The Pale Assassin is the first book in the Pimpernelles series written by Patricia Elliott.
Eugénie de Bonceaur is a spoiled French aristocrat. Her parents are both dead, and she lives with her guardian and, until he goes off to law school, her older brother Armand. Unbeknownst to Eugénie, her guardian has signed a contract stating that she is to marry Raoul de Goullet when she turns sixteen. Not only is Goullet more than three times her age, but he is also out for revenge against her father who had humiliated him when Eugénie was around four-years-old, and his revenge includes marrying Bonceaur's daughter.
When the French Revolution shifts into gear, things become unsafe for Eugénie is forced to flee the convent she had been staying at after it is attacked. Afterwards, to keep her safe from peasants out to kill all aristocrats - and to keep Goullet from finding her - Armand sends Eugénie away.
Despite being hidden away, Eugénie is still one of many caught up in the French Revolution. She is faced with rebellion, spies, treachery, and love in her quest for survival.
Tropes in this novel are:
- Action Girl: Hortense ends up proving to be quite the action girl, killing two guards, and supposedly two elderly siblings, in her quest to help Eugénie and Julien escape
- Arranged Marriage: Eugénie and Goullet
- Big Brother Instinct: Armand always thinks of Eugénie and considers her safety, though sometimes it seems to be more out of a sense of duty than love for his sister
- Historical Fiction: Revolving around the events of the French Revolution, and even featuring some real historical figures
- La Résistance: French Revolution
- Narrative Profanity Filter: Eugénie hears Jem say a word in English that she does not recognize. However, upon hearing it, she is convinced that it's meaning is probably not an appropriate one.
- Spoiled Brat: Eugénie
- Sword Fight: Between Julien and Le Scalpel, almost twice
- The Dark Side Will Make You Forget: While not exactly evil, Hortense becomes extremely cold upon meeting Eugénie again. She seems to hold much contempt for Eugénie, and is even described as looking as though she had died inside
- The Vamp: Le Scalpel, mainly when he makes Eugénie fall for him so that he can get her alone and kidnap her to bring her to Goullet. His charm also helps him getting information from ladies.
- Title Drop: one of the times Eugénie and Goullet come face-to-face, he is referred to as "the pale assassin"
- Tsundere: Eugénie and Julien. She specifically states that she hates him several times, and he expresses that he views her as an ignorant brat, and yet overtime the two slowly end up growing on one another.
- Two Aliases, One Character: Guy Dechamps is actually Le Scalpel
