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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.
Alas I couldn’t actually cook as Antoine, because the kitchen on set in his house just wasn’t practical and I might have burned something down.”
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Murder in the Rue Dumas” is more on the cozy end of the genre, but what a delightful place it holds. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from its opening through its epilogue, which I very much appreciated. The character, their relationships and the author’s voice kept me interested and reading. I find I really do want to read the next book. We meet the group of Theologians at a grand party being held by Moutte, the man in charge. He has promised to name the recipient of the Dumas fellowship for which there are several competing and hopeful candidates, but instead he drops a bomb that he is not going to retire. His position included deluxe rent-free housing in the best part of Aix-en-Provence in addition to other benefits.
The Brits sure do love a good murder mystery – even one set in France, as is the case with Murder In Provence, a sort of Midsomer Murders clone but with better food, better scenery, more sunshine and a lot more wine. Professor Moutte, the Doyen of the School of Theology at the University of Aix, is found murdered in his office. The murder occurred just after he announced that he would not be retiring. His announcement affected three of his colleagues who thought they in the mix for his prestigious position. Also affected were 4 post-graduate students in the competition for the lucrative Dumas Fellowship. Two days later, the professor’s secretary was killed in a hit and run accident. Coincidence or related to the murder? Into this turmoil, another crime is added – art glass forgery. 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. Bonnet, actually, is not a detective at all. She's Verlaque's girlfriend, who, I presume, he hooked up with in the first book. Their relationship is in that awkward phase where neither is quite sure how serious it is. Bonnet does help some with the case, but is, largely, on the periphery. I do like her, and I like that she isn't his partner, as that changes up typical dynamics a bit. I was not super attached to the characters, but I was entertained by them, which was enough for me. Another egregious plot
As one character knowingly observes, “It’s very Agatha Christie”. But that’s all part of the charm for lead actor Roger Allam, a three-time Laurence Olivier Award-winner who is perhaps best known these days for his role as Detective Inspector Fred Thursday in the Inspector Morse prequel series Endeavour.
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 If you’d like an intriguing mystery story peopled with unique characters, enhanced with descriptions of mouth watering edibles and lush pictures of the Italian and French country side Murder in the Rue Dumas is the book for you. 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. 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. 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.
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Longworth deftly portrays a large cast of characters (some of them suspects), including theology students, professors, and friends and neighbors of Verlaque and Bonnet, including police commissioner Bruno Paulik, the chief magistrate’s right hand. As interesting as the university milieu may be, and as intricate as the mystery is, what provides the most pleasure in reading Murder in the Rue Dumas is Longworth’s description of Verlaque and Bonnet’s daily lives – their up-and-down romance, their conversations, and their relationship to food and wine. The author vividly depicts the town of Aix-en-Provence, its markets, its citizens, and its glorious food. One can practically smell the freshly-baked croissants and savor the espresso on Verlaque’s breakfast table.
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