Outside the Bubble

Dead Flat #2

by Lise McClendon

Part Two of the trilogy into policeman Pascal d'Onscon's adventures in France. Merle Bennett met Pascal in 'Blackbird Fly.' He is a wine fraud investigator with the Police Nationale.

First read number one in the trilogy: 'Bottle of Lies,' where Pascal is sent to Champagne to investigate a sham label on a bottle of the iconic bubbly. While in the 'Grand Est' -- the eastern part of Franc e-- he must also rescue his older sister, Suzette, from an uncomfortable personal situation, taking him with her when he goes home. Now, in this second part, 'Outside the Bubble' brings Pascal back to Merle Bennett in the Dordogne. But whether he can stay is another kettle of "poisson."

75 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2020

About the author

Lise McClendon is a fiction writer living in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. She has been a film reviewer, a film maker, a journalism professor, and a PR flack. Since her first novel, The Bluejay Shaman, in 1994, she has served on the national board of Mystery Writers of America and the International Association of Crime Writers/North America, as well as on faculty of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference where each year she critiques, speaks, and learns from writers new and old.

Check out the Lise McClendon Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiseMcClendon

Lise McClendon also writes as Rory Tate in the 2011 thriller, JUMP CUT. Her new novel by Rory Tate is PLAN X, available now. Read her latest novel, Château des Corbeaux, 17th in the Bennett Sisters mystery series that began with Blackbird Fly.

Reviews

[Jill]

My favorite fictional Frenchman has some issues to work out! Should he take the promotion in Paris? (Paris!) How will this effect his relationship with Merle if he does? And what to do about his sister, Suzette...she needs to be somewhere safe from her abusive boyfriend but she's not exactly cooperative. And who killed the poor winery owner? Was it an accident...or something more sinister?

An exciting continuation of the first book in this series, Dead Flat 2 finds Pascal and Merle traveling across France to help his sister as well as to work on a possible hit and run murder. Poor Pascal seems to have more questions than he does answers.

This book ends on a major cliffhanger...can't wait to find out what happens in Book 3!

[Heather W]

DEAD FLAT: 2: Outside the Bubble is Book 11 in A Bennett Sisters Mystery series.

I really enjoyed the second installment of the trilogy involving Merle Bennett and wine fraud investigator Pascal d'Onscon. This well-written story has family issues, a possibility of a promotion for Pascal, mystery, intrigue, and twists and turns.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.

[Diane]

This is a continuation of Dead Flat, and I read in about 2 hours this morning. I really enjoy the books about the Bennett Sisters, and who can resist the idea of a French Boyfriend?! The 2 plot lines were filled out more in this segment and explained a few things while opening more questions. I look forward to the 3rd book and hope Merle and Pascal remain happily together.

[Phthon]

Life seems to be a bit up in the air for Merle and Pascal. The possibility of a promotion to Paris for Pascal and some domestic complications involving his sister threaten the relationship between Pascal and Merle. I really like those two. I hope things work out. And that twist at the end...I cannot wait to read what happens next! I loved it!

[Pat Eroh]

This is the second book of the trilogy concerning the great wine fraud investigator and it is just as wonderful as all of the Bennett sisters' books. These books are fun and full of mystery. I am looking forward to the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lissa Harkness]

wish I could give these books, the entire series 20 stars. Lise McLendon is a glorious magical beast with world building. I feel so rejuvenated and alive after each of her books. The Dead Flat Series which is a continuation of the Bennett Sisters Series takes us along with Pascal’s on his adventurous job.

[Eileen]

Bennett sisters

I really enjoyed this continuation of Bennett sisters story, but wish it was longer. I think the three parts of this bit of the series (although very good) should be one book.

[Tina]

Pascal and Merle...such likable characters

Learning more about Pascal is so fun. Need a life like Pascal’s and Merle’s. They have their trials and tribulations, but still they love one another and enjoy life all over France and Europe.

[E]

A good second book in the series featuring Pascal. I'm waiting for the 3rd and final one.

[Susan]

This is the second book in the trilogy - The story does not really progress the mystery of the death of Poulin. But deals with Pascal and Merle traveling to help one of his sisters.

[Molly]

In the fIrst book of this series, Pascal visits the childhood friend of his boss, and deals with a case of fraud and smuggling. The younger of his sisters, well in her sixties or seventies, has an issue with a violent younger beau.

Poor Pascal boots out the intrusive man, but ends up spending much of the rest of his vacation days with his sisters and at a murder re-enactment.

A tangled mystery, the violent fraudster had been released, his accuser dead.

At the end of book two, someone close to Pascal seems swept up into the investigation, and peril and drama seem still ahead.

Looking forward to the resolution of these challenges!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.