Murder in the Rue Dumas: A Verlaque and Bonnet Mystery: 2 (Provençal Mystery)

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Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail—great wine, delicious meals, and fine company.”— Publishers Weekly Longworth was born in Toronto and moved to Aix in 1997. She has been influenced by Barbara Pym, and her mysteries are like "intricate puzzles". Longworth also teaches writing at NYU Paris. [3] Bibliography [ edit ] Another egregious plot device which made me want to throw the book across the room was that our hero, a JUDGE, deliberately breaks into premises outside his jurisdiction with his accomplice a LAW PROFESSOR, based on nothing more than a hunch and conjecture. In the real world they would both have been fired and prosecuted, not been invited to dinner. And they aren't even contrite about it. Even so, the whole sequence should have been resolved with a simple telephone call (which, in a way, it ultimately is).

This is clearly an author who loves that region, and wanted to write about it, and invented these characters so they could explore. In 2021, it was announced that BritBox planned to adapt Longworth’s novels into a series titled Murder In Provence. [1] The series debuted in March 2022 with co-stars Endeavour actor Roger Allam in the lead role of Antoine Verlaque, alongside Nancy Carroll ( The Crown) as his romantic partner Marine Bonnet. [2] Samen met zijn rechterhand Bruno Paulik wordt Antoine Verlaque aangesteld om deze zaak te onderzoeken. Ze ondervragen faculteitsmedewerkers, docenten en studenten, trekken alibi’s na, doorzoeken zijn kantoor en woonruimte en komen erachter dat Moutte een man was die mensen regelmatig tegen elkaar uitspeelde en niet door iedereen aimabel werd gevonden. Daarnaast ontdekken ze dat hij naast zijn werk nog een andere passie had, die een extra onderzoekslijn oplevert. De ondervraagden hebben allemaal hun eigen verhaal, laten niet direct het achterste van hun tong zien en het verdachtenlijstje wordt niet vlot ingekort, er worden eerder mensen aan toegevoegd.Longworth is an engaging and entertaining writer who holds readers with not only interesting tidbits (such as dropping into Les Deux Garcons, the café where Cezanne and Zola once exchanged ideas), and the badinage between Verlaque and Bonnet while at the same time spinning a mystery. While life seems to be going well for the pair, it all of a sudden comes crashing down when a professor is murdered just before he was due to retire. First Sentence: The friendship between Yann Falquerho and Thierry Marchive had surprised everyone at the university. Death at the Château Bremontoffers charming French locales, vivid characters and an intriguing who-done-it.”—Kevin R. Kosar, author of Whiskey: A Global History

Their relationship is a focal point of the series, as their relationship often gets in the way of the murder mystery. The pair investigate murders, mysteries and the dark underbelly of their idyllic home in the south of France. The head of Aix University’s Theology is expected to announce both the winner of the prestigious Dumas fellowship, and, with his retirement, the appointment of his successor—who will acquire his very luxurious apartment. Before any of this occurs, he is found having been murdered in his office. Police commissioner Bruno Paulik, his boss examining magistrate Judge Antoine Verlaque, and the judge’s lover, law professor Marine Bonnet, seek the killer Longworth has a good eye and a sharp wit, and this introduction to Verlaque and Bonnet holds promise for a terrific series.”— The Globe and Mail When Dr. Georges Moutte is found mudrered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Université d’Aix had his enemies. Moutte was just about to name the recipient of an elite fellowship as well as his own successor—a highly coveted position—when his lips were sealed permanently. But Verlaque isn’t convinced that anyone in the tiny community of academics is capable of murder.For the general plot and mystery I can't say I love it because the book is bogged down with too many characters. There are too many changing POVs and the mystery proceeds slowly because so much is going on. Professor Moutte, the Doyen of the School of Theology at the University of Aix, is found murdered in his office. The murder occurred just after he announced that he would not be retiring. His announcement affected three of his colleagues who thought they in the mix for his prestigious position. Also affected were 4 post-graduate students in the competition for the lucrative Dumas Fellowship. Two days later, the professor’s secretary was killed in a hit and run accident. Coincidence or related to the murder? Into this turmoil, another crime is added – art glass forgery. Disaster at the Vendome Theater (A Provençal Mystery Book 10), Penguin USA (Release date: October 4, 2022) In het eerste hoofdstuk is te lezen dat Yann en Thierry, twee goede vrienden, op weg zijn een feestje. Het begint allemaal heel “cosy” en Longworth neemt uitgebreid de tijd om de personages voor te stellen en de omgeving te omschrijven. Hieruit blijkt maar weer dat ze hier een kei in is. The investigation is headed by Verlaque, a judge who maintains good relations with the men he works with as well as benefiting from the helping hand of his girlfriend, Marine Bonnet, a law professor.

The plot was of a kind that I prefer ie with a small group of suspects and clear motive potential. I didnt spot the culprit but that didnt spoil my enjoyment of the read. Furthermore, a suspect with Church connections would have made a very worthwhile and entertaining addition to the mix of potential wrong-doers (and motives), an opportunity lost through bad preparation. Spoiler: the who-why-how is one of the weakest I have ever encountered in a murder mystery. Mystery and romance served up with a hearty dose of French cuisine. I relished every word. Longworth does for Aix-en-Provence what Frances Mayes does for Tuscany: You want to be there—NOW!”—Barbara Fairchild, former editor in chief, Bon AppétitDoor alle verschillende verdachten zit er redelijk wat vaart in het verhaal, er moet veel worden onderzocht en er is minder ruimte voor uitgebreide beschrijvingen, al wordt er zeker nog voldoende gepraat over eten, drinken en sigaren, (culturele) geschiedenis, de onderlinge relaties en het persoonlijke leven van de personages. Dat draagt bij aan de sfeer die de auteur neerzet, maar hierdoor zitten er ook wel wat dalen in de spanningsboog, op een gegeven moment hoop je toch dat er vooral wordt toegewerkt naar de ontknoping. De weg daarnaartoe leidt je door verschillende landen en plaatsen, langs kunst en vervalsingen, geheimen, achterliggende motieven en de lastig doordringbare academische wereld. We meet the group of Theologians at a grand party being held by Moutte, the man in charge. He has promised to name the recipient of the Dumas fellowship for which there are several competing and hopeful candidates, but instead he drops a bomb that he is not going to retire. His position included deluxe rent-free housing in the best part of Aix-en-Provence in addition to other benefits. The ITV series is not based on a true story but has been adapted from the books of M.L. Longworth and Downton Abbey writer Shelagh Stephenson. The setting is a smallish picturesque town in southern France named Aix-en-Provence. The main characters are Verlaque (a criminal judge) and his assistants and Marine Bonnet, a law professor and his girlfriend. The latest book in the Verlaque & Bonnet Mystery series, The Curse of La Fontaine, is available now from Penguin Books!

Brian Keen asked: "Can't they make it a little bit more watchable and try French accents to show us who's who?" Bonnet, actually, is not a detective at all. She's Verlaque's girlfriend, who, I presume, he hooked up with in the first book. Their relationship is in that awkward phase where neither is quite sure how serious it is. Bonnet does help some with the case, but is, largely, on the periphery. I do like her, and I like that she isn't his partner, as that changes up typical dynamics a bit. I was not super attached to the characters, but I was entertained by them, which was enough for me. Episode two, which is called Death at Chateau de Bremont, reads: "Now working as a consultant for the police, Marine helps Antione and Hélène investigate the death of an aristocrat, found dead at his crumbling chateau.

Although the author is British, her absolute love of all things French and Italian, shines through. Almost more than anything else, the book is a delight to read for its detailed descriptions of foods and wines, while art—I’d not known before of Gallés glass and ex-votos--, history—during the plague, the town fathers of Aix closed the city gates resulting in the plague passing without the loss of a single life in Aix--, literature—“What will survive of us is love.”--, and the French countryside receive their fair share of attention, as well. Another tedious repetition was the author showing off her knowledge of Aix, providing detailed steet-by-street, turn-by-turn routes various people walk through the city (sometimes including non-existent street names for no apparent reason). Enough! I think this is the first murder mystery I have read with references to Persian Letters by Montesquieu - a discussion I enjoyed so much I plan to read it again very soon. Longworth’s novels . . . are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served.”— Booklist