the light, and Richard followed him into the room. Nella lay on the bed. She had on the nightdress she had been lent, but the bedclothes had been pulled halfway down. Her head was twisted back grotesquely. Her mouth gaped open and her tongue had been cut out. It had been carefully placed in the valley between her naked breasts.The Duke de Richleau and his friends had faced many dangers in Russia, Spain, and Nazi Germany. Now, a new and unexpected menace confronts them: The fourth member of their group, Rex van Ryn, is missing—and he has made off with more than a million dollars from the Buenos Aires branch of his family bank. Behind the conventional courtesy of Argentinian society lies a conspiracy of terror and silence—and a trail that leads straight to the Devil himself.... less

18 Apr 1958 - Nov 1960The Duke de Richleau together with his friends, Richard Eaton, Rex van Ryn and Simon Aron – the Modern Musketeers, have faced many hair-raising adventures together. Now there enter Rex's son and Fleur, Richard Eaton's daughter. Fleur who believes in all the freedoms, including that of sex.But interwoven with the the story of Fleur's love life is a story of a strange inheritance that draws the whole party to Ceylon; and in Ceylon to face theft, murder, arson and blackmail... more18 Apr 1958 - Nov 1960The Duke de Richleau together with his friends, Richard Eaton, Rex van Ryn and Simon Aron – the Modern Musketeers, have faced many hair-raising adventures together. Now there enter Rex's son and Fleur, Richard Eaton's daughter. Fleur who believes in all the freedoms, including that of sex.But interwoven with the the story of Fleur's love life is a story of a strange inheritance that draws the whole party to Ceylon; and in Ceylon to face theft, murder, arson and blackmail. Until finally de Richleau has to take a last desperate gamble, alone, to save his friends. less