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Jacques Forêt #1
Messandrierre
Sacrificing his job in investigation following an incident in Paris, Jacques Forêt has only a matter of weeks to solve a series of mysterious disappearances as a Gendarme in the rural French village of Messandrierre. But, as the number of missing persons rises, his difficult and hectoring boss puts obstacles in his way. Steely and determined, Jacques won't give up and, when a new Investigating Magistrate is appointed, he becomes the go-to local policeman for all the work on the case. Will he find the perpetrators before his lover, Beth, becomes a victim? Messandrierre – #1 in a new crime series featuring investigator, Jacques Forêt. Read the complete Jaques Forêt Mystery Messandrierre (#1) Merle (#2) Montbel (#3)
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2015
107 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Angela Wren
21 books52 followersI’m an actor and director at a small theatre a few miles from where I live in the county of Yorkshire in the UK. I did work as a project and business change manager – very pressured and very demanding – but I managed to escape and now I write books.
I’ve always loved stories and story telling so it seemed a natural progression, to me, to try my hand at writing and I started with short stories. My first published story was in an anthology, which was put together by the magazine ‘Ireland’s Own’ in 2011.
I particularly enjoy the challenge of plotting and planning different genres of work. My short stories vary between contemporary romance, memoir, mystery and historical. I also write comic flash-fiction and have drafted two one-act plays that have been recorded for local radio.
My full-length stories are set in France where I like to spend as much time as possible each year. I’m currently researching and working on the follow-up to Merle.
I’ve always loved stories and story telling so it seemed a natural progression, to me, to try my hand at writing and I started with short stories. My first published story was in an anthology, which was put together by the magazine ‘Ireland’s Own’ in 2011.
I particularly enjoy the challenge of plotting and planning different genres of work. My short stories vary between contemporary romance, memoir, mystery and historical. I also write comic flash-fiction and have drafted two one-act plays that have been recorded for local radio.
My full-length stories are set in France where I like to spend as much time as possible each year. I’m currently researching and working on the follow-up to Merle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 5, 2016
Jacques Forêt has been "exiled" from his job as a police investigator in Paris to a small town in the country. There, he takes care of boundary disputes between neighbors, poaching and stolen bicycles, and feels completely useless.
We don't learn much about the incident that made him leave the city, but there's no need to. Forêt desperately wishes to leave the past where it was, and that's the way it should be.
But even if not much ever happens in Messandrierre, something seems to be wrong as young people suddenly start to vanish. Forêt, starts investigating the disappearance of a young man and before he knows it, he has 5 or 6 more missing people in his hands. And they might turn out to be dead people. Add to this that one of the suspects is the woman he loves and you have a great thriller in your hands.
There are many twists and turns before the book ends and we discover the killer. The author keeps us guessing throughout the book what is going to happen next.
If, like me, you are a fan of great detective stories, do yourself a favor and pick up this book, it's that good!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
We don't learn much about the incident that made him leave the city, but there's no need to. Forêt desperately wishes to leave the past where it was, and that's the way it should be.
But even if not much ever happens in Messandrierre, something seems to be wrong as young people suddenly start to vanish. Forêt, starts investigating the disappearance of a young man and before he knows it, he has 5 or 6 more missing people in his hands. And they might turn out to be dead people. Add to this that one of the suspects is the woman he loves and you have a great thriller in your hands.
There are many twists and turns before the book ends and we discover the killer. The author keeps us guessing throughout the book what is going to happen next.
If, like me, you are a fan of great detective stories, do yourself a favor and pick up this book, it's that good!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2021
Messandrierre' is a quiet little mystery with a strong sense of place and a slowly growing feeling of menace. This is not a brash, action-packed, melodrama. Like the countryside the story is set in, the mystery is best appreciated calmly and patiently.
Messandrierre is a small, fictional village in the sparsely populated hills of Lozére in Occitanie, not far from Mende. The local Gendarme, Jacques Forêt, is a former Investigator from the Paris police who moved to the village in search of q quieter life after a never fully explained trauma. He spends much of his time resolving disputes between farmers, ensuring cars are taxed and traffic is managed and, during the summer, dealing with the problems caused by the arrival of foreign tourists.
Jacques is determined to leave his Parisian life behind him but he can't rid himself of the analytical mindset he developed there, so, when Missing Persons Reports start to come across his desk, he is the first to recognise the statistical anomaly that they represent and the only one keen to find out what happened to the people who disappeared.
Although much of the book is about Jacque relentlessly but slowly gathering the data that will explain the statistics and lead to a dramatic conclusion, most of the novel is spent bringing the little village to life and establishing Jacques' character. We see the village through the eyes of two outsiders, Jacques with his policeman's jaundiced view, and Beth a recently widowed Englishwoman who has inherited from her husband a second home in the village and with whom Jacques is in love. Using outsiders to view the village means that we get a vivid picture of the village and its people but we never really get inside the heads of the locals. This adds to both the mystery and the menace in the story.
I liked the realistically slow pace of the story and I found the place and the people easy to envisage and believe in.
The mystery itself is a little thin but quite plausible. I thought the ending was a little precipitate but it managed to bring the mystery to a close while opening the door for the next novel.
'Messandrierre' was a promising start to a series that now stands at five books. It's not a series I feel an urge to binge read. It's like a good glass of chardonnay, something to sipped slowly when I'm in the mood for something light but full of flavour.
Messandrierre is a small, fictional village in the sparsely populated hills of Lozére in Occitanie, not far from Mende. The local Gendarme, Jacques Forêt, is a former Investigator from the Paris police who moved to the village in search of q quieter life after a never fully explained trauma. He spends much of his time resolving disputes between farmers, ensuring cars are taxed and traffic is managed and, during the summer, dealing with the problems caused by the arrival of foreign tourists.
Jacques is determined to leave his Parisian life behind him but he can't rid himself of the analytical mindset he developed there, so, when Missing Persons Reports start to come across his desk, he is the first to recognise the statistical anomaly that they represent and the only one keen to find out what happened to the people who disappeared.
Although much of the book is about Jacque relentlessly but slowly gathering the data that will explain the statistics and lead to a dramatic conclusion, most of the novel is spent bringing the little village to life and establishing Jacques' character. We see the village through the eyes of two outsiders, Jacques with his policeman's jaundiced view, and Beth a recently widowed Englishwoman who has inherited from her husband a second home in the village and with whom Jacques is in love. Using outsiders to view the village means that we get a vivid picture of the village and its people but we never really get inside the heads of the locals. This adds to both the mystery and the menace in the story.
I liked the realistically slow pace of the story and I found the place and the people easy to envisage and believe in.
The mystery itself is a little thin but quite plausible. I thought the ending was a little precipitate but it managed to bring the mystery to a close while opening the door for the next novel.
'Messandrierre' was a promising start to a series that now stands at five books. It's not a series I feel an urge to binge read. It's like a good glass of chardonnay, something to sipped slowly when I'm in the mood for something light but full of flavour.
September 13, 2017
I enjoyed every page of this mystery, so read the novel twice. The pace suited the setting that felt as real as the memorable characters. Messandrierre may not exist – or maybe it does. The Cevennes is my favourite region in France, and Angela Wren captures the nuances perfectly. The location came alive so much that I was convinced that I had been there.
The people felt real, from the principals of Jacques and Beth to all the secondary characters that made up the vibrant picture of a French community, and the wider area beyond. Each one had their idiosyncrasies, and some had secrets that added clever threads and red herrings to the mystery.
The plot developed steadily with the additional plotlines adding to the investigation. Jacques is not exactly alone in unravelling who is responsible for the disappearances that set the case simmering.
Messandrierre neatly built to a climax, that I guessed but not in the manner it happened. I was tricked into a bit of wrong thinking a few times – on the first reading. On the second, I saw how Wren had created her cunning red herrings – or should I say harengs rouges.
This novel is a mystery that I highly recommend for those that don't need a fast-roller-coaster ride and want to savour the story. I also recommend Messandrierre for those that like indulging in exploring the France off the beaten track – but don’t expect a tame tourist guide.
Story – five stars
Setting/World-building – five stars
Characters – five stars
Structure – five stars
Readability – five stars
Editing – five stars
The people felt real, from the principals of Jacques and Beth to all the secondary characters that made up the vibrant picture of a French community, and the wider area beyond. Each one had their idiosyncrasies, and some had secrets that added clever threads and red herrings to the mystery.
The plot developed steadily with the additional plotlines adding to the investigation. Jacques is not exactly alone in unravelling who is responsible for the disappearances that set the case simmering.
Messandrierre neatly built to a climax, that I guessed but not in the manner it happened. I was tricked into a bit of wrong thinking a few times – on the first reading. On the second, I saw how Wren had created her cunning red herrings – or should I say harengs rouges.
This novel is a mystery that I highly recommend for those that don't need a fast-roller-coaster ride and want to savour the story. I also recommend Messandrierre for those that like indulging in exploring the France off the beaten track – but don’t expect a tame tourist guide.
Story – five stars
Setting/World-building – five stars
Characters – five stars
Structure – five stars
Readability – five stars
Editing – five stars
February 24, 2016
Strange things happen in small French villages, but the village of Messandrierre seems to have more than just secrets that are waiting to be uncovered. I was gripped from the first mysterious chapter and then we met Jacques Forêt, Gendarme, originally from Paris, with a past and currently not really sure where he belongs. I liked him straight away. He was just the person to unravel the seemingly unrelated events that have been reported in the area and keep an eye on the odd goings on of some of the village residents. He has his own way of working, that doesn’t always tie in with his boss, but his independent rebellious streak just added to his appeal. Someone who tries her best to ignore his appeal is Beth, past love interest of Jacques (lucky lady), back in the village to tie up loose ends before moving on. However, as she tries to sell the chalet she has inherited, it seems to open up her own personal mysteries that need to be solved before she can work out her future. Knowing who to trust is the key.
There are quite a lot of characters to keep track of, I could have done with making notes, and you do need your wits about you as you are reading this book. Angela cleverly drops in scenes from the past, designed to confuse the mind as you go along, but thankfully by the end, all is revealed. I’m hoping to get back to Messandriere with Angela very soon.
This book would be a great read to take on holiday, where you have the time to give it the attention it deserves.
There are quite a lot of characters to keep track of, I could have done with making notes, and you do need your wits about you as you are reading this book. Angela cleverly drops in scenes from the past, designed to confuse the mind as you go along, but thankfully by the end, all is revealed. I’m hoping to get back to Messandriere with Angela very soon.
This book would be a great read to take on holiday, where you have the time to give it the attention it deserves.
April 6, 2017
This is a gripping murder mystery that cannot be put down once you start reading it until you turn the last page.
Boasting a cast list of characters that is like being among your own friends and neighbours they are so real, incredibly detailed surroundings that could almost be your own home town (the story is set in France) it is described so realistically and the plot ties you to the pages and keeps them turning. Throughout all the story builds to a brilliant finale that is completely unseen amid all the twists and turns.
As a clean read with no profanity at all I heartily recommend this book to everyone.
I won a paperback copy of this book on the Words and Peace blog and chose to post a review
Boasting a cast list of characters that is like being among your own friends and neighbours they are so real, incredibly detailed surroundings that could almost be your own home town (the story is set in France) it is described so realistically and the plot ties you to the pages and keeps them turning. Throughout all the story builds to a brilliant finale that is completely unseen amid all the twists and turns.
As a clean read with no profanity at all I heartily recommend this book to everyone.
I won a paperback copy of this book on the Words and Peace blog and chose to post a review
September 26, 2017
Set in Messandrierre, France the story follows Gendarme Jaques Foret's mission to discover the whereabouts of missing tourists. Foret is an enjoyable, attractive character, with all the features that's expected of a French policeman: humour, determination, quirks. He even has a side-kick who I loved: Junior Gendarme Pierre (5 years old) who skids to a halt and gives the perfect salute whenever he meets Foret. The British characters don't come over quite so well, but the atmospheric location totally makes up for that. I look forward to reading more from Ms Wren.
April 25, 2021
A bit disappointing
Firstly, the plot line of a French police investigator in rural village was too similar to Martin Walker's Bruno.
Secondly, I don't like stories that jump back and forth in time with no apparent thread connecting past and present.
Thirdly, there were several unresolved questions by the end.
I think I will stick with Bruno from now on.
Firstly, the plot line of a French police investigator in rural village was too similar to Martin Walker's Bruno.
Secondly, I don't like stories that jump back and forth in time with no apparent thread connecting past and present.
Thirdly, there were several unresolved questions by the end.
I think I will stick with Bruno from now on.
February 23, 2016
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A wonderful preamble to a hearty series.
The plot moves at a rapid fire pace. I was surprised the culprits were revealed so early on yet it didn't diminish the storyline at all. At first I thought the premature unveiling was a red herring, I quickly learned this was not the case. The story progresses subtely demonstrating the menacing intentions of predators. I also enjoyed the gentle romantic undertones between Jacques and Beth in combination with other plot threads, especially of Beth's late husbands shenanigans and secrets.
Jacques is warm and charming, difficult not to find him appealing, enough mystique surrounds him spiking your curiosity. He loves his job although at a crossroads career wise. He appreciates the leisurely pace of village life but misses the intensity of policing a city such as Paris. He attempts to reignite the moody romantic flame with Beth since their interaction has tempered. Overall his essence is palpable. Beth isn't as easy to like as Jacques. She's tepid, self-absorbed, aloof. She seems hot and cold in both behavior and actions regarding Jacques. Tension is thick when Jacques questions Beth in the investigation. Enough is drawn between these two to pique my interest further, the future is up in the air in with this intriguing couple.
A hefty mystery, pleasant setting creating a quaint ambiance. Colorful characters with a mystery offering much more to come leaving the reader guessing at possibilities. Perfect ending causing great anticipation. Looking forward to the plethora of unanswered questions left lingering.
A wonderful preamble to a hearty series.
The plot moves at a rapid fire pace. I was surprised the culprits were revealed so early on yet it didn't diminish the storyline at all. At first I thought the premature unveiling was a red herring, I quickly learned this was not the case. The story progresses subtely demonstrating the menacing intentions of predators. I also enjoyed the gentle romantic undertones between Jacques and Beth in combination with other plot threads, especially of Beth's late husbands shenanigans and secrets.
Jacques is warm and charming, difficult not to find him appealing, enough mystique surrounds him spiking your curiosity. He loves his job although at a crossroads career wise. He appreciates the leisurely pace of village life but misses the intensity of policing a city such as Paris. He attempts to reignite the moody romantic flame with Beth since their interaction has tempered. Overall his essence is palpable. Beth isn't as easy to like as Jacques. She's tepid, self-absorbed, aloof. She seems hot and cold in both behavior and actions regarding Jacques. Tension is thick when Jacques questions Beth in the investigation. Enough is drawn between these two to pique my interest further, the future is up in the air in with this intriguing couple.
A hefty mystery, pleasant setting creating a quaint ambiance. Colorful characters with a mystery offering much more to come leaving the reader guessing at possibilities. Perfect ending causing great anticipation. Looking forward to the plethora of unanswered questions left lingering.
January 21, 2016
Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Cat Publishing for allowing me a review copy of Messandrierre which follows Gendarme Jacques Foret's investigation into the disappearance of Rob Myers, an English student passing through the small village of Messandrierre. The plot thickens when Jacques' former girlfriend, Beth, admits to being the last person to see him and the case is linked to other disappearances in the area.
Messandrierre is a cozy read with an obvious villain so it concentrates on the investigation and Jacques' attempts to rekindle his romance with Beth. Jacques is a very likeable character who left big time policing in Paris for a slower pace of life in the small village of Messandrierre which he has come to dislike as he doesn't get on with his boss and there is little investigating, his first love, to be done, until now! I can't say I took to Beth - secretive and self indulgent are some of the kinder things I could say about her.
The plot held my interest and kept me reading throughout even though you know the perpetrator almost from the start (not always a good thing but it works in this case). I think the flashback chapters to events in the 50s and 60s are superfluous and a bit of a distraction to the main event and lastly I think that the conclusion could do with some fleshing out with more explanation.
All in all I think Messandrierre is a good start to a series. It has some teething problems but nothing serious and I don't hesitate to recommend it as a good read.
Messandrierre is a cozy read with an obvious villain so it concentrates on the investigation and Jacques' attempts to rekindle his romance with Beth. Jacques is a very likeable character who left big time policing in Paris for a slower pace of life in the small village of Messandrierre which he has come to dislike as he doesn't get on with his boss and there is little investigating, his first love, to be done, until now! I can't say I took to Beth - secretive and self indulgent are some of the kinder things I could say about her.
The plot held my interest and kept me reading throughout even though you know the perpetrator almost from the start (not always a good thing but it works in this case). I think the flashback chapters to events in the 50s and 60s are superfluous and a bit of a distraction to the main event and lastly I think that the conclusion could do with some fleshing out with more explanation.
All in all I think Messandrierre is a good start to a series. It has some teething problems but nothing serious and I don't hesitate to recommend it as a good read.
February 21, 2016
I've had a bit of a thing for French mystery novels (having indulged myself in the books put out by publisher Le French Book, for one), and this is another excellent French mystery, albeit less gory than Frederique Molay's novels, for which I was thankful. It's not every day that I want to read about violent, awful, vivid killings.
Forêt is an interesting fellow; he's a former Paris cop now in a small town, and he seems to be still adjusting. He's an occasional babysitter for a five-year-old boy who idolizes him, chasing up those who haven't paid their car tax, and finding stolen bicycles. And then there's the tourists that keep going missing, which no one seems to notice until a young man disappears and his friend insists that he wouldn't have. He definitely was an engaging character, and I was intrigued by his previous history with Englishwoman Beth. I'm hoping there will be another book, so that I can find out more.
This book starts quietly, and you think that nothing bad at all could possibly happen in this small French town, where everyone seems to know everyone else. But as more and more evidence comes to light, it's apparent that not all is what it seems, especially when it comes to the missing tourists.
I'm usually really awful at guessing who the villain(s) is(are), but this one was a little easier than most. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. :) But the book is definitely worth reading, even if it was fairly easy to figure out who (although not necessarily the why).
Forêt is an interesting fellow; he's a former Paris cop now in a small town, and he seems to be still adjusting. He's an occasional babysitter for a five-year-old boy who idolizes him, chasing up those who haven't paid their car tax, and finding stolen bicycles. And then there's the tourists that keep going missing, which no one seems to notice until a young man disappears and his friend insists that he wouldn't have. He definitely was an engaging character, and I was intrigued by his previous history with Englishwoman Beth. I'm hoping there will be another book, so that I can find out more.
This book starts quietly, and you think that nothing bad at all could possibly happen in this small French town, where everyone seems to know everyone else. But as more and more evidence comes to light, it's apparent that not all is what it seems, especially when it comes to the missing tourists.
I'm usually really awful at guessing who the villain(s) is(are), but this one was a little easier than most. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. :) But the book is definitely worth reading, even if it was fairly easy to figure out who (although not necessarily the why).
July 27, 2016
Who did what and when? There’s plenty for Jacques Foret to find out in this story that’s a nice cosy / police mystery. There are various interlinked threads in the story and sufficient clues to make it reasonably easy to work out who has done what and why - the dates on the timeline good indicators for this, though the insertions of these are slightly confusing at first.
I’d like to think that a policeman’s job in rural France wouldn’t normally be so interspersed with disappearances which turn out to have deadly consequences but the situation does make the day a bit busier and a lot more interesting for Gendarme Foret. Amusing interludes and minor dramas of domestic situations in the rural setting are dealt with by Jacques in a competent and sympathetic manner though the reader can tell that this aspect of his job at the beginning of the novel isn’t really satisfying him. A good aspect of these daily dealings is that it allows the author to introduce a neat range of secondary characters for Jacques to interact with. However, investigation is much more appealing to him yet he’s not an intense and driven cop.
Beth has previously had some emotional traumas to deal with, and new shocks to contend which seem even worse, yet I’m afraid I didn’t really empathise with her. She initially comes across to me as very selfish, though that’s less evident towards the end. The romantic element adds a bit of tension as the story progresses and works towards a happier conclusion
I’d like to think that a policeman’s job in rural France wouldn’t normally be so interspersed with disappearances which turn out to have deadly consequences but the situation does make the day a bit busier and a lot more interesting for Gendarme Foret. Amusing interludes and minor dramas of domestic situations in the rural setting are dealt with by Jacques in a competent and sympathetic manner though the reader can tell that this aspect of his job at the beginning of the novel isn’t really satisfying him. A good aspect of these daily dealings is that it allows the author to introduce a neat range of secondary characters for Jacques to interact with. However, investigation is much more appealing to him yet he’s not an intense and driven cop.
Beth has previously had some emotional traumas to deal with, and new shocks to contend which seem even worse, yet I’m afraid I didn’t really empathise with her. She initially comes across to me as very selfish, though that’s less evident towards the end. The romantic element adds a bit of tension as the story progresses and works towards a happier conclusion
July 11, 2017
Jacques Forêt, an intelligent, considerate policeman, is vegetating in the small French village of Messandrierre, after leaving the challenging environment of Paris so he is concerned when his unpleasant commander, Fournier, tells him to ignore the unexplained disappearance of three young adults, last seen nearby. He is determined to continue his investigations, especially when he discovers that there have been more disappearances.
Meanwhile, Beth, a young British widow, has returned to the village intending to sell the cottage her husband had bought, but she is unsettled by the discovery that he had been keeping a secret from her for most of their married life. Jacques tries to persuade her to stay in France but when she appears to be involved in his case, life becomes complicated.
Messandrierre is peopled by an assortment of French and British characters, who might all be suspects and there are plenty of red herrings. The murder mystery is intriguing, as is the on/off romance between Jacques and Beth and the description of this part of rural France is vivid and believable. I look forward to Jacques next investigation in Merle, published this month.
Meanwhile, Beth, a young British widow, has returned to the village intending to sell the cottage her husband had bought, but she is unsettled by the discovery that he had been keeping a secret from her for most of their married life. Jacques tries to persuade her to stay in France but when she appears to be involved in his case, life becomes complicated.
Messandrierre is peopled by an assortment of French and British characters, who might all be suspects and there are plenty of red herrings. The murder mystery is intriguing, as is the on/off romance between Jacques and Beth and the description of this part of rural France is vivid and believable. I look forward to Jacques next investigation in Merle, published this month.
December 16, 2015
Messandrierre is an absorbing, thoughtful read, combining a delightful rural French feel reminiscent of Joanne Harris's Chocolat with a compelling suspense storyline.
Jacques Foret is a worthy hero, determined to serve and protect at all costs, despite the challenges he faces adjusting to village life after a shooting in the line of duty drove him away from Paris. He is called upon to investigate the disappearance of a tourist, but when he begins to suspect links to something bigger, he finds himself in conflict with the authorities as well as the criminals, and soon it's impossible to know who to trust.
Even the object of Jacques' affections, sweet English photographer Beth, falls under suspicion, and although the book was a little slow getting started, the twists and turns as Jacques began to uncover her past and involve her in the investigations really carried me along. Without giving too much away about the ending, the story has a satisfying conclusion which nevertheless leaves the way wide open for sequels. Roll on the next Jacques Foret mystery!
Jacques Foret is a worthy hero, determined to serve and protect at all costs, despite the challenges he faces adjusting to village life after a shooting in the line of duty drove him away from Paris. He is called upon to investigate the disappearance of a tourist, but when he begins to suspect links to something bigger, he finds himself in conflict with the authorities as well as the criminals, and soon it's impossible to know who to trust.
Even the object of Jacques' affections, sweet English photographer Beth, falls under suspicion, and although the book was a little slow getting started, the twists and turns as Jacques began to uncover her past and involve her in the investigations really carried me along. Without giving too much away about the ending, the story has a satisfying conclusion which nevertheless leaves the way wide open for sequels. Roll on the next Jacques Foret mystery!
January 31, 2016
I’ve been broadening my reading lately to include some crime and I bought this because I liked the cover and the title was intriguing. I really enjoyed it. You get your money’s worth in terms of length and content. I found the book easy to read and I liked the descriptions of France. Not too long but enough to really create the atmosphere- it had faint echoes of Mary Stewart in this respect. I liked the main character Jacques. He was quietly sexy and there were hints of a developing relationship with Beth that I hope the author will continue to develop in subsequent books. Although I did guess who the murderer was it didn’t detract from the story as the author managed to create a sinister edge to the story. Overall a great read and I’m looking forward to other books by this author.
December 30, 2015
I received an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a very atmospheric and very "French" kind of mystery novel. A detective called Jacques Foret is investigating the disappearance of a person connected to a woman he used to be close to, Beth. Is she in some way involved in his disappearance? When more people disappear, it is clear that the picture is much more complicated than at first thought.
This novel is enjoyable, but the writing is a little disjointed, and I didn't really manage to connect to any of the characters. Also, I couldn't find anything outstanding or very original in it, anything that stands out and is especially memorable, so I can't really give it more than three stars.
This is a very atmospheric and very "French" kind of mystery novel. A detective called Jacques Foret is investigating the disappearance of a person connected to a woman he used to be close to, Beth. Is she in some way involved in his disappearance? When more people disappear, it is clear that the picture is much more complicated than at first thought.
This novel is enjoyable, but the writing is a little disjointed, and I didn't really manage to connect to any of the characters. Also, I couldn't find anything outstanding or very original in it, anything that stands out and is especially memorable, so I can't really give it more than three stars.
January 8, 2016
Messandrierre is a curl up with a cup of tea and a warm fire kind of mystery. The story is enveloping and has enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. Lots of characters, and I had trouble keeping the minors straight at first. There were references to past events vague enough to make me think I missed something. I actually double checked that this wasn't book 2. Overall though a good mystery with a strong French feel both in location and feeling.
This is the first of a series with investigator Jacques Forêt, and I look forward to more.
Full disclosure - I received an ARC from the publisher and enthralled in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first of a series with investigator Jacques Forêt, and I look forward to more.
Full disclosure - I received an ARC from the publisher and enthralled in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2016
I really enjoyed the way the author effortlessly transported me to the French village where the story unfolds. Jaques is a fabulous hero - an enduring mixture of strength, gentleness and intelligence. I especially loved his funny and poignant interactions with five year old Junior Gendarme Mancelle.
The plot is woven around a series of missing persons that Jacque investigates whilst evaluating, his future in the police force, and his feelings for the lovely Beth who he is in danger of losing.
A captivating crime story with a strong romantic element make this book a great read. Look forward to more of Angela Wren’s work.
The plot is woven around a series of missing persons that Jacque investigates whilst evaluating, his future in the police force, and his feelings for the lovely Beth who he is in danger of losing.
A captivating crime story with a strong romantic element make this book a great read. Look forward to more of Angela Wren’s work.
August 26, 2018
A captivating novel with engaging characters which draws you into an enthralling mystery with an authentic French setting. Highly recommended.
January 22, 2021
I had not picked up any novels by Angela Wren previously. Mistake – big mistake!
The Blurb
Sacrificing his job in investigation following an incident in Paris, Jacques Forêt has only a matter of weeks to solve a series of mysterious disappearances as a Gendarme in the rural French village of Messandrierre.
But, as the number of missing persons rises, his difficult and hectoring boss puts obstacles in his way. Steely and determined, Jacques won’t give up and, when a new Investigating Magistrate is appointed, he becomes the go-to local policeman for all the work on the case.
Will he find the perpetrators before his lover, Beth, becomes a victim?
The Review
Set in France, Messandrierre is the first in the Jaques Foret mysteries written by Angela Wren. (Good! More stories to catch up on!) I really enjoyed the way the author effortlessly transported me to the French village where the story unfolds. Jaques is an engaging hero with an enduring mixture of strength, gentleness and intelligence and just a little bit of pride thrown into the mix. He also has a hilarious fan, little five year old Junior Gendarme Mancelle with whom he has delightful interactions.
The plot is woven around a series of missing persons that Jacques has to investigate while he considers his future in the police force, and his feelings for Beth, whom he adores but who he is in danger of losing.
This is a captivating crime story with a strong romantic element that make this book such a great read. I certainly look forward to more novels by Angela Wren and highly recommend Messandrierre.
The Author
I’m an actor and director at a small theatre a few miles from where I live in the county of Yorkshire in the UK. I did work as a project and business change manager – very pressured and very demanding – but I managed to escape and now I write books.
I’ve always loved stories and story telling so it seemed a natural progression, to me, to try my hand at writing and I started with short stories. My first published story was included an anthology, which was put together by the magazine ‘Ireland’s Own’ in 2011.
I particularly enjoy the challenge of plotting and planning different genres of work. My short stories vary between contemporary romance, memoir, mystery and historical. I also write comic flash-fiction and have drafted two one-act plays that have been recorded for local radio.
My full-length stories are set in France where I like to spend as much time as possible each year. Currently, I’m working on the follow-up stories in my Jacques Forêt series of novels and I continue to write my blog every week where you can find lots of info about France, books, book reviews and author interviews.
Val Penny
The Blurb
Sacrificing his job in investigation following an incident in Paris, Jacques Forêt has only a matter of weeks to solve a series of mysterious disappearances as a Gendarme in the rural French village of Messandrierre.
But, as the number of missing persons rises, his difficult and hectoring boss puts obstacles in his way. Steely and determined, Jacques won’t give up and, when a new Investigating Magistrate is appointed, he becomes the go-to local policeman for all the work on the case.
Will he find the perpetrators before his lover, Beth, becomes a victim?
The Review
Set in France, Messandrierre is the first in the Jaques Foret mysteries written by Angela Wren. (Good! More stories to catch up on!) I really enjoyed the way the author effortlessly transported me to the French village where the story unfolds. Jaques is an engaging hero with an enduring mixture of strength, gentleness and intelligence and just a little bit of pride thrown into the mix. He also has a hilarious fan, little five year old Junior Gendarme Mancelle with whom he has delightful interactions.
The plot is woven around a series of missing persons that Jacques has to investigate while he considers his future in the police force, and his feelings for Beth, whom he adores but who he is in danger of losing.
This is a captivating crime story with a strong romantic element that make this book such a great read. I certainly look forward to more novels by Angela Wren and highly recommend Messandrierre.
The Author
I’m an actor and director at a small theatre a few miles from where I live in the county of Yorkshire in the UK. I did work as a project and business change manager – very pressured and very demanding – but I managed to escape and now I write books.
I’ve always loved stories and story telling so it seemed a natural progression, to me, to try my hand at writing and I started with short stories. My first published story was included an anthology, which was put together by the magazine ‘Ireland’s Own’ in 2011.
I particularly enjoy the challenge of plotting and planning different genres of work. My short stories vary between contemporary romance, memoir, mystery and historical. I also write comic flash-fiction and have drafted two one-act plays that have been recorded for local radio.
My full-length stories are set in France where I like to spend as much time as possible each year. Currently, I’m working on the follow-up stories in my Jacques Forêt series of novels and I continue to write my blog every week where you can find lots of info about France, books, book reviews and author interviews.
Val Penny
July 25, 2024
Messandrierre Angela Wren
This French murder mystery could be described as quaint but I would need to do a lot of qualifying and would have to apologise before even getting down to a real piece of reviewing for sounding patronising. “Messandrierre” just has so much charm to it, and the author is obviously so taken with France and the French that a reader can be excused for overlooking all the other excellent matter in the book – not least the concentration on real police work (often boring and very unsensational), the obvious love-theme, and the daunting adventure that winning a European woman embraces. At times, the European female “attitude” and overbearing belief in your own importance is off-putting but the excellent Jacques manages it in the end. The poisoners are brought to justice and a village boy is enamoured with police work.
Some readers may be put off by the detail, for example the painstaking descriptions of how the heroine manipulates images but I for one just went for the enriching experience of reading a well-plotted novel about “real” crime without sensationalism.
Thanks, Angela Wren, for reinventing France, French village life, and the hidden villainy behind the seemingly ordinary.
This French murder mystery could be described as quaint but I would need to do a lot of qualifying and would have to apologise before even getting down to a real piece of reviewing for sounding patronising. “Messandrierre” just has so much charm to it, and the author is obviously so taken with France and the French that a reader can be excused for overlooking all the other excellent matter in the book – not least the concentration on real police work (often boring and very unsensational), the obvious love-theme, and the daunting adventure that winning a European woman embraces. At times, the European female “attitude” and overbearing belief in your own importance is off-putting but the excellent Jacques manages it in the end. The poisoners are brought to justice and a village boy is enamoured with police work.
Some readers may be put off by the detail, for example the painstaking descriptions of how the heroine manipulates images but I for one just went for the enriching experience of reading a well-plotted novel about “real” crime without sensationalism.
Thanks, Angela Wren, for reinventing France, French village life, and the hidden villainy behind the seemingly ordinary.
May 1, 2020
Jacques Forêt is an interesting character. He delves deep into cases but doesn't enjoy the restrictions placed on him by his superior who prioritizes things based on budget and importance of people involved. As the number of missing people increases, it becomes more difficult to sort fact from fiction. Some people in his village are hiding things and it's his job to find out what without ruffling the feathers of people he is friendly with. Add to that his strained relationship with Beth, making this a lot of stress for one person to handle. Like a terrier, he's determined to get to the bottom of things and shine light on things that were previously hidden as well as go forward with the lady he wants. But does she want him? Or is he just convenient? Time will tell.
April 14, 2024
Although I've followed Angela Wren for some time, I've never read one of her books before. So I began at the beginning and fell in love with Jacques Forêt. However, Beth needn't worry. I will let her have him if she wants. Does she?
But this novel is more than romance. It's a mystery that kept me wondering to the end, asking first who and then why. And the setting of rural France suits it perfectly.
Angela Wren is an excellent writer. She chooses words well and her writing is enhanced by the little things - the nuances, quirks and mannerisms. I'm looking forward to reading more stories by this author.
But this novel is more than romance. It's a mystery that kept me wondering to the end, asking first who and then why. And the setting of rural France suits it perfectly.
Angela Wren is an excellent writer. She chooses words well and her writing is enhanced by the little things - the nuances, quirks and mannerisms. I'm looking forward to reading more stories by this author.
October 1, 2019
It was the setting that drew me to this one and I was not disappointed. Angela Wren conveys a strong sense of both place and community. While this could accurately be described as a police procedural, it depends heavily on the cooperation and contributions of a community. While It has a bit of a Three Pines feel about it, there is a greater sense of rural farming life.
Jacques Foret is a rounded, engaging character with whom we empathise and Beth is a convincing mixture of confidence and naivety.
It has all the ingredients of an addictive series.
Jacques Foret is a rounded, engaging character with whom we empathise and Beth is a convincing mixture of confidence and naivety.
It has all the ingredients of an addictive series.
April 21, 2020
Messandriere
(First in the Jacques Foret Mystery Series)
Angela Wren
French Mystery/Crime
A Parisian police officer relocates to a small village where his biggest crime is a teen going missing for a few days. Then tourists to the local campground begin going missing. While hunting them down, Jacques tries to rekindle a relationship with an English woman back to sell her hunting chalet, who may know more than she's letting on. Do the perfect English couple next door more than they know, or the campground owner?
(First in the Jacques Foret Mystery Series)
Angela Wren
French Mystery/Crime
A Parisian police officer relocates to a small village where his biggest crime is a teen going missing for a few days. Then tourists to the local campground begin going missing. While hunting them down, Jacques tries to rekindle a relationship with an English woman back to sell her hunting chalet, who may know more than she's letting on. Do the perfect English couple next door more than they know, or the campground owner?
September 3, 2019
Rather charming, small-town France mystery, slow-moving but not cosy. Missing tourists, odd locals up to various intrigues, a distressed Englishwoman who might or might not have been deceived by her late husband, and a put-upon local policeman with a past … what else does one need? The investigation speeds up, but not unrealistically, and ends pretty well, for me. I think I’ll probably continue with the series of three books.
May 11, 2021
2.5 stars. I really struggled with this book. I lost track of who was who and where they fit in. I found Jacques more of a lovesick puppy than a policeman. This book just felt disjointed, still cannot figure out why or what part the Deveraux's play in this book. I could not connect to the characters, back stories were hinted at but never explored or explained to my satisfaction. I won't continue with this series evwn though I already bought book 2 along with book 1.
September 19, 2020
Not a bad storyline but some glaring errors. In this novel one of the characters is told to renew his car tax, which of course they don't have in France. In the next novel Jaques is driving Beth's car and his gendarme friend asks if he is insured to drive her car - in France it is the car that is insured, not the driver.
March 26, 2021
Enjoyed this book and looking forward to the next in the series. I found the main characters quite engaging although the flashbacks were a little distracting. I also felt that an explanation of the relationship between Messandrierre and Mende would have been helpful. Without giving anything away, I did suspect the culprits but didn't expect the way it was resolved. Very good read.
July 8, 2018
Really enjoyable story
Intriguing story. Keeps you guessing all the way through. It also has a real charm about it, wonderfully atmospheric. Please keep on with this series. Am now going to read the next one.
Intriguing story. Keeps you guessing all the way through. It also has a real charm about it, wonderfully atmospheric. Please keep on with this series. Am now going to read the next one.
February 8, 2019
This is a delightful tale, a cozy mystery with some romance tossed in as well. I thoroughly enjoyed Angela's writing style. Foret is a likable character and he's tenacious seeking for clues and answers.
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