Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Boldwood Books, via #netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own
In need of a break, DI Archie Darling and his trusty Dalmatian companion Juno set off in their camper van to explore the quiet beauty of rural France
Synopsis
Their journey begins in the Dordogne, to attend the wedding of an old friend Craig. Archie is instantly charmed by the incomparable soothing rhythms of French village life and the picturesque wedding venue, the Manoir la Poisse. So, when one guest is found dead and then another, Archie is reluctant to get involved.
When it becomes clear however that the French police are keen to brush the truth of the deaths under the carpet, Archie’s professional sleuthing instinct proves impossible to resist. Before he knows it, Archie is creating his own list of suspects from the many wedding guests, an alarming number of whom have dubious alibis, and ticking off clues.
And as he gets closer to unmasking the killer, Archie and Juno are faced with a dilemma – risk the consequences of meddling or leave town before they’re in the crosshairs of a killer…
Review
Book 1 of a new series, but doesn't read like one. I felt like this was maybe book four or five and that's a great thing! The author gives you some backstory on Archie in pieces and bits which leads to the illusion that this is mid-series. It's an interesting text starting a series with your main police character on leave due to a life-changing event, that happens to coincide with a friend of his from the military getting married. Add in some apparently unsavory characters, a overactive widow, some obvious drama between the newlyweds, a group of fun-loving expats and some interesting Americans, and suddenly you have more drama than what you need. A twistful mystery, some readers may figure it out ahead of time, but the fun is trying to see how Archie, figures it out. If you're looking for something that's part cozy and Park police procedural this new series may just be what you're looking for.
About the Author
J. R. Leigh is one of the pen names of million-selling novelist Judy Leigh, who also writes historical/ dual timeline novels as Elena Collins. Her Seal Bay cozy crime series focuses on the beautiful location of Cornwall, while the new series visits stunning locations in France as a backdrop.
Having lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, Judy now lives in Somerset and has three black cats.
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