A Noël Killing

Verlaque and Bonnet #8

by M.L. Longworth

Christmastime in the south of France is as beautiful as ever, but when a shady local businessman drops dead in the middle of the festivities, Verlaque and Bonnet must solve the case while keeping the holiday spirit alive.Provençal Mystery Series #8Watch the series! Murder in Provence is now on Britbox.Antoine Verlaque, examining magistrate for the beautiful town of Aix-en-Provence, doesn't like Christmas. The decorations appear in the shops far too early, festive tourists swarm the streets, and his beloved Cours Mirabeau is lined with chalets selling what he regards as tacky trinkets. But his wife and partner Marine Bonnet is determined to make this a Christmas they can both enjoy, beginning with the carol sing at the Cathedral Saint Sauveur, a beautiful service in a packed church.Just as the holiday cheer is in full swing, a man is poisoned, sending the community into a tailspin. The list of suspects, Verlaque and Bonnet quickly discover, almost fills the church itself, from the visiting vendors at the Christmas fair to the victim’s unhappy wife and his disgruntled business partner. In A Noël Killing, with the help of an ever-watchful young woman named France, the pair must solve the murder while the spirit of the season attempts to warm Verlaque’s stubborn heart.“Full of gourmet meals, silky wines, and sumptuous homes, these cozy mysteries transport you to the south of France . . . Perfect for the gourmands or Francophiles in your life.” —Slate

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, France, Christmas, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Holiday

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2019

About the author

M. 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.

Reviews

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for free from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

You may be wondering why I read a Christmas book at the end of February. I actually started this book at the end of December but fell into a huge reading slump. I just got out of the slump and devoured this book in a few days.

This book is part of a series. I have not read any of the other books in the series but was still able to enjoy this book as a standalone.

I was a little confused at the beginning of the book because there were a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of all of them and what they were doing. But once the murder happened, I quickly understood who everyone was.



I loved how French this book was. It’s very clear that the author lives in France. Reading this made me want to go to France so badly. The town seemed so quaint and the food sounded so heavenly.

This is a cozy mystery so there’s nothing earth-shattering about the mystery itself. I did want a little bit more at the end, particularly how everyone’s Christmases went.

Lastly, this book is set during Christmastime but it is not overly Christmasy. If you want to read it outside of the holiday season, then go for it!

Overall, this is a charming cozy mystery set in France. If you can’t take a trip to France, this book may be the next best thing!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first seven books and now I am wondering what happened. Is it just me? Is it too much Christmas after all the crowded trains, sidewalks and stores filled with Christmas shoppers? Or did this book press into a more conventional, cosy-style mystery series where everything is broadcast in lights before it happens?
I am truly surprised that I was simply bored reading this latest book of the series. I think I was the first to pick it up at my library and had been looking forward to it. The people were just not interesting to me and the married life is just not as dynamic as when the series started with Marine working as a law professor. Gee whiz. Did she have to give it up to live in the country and pick olives? Oh well. The edge is gone.

Library Loan

[Mackey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, almost a 4

A Noel Killing is book 8 of the Verlaque and Bonnet series. If you're already a fan of the series then you definitely enjoy another chapter in the life and crime in Aix-en-Provence.

That said, this cozy mystery left me a bit dazed and confused. The plot itself, a murder during a carol service, was straighforward enough but there litany of characters thrown at the reader in the beginning of the book boggles the mind and the desire to read through. Never-the-less, I persisted and I'm glad that I did. The book is a very typical cozy but the setting and atmosphere elevates it to higher level. Over all, I found it a pleasant read and now will go back and read the books leading up to this one.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of this series, and Longworth delivers as usual on atmosphere and a good quality cozy mystery.

That said, I didn’t love the cliched, out of place pregnancy plotline as it relates to the continuing story thread for Verlaque and Bonnet. It felt hokey and made me not look forward to the next book in the series as much as I usually do. Le sigh.

[Zena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zbrodnia (i pół) w okolicach Bożego Narodzenia, do tego "trupy" z szafy, liczna grupa przedstawicieli różnych państw i mafia - innymi słowy chaos, z którego trzeba wyłowić prawdę, a dosłownie mordercę. Niezobowiązująca lektura, idealna w przedświątecznym zamieszaniu. To już kolejny tom, ale nic nie stoi na przeszkodzie, by przygodę z bohaterami zacząć właśnie od niego. Kryminał, który pachnie aromatyczną kuchnią francuską i z którego dosłownie wylewa się wino. W tle przygotowania do świąt i do czegoś jeszcze większego, a niespodziewanego...

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Verlaque and Bonnet series is one that I came into a little late, but have always enjoyed the mysteries. They have a sophisticated feel to them but they still manage to maintain their charm.

I think one of the things that always keeps this series in the forefront of my mind is the covers. The covers are incredible and eye catching. Every time I see one I instantly think, ‘oh yes another Verlaque and Bonnet mystery!‘. The covers are so recognizable and admittedly why I picked up the series in the first place. This book features the new redesigned covers and while I think it’s a pretty design, it doesn’t stand out to me.

Maybe that’s because I am so used to the old covers. But at any rate don’t let the aesthetics fool you, this is a great series that I’ve been looking forward to picking back up!

No one describes the south of France like Longworth. She has an incredible gift at descriptions and every time I read one of her novels I immediately want to hop a plane and move there permanently. Having this novel set during Christmas time in the south of France made it all the more enchanting and wonderful to read.

This is truly a wonderful read for the holiday season, but of course any time would do but with the holidays coming up, it felt a little extra special reading it as we come up on Thanksgiving and the official holiday season kick off. As always Antoine Veralaque and his wife Marine Bonnet remind me a little of the odd couple, each are different in their own ways but together they work. Veralaque is a little more reserved and definitely not into the holidays where as Bonnet is more festive and fun, and it’s much this way throughout the series and I love watching them come together to solve mysteries.

The mystery itself was enough to hold my interest. As I said before there is a certain sophistication about all of the mysteries in this series though it’s hard to describe, but I certainly feel as though the mystery was well thought out and executed. Throw in Longworths love of the French countryside, food, and wine, you have a winning series that lets you take a little trip there from the comfort of your own reading nook.

I am looking forward to the next books in this series so much, and with that said, you can easily jump around in the series as I have done over the years.

See my full review here

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Noël Killing
By M. L. LONGWORTH

Part of A Provençal Mystery

Sadly I have to mention this as some nincompoop has not even been able to write the title correct when logging this book in Goodreads.

This is an excellent read when traveling too long by train and bus, it is like comfort food.

Christmastime in the south of France is as beautiful as ever, but when a shady local businessman drops dead in the middle of the festivities, Verlaque and Bonnet must solve the case while keeping the holiday spirit alive

For me a first meeting, so was occasionally overwhelmed by the many characters in play, which may be my fault for jumping into an existing series. It is no great thriller or actioner, it is a leisure like written book and should be enjoyed as such. Read it in one sitting and found that the characters had far better food than I was able to enjoy on my train travels.

An enjoyable read getting ready for the season of Chrismassy enjoyment.

[Bebe (Sarah) Brechner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story in M.L. Longworth's Verlaque and Bonnet series. Fans will certainly enjoy another tale of life and crime in lovely Aix-en-Provence. An investigation into a crime at an annual Christmas carol service at the local Cathedral Saint Sauveur brings an especially interesting perspective for this season in Provence. It is a family affair to figure this out for the team.
The author has created two wonderfully complicated, pleasing characters in M. Verlaque and Marine Bonnet. In this story, Longworth skillfully describes how Verlaque and Bonnet, a married couple, have to figure out to how to coalesce their markedly different backgrounds and experiences at Christmas time. Also overshadowing their life are their opposing views on parenthood, brought into the spotlight at this particular time. All of this sensitive exploration into married life plays out against the ever-present delicious French food experiences, lovingly described, and, of course, the puzzling murder of an ex-pat American. Well done series and a richly rewarding addition!

[Filip · Rating 3 out of 5]

An improvement on the previous one, written in a more traditional style. It almost verges on a classic, Christie-like whodunnit with the small pool of suspects, all with their own motives. It contains one trope that I personally love in all whodunnits, so that's additional plus in my book. Not so much relationship drama, so yey, but I wonder how the next volume would look after the 'reveal' at the end.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. The characters were believable. The plot engaging. I did not solve the murder… had to wait for the author to disclose!!
I do not know this author but will certainly read any others I trip over!!
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4 ⭐️

[Ver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember the beginning was rather slow and about nothing in particular so it took me a while to get through it. Once the actual action started it got better and more enjoyable. I have my doubts that the police officer could ask his wife to do the research on his case and talk to witnesses but what do I know. It turned out the story had multiple layers and different types of a crime. There was also an interesting development on the judge's family, obviously making me go for another part.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice day that my daughter introduced me to this series because of our mutual enjoyment of other French mysteries. I like a series that evolves book by book. I like mysteries set in France, and enjoy the romance and gourmet food and wine which French novels often have. I would give it a 3 1/2. Although still very enjoyable, it didn't quite reach the level of the first seven books for me. The Christmas theme was not central to the plot and seemed a bit like a gimmick. The characters were as charming as ever, although I'm sorry that Longworth decided to retire Bonnet from teaching which gave her a stronger presence next to her important husband. Maybe she will develop further as a writer, but she seemed a bit lost in this novel. I do enjoy the interplay between the married couple. And, I missed the presence of Paulik's wife, the vintner, another talented woman who faded into the background this time around.

All that said, I look forward to the next book in the series and I enjoy the teasers that Longworth uses to keep us reading. (less)

[Jon]

I like a cold book. Books based in winter remind me of my childhood in Massachusetts, the snow thick and the streets dark. They feel like home and I find myself naturally gravitating toward stories set in cold climates such as Wyoming (the Longmire series) or Canada (the Louise Penny series.) I was therefore excited to find a new series set in Aix, France at Christmas time. It’s a murder mystery that also reads a bit like a travel novel. From the food, to the holiday festival, to the sounds Parisians on vacation make as they finish shopping lists, “Killing Noel” felt like a passport. I bought the first in the series after reading this one and will probably continue marching through them all. If you like a cold, international crime drama set in a city you’ll feel like you visited, check out “Killing Noel” from M.L. Longworth.

[Janelle V. Dvorak · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Antoine Verlaque, M. L. Longworth has created a very sympathetic hero, a French Peter Wimsey without a title: he knows his food and wine, is witty and intelligent and attractive even though his love of good food is causing him to put on a few pounds. He is independently wealthy but has chosen to work in the legal system. He has an intelligent, beautiful and scholarly wife who helps him in solving crimes. However, Antoine lives in Aix-en-Provence, land of lavender, cypress, sunshine, vivid colors and vineyards: no fog and rain for him, just le mistral.

This series of novels is a pleasant read. Plotting is very secondary to milieu here. The author has created a world worth returning to, peopled by well-developed characters.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm more than happy I got this ARC because I discovered a new to me amazing series.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read that kept me hooked till the end.
I loved the setting that made me crave to be there, the likeable and well written cast of characters, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Criminal Element · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.L. Longworth’s latest mystery, A Noël Killing, the eighth volume of her Verlaque and Bonnet series, is set in the small town of Aix-en-Provence.

Actually, Aix-en-Provence counts 143,00 inhabitants, so not really a small town, especially for French standards. It is currently the twenty-second most populated city in France.

Still, M.L. Longworth manages to create a homey ambiance to her novel, with the Christmas market on Cours Mirabeau and carols in cathedral Saint-Sauveur. I liked the balance the author reached between the local elements—a tight group of people knowing each other, plus the Corsican mafia!, and the international dimension, as Aix-en-Provence’s sister cities (from Italy, Germany, England, Tunisia, and the United States) come every year to sell their wares at the Christmas market. Though technically, Philadelphia is not a sister city of Aix, just a partner city, that is, both cities try to develop special relationships in the world of culture, university education, and economics.

The description of the city, with its famous places, streets, plazas, and restaurants, and of the food offered there, is nicely done.

Damien Petit carefully set his bicycle down on what looked like clumps of wild thyme. He could smell its lemony fragrance, or at least he thought he could; it was mixed with pine needles and other wild herbs that made up the garrigue. Taking off his small backpack, he lowered himself onto the dry ground and rested his back against a pine tree. He looked at the looming Mont Sainte-Victoire, Cézanne’s obsession. The craggy white mountain was still about a fifteen-minute bike ride away, but given its size it looked much closer. It was almost as if he could reach out and touch it. He opened his pack and took out a ham sandwich and began eating, thinking of Cézanne and how the artist would walk daily, even into his sixties, the route that Damien had just biked.

The Christmas festivities turn sour, however, when a local businessman is killed at the reception following the carols. The list of potential local and international suspects is impressive, and examining magistrate Verlaque and his wife need to put all their resources together to discover who did it and why. Especially as several characters appear to be obnoxious, strange, or even shady.

I have not read the first seven books in the series, and maybe this was a major handicap. I felt totally overwhelmed by the number of characters. I counted no less than seventy. And at the beginning of the story, I tried hard to keep track of each of them, obviously not knowing which ones were going to be relevant to the plot. Unfortunately, most were not, and I am not sure why the author felt the need to specify so many first and last names, for characters mentioned only once in passing. Maybe that was a way for the author to connect this mystery to the previous ones. I think a better balance could have been found.

My biggest criticism is actually that the mystery starts much too slowly. It is certainly important to set the scene and present the characters. But the crime does not happen until page 78. This felt too late for a 286-page novel, especially in the mystery genre. And because of the multiplicity of red herrings, the plot develops very slowly. The end was satisfying, though not stunning. Read the rest of Emma Cazabonne's review on our blog!

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last of the series as far as I was aware and so I had decided to save it for a read at the Festive season.

As I started reading, I had the strange feeling that this was a novella and as such I was a little surprised at the numbers of characters who were being introduced in the first couple of chapters.

The truth soon dawned on me and the large cast made sense with the unfolding storyline.
It is the time for the Christmas Fayre in Aix where 'Sister' villages from across Europe bring their goods to sell. There is a carol service followed by a community supper where many of the dishes are prepared by visiting stall holders providing specialties from their home towns.
Marine drags Verlaque along and so he is on hand when the death occurs.

As usual the progress in the investigation is well punctuated by meals, wines and cigars ( and another foodie note has been copied to my file !)

This isn't really a who-done-it but a story of life in a small french town in which a murder has been committed.

Do you remember that wonderful moment as a reader or as a cryptic crossworder, when all the clues eventually just drop into place, I believe that Verlaque had just such a moment at the end of this story. I would like to have been there to see the look on his face.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this as much as previous books in the series and this might go back to the story's large cast . I found myself continually going back to remind myself who was who which interupted the smooth running of the story. However as a good 3.5 , I will round up to 4.

As I went to check on some detail on the authors page , I am pleased to see that a new book is due out in just a few months . I shall be in the queue.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marine Bonnet insists that her reluctant husband Antoine Verlaque attend the Anglo Protestant church's carol ceremony and the dinner after it. When one of the others in attendance falls downdead, the doctor hints to Antoine, who is the examining magistrate of lovely Aix-en-Provence, that it doesn't look like a heart attack to him. Sure enough, poison is found during the autopsy, and Antoine and his friend Bruno, the police chief, must investigate the dead man's life. A second murder attempt makes them wonder if they're on the right track at all. If you like to read about wine, this is the series for you.

[A.E.Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I like series with couples. I was pleased to discover there were more in the series, though perhaps not best pleased that I had come in at the end. I have started at the beginning since reading this and dole the books out so I don’t run out too soon. Have read the fourth one now and continue to enjoy the stories, the development of the characters, and the setting.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story, good series

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads and didn’t really enjoy it.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Christmas mystery what I liked were the descriptions of foods and Christmas events. It had a definite cozy feel to it.

What I didn't like was that there were so many characters introduced at the beginning of the book and such a long stretch of time before the first murder. I almost stopped reading by the time we got there. The mystery seemed to take second place to telling the stories of the main characters and details of life in Aix. There were a lot of loose ends left at the end.

However what bothered me the most was that the weapon used for the murder was poorly researched.

@ Semi-spoilers in the next paragraph @

How does somebody eat 8000 mg of acetaminophen without noticing it? It would give the food an extremely grainy texture in powdered form or an exceptionally bitter taste in liquid form. This is never explained. Also acetaminophen isn't a fast killer. There's no way the victim could have been given the lethal dose at the dinner after the carol singing and died within hours. Even a 24 hour window for death is exceptionally tight. He also didn't exhibit the symptoms consistent with acetaminophen poisoning. It was a poor choice of weapon for this particular mystery. So much detail went in to the descriptions of food and cooking and yet it feels like no research was done about the murder weapon in a murder mystery.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one in a murder mystery series that I enjoy set in Aix-en-Provence. This one featured a double murder during the Christmas season. Christmas as a religion played little to no role in the story, though culturally and socially it provided a context for the story. As a whodunit, this one was probably not the best in the series; there were a handful of twists, only one of which emerged as a truly relevant "Aha!" moment for me. The rest seemed more like dead ends with little meaningful purpose, as if the author were trying a bit too hard to drop in red herrings. The character I didn't like and kind of hoped did the murders was innocent, and fingers crossed she doesn't find her way into a future book.

What I always love about this series, though, is the detective duo and seeing their relationship evolve. I enjoy immensely the experience of their life in Aix and beyond, and the ease with which the author takes the reader through it. A pleasure read, for sure.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book although it wasn't the best in the series. I found that there were a great many red herrings along the way, and that the eventual 'baddies' were unexpected, mostly because so little had been said about them all along, so there didn't seem to be a trail of clues for the reader to follow. A bit disappointing for that reason. Actually, there were several 'baddies' in this one, for different reasons. I found the incident with Marine and Sorba at the end a bit weird, especially since she never ended up discussing it with Antoine during the book. Seemed odd and out of place as a result. I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn't taste 8 aspirin ground up in their food. Hmm. Still, love the setting and the characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series, although not entirely thrilled about the pregnancy theme.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am binge-reading these books during our time in South Bend. One more to go and plenty of time to read it--five days? Again, the motivation for the killing is not forthcoming until all is revealed at the end--information we didn't have earlier. Good news for Antoine and Marine will keep me reading happily in one more book.

-------two years later. I got this book from our library and thought it was familiar. Oops I read it before. And our library does not have #10--the last in the series.
---------I enjoyed the reread and ordered the next book used from Amazon.

[Julie Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas in Provence? Oui, Merci! Bring on the Santons and the chestnut souffle. It's Christmas time in Aix, and the food tents are up on the square, the streets are full of holiday shoppers, and Antoine Verlaque is in his usual mood of distaste for it all. But when his wife, Martine Bonnet, ignores his resistance and brings him to the traditional all-community Carol singing and sister-city food extravaganza of a dinner afterwards at the Cathedral, the judge's heart melts just a little as the different countries each get different lines in The Twelve Days of Christmas, expatriates standing up and bellowing out their country's line with glee. It's enough to help Antoine survive the presence of his annoying mother in law, the very accomplished and nosy Dr. Bonnet. But as they sit down to Tunisian spiced balls and Italian lasagna and British pies, a man, the American owner of an upscale Provencal tour business, falls to the floor and expires. It's enough to daunt the holiday spirit, as Antoine as magistrate investigates with his friend the police commissioner, and Martine, newly retired from her law professorship, works on a book, and hides a surprise of her own. Suspects include a quiet French woman who organized the dinner, and seems to be everywhere; the widow, who is an executive assistant at an exclusive and expensive English language school; the school's wealthy owner; even all the expatriates who donated food and could have provided the murder weapon.
Francophiles and gourmands will love this series. It's really a cross between a cozy and a procedural, as the main investigator is part of the legal/police force, but the tone is as much about the rich culture and history of Provence as about solving the crimes. While the first in the series took the reader all along the Cote d'Azur to Monaco, this cozy mystery installment keeps us in Aix with one foray into Marseille, and we can smell the fresh pine and the smoke of warm fires as we follow Antoine and Martine in their pre-Christmas shopping, sleuthing, cooking, and olive-harvesting. There's always food and wine coming to the table.
Highly recommend to add to the holiday reading list. Charming and intelligent.

[Eugene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waited til the proper season to read this, and my time of anticipation was richly rewarded. Eighth in this Provençal mystery series and another excellent entry.
It’s Christmas time in the south of France, and Judge Antoine Verlaque’s wife Marine is determined that it will be a very good one, Verlaque’s well known dislike of Christmas notwithstanding. And Verlaque is himself heartened by how joyous and gay the crowds are as they head downtown for the annual carol singing at the Cathedral Saint Sauveur and the wonderful foods served afterwards in the church’s dining hall. He warms to the glow of the season, but things come acropper.
At the dining hall, one of the organizers collapses soon after the food is served. Verlaque rushes to the downed man, American Cole Hainsby, but it is obvious he is dead. A local doctor in attendance at the festivities examines the body and concurs, adding that from the pronounced rash and the burn marks around his mouth it is entirely possible that his food was poisoned.
The good medico proves to be right, and the Judge now has a murder on his hands. But he and his capable second, Inspector Bruno Paulik, are on the case and they bring all things to a satisfactory, if tragic, conclusion. It was wonderful how author Longworth preserved the festive mood of the season even while a murder is investigated. Just a totally satisfying story, and I so look forward to the next in this very enjoyable series.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Noel Killing by M.L. Longworth is part of a series involving Antoine Verlaque, an examining magistrate in Aix-en-Provence and his beautiful and smart wife, Marine. It's almost, but not quite as good as Donna Leon's books about murder and other chicanery in Venice. Antoine and Marine show the same dedication to eating that Leon's characters do. In fact, it's a wonder they solved the crime at all because Antoine and Bruno Paulik, his fellow investigator, spend all their time having lunch.
The story takes place at Aix's Christmas market, where vendors from Aix's sister cities around the world peddle their wares: Italian cheeses, Philly cheese steaks, British tea cakes, Tunisian rugs and pottery and German sausages and dumplings. The Anglican cathedral in the city organizes a dinner after a Christmas carol service. Marine drags Antoine to the service and the dinner. He does not like Christmas but tries to be a good husband.
At the dinner, an obnoxious American who owns a bi-lingual school nearby falls over dead. It transpires that he has been poisoned with an overdose of asprin. Solving the crime is like peeling away the layers of an onion. First none of the colleagues of the dead man can think of any reason why anyone would want to murder the dead man. Then gradually, the truth emerges.
If you like France and the French and French cuisine, along with murder mysteries, by all means read this book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful murder mystery for Mme Longworth. She expertly leads the reader into the mystery by introducing a myriad of new characters, including local Aixois and transitory people. In reading the novel, one feels the sense of closeness in the Aixois and acceptance of foreigners. Mme Longworth, I understand, is proficient in both speaking and reading the French language. I appreciate her disregard for punctuation (e.g.. not using Mr. and Mme.). This punctuation isn't necessary and is not a standard convention used by English authors in their novels. Aix-en-Provence, although being a city, has a small town mentality with its citizens, especially those who live in the town core. Aix is a 20 - 30 minute drive from Marseille, outside of rush-hour traffic. (I have reached downtown Aix in 20 minutes from the Marseille airport). Although Marine isn't teaching anymore, Mme Longworth involved her in some major sleuthing to help solve the murder mystery. And Mme Longworth ends the novel on a light and happy note, with the reader anticipating the development of the characters in her next novel in the series. I look forward to novel # 9. Kudos Mme Longworth for another wonderful novel of one of my favourite French towns, Aix-en-Provence. Merci.