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. Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail—great wine, delicious meals, and fine company.”— Publishers Weekly First Sentence: The friendship between Yann Falquerho and Thierry Marchive had surprised everyone at the university.

As their life seems to be going well with a positive attitude towards their relationship, it all comes crashing down when Antione investigates the murder before he was due to retire.This is clearly an author who loves that region, and wanted to write about it, and invented these characters so they could explore.

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. 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. I was going to say that I thought Judge Verlaque as something of a cross between George Simenon's Maigret and Colin Dexters Morse but as I am getting to know him better, I am seeing a bit of Jean-Luc Bannelec's Commissaire Dupin in the mix too. 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. 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 »Making a return appearance in Longworth’s second mystery are magistrate Antoine Verlaque and his girlfriend law professor Marine Bonnet. He has been called to investigate the murder of Dr. Georges Moutte, chair of the Theology Department at the University d’Aix. Moutte’s soon-to-be retirement has become a permanent one, hastened by blows to his head delivered by a blunt instrument. Verlaque is assisted by Paulik in interrogating faculty members, students, and those in attendance at a party the night before. Mary Lou Longworth, known as M. L. Longworth, is a Canadian author best known for her Verlaque and Bonnet series of detective novels set in Aix-en-Provence. Alongside Roger Allam, The Crown actress Nancy Carrol plays Marine Bonnet, Antoine’s romantic interest in the show.