Death and Déjà Vu: Follet Valley Mystery, Book 6

by Ian Moore

Richard Ainsworth moved to rural France to escape, so being voted mayor of the small town of Saint-Sauver comes as a terrible shock. Fortunately bureaucracy has its benefits and he is shipped off to a health spa to recuperate.

The Esprit de l'Air is a world-famous venue on an island fort off the west coast of France, and was chosen specifically by his business partner and bounty hunter of international repute, Valérie d'Orçay. Richard should have been prepared then.

After a dramatic first night where a bizarre and unfriendly group of guests are pitched against each other, Richard's film-historian mind wanders. Has he seen this all before? And when the first body turns up, he knows he has...

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Published June 4, 2026

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Reviews

[Claire Smith-Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this may be my favourite of the series so far, with the liberal sprinkling of nods to Agatha Christie and the exotic James Bondesque location it was a fantastic read.

Richard and Valèrie make such a great team, with Valèrie's forthright French manner and ambiguous past mixing so well with the solidly reliable British Richard and his dry humour. The pair are often at odds with each other and approach the situations differently, but that only adds to the charm of these books to see them bickering whilst Richard yearns for more from his business partner.

The book has suspicion and twists with hidden identities, past traumas and misunderstandings aplenty to keep the fast paced plot moving on. The remote location was a great idea and added to the tense atmosphere as the body count grew.

Parfait! Highly recommended if you like M.C Beaton or S J Bennett books. A fabulous cosy murder mystery perfect for reading in the summer sun.

Despite his very very best efforts Richard has somehow managed to be elected the new mayor. Taking the news badly, it's pronounced that he needs a restorative break paid for by the tax payer. Richard is shipped off to a relaxing spa, but a slight diversion sees him on an isolated and exclusive sea fort with a very eclectic bunch of business people all suffering burn out. Things quickly descend into chaos when a guest is murdered, but thankfully Richard and Valèrie are on the spot to start the investigation. Expect twists, red herrings and old secrets to come tumbling out from this isolated place with a few extra deaths thrown in to keep the atmosphere tense.

Thank you to the author and publishers for my advanced copy.

[Piers Emmerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

his best so far i think. very much enjoyed the christie influences that were self aware but didn’t influence the story a lot

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant fun.

[Louise Cave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite in the series - it got wrapped up too quickly towards the end that left me with lots of plot questions.
Though as comical as always!