This novel about a chateau in Provence is far from being a cosy rom-com. Although it starts with four women arriving for a holiday in a luxury chateau, the hostess soon ends up dead and dangerous secrets soon start casting nightmarish shadows across the lives of the surviving quartet.
Jaclyn Goldis graduated from Michigan University and practiced as a lawyer in Chicago for seven years before changing careers in order to write and travel full time.
Her style is very atmospheric, full of small details that really bring the scenes to life, without being wordy.
The chateau in question belongs to Séraphine Demargelasse and the guests are her granddaughter Darcy, and her three friends. Two decades earlier the four of them all went to the same school in France and spent weekends in the chateau. Now, it gradually transpires that each of them has a compelling reason to return. And then a sinister Instagram account pops up, tracking their movements and revealing snaps of intimate moments.
Who is behind it? And is the stalker also the murderer?
The beginning moves slowly, introducing the characters and the backstory. But once the murder has been committed the pace picks up. The twisty plot includes lots of red herrings and other surprises, making this book hard to put down. You might find yourself so gripped that you stay up all night reading it with delicious shivers running up and down your spine. You might never feel cosy in a French chateau again.
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The Paris Assignment
The Paris Assignment
Rhys Bowen,
Lake Union Publishing, €17.09;
ISBN: B0BPYXZRLQ
The Paris Assignment is an adventure set in WW2. Englishwoman Madeleine Grant is studying in 1930s Paris when she meets and marries a charming French journalist, Giles Martin. They settle down in Paris to a happy life with their son Olivier. However when war breaks out, to escape the hostilities, Madeleine takes Olivier back to England. Giles, however, stays behind to join the resistance. But things don’t quite go as planned in England, and after the devastating loss of her son, Madeleine returns to France determined to find her husband and play her part in defeating the Nazis.
Rhys Bowen is a prolific and prize-winning author who has written several best-selling series. Born in Bath, she studied in London and now splits her time between California and Arizona. Her writing is always vivid and evocative, making readers laugh and weep over the pages.
The story travels between England and France, describing Paris under Nazi occupation, London during the Blitz and even taking in post-war Australia. The conclusion perhaps stretches the imagination but is ultimately satisfying. A war time story, the book does not flinch from the sadness and loss of war, but does not dwell on it either.
It is not a demanding read, but is a great page-turner to take to the beach. It is the kind of book that makes friends tell you to hurry up and finish because they want to read it next.
The D-Day Landing Beaches
The D-Day Landing Beaches
Georges Bernage,
Heidal, €15;
ISBN: 2840481375
When planning to visit the D-Day beaches it can be tricky to know where to start because there are so many of them. What happened where? Which is the best? Well-respected French historian Georges Bernage has it covered in this large format book which is full of maps, diagrams, photos and explanations.
The book would also make a great gift for any armchair traveller interested in learning more about the Normandy Landings and exactly what happened. The before and after photos (how bunkers and other buildings looked during WW2 and what they look like now) are particularly interesting.
Bernage has written numerous books on the same subject which are published in French, which would perhaps make good stepping stones for ambitious readers aiming to read in French. He has also published a handful of books about France in the Middle Ages.
It is true that this translation into English could have used an Anglophone editor; the text is sprinkled with mistakes and typos. But overall, this modestly priced guide really delivers a comprehensive overview of the D-Day Beaches, and would be an invaluable exploring companion.
