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

Product Information

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. Murder in the Rue Dumas also happens to be a very academic mystery. The murder victim works in the theology department of the same university where Bonnet teaches law. Most of the large cast of characters work in academia, so there's quite a bit of theological or otherwise very intelligent discussion. In this way, the book reminded me quite a bit of David Lodge's books, which are sort of academic humor and are in fact referenced in this novel.I think this is the first murder mystery I have read with references to Persian Letters by Montesquieu - a discussion I enjoyed so much I plan to read it again very soon. The pair investigate murders, mysteries and the dark underbelly of their idyllic home in the south of France. However, what I won't overlook and this annoyed me big time, is that the (laughably tiny) faculty doesn't include a single member of the clergy. Considering the plot involves an examination of the department's funding (the separation of church and state in France means that no public funds can be provided for the study of religious subjects and so public universities do not have theology departments, a paradox which is brushed aside in a single paragraph which makes only limited sense) , the only way colleges can afford to maintain such courses is with the help of the Catholic Church. Priests and nuns with academic credentials, while just as qualified, are significantly cheaper to employ than their lay counterparts , and are more able to provide support and advice for students planning to emulate them. The Church can also provide direct funding, funnel students , and offer opportunities for placements and other benefits. 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 Journal

In that respect, I got absolutely everything I hoped for from Murder in the Rue Dumas. The book is so French. There is much discussion of food, wine, alcohol, and such things. Warning: this book will make you hungry. There's a certain snobbishness to it, but I found it fabulous. Still, I enjoyed this book even though it was often hard to concentrate on it. I'm now on the next one.

Is Murder in Provence based on a true story?

The head of Aix University’s Theology is expected to announce both the winner of the prestigious Dumas fellowship, and, with his retirement, the appointment of his successor—who will acquire his very luxurious apartment. Before any of this occurs, he is found having been murdered in his office. Police commissioner Bruno Paulik, his boss examining magistrate Judge Antoine Verlaque, and the judge’s lover, law professor Marine Bonnet, seek the killer In Sept. 2011, I first discovered Mary Lou Longworth and her first mystery ( Murder at the Chateau Bremont) set in Aix-en-Provence. I waited, impatiently at times, for her follow up books. It is worth the wait. In het eerste hoofdstuk is te lezen dat Yann en Thierry, twee goede vrienden, op weg zijn een feestje. Het begint allemaal heel “cosy” en Longworth neemt uitgebreid de tijd om de personages voor te stellen en de omgeving te omschrijven. Hieruit blijkt maar weer dat ze hier een kei in 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. I think all of it would be ok if she would just cut down on the changing POVs and the characters. Just focus on Verlaque and have him have all these epiphanies and gastronomic adventures. With so many people, the thread gets lost.