A scandal that shook a kingdom. A fraud that helped topple a dynasty. In the glittering court of Versailles, one extraordinary jewel ignited one of the most infamous scandals in history. A priceless diamond necklace. A disgraced cardinal. A cunning con artist. And a queen whose reputation would never recover. When Cardinal Louis René Édouard de Rohan secretly acquires a breathtaking necklace—believing he is acting on behalf of Marie Antoinette—he is drawn into a web of deception more dangerous than he could ever imagine. The diamonds vanish. Paris erupts with rumors and outrage. Pamphlets spread like wildfire. The monarchy stands accused. As the truth unravels, a sensational trial before the Parlement of Paris exposes a shocking conspiracy of ambition, forgery, and manipulation. At its center: a fraud so audacious it will leave the royal court humiliated and the public thirsting for justice. In The Queen’s Necklace, Julien Peltier masterfully reconstructs the real story behind the Affair of the Diamond Necklace—blending meticulous research with the pace of a thriller. From clandestine meetings in moonlit gardens to explosive courtroom drama, this is a true story of intrigue, betrayal, and the devastating power of scandal. Because sometimes, a lie can bring down a monarchy.