The Secrets of the Bastide Blanche (A Provençal Mystery #7)

M. L. Longworth

$17.00

Publication Date: April 3rd, 2018

Publisher:

Penguin Books

ISBN:

9780143131427

Pages:

336

Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Description

“Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail—great wine, delicious meals, and fine company.” —Publishers Weekly

When a scandalous author moves to the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence, Verlaque and Bonnet are called in to investigate whether he’s haunted by more than just his past, in this delightful new mystery from M. L. Longworth

Provençal Mystery Series #7
Watch the series! Murder in Provence is now on Britbox.

One hot summer night, Aix-en-Provence is aflutter with news that controversial author Valère Barbier, who once shared dinners with French presidents and all-night drinking bouts with rock stars, has moved into La Bastide Blanche, a grand house left empty for decades. But Valère’s ideas of a peaceful retirement are quickly dashed. Rambunctious neighborhood children, a fast-talking gossip of a housekeeper, and a rival novelist filter through the home at all hours of the day—and by night there are unseen visitors with more sinister intentions.

While Antoine Verlaque investigates Valère’s sordid history, his wife and partner, Marine Bonnet, questions why the estate was abandoned in the first place—and what they both find raises more questions than answers. Is Valère imagining the ethereal cries that fill the bastide at night? Is he losing his mind? Or have these ghosts returned from Valère’s checkered past to haunt him?

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 (London), the Independent (London), and Bon Appétit. She is the author of a bilingual collection of essays, Une Américaine en Provence. She is married and has one daughter.

Praise for The Secrets of the Bastide Blanche (A Provençal Mystery #7)

Praise for The Secrets of the Bastide Blanche

“Reading the latest installment in M.L. Longworth’s Provençal Mystery series is my favorite way to relax. Full of gourmet meals, silky wines, and sumptuous homes, these cozy mysteries transport you to the south of France for significantly less than the cost of airfare. Perfect for the gourmands or francophiles in your life.” —Slate

“A fun and evocative mystery . . . best read beach-side with a glass of French wine in hand.” —Bustle

“Longworth’s stellar seventh Provençal mystery offers elegant prose and a juicy plot . . . rich with details of daily life in Aix-en-Provence . . . Francophiles will be enthralled.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Longworth once again transports readers to the South of France, peppering the story with sensory details that bring the setting to life. Antoine and wife Marine are as delightful as ever, and the compelling mystery keeps you wanting more.” —Library Journal

“The strength of Longworth's tale is its depiction of the good life in Provence.” —Kirkus

Praise for M. L. Longworth’s Provençal Mystery series

“The Verlaque and Bonnet mysteries . . . plunge you into a languid world of epicurean pleasures and good living.” —Eleanor Beardsley, NPR

“Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail—great wine, delicious meals, and fine company.” —Publishers Weekly

“Longworth’s novels . . . are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served.” —Booklist

Praise for The Curse of La Fontaine

“Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail—great wine, delicious meals, and fine company.” —Publishers Weekly

“Longworth confirms her long-standing lovebirds as Aix’s Nick and Nora; their pursuit of miscreants never interferes with their enjoyment of the good life.” —Kirkus Reviews