Strange Images of Death

Joe Sandilands #8

by Barbara Cleverly

It is summertime in Provence, 1926, but for Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands it's not all 'Dance and Provencal song and sunburnt mirth'. Joe is on leave, driving his way south to the Riviera while dropping off his niece at an ancient chateau in the Luberon hills. Her father is spending the season here, one of a group of talented artists who are the guests of a generous but enigmatic host. A troubling crime has been committed days earlier at the chateau, leaving a clear message that more violence is to come. To allay panic, Joe agrees to stay on and root out the guilty person. But, despite Joe's vigilance, a child goes missing and an artist's beautiful young model is murdered in circumstances eerily recreating a six hundred year old crime of passion. Helped and hindered by a rising star of the French Police Judiciaire, Joe must delve into a horror story from the castle's past before he can tear the mask from the diseased soul responsible for these contemporary crimes.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, France, Crime, Mystery Thriller

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Barbara Cleverly was born in the north of England and is a graduate of Durham University. A former teacher, she has spent her working life in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk; she now lives in Cambridge. She has one son and five step-children.

Her Joe Sandilands series of books set against the background of the British Raj was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic. Out of it spilled two centuries of memories of a family – especially a great uncle who spent a lot of time in India – whose exploits and achievements marched in time with the flowering of the British Empire.

Reviews

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Sentence: He studied her sleeping face for the last time.

Scotland Yard Commander Joe Sandilands is taking Dorcas, his friend’s 14-year-old daughter, to meet her artist father at an old castle in Provence. On the way, she asks Joe to find the mother who abandoned her when she was 2 years old. Upon arrival, there is a second mystery to solve. It begins with the destruction of a tomb figure, escalates to the death of a rabbit and culminates in the murder of a beautiful woman. Forced to work with French Commissaire Francis Jacquemin, known for arresting first, then forcing confessions, Joe much ensure he catches the proper killer and prevents any more deaths.

Characters; it is they who bring a story to life and Cleverly’s characters do not disappoint. They are fully developed with their backgrounds established and their personalities distinct. We not only learn about Joe, for those who’ve not read previous books in the series, but are told of his appearance in an unforced manner.

A predominant young character can be awkward, but not here. Dorcas, his 14 year old “niece” is someone who holds her own. She is someone I want to see remain part of the series, if not in every book but certainly in the future. There was a character I felt wasn’t as strong an element as I thought might be, but I was okay with that.

Cleverly is a very visual writer, whether in panorama or in detail. You have a real sense of their surroundings at all times. I appreciate dialogue that has a natural ear and flow with a touch of humor, and she satisfies on all aspects.

This book’s opening hook is very strong; suspenseful, dramatic and ultimately brutal without the reader having to witness the act. It is also, we soon learn, the first of many excellent twists within the plot, this first so subtle you don’t realize it until later. Cleverly skillfully interweaves interesting historical information into the story as well as providing an adept explanation of French and English police ranks and an amazing assessment of Van Gogh’s self portrait.

These are only a few examples of the deftness with which Ms. Cleverly writes as none of these caused a break in the flow of the story. Add to that an emotional secondary mystery, and just the right touch of suspense and you have a well thought out and well executed traditional mystery.

Each year I plan for the release of the newest Sandilands book to order as soon as it is available. If you’ve not read them, do start at the beginning of the series and set aside uninterrupted time to enjoy each one. I know why they rank so high on my “must read” list; they are excellent.

STRANGE IMAGES OF DEATH (Pol Proc-Comm. Joe Sandilands-France-Golden Age/1926) – Ex
Cleverly, Barbara – 8th in series
Constable, ©2010, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9781849011181

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to get back to this series and reacquaint myself with Joe Sandilans.

This time the case takes place in France, while Sandilans is on vacation. Of course, he won't get to spend them without a murder happening ;P

The cast of characters was quite interesting, and I enjoyed some of them, particularly Joe's niece. Although I found the depictions of the artistic bohemian lifestyle a bit on the nose. The plot is clever, though, even when I found the culprit as soon as we are told about the pregnancy of the victim and the state of her relationship with the Lord's cousin. That didn't minimize my enjoyment, I quite like to be right :P

As always, Terry Wale's narration is very pleasant. I think I'll be listening to the next book in the series now.

[Rhonda]

Better and better

I've really enjoyed the Joe Sandilands series and they just keep getting better & better. This was no exception. However, this is the second time I've noted that they seem strangely out of order. Number 2 should precede 1 and now number 8 should precede 7. Perhaps they've just been mis-numbered on Goodreads and Amazon. Whatever the reason, I'd recommend future readers adjust the order accordingly.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Score another one for Barbara Cleverly! Not only is this a good read, but a tantalizing mystery that keeps you guessing until the last few pages! Every time I think I finally have her number, she misleads me again and slips through my logic! Well done, Ms. Cleverly!
As noted in my own and other reviews, these later books in the Joe Sandilands series which do NOT take place in India, are the lesser works, still very,very good, but not transcendent. This one follows the pattern laid down in "Tug of War:" Joe is on vacation in France when he stumbles across a mystery that the locals ask him to assist in solving. This time, the original "crime" is the vicious hacking apart of a 600 year-old tomb in the chapel of a castle with a sinister reputation. There follow some deeply disturbing accompaniments in the gruesome form of a hanged rabbit and tales of haunting (really, ghosts in an ancient castle, you think?!) The environs exude an aura of dread among the gathering of artists and artistes who are spending the summer there at the invitation of the lord of the castle. After referring the violent act of vandalism to the police in Marseille, a real murder takes place and greets the Commissionaire who joins forces with Joe to investigate. The ominous atmosphere which permeated the first part of this story is dispelled as time goes on and the blind alleys are pursued. By the time the actual murderer is revealed, the feeling of intense evil has been reduced to mere human failings such as greed and envy. The intense creepiness presented at the beginning is never realized or explained. I felt the end to be anticlimactic, hence 4 stars instead of 5.
However, I must say that the secondary plot line of discovering the truth of Dorcas' parentage is, by far, the most intriguing and satisfying part of the whole book!

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

1926 ~ This one follows Joe's and Dorcas' journey to Provence to meet up with her family... picking up from where we left of in Book 6 ~ Tug of War. Their destination was the Chateau de Silmont aka Chateau Diable where her family and a bunch of her father's artist friends were billeted inorder to produce works of art for their host. Like most old families, the Silmonts had a legend. Six hundred years ago. Sir Hugues, the Silmonts' ancestor's first wife was believed to be taken by the Devil on her wedding day... soon after her disappearance, Sir Hugues married his impoverished but beautiful cousin Alienore... after the birth of his heir, he then went off to join the Crusades. When he got back from his last campaign, he found his wife pregnant, so he killed her, contrary to the romanticized myth that she died in childbirth. In warped irony, he even let his wife's lover fashion an alabaster statue for her then he killed him too. Their statues were to be found at the chateau's chapel with his sculpted image hovering over her with a knife frozen in time's macabre tableau... around the three sides of the tomb an inscription in Latin that said 'Alienore, wife (and hidden from view) harlot'... and it was on this altar that the fresh corpse of a young woman was found... where the earlier vandalized statue of Alienore, newly restored, was removed in pieces and placed on the floor nearby... another more urgent unofficial investigation for Sandilands aside from the vandalism... the French police having the more official part after all. It would also be here that Dorcas' parentage would finally be revealed as she had commissioned her Uncle Joe to find her 'gypsy' mother. Knowledge of the Truth had finally set Dorcas on her future course.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange Images of Death by Barbara Cleverly is the 8th book of the Joe Sandilands mystery series, set in Provence in August 1926. Joe is on his way south to Provence with his feisty, spunky "niece" Dorcas. Her artist father Orlando is at 600-year-old Chateau Silmont for his annual summer-long creative retreat. Dorcas is on a mission: she wants to find her mother, who abandoned her as a baby, and may be in Provence. Joe promises he will also seek her mother, very discreetly. He plans to stay only a day at the chateau, then continue on to the Riviera, to meet up with ex-military friends for a vacation.

Once again Joe's vacation must be put on hold. Although the first crime at "Chateau Diable" is violent, it is not a matter for a Scotland Yard detective. But then it is followed by murder. By coincidence, French Commissaire Jacquemin from Paris arrives to take charge of the case, unaware of the murder. Ambitious Jacquemin has a dark reputation: arrest first, then force confession by any means (not necessarily after full collection of evidence). Joe subtly plays Jacquemin, not letting on at first that Joe seriously outranks him. Luckily a competent officer from Provence accompanies Jacquemin. He and Joe work together to catch the killer. Plenty of red herrings provide them ample challenge.

Dorcas is a very welcome sidekick for Joe's sleuthing. In Tug of War, when she and Joe first set out for the south of France, she helped him solve an identity case; I hope she appears in many more. For me, the search for Dorcas' mother was a more interesting mystery than identifying the Chateau Silmont killer.

[Linda Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are taken back to Joe's trip to the south of France with Dorcas. They are staying in Silmont Castle with her father and a group of artists. The lord sponsors many artists and every year he has a group to stay over the summer. This year there is the usual 'mixed bag': a Russian ballet master with several dancers and their duenna; an artist's model called Estelle; Orlando and Dorcas; and Jane who is cataloguing and repairing the furniture, ceramics and fabrics in the castle. Upset is caused when a 600-year old effigy on a tomb is found smashed. The police are called but before they arrive there is further cause for upset. Dorcas has also asked Joe to look for her mother. How will he fare with a 15-year old trail which may well be cold, especially when he is given the cold shoulder to his questions by the local priest.
This is an interesting story, showing how crimes would have been investigated in those times, plenty of description of the local area, the castle and the inhabitants. A fun read, and continues the story of Dorcas entwined with Joe.

[Sally Atwell Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Joe Sandilands Murder Mystery, written by Barbara Cleverly, is number 8 in this series. It seemed to me that it was very different from the others I have read. Joe, along with his "niece" Dorcas, goes to France, and drives down to Provencal, where he is supposed to drop of Dorcas to her father, and continue on to stay with a friend in the Antibes. However, he gets caught up in some strange goings on at the castle where Orlando and his artist friends go to every summer. And some of the goings on are down right scary and evil. As a Commander in Scotland Yard, he worked closely with a Commissar from Paris, as well as a Lieutenant from the police force in Avignon.

Like other Cleverly books, the perpetrator is kept anonymous until the end of the novel.

[Bob Deysach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Barbara Cleverly novel that I have read. I loved it. It is set in the 1920s and in a castle in southern France. The characters are well defined and the plot evolves very much little an Agatha Christie murder mystery. The personal relationships among the potential "suspects" and the investigating police are very interesting and knit nicely with the overall plot. The cast of characters is quite large and interesting in their own right. Dorcas, the 14 year old niece of Joe Sandilands, is a particularly delightful and precocious girl. This is the 8th book in the Sandilands series so she may be a continuing developing character. I definitely will read more of the series.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

1926. Joe is in France, delivering his adopted niece, Dorcas, to her father in the Provence. However, when his arrival coincides with a crime, Joe agrees to delay his departure until the police arrive — only for an even worse crime to be discovered just before their arrival. In addition, Dorcas has asked Joe to help find her mother, who returned to France shortly after her birth. Fascinating story with an interesting setting inhabited by a number of unusual characters. But along with his French counterparts, Joe perseveres. Highly recommended.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite in the Joe Sandilands series. The majority of the read was slow and fairly ponderous to read. The last third of the book provided some redemption and I felt like I was reading what I have come to expect from this series.

[Tracey S Choat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1\2 stars

I loved the first few books in this series but the last few books are not as interesting. The plot feels forced Even the characters are different. Not worth the price of $9.99 so this will be my last Sandilands book.

[Anne Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series continues to entertain and surprise me

[Dan Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another exceptional entry in Barbara Cleverly's "Joe Sandilands" series of mysteries!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe is in France dealing with a strange murder and we learn more about Dorcas’s history.

[Elaine Kozak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not among the best in the series.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guessed the killer as soon as they were introduced. Forced snappy dialogue but many good characters

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another satisfying Joe Sandilands mystery - I enjoy this favorite series more with each outing. I've seen in reviews that some fans prefer Joe's earlier adventures set in India, but I really enjoy each new mystery equally as a chance to learn more about the battle-hardened Scotland Yard commander and his interesting friends, family and fellow police officers and the changing political and social world they inhabit in post-WWI England and France.

A perfect example is this book - I remember learning about the Lost Generation of writers and artists that scandalized society with their post-war antics in Paris, but here Barbara Cleverly brings to life such a colony of free-loving creative types working in a chateau in Provençal in 1926. Joe is driving to the south of France on holiday and is asked to deliver his niece to her father, a painter working at the chateau for the summer. A beautiful and ancient relic in the chapel of the chateau is damaged beyond repair in an appalling and violent act of destruction just before Joe's arrival and he is asked to investigate. Cleverly crafts a gripping thriller surrounding an ancient and violent crime, dark family secrets and violent madness - a ripping good read! Recommended.

[Jim Leffert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This character-driven historical mystery, which takes place in 1926, is a worthy addition to the author’s Joe Sandilands series. This time, the WWI veteran and Scotland Yard Commander is not in exotic India but rather in the South of France, visiting a venerable chateau. The chateau’s aristocratic owner has opened it to a group of artists, led by Orlando, the father of Joe’s teenage ward, Dorcas. Joe, along with two French Sureté detectives, is enlisted to solve the mystery of the brutal smashing of part of a sculpted wooden sepulcher, which depicts a young woman of legend who married one of the chateau’s medieval masters. Is this a one-time act of violence or is something even more deadly about to happen? A subplot involves Joe’s efforts, at Dorcas’s request, to find her mother, a French woman who, as a teenager, had a liaison with Orlando.

While the mystery itself is not especially compelling, it becomes the Maguffin for a story rich in characterization, atmosphere, and historical resonance, which is why I heartily recommend this book.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Joe Sandilands mystery with the setting at a castle in France complete with the grandeur inside the castle and the breathtaking scenery. The story starts with the crime in the moment before the crime has been committed, then quickly shifts gear to the events leading to the crime and the description of various characters. Dorcas, a "niece" of Joe's, enters into the investigation, plus she discovers her own secrets. Cleverly subdues the discovery of the killer very well, but certain clues almost reveal the killer before the end of the novel. In this case, Joe works with the French police, and of course, Cleverly throws into the story many tidbits of historic significance. A delightful wandering into France and castle.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Sandilands was planning to drop his adopted niece Dorcas with her father in the art colony where they will spend the summer. But first Dorcas begs him to help her find her long-missing mother, and then the chateau where he's to leave Dorcas seems to be the center of a crime wave. When there's a death, Joe must stay to help the French police, and also ensure Dorcas's safety, before he can enjoy the pleasures of the 1926 Riviera scene. A strange mixture of French, English, Russian, and American artists and hangers-on populate the chateau, and Joe must dig below the surface--and into the past--before he finds a cold-blooded killer.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the latest in a series, which began set in India during the Raj but whose hero (and trust me, dashing doesn't begin to get it across!) has now returned to England and France. I have to say that I enjoyed the India ones more; this is probably my favorite of the ones set in Europe. Still, I found the whole thing a bit flat, and lacking the intensity that earlier books in the series have had. I'll keep reading them because they're fun and well-written, but I'm not going to say this is a must.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scotland Yard Commander Sandilands returns in 1926 France, where he is dropping off Dorcas Joliffe, his honorary niece, at an old chateau where her father is engaged in an artist’s retreat. Upon their arrival, Joe is drawn into investigating a nasty piece of vandalism. Before he can solve this mystery a young English woman is stabbed and the French Police Judiciaire are called in. Somewhat reluctantly they also ask for Joe’s help because so many of the suspects are English. Dorcas is an especially engaging character and the style and setting evoke some of the classics of the genre.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scotland Yard detective, Joe Sandilands, is on vacation in France. On his way to Antibes he is dropping off his niece. While in the Luberon, a priceless statue is destroyed. Then the next day a body is discovered. Sandilands joins the French forces to discover the murderer.

The details and the method of murder were quite intriguing. I've read a lot of mysteries, and this was unique. Jealousy, hate and misplaced love are often motives, ut not usually displayed in this manner.

Characterization is good, plot is good, and the desciptions of the scenery are also good.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Cleverly is one of my favorite authors. I love her novels set in India. This one did not hold my interest as much as her other novels. Part of the problem may have been me. I had been reading an excellent but different type of novel and could not switch my mindset sufficiently to appreciate a slow burn crime thriller. I may at a future time come back to it. Normally, I do not give a rating if I have not finished, but Strange Images of Death deserves a better effort and I did read two thirds. 3 1/2 stars rounded up.

[Val Sanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe and Dorcas arrive at the castle where her father, Orlando, is staying. While in route, Dorcas has asked Joe to find her real mother and reunite them. While Joe is getting his feet on the ground in Provence, a beautiful young woman is murdered by someone she trusts. The only witness is a young boy accidentally trapped in the room while the murder occurs.

Joe must find the killer before he or she strikes again. With false starts and false leads, Joe remains diligent in his search for the truth. A fun story.

[BookBec · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, my complaint: I dislike reading books in a series out of order. So I was annoyed to discover that although this was the 8th published book about Joe Sandilands, the author skipped back in time. In the chronology of Joe's detective work, this book comes immediately after #6, Tug of War.

Second, my praise: I was glad to see the murderer finally get to feel the hand of justice. So many of Cleverly's Sandilands books have some excuse for why nobody's arrested even when the case is solved. Also, Dorcas was in this book; she's a treat.

[Lorlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series and it is interesting to follow the characters through the books.

Joe and Dorcas are going to France to catch up with Orlando who is at a castle with a lot of other artists. The stone effigy of Alienor is destroyed and then a young woman is killed on the spot. The murderer is the historian who had her eyes on Lord Silmonts cousin -- who had fallen in love with the deceased who was carrying his child.

A side story is that the cook is Dorcas mother -- and Orlando is not her father.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as previous 'Joe Sandlands' titles, but still interesting. The story revolves around the destruction of an ancient funerary statue, and then an actual murder atop the crypt. I enjoyed the look at Provence - and the artist colony that resides at the mansion in the 1920s - but the pace of the story seemed to lag, and I felt that there were too many characters involved. Joe was a little less snappy in this one.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Cleverly, and I think this may be one of her best. The characters can be a bit difficult to distinguish -- there are so many of them staying at Chateau Silmont, and they don't have quite enough personality until the end -- but it doesn't really detract from the book.

The mystery is well-plotted without being too obvious, and Cleverly does a good job of caputuring the flavor of the time and place.