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Verlaque and Bonnet #2
Morderstwo przy rue Dumas
Druga książka z porywającej serii Verlaque i Bonnet na tropie przedstawia kolejną intrygującą zagadkę kryminalną. Tym razem akcja rozgrywa się w małej społeczności studentów i wykładowców teologii na uniwersytecie w Aix-en-Provence.
Kiedy dziekan Wydziału Teologii na Uniwersytecie w Aix zostaje znaleziony martwy, sędzia Verlaque nie może wyjść ze zdumienia. Profesor Moutte miał właśnie ogłosić nazwisko zdobywcy prestiżowego stypendium, a także mianować swojego następcę, który zamieszka w budzącym powszechne pożądanie apartamencie w siedemnastowiecznej rezydencji. Na długiej liście podejrzanych znaleźli się potencjalni beneficjenci stypendium i inne osoby bliskie profesorowi, jednak Verlaque wątpi, że ktokolwiek spośród gorliwych studentów lub ich zdesperowanych nauczycieli jest zdolny do morderstwa. Musi więc kopać głębiej. Z pomocą Marine oraz jej dzielnej matki Verlaque odkrywa świat, który jest bardziej skomplikowany niż polityka uniwersytetu.
Kiedy dziekan Wydziału Teologii na Uniwersytecie w Aix zostaje znaleziony martwy, sędzia Verlaque nie może wyjść ze zdumienia. Profesor Moutte miał właśnie ogłosić nazwisko zdobywcy prestiżowego stypendium, a także mianować swojego następcę, który zamieszka w budzącym powszechne pożądanie apartamencie w siedemnastowiecznej rezydencji. Na długiej liście podejrzanych znaleźli się potencjalni beneficjenci stypendium i inne osoby bliskie profesorowi, jednak Verlaque wątpi, że ktokolwiek spośród gorliwych studentów lub ich zdesperowanych nauczycieli jest zdolny do morderstwa. Musi więc kopać głębiej. Z pomocą Marine oraz jej dzielnej matki Verlaque odkrywa świat, który jest bardziej skomplikowany niż polityka uniwersytetu.
318 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2012
278 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Longworth
11 books481 followersM. L . Longworth has written for The Washington Post, The Times (London), The Independent, and Bon Appétit magazine. She divides her time between Aix-en-Provence, where she writes, and Paris, where she teaches writing at New York University's Paris campus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
November 4, 2019
Due to a review by another reader here on goodreads, I took a chance on checking out several books by Longworth from this series. I honestly chose them from the shelf per condition of books as I don't like older, dirtier books. Thus..I start my adventure with book #2 of the Verlaque/Bonnet series.
I am so delighted after reading this satisfying book I could break out in dance.
I enjoy college settings for murder mysteries and this has the added bonus of wrong doers and victims being part of the Theology Department at Universite' d'Aix.
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.
This announcement is met with dire consequences, including his death later that night.
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.
There are interesting road trips, discussions about books,art and antiquities, enjoyment of foods and wines of the country and some heroic acts now and then by several players. I can't wait to start reading the next on the stack.
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.
The relationship of Verlaque and Bonnet is also gratifying.
Library Loan
I am so delighted after reading this satisfying book I could break out in dance.
I enjoy college settings for murder mysteries and this has the added bonus of wrong doers and victims being part of the Theology Department at Universite' d'Aix.
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.
This announcement is met with dire consequences, including his death later that night.
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.
There are interesting road trips, discussions about books,art and antiquities, enjoyment of foods and wines of the country and some heroic acts now and then by several players. I can't wait to start reading the next on the stack.
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.
The relationship of Verlaque and Bonnet is also gratifying.
Library Loan
December 2, 2012
If you’d like an intriguing mystery story peopled with unique characters, enhanced with descriptions of mouth watering edibles and lush pictures of the Italian and French country side Murder in the Rue Dumas is the book for you.
M. L. Longworth who also penned Death at the Chateau Bremont (2011) has lived in Aix-en-Provence for the past 15 or so years, and has written for major publications regarding this region. One can only assume that she loves her adopted home from the warm descriptions of places and food included in her story. Rather than hindering the mystery they simply serve to enrich and vivify it.
Making a return appearance in Longworth’s second mystery are magistrate Antoine Verlaque and his girlfriend law professor Marine Bonnet. He has been called to investigate the murder of Dr. Georges Moutte, chair of the Theology Department at the University d’Aix. Moutte’s soon-to-be retirement has become a permanent one, hastened by blows to his head delivered by a blunt instrument. Verlaque is assisted by Paulik in interrogating faculty members, students, and those in attendance at a party the night before.
Each interviewee has a story to tell, always a fascinating one. Initially two students who had broken into Moutte’s office to find out who had won a prestigious fellowship are prime suspects but quickly fall to the bottom of the list as Moutte’s other involvements are discovered.
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.
This reader is delighted to have discovered Longworth and looks forward to her next novel.
- Gail Cooke
October 23, 2016
The Verlaque and Bonnet mystery novels are, now that I think about it, more about Provence and its culture, history and wines than it is about the mystery.
This is clearly an author who loves that region, and wanted to write about it, and invented these characters so they could explore.
Thats all very well and good, but I think the mystery element suffers for it. I spent more time enjoying the discussions of the regions than being even slightly interested in the crime, or who might have done it.
And as a personal peeve, this book makes sure on several occasions to assure us that the main female character is beautiful. Several characters describe her as beautiful, and a great deal of energy is spent making sure we know she's good looking. That would be one thing if it was in some way important to the plot, but as it isn't, it irks me.
This is clearly an author who loves that region, and wanted to write about it, and invented these characters so they could explore.
Thats all very well and good, but I think the mystery element suffers for it. I spent more time enjoying the discussions of the regions than being even slightly interested in the crime, or who might have done it.
And as a personal peeve, this book makes sure on several occasions to assure us that the main female character is beautiful. Several characters describe her as beautiful, and a great deal of energy is spent making sure we know she's good looking. That would be one thing if it was in some way important to the plot, but as it isn't, it irks me.
September 28, 2012
Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.
Despite mysteries not being my favorite genre, I read this one right on the heels of the prequel to Luther. The two could not be any more different, but both turned out to be entirely delightful vacation reads, this one especially so. In a rare occurrence, I read this book without first reading the first book in the series. While I would have preferred to read them in order, I will say that my enjoyment of the book was in no way hampered by my lack of knowledge of the first book.
I accepted the review request for this becase of the setting. I have been lucky enough in my quarter century of life to do some traveling abroad, and one of the places I have been to is Aix in Provence. Of course, I only spent a couple of days there and I certainly don't have enough memories of the place to be able to recall anything specific enough to aid in my knowledge of the book, but I still liked being able to immerse myself in smaller town French culture.
In that respect, I got absolutely everything I hoped for from Murder in the Rue Dumas. The book is so French. There is much discussion of food, wine, alcohol, and such things. Warning: this book will make you hungry. There's a certain snobbishness to it, but I found it fabulous.
Longworth's mystery hearkens back to Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, following more of a classic tradition in both plot arc and hero. Modern detectives seem always to come hard-boiled and violent, getting involved in a very hands-on manner in cases. Antoine Verlaque cares about solving the case of course, but he does not entirely relinquish the finer things in life to do so, nor does he have any intention of being involved in some final, dramatic confrontation with the killer. He is clever and closed off and a little bit sassy.
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.
Murder in the Rue Dumas also happens to be a very academic mystery. The murder victim works in the theology department of the same university where Bonnet teaches law. Most of the large cast of characters work in academia, so there's quite a bit of theological or otherwise very intelligent discussion. In this way, the book reminded me quite a bit of David Lodge's books, which are sort of academic humor and are in fact referenced in this novel.
This mystery will be a breath of fresh burgundy for those who miss the old days and the classic detectives. Everything happens at a slower pace and involves much less vigilante justice and a lot more thinking. I would recommend drinking a nice bottle of French wine as you read.
Despite mysteries not being my favorite genre, I read this one right on the heels of the prequel to Luther. The two could not be any more different, but both turned out to be entirely delightful vacation reads, this one especially so. In a rare occurrence, I read this book without first reading the first book in the series. While I would have preferred to read them in order, I will say that my enjoyment of the book was in no way hampered by my lack of knowledge of the first book.
I accepted the review request for this becase of the setting. I have been lucky enough in my quarter century of life to do some traveling abroad, and one of the places I have been to is Aix in Provence. Of course, I only spent a couple of days there and I certainly don't have enough memories of the place to be able to recall anything specific enough to aid in my knowledge of the book, but I still liked being able to immerse myself in smaller town French culture.
In that respect, I got absolutely everything I hoped for from Murder in the Rue Dumas. The book is so French. There is much discussion of food, wine, alcohol, and such things. Warning: this book will make you hungry. There's a certain snobbishness to it, but I found it fabulous.
Longworth's mystery hearkens back to Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, following more of a classic tradition in both plot arc and hero. Modern detectives seem always to come hard-boiled and violent, getting involved in a very hands-on manner in cases. Antoine Verlaque cares about solving the case of course, but he does not entirely relinquish the finer things in life to do so, nor does he have any intention of being involved in some final, dramatic confrontation with the killer. He is clever and closed off and a little bit sassy.
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.
Murder in the Rue Dumas also happens to be a very academic mystery. The murder victim works in the theology department of the same university where Bonnet teaches law. Most of the large cast of characters work in academia, so there's quite a bit of theological or otherwise very intelligent discussion. In this way, the book reminded me quite a bit of David Lodge's books, which are sort of academic humor and are in fact referenced in this novel.
This mystery will be a breath of fresh burgundy for those who miss the old days and the classic detectives. Everything happens at a slower pace and involves much less vigilante justice and a lot more thinking. I would recommend drinking a nice bottle of French wine as you read.
May 19, 2022
Wpadłam w tę serię po uszy. Jest cudownie odprężająca i tak ładnie napisana. Lubię czytać kryminały pisane literaturą. Autorce udało się stworzyć wyjątkowy klimat, to wszystko jest takie lekkie, niespieszne, smaczne i z dyskretnym humorem. Dla wielu osób pewno byłoby nudne i bez akcji, ale na mnie działa w tych okropnych czasach jak balsam.
W tej części nasza znajoma para bada sprawę morderstwa wydziału teologii na uniwersytecie w Aix i jego asystentki, więc mamy do czynienia ze stadkiem niezbyt się lubiących profesorek i profesorów, a także rywalizujących studentów. Tropy jednak prowadzą dużo dalej, więc wybieramy się na wycieczkę aż do włoskiej Umbrii. I jest to coś wspaniałego - z tą serią naprawdę się podróżuje! Człowiek od razu chce rezerwować najbliższe loty do opisywanych miejsc, tyle jest w nich uroku. Tyle samo jest go w bohaterach (och, jaki cudowny jest komisarz Bruno Paulik, kocham gościa), chętnie spotkałabym ich w jakiejś kafejce.
W tej części nasza znajoma para bada sprawę morderstwa wydziału teologii na uniwersytecie w Aix i jego asystentki, więc mamy do czynienia ze stadkiem niezbyt się lubiących profesorek i profesorów, a także rywalizujących studentów. Tropy jednak prowadzą dużo dalej, więc wybieramy się na wycieczkę aż do włoskiej Umbrii. I jest to coś wspaniałego - z tą serią naprawdę się podróżuje! Człowiek od razu chce rezerwować najbliższe loty do opisywanych miejsc, tyle jest w nich uroku. Tyle samo jest go w bohaterach (och, jaki cudowny jest komisarz Bruno Paulik, kocham gościa), chętnie spotkałabym ich w jakiejś kafejce.
October 16, 2018
Once again, I was completely delighted by the characters and the setting without even really caring about the mystery. The mystery portion was fine. It tracked well and was believable enough. But I'm so charmed by the culture of this French town and the characters who populate it, that I wouldn't care if it was a mystery, a romance, or a 700-page diary entry on what these people ate and drank all day. Needless to say, I will happily continue this series with book 3 soon.
July 15, 2021
Ідеальне поєднання murder mystery, Провансу, їжі, вина і мистецтва.
June 24, 2023
Engaging, decently-crafted mystery! I like these characters.
July 21, 2019
This was the second in the series about Judge Verlaque in Aix and I liked it better than the first. The writing was smoother and the story more straight forward. The number of suspects and the crime(s), got a bit complicated towards the end, but generally the story went along at a good pace and the main characters continued to be more fleshed out in this their second appearance. I enjoy the little vignettes about food and wine in the various parts of France. And, of course, the complicated romance. I look forward to #3.
August 12, 2015
The Verlaque and Bonnet Provencal mystery series is fast becoming one of my favorites for fun, escapist reads. I doubt these would hold up to much literary criticism, but the characters and the atmospheric elements are wonderful, and I always learn something interesting (This time, Galle vases and the dichotomy of the Cistercian vs Cluniac monastic orders). Even the mystery-driven plots in these are better than most among this type of book.
January 10, 2020
Всъщност, чудя се дали това изобщо е криминален роман. Вярно, имаше убийство и т.н., но много повече внимание бе отделено на хубава храна и чудесен алкохол; нямам нищо против последното. Хубавата храна ме довежда до състояние на нирвана. Бих прочела още 10 романа със съдия-следовател Верлак, стига само да продължи да изнамира кулинарни очарования, с които да си плакна мечтите.
February 18, 2023
Less a crime story and more an ode to cuisine in Provence. Nicely written, easily read, and the murder of the professor is solved after lots of food is eaten, lots of wine drunk, several cigars smoked, and we learn a lot more about Verlaque's back story. A professor is killed after un-announcing his retirement. Could it be that one of the potential candidates for his job did it? Or, as he also failed to announce the winner of a lucrative student prize, could it have been one of the students in line for that? We get lots of detail about all of the suspects, all their back stories, even some of their future stories (professor in Montana for one!). Lots of background that really does not help solve the case at all, but makes for nice reading and makes the people more human. Discussions on long-dead monastic systems (Cluny versus Cistercian, anyone?) (Interesting if you've visited Cluny) Also some interaction with Italian police comes in at the end, with an excuse to discuss Italian religious art.
Yes, the murder is solved. But somehow it's not the main event at all. Still a nice read, especially if you can picture the places mentioned.
Yes, the murder is solved. But somehow it's not the main event at all. Still a nice read, especially if you can picture the places mentioned.
March 3, 2021
Ech, co tu dużo pisać - tak naprawdę powinno być 1/5. Intryga kryminalna zupełnie nie wciąga, pan sędzia wciąż jest seksistą (choć kryguje się, że nie jest), jego partnerka wypowiada pierwsze pełne zdanie gdzieś pod koniec książki, a na domiar złego autorka w jednej scenie utrwala stereotypy nt. osób LGBT. Nie to jednak boli najbardziej. Najbardziej bolą błędy - głównie w tłumaczeniu, ale i w tekście źródłowym, bo czymże jest opis, że jedziemy pogadać z panem X, a potem radośnie rozmawiamy z panem Y (pan X już nie pojawia się w powieści), albo nagłe przeniesienie bohaterów w czasoprzestrzeni (w jednym akapicie piją kawę w domu, w kolejnym mówią sobie do widzenia na skrzyżowaniu - WFT...)? Tłumaczenie na polski jest na taką 3, choć większość rzeczy powinien był wyłapać redaktor. Mamy więc "teczkę przypadku" (case file), zabawne rozmowy ("Będziesz gotowa?" - "Pakuję się, gdy rozmawiamy"), bohaterkę, która "sugerowała, by jej rodzice poszukali terapii" (seek therapy) i wiele, wiele innych.
Czemu więc 2/5 - tylko i wyłącznie z tęsknoty za Francją, francuskim winem i jedzeniem. To w zasadzie jedyny aspekt, który rzeczywiście można pochwalić.
Czemu więc 2/5 - tylko i wyłącznie z tęsknoty za Francją, francuskim winem i jedzeniem. To w zasadzie jedyny aspekt, który rzeczywiście można pochwalić.
July 22, 2018
I rate it strong 2,5.
I love crime books, but this kind of exhausted me. I probably should read one in original English to see whether the writing is better in the original, although somehow I doubt it. The plot was fairly confusing, the main character totally unlikable (this is not a bad trait all in itself, I just don't understand why everything suggests that we should like him when it's obviously so hard). This book is halfway between a mystery and a romance novel, and I'm not sure whether that's a good thing.
I love crime books, but this kind of exhausted me. I probably should read one in original English to see whether the writing is better in the original, although somehow I doubt it. The plot was fairly confusing, the main character totally unlikable (this is not a bad trait all in itself, I just don't understand why everything suggests that we should like him when it's obviously so hard). This book is halfway between a mystery and a romance novel, and I'm not sure whether that's a good thing.
March 22, 2020
Suggestion for editors: If a book is based in France, find an audiobook reader who is at least slightly acquainted with the language. This one featured one of the worst fake French accents I have heard in many years, and just when my ears were beginning to adjust to the terrible pronunciations, the protagonist and his girlfriend visited some part of Italy, where the cadences were no more credible! The book itself was mediocre as well. Supposedly people who like Guido Brunetti like this series as well, but I'll stick with the pasta-loving, grappa-drinking Veneziano from now on.
November 15, 2021
A definite improvement over the previous one (though perhaps not such a big one as to give this book 4 stars). Less (but still a lot) of talking about wine, dining and cigars, bigger focus on the mystery and way less relationship drama. In fact the Bonnet seemed a bit... unnecessary in this one, but her relationship with the Verlaque wasn't so grating.
I didn't like the ending though, seemed a bit of abrupt and slightly came out of the left field. Still, a nice detective story in an interesting place.
I didn't like the ending though, seemed a bit of abrupt and slightly came out of the left field. Still, a nice detective story in an interesting place.
November 22, 2024
I very much enjoyed the second installment of this cozy-ish mystery series. The mystery was complex but not overwrought, and the characters are continuing to grow on me. Marine is by far the superior titular character (Bonnet) while Verlaque is starting to mature into a likable main character. Their relationship is relatable, but also makes me cringe at times because it feels a little too relatable. But Verlaque is growing into a more empathetic and kind Judge and partner. Looking forward to reading more about this little world in Provence!
June 28, 2024
The second book in the Verlaque and Bonnet mystery series. When the director of the theology department is found dead before awarding a very prestigious fellowship, Verlaque comes in and has to decide which of the tiny cabal of academics he has as suspects is capable of murder. A worthy second chapter of this charming mystery series. The plot is well written, and the description of the setting makes one want to book a flight to Provence.
July 21, 2022
Als Georges Moutte, de decaan van de faculteit Theologie aan de universiteit van Aix-en-Provence, dood wordt aangetroffen in zijn werkkamer, is iedereen geschokt, maar zijn er meteen ook veel verdachten. Tijdens een feestje bij de bejaarde professor thuis kondigde hij tot ieders verrassing aan dat hij zijn geplande pensioen voor onbepaalde tijd had uitgesteld én dat hij de winnaar van de prestigieuze Dumas-beurs later bekend zou maken. Dat leverde veel teleurgestelde gezichten op, maar is het ook een motief voor moord?
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.
Door 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.
Verlaque is, mede door de invloed van Marine Bonnet, iets milder geworden, en hoewel hun relatie nog in een wat aftastende fase zit, zijn ze duidelijk wel gek op elkaar. Marine heeft een kleinere rol, maar zodra zij samenwerken krijgt het onderzoek die sprankeling en de vaart die het nodig heeft, dus meer Marine in een volgend boek, graag! Dit is een licht, sfeervol en vermakelijk mysterie met een leuke setting, interessante personages en soms net iets te veel details, maar ook een mooi afgerond onderzoek en nieuwe vraagtekens die je nieuwsgierig maken naar een volgend boek.
3-3.5⭐️
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.
Door 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.
Verlaque is, mede door de invloed van Marine Bonnet, iets milder geworden, en hoewel hun relatie nog in een wat aftastende fase zit, zijn ze duidelijk wel gek op elkaar. Marine heeft een kleinere rol, maar zodra zij samenwerken krijgt het onderzoek die sprankeling en de vaart die het nodig heeft, dus meer Marine in een volgend boek, graag! Dit is een licht, sfeervol en vermakelijk mysterie met een leuke setting, interessante personages en soms net iets te veel details, maar ook een mooi afgerond onderzoek en nieuwe vraagtekens die je nieuwsgierig maken naar een volgend boek.
3-3.5⭐️
February 23, 2022
Much better than the first one. More actual police work and less boasting about wine and cigars. In this book they visit lots of interesting places that are inviting for the reader. I hope the other parts keep up with this one.
June 15, 2022
Nice setting, but again the author leaves too many unanswered questions. What was the outcome of the art forgery? But did you know Marine is beautiful? In case you forget the author will continually remind you as that what really is important.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this second book in the series. The main characters were more developed and their relationships became deeper and more meaningful. Look forward to number 3. May go back and watch the TV shows again.
August 24, 2022
Consistently enjoyable read with dependable characters you like to get to know and fantastic setting.
November 19, 2019
Satisfying and now to the next title!
May 17, 2023
*4.5 stars. This is a great second installment of this series and I am enjoying the character development and the continued exploration of Aix. The mystery was a little tighter here, too, helping to further develop the series for me. On to book three, please!
July 12, 2024
Genoten van dit mysterie dat zich afspeelt in de Franse Provence. Mooi beschreven en vlot lezend!!
March 8, 2024
Ok I cheated, I did not read but watch this as the televised version with Roger Folsom.
Very strange these English speaking actors in this fantastical French decor. But I found it an entertaining story, so much so that I am still going to read the book, perhaps even the series.
Very strange these English speaking actors in this fantastical French decor. But I found it an entertaining story, so much so that I am still going to read the book, perhaps even the series.
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