The Vanishing Museum on the Rue Mistral

Verlaque and Bonnet #9

by M.L. Longworth

A breezy, charming, and perfectly escapist mystery set in the heart of sun- and wine-soaked Aix-en-Provence--where murder investigations are always put on hold for lunch and the only thing more sweeping than the story is the Mediterranean coastline.

Something strange has happened at the unassuming Musée de Quentin-Savary in Aix-en-Provence. When the director, Monsieur Achille Formentin, walks in one beautiful April morning, he is shocked to find the whole museum emptied of its contents--only a bench, the reception desk, and a lowly fern remain.

Distressed, he calls the local police, and Aix's examining magistrate Antoine Verlaque sets out to discover the thief's identity. But it's the most baffling case Verlaque has ever encountered. Why would someone want to steal porcelain dessert plates, some old documents, and a few small paintings? Could this have something to do with the mysterious robbery of Madame de Montbarbon's apartment a few weeks earlier? And how can Verlaque possibly concentrate on the theft when he and his wife, Marine Bonnet, are going to have a baby?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, France, Crime, Detective, Cozy Mystery, Procedural

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2021

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

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series continues to evolve and maintain threads of friendship with co-workers and displays of such with shared dinners, never without wine or morning coffees, never without croissants or more. The Magistrate Verlaque must manage a complicated investigation whilst keeping tabs on his happily pregnant wife Marine. It is a tangled web involving the robbery of all contents of a small, somewhat ignored museum in Aix. There will be loss of life, and it takes a team to solve including Marine.
I enjoy the settings in this series and the friendships.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting mystery with Verlaque, Paulik and Marine Bonnet working out the details. The villain was not hard to guess except for all the whys and hows.

I just wish Disaster at the Vendome Theater was available to read. *Sigh*. I guess I will have to wait.

Not quite 4 stars.

[Claudia Silk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore M.L. Longworth's books. I was describing them to a friend and I said it is like taking a nice long soak in a bubble bath with your favorite glass of wine. The mystery definitely takes a backseat for me. I love the descriptions of the setting (Provence), the food and the wine! If you are looking to take a little "trip" to Aix I would recommend. Start with the first one!

[Sarka B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It is well written, interesting and engaging. I like that it is set in Provence region in France. I will surely read other book from this nice serie.

[Chet Makoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife and I saw the recent BBC BritBox series, Murder in Provence, based on the first three books by M. L. Longworth with Aix’s examining magistrate Antoine Verlaque. I thought it would be interesting to read one of her books in the series and chose this one, her latest publication. I hope there is a second season of Murder in Provence. We found this kind of mystery portrayal to be a style we enjoy - Interesting setting, characters you can admire and enjoy spending time with, humor, focus on food, and crimes that are not vividly or gruesomely depicted. The book had the same admirable qualities.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

A character in this novel casually mentions reading Nancy Drew as a child (although she is called Alice Drew in the french editions). But it got me thinking:
- the dialogue in this book is very stilted. It is very correct and proper, as if it were a lesson in etiquette. Like the dialogues in Nancy Drew.
- there are sad attempts at humor that result in characters holding their stomachs in overwhelming laughter. Again, Nancy Drew.
- the case resolves with the discovery of hidden closet holding the stolen items. WAY Nancy Drew.

I think Longworth has handed writing duties over to the Carolyn Keene crew.

[Ver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how the characters develop in time in the book. They become more mature and steady, waiting for the child. Maybe I could relate and that's why I like it. The case itself felt a bit too long in beating round the bush. Nevertheless, I liked the personal stories too. I must admit that robbing the whole museum was rather excessive, especially that there was a lot of porcelaine. I cannot imagine that nothing was broken, especially that it was not done by professionals.

[Filip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad by any accounts, but just failed to grip me. Perhaps, it was because the murder here was (or seemed to be) incidental to the burglary? Plus, the story meandered a bit, until it got resolved with an 'Eureka' moment. There wasn't as big focus on food and wine however (maybe because one of the characters was pregnant) so that's a big plus.

[SueBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the fourth book of four in my “Grab ‘n Go (mystery)” bag from my local library. It was unlike the other 3 in that this one felt the most like a true “mystery” novel, with hints of Agatha Christie. An entire museum has been emptied of its contents over a long weekend. Who would do such a thing, why and how? Those are the questions the magistrate and detective set out to answer.

If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be “delightful”. The story is set in France and much is made of the pheasant lunches, fine cigars, and choice wine. So, if you aren’t into such details, perhaps skip this one. Personally, I enjoyed dining with the characters over avocado and shrimp plates as it brought a distinctly French “flavour” (no pun intended) to the story. In that sense I feel like I’ve read something a bit different and outside of my cultural experience. It also made me long for more interesting meals. I will likely return to “France” to read another Provençal mystery.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐

The Vanishing Museum on the Rue Mistral is a mystery novel which involves a not so famous museum being emptied of its contents one night. Everything just magically disappears like it was never there to begin with. Judge Antoine Verlaque is put on to the case and with many suspects, throw off tips, and lots of delicious food, it makes the reader question if the mystery will be solved.

This was such a fun and refreshing read. I actually quite enjoyed the book because my French 11 class did a whole unit on Provence and its beauty. It was exciting to read about the things I've learned outside of the classroom setting. As for the story, I think it was a pretty easygoing mystery, if those two words can even be put together. It wasn't all high chasing like you'd expect from a mystery novel, but it was still entertaining. I appreciated how the author made sure to add the details of the different wines and dishes the characters had, just shows how much the Aixois value their food and drinks. The relationship in the police force itself was also admirable. You can't joke around with your boss in every workplace like some of the others could with Judge Verlaque. Overall, it made me want to visit Provence even more!

[Mac Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Musée de Quentin-Savary in Aix-en-Provence is a small museum with some nice, but not exceptional pieces of art. So it's a shock when, after a weekend, the curators opens the doors to discover there has been a burglerary. Not just one or two pieces have been stolen, but everything in the museum, down to the last piece of furniture has been taken.

It is one of the most puzzling cases magistrate Antoine Verlaque has ever encountered. With it's colorful descriptions of the scenery, unique characters and delicious sounding meals, this is like a vacation in the French countryside with the added perk of an engaging mystery.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid mystery, but a delightful experience, somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. The food, the culture, the very human, very likable main characters. And Aix is almost a character itself.
It was, perhaps perfect timing for me to read this, having just finished MFK Fisher’s book about Aix and being in the middle of the hers about Marseille which also figures here.
Now if I could only get to a decent Boulangerie…

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely would not have picked this up if my grandma didn't give me her extra copy, but it was decent. The mystery was interesting, and I enjoyed the Provencal setting. It wasn't anything to write home about, but it was a good departure from what I usually read.

[Nancy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lived in France, it is not all fine wine and foie gras. After so many books, it would be nice if the author would focus on some of the inconsistencies of French culture or some of its social, political or economic issues. It’s as if she is writing on behalf of the French tourism board. A more balanced and nuanced approach would be more interesting.

[stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute read💃 i liked that it felt like i was dropped right into the city it took place in & the plot was good

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried to resist reading this one right away but the draw was too strong. Am now down to the next title coming out this year and then reduced to waiting for news of another publication. Sigh. Free ebook from the library.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow to start but cute

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this as the two heroes solve a mystery. As the await the birth of their first child.

[Virginia B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this very much, characters grew on me, the setting in Aix-au Provence is beautifully described, lots of talk about food and wine and a pretty good mystery with an exciting climax.

[Susan Yoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light mystery series set in Aix en Provence. I love the setting and the food and wine descriptions.

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is some time since I read the previous books in this series and I had forgotten much of the characters and background story. Not surprisingly this meant it took me longer to get into this one than I would have expected.

Judge Antoine Verlaque and his partner Marine Bonnet  are living together and happily waiting the birth of their first child.

He story opens, as in typically rural french style, Verlaque and his Commissioner Bruno Paulik are enjoying a morning espresso in the Judge's office talking about their meals the previous evening. They are interupted by local police officers bringing news of a break in at the small museum where, coincidentally, Pauliks daughter and her school class had just had a guided tour. Strangely everything had been taken even though there was thought to be nothing of great value there.

The case becomes more serious when one of the characters of interest is found dead and the museum curator badly injured.

The case is investigated liberally spread with mouth watering meals and fitting wines. There were clues if you could spot them , which I didn't perhaps concentrating too much on the french scenery and food.

It wasn't particularly exciting but in certain ways , a feel good book especially for francophiles. I learnt something about french espresso that I hadn't realised and also how to make and cook the perfect peppered steak.

I think that there is only one more book in this series at the moment and it is on my search list.

6th December 2025

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in Aix in Southern France. There is a lot of color in the book about what they are eating, the beautiful scenery, and the life in Southern France. The Musee Quentin-Savary is a small museum which was endowed by a local family. The first chapter describes a Friday school visit to the museum, where the director, Formentin describes the few paintings, and a lot of pottery, and some lovely Sevre porcelain. One of the students is Lea Paulik, whose father is the Commissioner of Police. On Monday morning Formentin goes to work and finds the museum is empty!

Solving the museum robbery, which could be connected with a robbery of Sevre porcelain from a local wealthy woman a few weeks ago, is in the hands of Antoine Verlaque and Lea's father Bruno Paulik. They and their wives, Marine Bonnet and Helene Paulik are also very good friends who have lovely dinner parties. The last live member of the family starting the museum, Gilbert QuentinSavary lives in an apartment two stories above the museum and is on the board. He does not seem very interested in the museum. There is an apartment between Gilbert and the museum which is rented by a business man who is currently out of the country. One neighbor had seen a white van behind the museum during the weekend, but there were no more details. Another museum director, Lopez, had been trying to get Formentin to join the two museums, but negotiations seem to have ended with the two directors on bad terms.

The big questions are why did the robbers empty the museum rather than just taking the most valuable items? Can Verlaque and Paulik find the culprit or culprits and the items from the museum before they are all sold? This is a well told story with very likeable characters and in a wonderful setting.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh to be in Provence. This is a genial mystery with a fun plot revolving around the odd emptying of a. frankly not very interesting museum- but don't worry , there's a more villainous activity ahead. Judge Antoine Verlaque and his wife Marie find themselves mystified but well satisfied by their meals (oh the meals) and the scenery. Oh, and there's a baby on the way. I've not read this series (my loss) so it was a delightful standalone for me. There's humor to go along with the investigation and the interaction between the characters is well played. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. For fans of cozy procedurals who like armchair travel.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aix-en-Provence examining magistrate Antoine Verlaque is so distracted by his wife's pregnancy and his conflicting views on parenthood that it's hard to concentrate on the mysterious disappearance of all the contents of a small local museum. Why would anyone steal anything from the museum, whose collection, let's face it, wasn't outstanding valuable? But to steal everything--it must be insanity! When the director of a competing museum is found murdered, the police are even more puzzled. But Verlaque doggedly follows the slightest clues, and of course there's always good food and good wine in abundance.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, with the judge and his law professor wife, who almost always lends a helping hand in the solving of the murder. In this one a small regional museum that was the collection of a families goes missing. The whole museum, with it's notable collection of porcelain, maybe pieces that were commissioned for Napoleon himself, goes missing. Then the director is found dead, and the hunt intensifies. Meanwhile, Martine is pregnant with their first child, and so while she is no longer drinking, she is cooking and eating well. Set in Aix, which is an added bonus.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in this series, which takes me away to Provence on every page. I'm all caught up now, which means waiting for the next one, hopefully out later this year. Francophiles, if you haven't started this series yet, give it a try. And do start at the beginning, because the characters evolve.

[Dvora Treisman · Rating 2 out of 5]

What they call a light, escapist read. For me it was a contrived, light, escapist read. Longworth made sure that each and every possible South of France box was ticked off before you reached the end. She left out only the bouillabaisse.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always fun to find a new mystery series, especially one offering smart plotting, a unique setting, and interesting, enjoyable characters. For me, this book fulfills those traits. I'll now be on the hunt for the rest of the series.
The police in Aix-en-Provence are dealing with not one, but two odd thefts. A break-in at a private home resulted in the theft of a collection of not-terribly-valuable Sevres porcelain. But in the second theft, thieves cleared out everything in a small local museum--even vases of flowers sitting in the windows.
With more Sevres porcelain among the missing items, Magistrate Antoine Verlaque and his team wonder if some obscure collector spotted something of value everyone else had missed. But the more they probe the thefts and possible suspects, the less sense the thefts make. Then, the museum's curator and a rival curator from Marseille are attacked one evening in the museum offices. Now they must also discover the motive for murder...
The precinct's team of investigators are endearingly interested in food, wine and their beloved Aix. Meanwhile Verlague's wife Marine is pregnant with their first child, causing him much distraction: schools, clothing, the need to chauffeur a child to multiple extracurricular activities! What have they gotten themselves into?
I look forward to reading the back stories of all of the characters, and need to go find Book 1 of the series.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books in this series are indeed charming, this outing no different. They often, and this one in particular, lean a bit more to the “Camelot” depiction of life and society than is my wont, but they don’t go too far into the syrupy and sappy and I like the characters enough to forgive the little bit of could-be-cloying relationship of Juge Verlaque and his wife Marine Bonnet. The pace is pleasant, the case is interesting, and the depiction of an idealized Provence region is not at all hard to accept and enjoy.
Here, an entire museum in the town of Aix-en-Provence is removed, seemingly overnight, ceramics, historic documents, and a smattering of artworks. Monday morning the building is empty. How could such a thing be accomplished, and since nothing in this sleepy museum is all that valuable, why would anyone want to? Perplexing questions, but examining magistrate Antoine Verlaque and his right hand man leading the local constabulary Bruno Paulik are on the case, and we know that they are more than capable of cracking it.
I have for a few years made it my practice to save the next Verlaque and Bonnet mystery for Christmas week, to read as a present to myself and I enjoyed “unwrapping” and savoring this one. And fortunately, I’ve the next in the series set aside for next Christmas.

[Candy Wood]

Being a sucker for floppy Penguin paperbacks, I picked up this book even though it’s the ninth in a series I haven’t read, possibly accounting for the strangeness of the experience. The plot is firmly set in present-day Aix-en-Provence, with cellphones, search engines, Instagram, and the like, but it feels like an earlier time, calling attention to leisurely midday meals shared by Magistrate Antoine Verlaque and police commissioner Bruno Paulik as they investigate the theft of an entire museum’s contents. Verlaque’s preoccupation with his age as well as his prominent position makes him seem at least middle-aged, but his wife, Marine Bonnet, is pregnant with their first baby, and Marine’s mother is also a character in the novel. Then there’s the dialogue. A sprinkling of French phrases reminds us that they are in France, but they speak in colloquial American English: Verlaque says “yeah,” “kiddo,” and “that guy,” for example. Puzzlingly, Marine, who might be modeled partly on Donna Leon’s Paola (Guido Brunetti’s wife), is reading “David Lodge’s latest novel”—the one published in 2011? I might have to seek out earlier entries in the series just to see whether the Donna Leon echoes start there.