Synopses & Reviews
The fourth book in the series finds Verlaque and Bonnet on vacation on a remote island in the glittering Mediterranean
Like Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri, M. L. Longworths books enchant mystery lovers with a taste for good food and gorgeous landscapes. In Murder on the Île Sordou, Judge Antoine Verlaque and his girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet, are hoping to enjoy a relaxing holiday at the Locanda Sordou, an opulent hotel that is reopening after decades, but someone has other plans.
Maxime and Catherine Le Bon have spent their life savings restoring the Locanda, which lies on an archipelago just off the coast of Marseille. The murder of one of the guests casts a shadow over everyones vacation, and Verlaque and Bonnet are once again called to investigate. But things go from bad to worse when a violent storm cuts off all communication with the mainland. Will the killer strike again?
Review
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“What really makes Longforth’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)
Review
“Longworth’s gentle procedural succeeds on several levels, whether it’s for academic and literary allusions, police work, or armchair travel. With deftly shifting points of view, Longworth creates a beguiling read that will appeal to Louise Penny and Donna Leon fans.” –
Library JournalReview
“Fans of European sleuths with a taste for good food … will have fun.” –
PWReview
Praise For Death at the Chateau Bremont .
“This first novel in a projected series has charm, wit, and Aix-en- Provence all going for it. Longworth's voice is like a rich vintage of sparkling Dorothy Sayers and grounded Donna Leon...Longworth has lived in Aix since 1997, and her knowledge of the region is apparent on every page. Bon appétit.” – Booklist
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“A promising debut for Longworth, who shows there's more to France than Paris and more to mystery than Maigret.” – Kirkus .“Mystery and romance served up with a hearty dose of French cuisine. I relished every word. Longworth does for Aix-en-Provence what Frances Mayes does for Tuscany: You want to be there-NOW!” – Babara Fairchild, former editor-in-chief, Bon Appetit magazine .“Death at Chateau Bremont is replete with romance, mystery, and a rich atmosphere that makes the south of France spring off the page in a manner reminiscent of Donna Leon's Venice. A wonderful start to a series sure to gain a legion of fans.” – Tasha Alexander, author of the Lady Emily mysteries .“Longworth has a good eye and a sharp wit, and this introduction to Verlaque and Bonnet holds promise for a terrific series.” – Globe and Mail .“Death at Chateau Bremont offers charming French locales, vivid characters and an intriguing who-done-it.” – Kevin R. Kosar, author of Whiskey: A Global History .“Here's hoping the series lasts for years.” – RT BookReviews .“Your readers will eat this one up.” – Library Journal
Review
“What really makes Longforth’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)
Review
“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 PostReview
“As intricate as the mystery is, what provides the most pleasure in reading Murder in the Rue Dumas is Longworths description of Verlaque and Bonets daily lives… one can practically smell the freshly-baked croissants.” - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Review
“Charming”—Marilyn Stasio,
The New York Times Book Review
“A splendid read” - Mystery Scene Magazine
“[T]horoughly delightful… Longworth deftly handles what is in effect a locked-room mystery, but the books real strength lies in the backstories she creates for each of the distinctive characters. The puzzles answer, buried in the past, is well prepared by what has come before.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Longworth once again immerses readers in French culture with this whodunit, which will delight Francophiles and fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri. The setting will also appeal to readers who enjoy trapped-on-the-island mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christies And Then There Were None.” - Library Journal
“Longworths maritime version of a country-house cozy offers genuine pleasures” - Kirkus
“Longworths novels, set in the south of France are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served.” - Booklist
“[A] charming read with a well-crafted mystery and characters as rich and full bodied as a Bordeaux.” - The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“The fourth installment of M.L. Longworths mystery series recalls some of Agatha Christies tales from exotic places, updated with balky Internet access… Its an ideal beach read.” - The Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Synopsis
The second delightful Verlaque and Bonnet mystery--when a shocking murder rocks the theology department at Aix-en-Provence's university, chief magistrate Antoine Verlaque is on the case
The latest book in the Verlaque & Bonnet Mystery series, The Curse of La Fontaine, is available now from Penguin Books
When Dr. Georges Moutte is found mudrered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Universite 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.
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.
A page-turning mystery that transports you to the south of France with its lush portrait of a charming seaside town, this continuation of the Verlaque and Bonnet series captivates.
-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 cafe-canny.- --Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
When a shocking murder rocks the theology department at Aix-en-Provence
's university, chief magistrate Antoine Verlaque is on the case
Proven al Mystery Series #2 When Dr. Georges Moutte is found mudrered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Universit 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.
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.
A page-turning mystery that transports you to the south of France with its lush portrait of a charming historic town, this continuation of the Proven al Mystery series captivates.
"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 caf -canny." --Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
When a shocking murder rocks the theology department at Aix-en-Provence
's university, chief magistrate Antoine Verlaque is on the case
Proven al Mystery Series #2
Now a series on BritBox, premiering March 1st. When Dr. Georges Moutte is found mudrered, investigator Antoine Verlaque is stumped. Certainly the director of theology at the Universit 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.
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.
A page-turning mystery that transports you to the south of France with its lush portrait of a charming historic town, this continuation of the Proven al Mystery series captivates.
"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 caf -canny." --Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
The second book in the delightful Verlaque and Bonnet mystery series is another page-turning whodunit, this time in set in a small community of theology students and professors at Aix-en-Provence's university.
When the director of the theology department at the university in Aix is found dead, Judge Verlaque is dumbfounded. Professor Moutte was about to announce the recipient of both a fellowship, and his position as Director—which includes the coveted apartment in a 17th century mansion. The prospective recipients and others close to Moutte make up a long list of suspects, but Verlaque isn’t convinced any of the eager students or desperate teachers are capable of murder, and he must dig deeper. With Marine’s help—and that of her plucky mother—Verlaque uncovers a world that proves more complicated than university politics.
About the Author
M.L. Longworth has lived in Aix-en-Provence since 1997. She has written about the region for The Washington Post, The Times (U.K.), The Independent (U.K.), and Bon Appétit Magazine. She is the author the Verlaque and Bonnet series, as well as of a bilingual collection of essays, Une Américaine en Provence. She divides her time between Aix and Paris, where she teaches writing at NYU's Paris campus.