Murder in Arles

Maggie Newberry Mysteries #13

by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Once an arena for gladiators and wild beasts, the Arles Amphitheatre today is a popular tourist attraction—except when it is a setting for murder

When an afternoon flea market held in the Roman ruin spells mortal ruin for one poor soul the police have good reason not to care who killed him. But because Maggie’s small son was nearby when the murder occurred, Maggie can’t let it go—even if it means following and unraveling the tangle of lies and secrets to find the truth--and forever upsetting the happy balance of life at Domaine St-Buvard in the process.

This book is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex or strong language
Genre: light culinary cozy mystery, women amateur sleuth, cozy animal (dog)
(Bonus: Laurent's favorite paella recipe is at the end of the book.)

Genres: Mystery

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2019

Reviews

[Arlys Veen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean read, no graphic violence, sex or strong language

This is what is called a “cozy mystery” but I had to read it because of my name ’ Arlys’ and because we visited Arles during our 50th wedding celebration on a cruise of the Mediterranean. I loved the town and that really was all I loved of this book. It had too many words. It did have a fabulous paella recipe at the end if you like the seafood kind(I don’t!)

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat to be back in Provence with Maggie, Laurent, and all their family and friends network. I have been to Arles and the amphitheater and totally relate to Maggie's sense of death there from Roman times on (including the present day as bulls are still killed in bullfights in the south of France. This book is the recently released book #13 of the Maggie Newberry mystery series with #14 due to be released this Spring.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so in love with this series and the characters. I feel like I know each one of them so well, I feel their emotions and the love between them. The fact that their is mystery is just the icing on the cake. Well done!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 Stars

Murder in Arles is the thirteenth book in the Maggie Newberry Mysteries series by Susan Kiernan-Lewis.
The Maggie Newberry series of books by Susan Kiernan-Lewis turned out to be a great cozy mystery series that kept me engrossed the whole way through. Throughout the series we follow thirty-something, Maggie Newberry, an advertising copywriter who has been unlucky in love. Her ‘normal’ life gets upended when her sister, who has been missing for quite some time, turns up dead. Then to add an extra layer of complication, Maggie must now travel to France to locate her young niece that she didn’t even know existed. Arriving in France, thing take a dangerous turn when her sister’s murderer then sets his sights on Maggie and her niece. Add in a sexy Frenchman to add a little extra layer of intrigue, plenty of dramatic developments, secrets, lies, crime & investigation, and the story takes an engrossing turn.
From book #2 onwards-
Maggie’s sexy (French) boyfriend, who we met in the first instalment has inherited an ancient vineyard in a small rural village in France- so Maggie quits her job and sets off for a year abroad. But trouble soon follows, when a vicious murder takes place, thrusting them into the middle of an investigation that links to a 50year-old murder. What happens makes for intriguing reading….and so the series unfolds, with each book bringing another cozy mystery for Maggie to investigate. Sprinkled with mystery suspense, tension, drama, danger, romance, marriage, motherhood, travel, and recipes- made this series a memorable read. It is a light-hearted and enjoyable series, the ‘clean’ stories mean there are no sexy times, violence, or profanity.

Happy Reading…

Thank you, Susan Kiernan-Lewis!

[Linny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love every book in this series and always am looking out for more. I actually finished this one awhile back and just noticed that I didn't mark it as finished when I came to review the next one. Definitely pick up this series, and although you can read the books out of order, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning and move your way up the series. The children grow along with the books, so you don't want them bouncing back and forth between teenaged and toddlers. Read them in order, please.

[Susan Komandosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always it keeps the reader guessing

I’ve read all the Maggie Newberry mysteries. To some extent they’ve become a bit formulaic. Maggie gets into trouble, solves a crime and returns to her idyllic family. This one was a bit different in that she has to deal with the complications of a soon to be teenage son. The writer does a good job of keeping the reader guessing the solution to the mystery.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trite and straining belief

Her workmanlike approach to cranking out dozens of books hardly allows time to develop nuances of plots or characters, but her descriptions of places and the weather ring true so that Francophile readers will likely enjoy descriptions of places they’ve visited.

[Nicholas George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery that evokes a nice sense of place. I haven't read any of the (many) other books in this series, but it wasn't hard to get up to speed on the main character and her family situation, which plays a big role in the story. The only part I had difficulty with was her motivation in tracking down the killer of a convicted child molester; it was a bit thin.

[Penny Skaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. It's so heartwarming with family and close friend, etc. I'm a big fan of murder mysteries and these are very goo0d. The only thing I would change is the way Maggie always goes off on her own in the dark and comes face to face with the murderer who nearly kills her. I wish the author would use a different scenario occassionally.

[jean rasbridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading, excellent

I am reading my way through the entire series. A bit hooked, though some of the descriptions are rather repetitive I am enjoying the characters portrayed, and the gentle "cozy" murder stories

[Ellen Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, really enjoyed it.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Once again i am totally enthralled by the characters, the landscape, the story. I would highly recommend this series. Love it

[Lynn Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan is my favorite author for a reason!

Once again Susan has brought wit, mystery, and humor to this book. I adore Maggie and Laurent and look forward to the next adventure.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to the Maggie Newberry series.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t get enough of this series. Who wouldn’t want to have Laurent and Maggie as friends and to live in the south of France? These stories are easy to read and entertaining!