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Murder in the Rue Dumas: A Verlaque and Bonnet Mystery: 2 (Provençal Mystery)

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Professor Moutte, the Doyen of the School of Theology at the University of Aix, is found murdered in his office. The murder occurred just after he announced that he would not be retiring. His announcement affected three of his colleagues who thought they in the mix for his prestigious position. Also affected were 4 post-graduate students in the competition for the lucrative Dumas Fellowship. Two days later, the professor’s secretary was killed in a hit and run accident. Coincidence or related to the murder? Into this turmoil, another crime is added – art glass forgery. Longworth throws a variety of puzzles at investigating magistrate Antoine Verlaque and his significant other, law professor Marine Bonnet, in their enjoyable third outing (after 2012’s Murder in the Continue reading »

I soon felt at home in Aix with Judge Verlaque and Marine Bonnet thanks to the descriptive writing. My weakness for french cuisine did cause hold ups in the reading as I diverted from the text to look up the recipe of a particular delicious morcel ( in case it had anything to do with the plot - you understand!) In Longworth’s thoroughly delightful fourth Provençal mystery (after 2013’s Death in the Vines), examining magistrate Antoine Verlaque and Marine Bonnet, his law-professor girlfriend, take a Continue reading » When Dr. Georges Moutte is found murdered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Université d'Aix had his enemies. Moutte was just about to name the recipient of an elite fellowship as well as his own successor—a highly coveted position—when his lips were sealed permanently. But Verlaque isn't convinced that anyone in the tiny community of academics is capable of murder.

Alongside Roger Allam, The Crown actress Nancy Carrol plays Marine Bonnet, Antoine’s romantic interest in the show. French-set mysteries have never been more popular [and] among the very best is a series set in Provence featuring Monsieur Verlaque, an examining magistrate, and his sometime girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet.”— The Denver Post Kelly, Helen (2022-02-25). "Murder in Provence: Exclusive first-look at Roger Allam's new crime drama". Express.co.uk . Retrieved 2022-03-07.

The latest book in the Verlaque & Bonnet Mystery series, The Curse of La Fontaine, is available now from Penguin Books! Longworth’s charming, if talky, fifth Verlaque and Bonnet mystery (after 2014’s Murder on the Île Sordou) looks at the art world. The book alternates between the now troubled relationship Continue reading »First Sentence: The friendship between Yann Falquerho and Thierry Marchive had surprised everyone at the university. Although the author is British, her absolute love of all things French and Italian, shines through. Almost more than anything else, the book is a delight to read for its detailed descriptions of foods and wines, while art—I’d not known before of Gallés glass and ex-votos--, history—during the plague, the town fathers of Aix closed the city gates resulting in the plague passing without the loss of a single life in Aix--, literature—“What will survive of us is love.”--, and the French countryside receive their fair share of attention, as well.

M. L. Longworth who also penned Death at the Chateau Bremont (2011) has lived in Aix-en-Provence for the past 15 or so years, and has written for major publications regarding this region. One can only assume that she loves her adopted home from the warm descriptions of places and food included in her story. Rather than hindering the mystery they simply serve to enrich and vivify it. Another egregious plot device which made me want to throw the book across the room was that our hero, a JUDGE, deliberately breaks into premises outside his jurisdiction with his accomplice a LAW PROFESSOR, based on nothing more than a hunch and conjecture. In the real world they would both have been fired and prosecuted, not been invited to dinner. And they aren't even contrite about it. Even so, the whole sequence should have been resolved with a simple telephone call (which, in a way, it ultimately is). Aided by his on-again, off-again girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet, Berlaque must turn Provence upside down, uncovering a world far more complicated than university politics, to find the killer before it’s too late.Wel blijf ik ruzie houden met de Franse invloeden in het schrijven en de uitdrukkingen. Doordat Longworth bijvoorbeeld de omgeving best uitgebreid omschrijft, worden er ook vaker Franse woorden gebruikt en hier had ik, net als bij het eerste deel, vaker moeite mee en vroeg ik mij ook geregeld af wat ze nu bedoelde. Dit vind ik toch jammer, want dit haalt de vaart uit het verhaal en nu was ik toch vaker geneigd om het boek aan de kant te leggen. When Dr. Georges Moutte is found mudrered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Université d’Aix had his enemies. Moutte was just about to name the recipient of an elite fellowship as well as his own successor—a highly coveted position—when his lips were sealed permanently. But Verlaque isn’t convinced that anyone in the tiny community of academics is capable of murder. Death at the Château Bremontoffers charming French locales, vivid characters and an intriguing who-done-it.”—Kevin R. Kosar, author of Whiskey: A Global History Aided by his on-again, off-again girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet, Verlaque must turn Provence upside down, uncovering a world far more complicated than university politics, to find the killer before it's too late. What really makes Longworth’s writing special is her deep knowledge of French history, landscape, cuisine, and even contemporary cafes and restaurants. This is that rare atmospheric mystery that is street-wise and café-canny.”— Booklist (starred review)

The setting is a smallish picturesque town in southern France named Aix-en-Provence. The main characters are Verlaque (a criminal judge) and his assistants and Marine Bonnet, a law professor and his girlfriend. When Dr. Georges Moutte is found mudrered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Université d’Aix had his enemies. Moutte was just about to name the recipient of an elite fellowship as well as his own successor—a highly coveted position—when his lips were sealed permanently. But Verlaque isn't convinced that anyone in the tiny community of academics is capable of murder. Murder in Provence is not based on a true story but has been adapted from the books of M.L. Longworth by Downton Abbey writer Shelagh Stephenson.Murder in the Rue Dumas” is more on the cozy end of the genre, but what a delightful place it holds. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from its opening through its epilogue, which I very much appreciated. The character, their relationships and the author’s voice kept me interested and reading. I find I really do want to read the next book. Door alle verschillende verdachten zit er redelijk wat vaart in het verhaal, er moet veel worden onderzocht en er is minder ruimte voor uitgebreide beschrijvingen, al wordt er zeker nog voldoende gepraat over eten, drinken en sigaren, (culturele) geschiedenis, de onderlinge relaties en het persoonlijke leven van de personages. Dat draagt bij aan de sfeer die de auteur neerzet, maar hierdoor zitten er ook wel wat dalen in de spanningsboog, op een gegeven moment hoop je toch dat er vooral wordt toegewerkt naar de ontknoping. De weg daarnaartoe leidt je door verschillende landen en plaatsen, langs kunst en vervalsingen, geheimen, achterliggende motieven en de lastig doordringbare academische wereld. While life seems to be going well for the pair, it all of a sudden comes crashing down when a professor is murdered just before he was due to retire.

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