| Title | : | Murder in a French Village (Flora Steele #7) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1837907528 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781837907526 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 258 |
| Publication | : | First published October 30, 2023 |
Jack is stunned to receive a call from his estranged mother, Sybil , asking him to drop everything and come to France. Together with Flora , his fellow sleuth, they pack their suitcases, dreaming of fragrant lavender fields and freshly baked pain au chocolat. It’s only when they arrive that they discover the shocking truth – Sybil’s friend was killed on a street in Paris, and she is desperate for their help.
The case leads them to a picturesque village in the south of France where life should be rosé, but even the bright blue skies can’t hide the fact that something is very wrong. And the mystery only deepens when Flora discovers that Sybil was in fact the intended target. Who would want her out of the way?
Perhaps Sybil’s relationship with wealthy Italian count Massimo Falconi has something to do with it. His darling daughter Allegra, ruthless business partner Pascal and his jealous estranged wife Isabella all have reasons for revenge…
Then when another person in the small French town dies in suspicious circumstances, Flora is convinced the two untimely deaths must be connected. Just when the case seems impossible to crack, a chess box provides an unlikely clue.
Can Flora discover the truth before Sybil meets her end? Or could trouble in paradise spell a final au revoir for the detective duo?
Murder in a French Village (Flora Steele #7) Reviews
-
When writer, Jack Carrington, received a phone call from his estranged mother he was shocked. It was seven years since they'd spoken, yet Sybil expected Jack to drop everything in Abbeymead and head for Paris. With fellow sleuth and good friend Flora Steele by his side, they arrived in Paris, worn out but happy to be there. Flora had never been to Paris so she was in awe at everything she was seeing. But when Sybil told Jack of the death of her friend, when the car had deliberately driven toward them on the streets of Paris, he wondered if it was an accident and his mother was fantasizing as she was wont to do. Then, as Flora and Jack headed to the small village of Vaison, to meet up with his mother and Italian Count Massimo Falconi, whom Sybil had plans to marry, it soon became apparent that there was definitely something wrong, and that perhaps his mother hadn't imagined it all...
Staying in the chateau was an experience in itself, but both Jack and Flora were uncomfortable in the tensions that were flowing between the residents. Moving into an hotel seemed sensible, but when Flora was attacked and in danger not once, but twice, their move was immediate. Finding out who was the culprit for all the misdeeds was proving difficult, but Flora and Jack had their suspicions. Would they be right? And could they stop the perpetrator before anyone else lost their life?
Murder in a French Village is the 7th in the Flora Steele Mystery series by
Merryn Allingham and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Flora and Jack make a good team, and with the setting in a completely different place, it was fresh and new. I'm looking forward to #8 very much. Highly recommended - but my advice: read from #1 to get full benefit of the series.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. -
The seventh book in the Flora Steele series. I have read and enjoyed all of them.
Murder in a French Village begins with Jack Carrington receiving a surprise call from his estranged mother demanding that he drops everything and comes to Paris because she is in fear for her life. This sends Flora and Jack rushing across the Channel where Flora will be visiting Paris for the first time. When they arrive not one but two murders put them into super sleuthing mode.
Nicely written as always, and with two charming characters and a deepening relationship, there's lots to look forward to in the next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. -
4 Stars
One Liner: A little slow but entertaining
Jack’s mother calls him in the middle of the night, demanding that he travel immediately to Paris and help her. Jack obliges despite being estranged from his parent. Flora decides to accompany him. After all, she needs to find out about the supposed latest discovery of her late parents.
The duo spends time in Paris and Provence, trying to find out if Jack’s mother, Sybil, is really being targeted. Is her lover’s family a threat to her life? Soon, they realize that the list of suspects is growing, but there are hardly any solid leads to follow. With Jack and Flora also under threat, the amateur sleuthing couple has to work fast and smart to uncover the truth.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Flora and Jack.
My Thoughts
Despite being the seventh book in the series, this one can be read as a standalone. However, you will enjoy it more if you read at least the previous book or two.
The setting, especially Provence, is vivid and beautiful to read. We get a majority of the descriptions from Flora’s POV. It helps that this is her first visit to the country. The narration has a sense of awe and makes it a delightful read.
Sybil is quite a character. She’s annoying and infuriating; someone we would love to hate. Luckily, Jack and Flora know how to deal with her tantrums (which is to let her go on until she’ll shut up).
The other characters, aka suspects, also have definite personalities, some bordering on stereotypes. Still, this is a cozy mystery, so it works well for the plot.
The pacing is slow due to the focus on the setting, but I don’t mind it much. Reading about new destinations is always fun, and the duo is a favorite of mine. We also see progress in their personal lives (Flora’s backstory feels anticlimactic, though I suspect it’s a deliberate choice and necessary).
The mystery has multiple elements, though if you pay attention, it is easy to identify the actual culprit. Most questions get answered by the end, while a couple of them are left to guess (even for the main characters). The reveal comes in two stages, followed by a nice rounded ending. I’m also sure we have two leads for the next book.
To summarize, Murder in a French Village is slower but never boring. It combines mystery, emotions, and introspection to deliver an enjoyable read. The book is a solid addition to the series, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderinaFrenchVillage -
My thanks to Bookouture for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Bookshop owner Flora Steele and mystery writer Jack Carrington, partners in crime solving (and perhaps, life?) are back for their seventh outing which takes them away from their Sussex village of Abbeymead—across the Channel to France. Set in the 1950s the series began when the reclusive Jack Carrington visited Flora’s shop, the Alls-Well, to pick up a book (instead of sending his errand boy as he usually did), only to find a body. The two get investigating and haven’t stopped since, some of their adventures involving travel but so far within the country. Their relationship on the other has proceeded slowly over the series, as while they do like each other, previous bad experiences in love have left them hesitant and cautious. Alongside, we also follow developments in Abbeymead with the stories of its different residents and the village itself.
In Murder in a French Village (2023), Jack gets a phone call from his (estranged) mother, Sybil, now living in France with an Italian count, Masimo Falconi, whom she hopes to marry. She has been the target of a road accident in Paris, which left her friend dead and herself injured. The ‘accident’ she suspects was deliberate, and herself the likely target for the count’s family—his ex-wife and daughters are unhappy with their relationship and want her out. Meanwhile, Flora, as we know from previous instalments has been wanting to go to France as well, as her former boyfriend, Richard Frant had suddenly contacted her saying he’d found her parents’ graves there. Flora is shocked at this revelation as she’d been led to believe they were in a Highgate cemetery (she’d never visited) after they died in a car crash when she was a child. Jack sees this as a chance to solve this ‘mystery’ too and invites her to join him, and she agrees.
They arrive in Paris to pick up a few clues, though Jack is not entirely convinced his high-strung mother isn’t imagining things. The two then travel to the small village of Vaison-la-Romaine where Falconi owns a Chateau and vineyard. Soon various small (and not to small) incidents start to occur, justifying Sybil’s suspicions, and Jack and Flora must get to the bottom of things if Sybil (and indeed themselves) are to escape unscathed. Coincidentally this is also the village where Flora’s parents are buried but she must overcome her fears and hesitation to learn their story.
The Flora Steele mysteries are one of the few series that I’ve been following right from the start and have enjoyed all through. They are cosies and may not be perfect in every aspect but the characters are likeable and the mysteries and settings (whether Abbeymead itself or when they travel) fun. This was the case with this instalment too, and I had a great time reading the book.
We get a lovely trip to the French countryside (also a brief stop in Paris) and a vineyard tour, even learning how the wine is produced, bottled, aged and such which was interesting, and also a sense of the beautiful landscape and village life (including a trip to a weekly village market). While we are entirely away from Abbeymead for this mystery, Flora does call back (mostly her friend Alice) to check on her shop and Jack his friend Inspector Ridley for help when they need it, so one feels in touch with them as well and abreast of developments in the village there even if nothing much happens.
The mystery here throws up numerous suspects—from Count Falconi’s venomous ex-wife, Isbella to his daughters Allegra and Clio, and even others working on the vineyard (truly, a pit of snakes as Flora terms it)—which of them it is, or whether it is more than one working together we only find out at the end. Although everything is explained at the end, despite the outcome/denouement I somehow expected another twist in the tale which sadly didn’t come. Still, it was a good mystery even if a tad less satisfying than I’d have liked. I also liked that Flora’s parents’ story doesn’t turn into a full-fledged mystery and is resolved in a gentle way.
On the personal front, there are developments in Flora and Jack’s life (I won’t say what) but they were good to see and perhaps a hint to what the next book would be set around. Certainly looking forward to it, and I’m sure it won’t be long coming as Allingham does write these at lightning speed, it would seem. -
Wow, we're going to France. Not just France but, be still my heart, Paris. Of course, with Flora and Jack involved, not to mention his downright not-at-all-maternal mother, Sybil, you know something unexpected is going to happen. Seems she fears her life is in danger and has called Jack to come figure it all out so she can marry her rich Count and live happily-ever-after. Or something like that. We also take a deeper dive than usual into the fate of Flora's parents and what finally learning the truth may mean for her future, including the one with Jack. In the process, we'll not only visit some gorgeous countryside, experience life with servants, be reminded of the annoyance of being unable to simply pull a cell phone out of our pockets to make a call, get a glimpse of how grapes are harvested and prepared, and take in some of the historic sites. And, oh, yeah, solve a murder while surrounded by one almost creepily family. Plus, oh, yeah, I forgot. Try a ferry ride between England and France. Let's just say Flora is not cut out to be a sailor and leave it at that.
Oddly enough, I've always felt myself more drawn to Jack than Flora. This time, however, we get to find out what has stopped Flora from being able to commit to Jack. In the meantime, despite his mixed feelings about his mother, Jack proves a good son and is doing his best, with Flora's help, to figure out, first, if his mother really was the target of a hit-and-run death, and, two, if so, who is behind it. That's where we meet Count Massimo Falconi and his extended family. A family that also seems to include a very vocal, hostile ex-wife who still claims to still be THE wife. Accidents keep happening. Suspect numbers actually increase rather than decrease much to Jack and Flora's dismay. Not only is Sybil a target, but both Jack and Flora find themselves as targets, too. Even the Count meets with an accident. His family is....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. No one seems safe. Things seem off-kilter.
Although I wasn't as immediately taken with this update to Jack and Flora's lives as previous installments -- the pace seemed unusually slow -- there is much to like here. First, of course, Paris. The setting sounds absolutely gorgeous and the author is wonderful at creating mental images that put you right there. The side story involving Flora's own quest to finally find out the truth about her parent's death is tinged both with sadness and hope. Her brief encounter with a former romantic partner is both worrisome and revealing to Jack. They are still working on building their own relationship and this trip, despite the danger, offers up not just glimpses of what makes Flora in particular, well, Flora, but I guarantee that regular readers will love the hopeful ending. While it works as a standalone, regular readers will probably grasp more of the meaning behind various words and actions than someone new to the book. That shouldn't stop anyone from reading, however. It just means you'll have some catch-up reading to do. Grin.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me catch up with Jack and Flora in, wow, France. I loved how the author worked in info on what was going on back in Abbeymead, not to mention how she teased us with possibilities to come. Love this series.
Merged review:
Wow, we're going to France. Not just France but, be still my heart, Paris. Of course, with Flora and Jack involved, not to mention his downright not-at-all-maternal mother, Sybil, ou know something unexpected is going to happen. Seems she fears her life is in danger and has called Jack to come figure it all out so she can marry her rich Count and live happily-ever-after. Or something like that. We also take a deeper dive than usual into the fate of Flora's parents and what finally learning the truth may mean for her future, including the one with Jack. In the process, we'll not only visit some gorgeous countryside, experience life with servants, be reminded of the annoyance of being unable to simply pull a cell phone out of our pockets to make a call, get a glimpse of how grapes are harvested and prepared, and take in some of the historic sites. And, oh, yeah, solve a murder while surrounded by one almost creepily family. Plus, oh, yeah, I forgot. Try a ferry ride between England and France. Let's just say Flora is not cut out to be a sailor and leave it at that.
Oddly enough, I've always felt myself more drawn to Jack than Flora. This time, however, we get to find out what has stopped Flora from being able to commit to Jack. In the meantime, despite his mixed feelings about his mother, Jack proves a good son and is doing his best, with Flora's help, to figure out, first, if his mother really was the target of a hit-and-run death, and, two, if so, who is behind it. That's where we meet Count Massimo Falconi and his extended family. A family that also seems to include a very vocal, hostile ex-wife who still claims to still be THE wife. Accidents keep happening. Suspect numbers actually increase rather than decrease much to Jack and Flora's dismay. Not only is Sybil a target, but both Jack and Flora find themselves as targets, too. Even the Count meets with an accident. His family is....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. No one seems safe. Things seem off-kilter.
Although I wasn't as immediately taken with this update to Jack and Flora's lives as previous installments -- the pace seemed unusually slow -- there is much to like here. First, of course, Paris. The setting sounds absolutely gorgeous and the author is wonderful at creating mental images that put you right there. The side story involving Flora's own quest to finally find out the truth about her parent's death is tinged both with sadness and hope. Her brief encounter with a former romantic partner is both worrisome and revealing to Jack. They are still working on building their own relationship and this trip, despite the danger, offers up not just glimpses of what makes Flora in particular, well, Flora, but I guarantee that regular readers will love the hopeful ending. While it works as a standalone, regular readers will probably grasp more of the meaning behind various words and actions than someone new to the book. That shouldn't stop anyone from reading, however. It just means you'll have some catch-up reading to do. Grin.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me catch up with Jack and Flora in, wow, France. I loved how the author worked in info on what was going on back in Abbeymead, not to mention how she teased us with possibilities to come. Love this series. -
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Murder In A French Village' by Merryn Allingham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 30th October 2023.
This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the seventh book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series. I have previously read 'The Bookshop Murder' which is the first book in the series, 'Murder At The Pier' which is the second book in the series, 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' which is the third book in the series, 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' which is the fourth book in this series and 'Murder At Abbeymead Farm' which is the sixth book in this series and all of them I highly recommend, although they can each be read as a standalone.
This novel consists of a prologue and 32 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
Another fantastic success by Merryn!!! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!!
Well I must say this is yet another explosive book in an absolutely addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and very fast paced. I absolutely love the fact that the main characters Flora owns a Bookshop and Jack is an author. I always look forward to meeting them and am gutted to come to the end of each book as they have become like friends to me. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. In this gorgeous addition to this amazing series Flora and Jack head to France after a frantic phonecall from Jack's mother Sybil insists Jack comes to France after her friend was killed in a hit and runs and Sybil believes she is at risk. I absolutely loved heading to France with this amazing couple and getting away from rainy flooded Wales for several hours. Thanks to Merryn's stunning evocative descriptions I could feel the sun on my face, taste the wine, feel the sea breeze, enjoy the sights including the Notre Dame de Nazareth and much more!!! Although, unfortunately during their trip away Flora, Sybil, Sybil's partner Massimo and Jack's lives are threatened and put at risk. This is one of the most action packed books in this series and as well as loving exploring the stunning scenes my heart was also in my throat on several occasions. One thing I will say is OMG ABOUT TIME, ABSOLUTELY LANDED!!! Landed about what? I hear you ask, well grab your copy and if you've been reading this gorgeous books I know you will feel the same way!!! You'll just have to pick up a copy of this fantastic cozy mystery today to find out more!!! At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. I loved that this book is based in Sussex as the atmospheres suit the book perfectly. Not only is this a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!! This book was extremely well written and I do believe alot of research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1957. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the storyline along with Flora and Jack. This book is yet another fantastic addition to a brilliant cozy mystery series that I absolutely love looking out for the next book in!
OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!! 😍 😘 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ WELL DONE MERRYN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!!
A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery. Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!
Although this is the seventh book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I am thoroughly invested in the characters and really enjoyed meeting Flora and Jack again both with their fantastic and quirky personalities!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. Some of the characters I was glad to see the back of but what fun would there be if we got along with them all? Flora and Jack have definitely become like friends to me and I look forward to meeting them again each time Merryn brings out another fantastic book in this series. I have loved watching Jack and Flora getting closer and closer and they make the perfect partners in crime and love!! Some of the other characters I enjoy meeting each time include Flora's friend and cafe owner, soon to be married, Kate, Alice and Jack's little helper Charlie and although we didn't see much of them in this book there are still several mentions of them and we see them at the perfect ending!!! I wasn't a fan of Sybil or many of the French characters who I found to be quite stuck up but I won't say anymore as I don't want to give anything away but as always with this great series there is a perfect mix of strong and realistic characters to make an addictive storyline.
Congratulations Merryn on yet an absolutely fantastic book in an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall an page turning, perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive addition to an addictive series!!!
262 pages.
This book is just £1.99 on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.65 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Another foray into this delightful cosy series featuring our favourite bookshop owner and crime writer, turned amatuer sleuths! This time they are called to France where Jack's estranged mother has summoned them after the sudden and untwoard death of her friend Ruby.
Upon arrival in France, after a somewhat rough crossing over the channel which saw Flora turning a shade of green, the crime fighting duo got straight to work investigating the hit and run on a Paris street with seemingly few answers. When Jack's mother Sybil announced that her betrothed, the count - Massimo Falconi - was whisking her back to the safe confines of Provence, Jack and Flora felt their answers lay further afield. For Flora, her reason for this trip (aside from accompanying Jack) was to see the graves of her parents that were apparently nestled within the south of France.
From Paris to Provence, inquiries lead the duo hot on the tail of a murderer intent on harm. But who wants to be rid of her mother? The count's former wife, Isabella, who is unable to let go? Or his daughters Allegra and Clio? Or maybe one of the many servants of the chateau? Or even the vineyard manager, who may have designs on inheriting the vineyard for himself?
Soon Flora and Jack find themselves laden with suspects and no real motive. But if they are to prevent any further attempts on Sybil's or even Flora's lives, the sleuths must work fast to uncover the truth...and quickly!
Another delightful cosy mystery this time set mostly in France, with only the first and last chapters back in the safe confines of Abbeymead. But the promise in the final chapters allude to something bigger coming...and I for one am looking forward to it. I never tire of this series. It is light easy reading with a touch of humour.
While this isn't my favourite of the series, it is still an interesting adventure and opens up new doors for the crime fighting duo, making it an easy and enjoyable read. I look forward to the next one with baited breath!
I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderInAFrenchVillage in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at
https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/. -
Paris is a place book shop owner Flora Steele has always wanted to visit. Beau Jack Carrington however, isn't feeling quite so enthusiastic about it after a phone call out of the blue from his mother who is visiting the French capital with her new partner's family. Shocked after she was involved an accident, which she is convinced was deliberate, Sybil turns to her son expecting him to drop everything and rush to her side. Persuading Flora to accompany him is the only positive he can see to his trip especially as his mother seems as acerbic as he remembered.
The weather is as beautiful as the landscape and Flora is entranced by everything she sees. With the possibility her parents are buried in the south of the country, close to the chateau Sylvia calls home, Flora knows there is no better time to conquer her fears and try to find out what actually happened many years earlier. Before doing that Jack needs her help and she has no intention of letting him down especially as it seems the threat hasn't gone away and all of them could be in more danger than anyone could imagine.
Book seven in this brilliant series sees Flora and Jack leave their familiar surroundings to help his mother, a wonderful addition to the series who must have been such fun to write. The atmosphere, locations, and new characters meld perfectly within the storyline and offer promise of appearances in future books.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout this is easy to recommend as is the whole series so far. -
Writer Jack Carrington gets a call from his estranged mother Sybil, asking him to come to France as she thinks someone's trying to kill her. Of course he asks his girlfriend Flora to come along. There are lots of suspects and red herrings but I found the pacing of this book very slow.
-
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Murder In A French Village' by Merryn Allingham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 30th October 2023.
This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the seventh book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series. I have previously read 'The Bookshop Murder' which is the first book in the series, 'Murder At The Pier' which is the second book in the series, 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' which is the third book in the series, 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' which is the fourth book in this series and 'Murder At Abbeymead Farm' which is the sixth book in this series and all of them I highly recommend, although they can each be read as a standalone.
This novel consists of a prologue and 32 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
Another fantastic success by Merryn!!! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!!
Well I must say this is yet another explosive book in an absolutely addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and very fast paced. I absolutely love the fact that the main characters Flora owns a Bookshop and Jack is an author. I always look forward to meeting them and am gutted to come to the end of each book as they have become like friends to me. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. In this gorgeous addition to this amazing series Flora and Jack head to France after a frantic phonecall from Jack's mother Sybil insists Jack comes to France after her friend was killed in a hit and runs and Sybil believes she is at risk. I absolutely loved heading to France with this amazing couple and getting away from rainy flooded Wales for several hours. Thanks to Merryn's stunning evocative descriptions I could feel the sun on my face, taste the wine, feel the sea breeze, enjoy the sights including the Notre Dame de Nazareth and much more!!! Although, unfortunately during their trip away Flora, Sybil, Sybil's partner Massimo and Jack's lives are threatened and put at risk. This is one of the most action packed books in this series and as well as loving exploring the stunning scenes my heart was also in my throat on several occasions. One thing I will say is OMG ABOUT TIME, ABSOLUTELY LANDED!!! Landed about what? I hear you ask, well grab your copy and if you've been reading this gorgeous books I know you will feel the same way!!! You'll just have to pick up a copy of this fantastic cozy mystery today to find out more!!! At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. I loved that this book is based in Sussex as the atmospheres suit the book perfectly. Not only is this a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!! This book was extremely well written and I do believe alot of research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1957. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the storyline along with Flora and Jack. This book is yet another fantastic addition to a brilliant cozy mystery series that I absolutely love looking out for the next book in!
OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!! 😍 😘 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ WELL DONE MERRYN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!!
A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery. Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!
Although this is the seventh book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I am thoroughly invested in the characters and really enjoyed meeting Flora and Jack again both with their fantastic and quirky personalities!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. Some of the characters I was glad to see the back of but what fun would there be if we got along with them all? Flora and Jack have definitely become like friends to me and I look forward to meeting them again each time Merryn brings out another fantastic book in this series. I have loved watching Jack and Flora getting closer and closer and they make the perfect partners in crime and love!! Some of the other characters I enjoy meeting each time include Flora's friend and cafe owner, soon to be married, Kate, Alice and Jack's little helper Charlie and although we didn't see much of them in this book there are still several mentions of them and we see them at the perfect ending!!! I wasn't a fan of Sybil or many of the French characters who I found to be quite stuck up but I won't say anymore as I don't want to give anything away but as always with this great series there is a perfect mix of strong and realistic characters to make an addictive storyline.
Congratulations Merryn on yet an absolutely fantastic book in an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall an page turning, perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive addition to an addictive series!!!
262 pages.
This book is just £1.99 on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.65 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
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Another great book in this series. A truly creepy family full of secrets you just wouldn't want anything to do with. The mystery was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing which it was going to go. Even though there was a relatively small pool of suspects I still wasn't sure until the end who had done it and couldn't put it down until I found out the answer. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Loved this one and waiting for the next one.
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I am very thankful for this ARC. That being said, I was a bit disappointed with the pacing and flow of the story. I was not enamored by the plot or characters like I was hoping to be. I felt at times that the plot was a bit weak. I was hoping to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
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Murder in a French Village is the seventh book in the Flora Steele Mystery series which is predominantly set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. However, as with the third novel in the series, Murder at Primrose Cottage, the action this time is away from the village as Flora and Jack head to France for a trip which turns out to be even more dramatic than usual for this pair of amateur sleuths. I've followed this series since the beginning and while the new mystery in each means they can be enjoyed as standalones, the ongoing development of the relationship between Flora and Jack means I recommend reading the books in order, if possible.
As much as the mysteries in the books are compelling, this is really a character-led series and it's predominantly Flora and Jack's personal lives which keep readers coming back for more. Murder in a French Village introduces Jack's estranged mother, Sybil when she calls him demanding his help. Despite their difficult relationship, he agrees to travel to Paris to look into the hit and run accident which killed her friend. Sybil is convinced the tragedy was no accident and that she was the actual target. Following an acrimonious split from Jack's father some years ago, she is living with an Italian count but not everybody is happy they are together.
When Jack asks Flora if she would like to come to France with him, she is initially a little conflicted. Her love for the All's Well bookshop is well established but she also bears the burden of guilt sometimes living up to her beloved Aunt Violet's standards. However, her feelings for Jack and the realisation that she can shut up shop for a short time soon sees them on the ferry to Dieppe. Flora also has her own reasons for going to France, beyond wanting to be with Jack but although she needs the resolution, she is scared as to what she might discover about her past.
Merryn Allignham’s rich descriptions are engrossingly transportive and the vibrant sense of place throughout Murder in a French Village is excellent; as the title of the book suggests, the killing of Ruby King in Paris isn't the only murder and much of the storyline is set in Provence. The contrast between the beautiful scenery and the rather oppressive interactions between Massimo Falconi's family at Chateau Constantin is striking. Sybil is an imperious figure who is difficult to like but her treatment by others is undeniably awful and the brief flashes of her vulnerability ensured I was able to feel some sympathy for her. As other strange, suspicious accidents take place, Jack and Flora become convinced that somebody really is trying to hurt or even kill Sybil and their resulting investigation is cleverly plotted to baffle readers into suspecting almost everybody at one point or another – particularly as the novel is populated with unlikeable characters.
The undeniable charms of the bucolic landscape with its long and varied history, especially in the haute-ville, isn’t enough to hide the darkness which brings very real danger to Flora and Jack. They might be a long way from Abbeymead but as always, their determination to uncover the truth finds them risking drawing the attention of a ruthless killer. After a number of twists, turns and potential leads, in what is a frustrating case, the tense conclusion is actually quite tragic. Meanwhile, Flora and Jack's relationship undergoes significant changes as a result of their stay in Provence and without giving anything away, I'm looking forward to seeing what the future now holds for them. Murder in a French Village is another evocative, heartwarming cosy murder mystery – I hope more death and deception continues to find Flora and Jack soon! -
If you’ve read previous books in Merryn Allingham’s Flora Steele series, you know there’s no love lost between Jack Carrington and his parents. So when his mother calls from France beseeching him to come to Paris, he’s taken aback. He hasn’t spoken to Sybil in seven years. Why is she calling now? Because an acquaintance was struck and killed by a car, and she thinks the car was actually aiming for her.
Flora also has unfinished business in France. According to her former boyfriend, she will find her parents’ graves there. So she and Jack travel together to meet Sybil in Paris. Paris is quite the experience for Flora! Soon they travel to the village of Vaison, where Sybil is living with Italian count Massimo Falconi and his family. It doesn’t take long for Jack and Flora to pick up on the not-s0-subtle undercurrent of hostility in the villa. Does Massimo plan to marry Sybil? (Sybil certainly hopes so!) Who might resent that enough to try to kill her? One of his two daughters? His ex-wife? One of the maids at the villa? A local mechanic?
Merryn Allingham spends a fair bit of time focusing on the scenery in Paris and Provence. We get to see it through Flora’s eyes, and her sense of wonder at her surroundings is a lot of fun. I’ve never been to Paris or Provence, so I enjoyed living vicariously through Flora!
But the mystery isn’t left hanging for the sake of the environment. I can certainly see why Richard Frant is Flora’s FORMER boyfriend. He irritated me from his first appearance in the book. I was hoping he hadn’t led Flora on a wild-goose chase in some misguided attempt to win her back.
And Sybil. What a piece of work she is! But I did feel for her, because she was surrounded by people who (with the exception of Massimo) really did not like her. No matter how unpleasant she might be as a person and how lackluster her parenting skills might have been, she was in a situation that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
We get to see Flora and Jack draw closer here. The trip is good for Flora in more ways than one, and she loses some of her hesitancy in letting herself admit how she feels about Jack. That makes me happy. They’re wonderful together, and I hope there’s a wedding for them in some future book!
An intriguing mystery in a beautiful setting, suspects and red herrings aplenty, and a satisfying touch of romance. Merryn Allingham has another winner with Murder in a French Village! -
Tym razem Flora Steele i Jack Carrington prowadzą swoje amatorskie dochodzenie we Francji.
Udają się tam z dwóch powodów. Matka Jacka, Sybil, z którą zresztą ma nie najlepsze relacje i nie widział się od siedmiu lat, alarmuje, że jej życie jest zagrożone. W Paryżu w sfingowanym wypadku samochodowym zamiast niej zginęła jej przyjaciółka. Przedtem, w Prowansji gdzie mieszka ze swym nowym kochankiem, Massimem Falconim, ukradziono jej pieniądze i ktoś podmienił jej lekarstwa. Tymczasem były chłopak Flory poinformował ją niedawno, że na małym prowansalskim cmentarzu natknął się na groby jej rodziców. Dziewczyna jest w szoku. Ciotka, która od dzieciństwa ją wychowywała i po której odziedziczyła księgarnię w Sussex, nigdy nic o zniknięciu rodziców powiedzieć jej nie chciała.
Prowansalski departament Vaucluse, gdzie toczy się akcja powieści, stanowił dla mnie jej główną atrakcję. Tam bowiem spędziłam jedne z najpiękniejszych wakacji w swoim życiu, a Flora i Jack mają również trochę okazji, aby podziwiać cuda regionu, w okolicy miasteczka Vaison-la-Romaine i hrabiowskiej siedziby Falconich. Jednak już pierwsze dni ich pobytu w Prowansji wydają się potwierdzać obawy Sybil. Co gorsza, teraz na celowniku tych, którzy chcą ją wyeliminować ż życia Massima znajdują się również jej goście, czyli Jack i Flora.
Są nowe ofiary, podstawowym problemem Flory i Jacka jako detektywów jest … nadmiar tropów. A czy ich osobisty związek wkroczy w nowy etap pod wpływem informacji na temat tragicznych ale wzruszających losów rodziców Flory?
Intryga kryminalna, narracja i dialogi prowadzone są w podobny sposób jak w poprzednich tomach serii. Natomiast finał osobistego wątku protagonistów to taki maleńki majstersztyk w klasycznym angielskim stylu. Nie jest to jednak ostateczne rozstanie z Florą Steele i Jackiem Carringtonem, bo Merryn Allingham już zapowiedziała publikację tomu ósmego, w którym powrócimy do Abbeymead w hrabstwie Sussex. -
Writer Jack Carrington receives a phone call from his mother Sybil, and she wants him to come to France immediately. Together with his partner Flora Steele, they waste no time, pack their bags and take the next flight to France. Upon their arrival, Sybil informs them that her friend was murdered on the street in Paris. They have already made the journey so they decide to stay and help her. But when the trail leads them to the south of France they soon discover that Sybil was actually the target. She fears for her life and Jack and Flora must solve the mystery and find the murderer before it's too late. There are many possibilities of who may want Sybil dead, from Massimo Falconi, her boyfriend and rich Italian count. Allegra, Massimo’s daughter, his business partner Pascal and the jealous estranged wife, Isabella all have something to gain by murdering Sybil. But when another person is found dead in the picturesque little town, Jack and Flora must find the culprit, and fast, before the murderer strikes again.
Murder In a French Village written by author Merryn Allingham, is a wonderful addition to the Flora Steele Mystery Series. This was a wonderful whodunnit mystery that kept me wondering who the culprit was. I enjoyed this story very much and I love how the author gives such a detailed description of France. I love the sleuthing team of Jack and Flora. They work well together and the duo makes this series captivating and entertaining. This cozy mystery is one that is a must read that can be enjoyed as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading this series. -
Flora Steele has agreed to accompany her boyfriend, writer Jack Carrington, to France after he is summoned there by his mother, who claims that someone is out to harm her and who has just barely survived being run over by a car in Paris, an accident in which her companion did not survive. Flora knows that her ex-boyfriend is in France and wants to take her to a cemetery where he swears he has seen her parents’ graves, but she is suspicious of that story and of him. Upon arrival in Provence, however, both Flora and Jack have to reassess their assumptions about how truthful the stories they have been told actually are, and who is indeed in danger…. 2.5 stars. This is the seventh Flora Steele cozy, set in 1957; usually the tales are based in an English village, but this one takes our heroine (and hero) into France instead. I liked the interplay between the characters, and the story of the Italian Count to whom Jack’s mother is affianced and his rather nutty family is entertaining. But I expect authors who write historical novels to have done their homework, and this book gets a half-star off its rating (to 2 /12 rather than 3) because of bringing in the use of “the Heimlich Maneuver” to save someone from drowning, not noting that this was first described in 1974, almost 20 years after the period in which the book is set, and also it is effective when a person is choking, not drowning. That slip-up really disappointed me as I’d believed Ms. Allingham’s rendering of 1950s England (or, in this case, France) to be reasonably accurate and now I’m not sure how much I’d trust any other books in this series. A shame, really, in more than one sense of the word.
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Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review Murder in a French Village. All opinions and comments are my own.
Jack Carrington’s estranged mother is going to cause all kinds of trouble in Murder in a French Village, seventh in the 1950s historical mystery series by Merryn Allingham. Luckily he has Flora Steele at his side when the going gets rough, even if it means traveling from England to France. But this will give Flora a chance to find the grave of her parents, which has been an ongoing issue throughout the books.
Someone’s trying to kill her, says Mom. And that prologue – someone’s already dead when the book begins, so there may be something to this story. Pretty soon we have an unhappy ex-wife, shady relatives, and a whole lot of mysterious goings-on before the truth of the matter is revealed; age-old motives for murder that never get old, not really, especially in a capable author’s hands.
And we also have Jack and Flora Making Decisions. I’ve always liked these two together, and look forward to further adventures. And I do like the series as a whole, although I never get a real sense of historical time and place. But if you’re looking for a cozy mystery with strong characters and a diverting plot, Murder in a French Village certainly fits the bill. -
Jack is stunned to receive a call from his estranged mother, Sybil, asking him to drop everything and come to France. Together with Flora, his fellow sleuth, they pack their suitcases, & head to France. It’s only when they arrive in Paris that they discover the shocking truth, Sybil’s friend Ruby was killed on a street in Paris, and Sybil thinks she was the intended victim. The case leads them to a picturesque village in Provence where life should be rosé, but even the bright blue skies can’t hide the fact that something is very wrong. Then when another person in the small French town dies in suspicious circumstances, Flora is convinced the two untimely deaths must be connected.
The seventh book in the series & things change in this book. Flora needs to go to France to find her parents graves, which she does & speaking to someone about them, rocks her world & gives her a new perspective. The case is also different as there are lots of suspects as well as red herrings & twists & turns but I felt we were left with some lose ends & things weren’t fully explained. I loved the descriptions of Provence & the developments in Jack & Flora’s relationship but the actual mystery wasn’t as engrossing as previous ones – maybe because I didn’t like any of the other characters & wasn’t routing for any of them.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read -
I enjoyed this book for the French village background and it was interesting to see development in Flora and Jack's relationship, but the ending left much to be desired.
The ex who left Flora at the alter has informed her that he discovered her parents' graves in a small French village. When Jack's mother tells him that she needs his help, the two travel together to France. By a strange coincidence, the graves are near the chateau where Sybil, Jack's mother lives with a wealthy Italian count.
When a strange French woman tells Flora that her parents rented a room in her home, she also tells her that her parents were deeply in love an the fatal accident occurred when he was trying to get her to the hospital in bad weather. There is reference to a baby, but Flora doesn't put any thought into this aspect of the explanation. There is no baby buried with them and the child is not mentioned.
This whole situation is strange because as curious a person as Flora is supposed to be, she doesn't question why her aunt would have refused to give her the details of her parents death or why hadn't she mentioned a baby.
Apparently, knowing that her parents actually loved each other has given Flora an entire new outlook on life and relationships. When Jack proposes in Paris on their way home, Flora accepts. -
Flora and Jack head to France in response to family matters. She believes she might have finally identified the location of her parents' graves and he is summoned by his mother who thinks her friend was murdered in her stead.
Murder in a French Village is the 7th book in the Flora Steele cosy murder mystery series set in the 1950s.
Both of our main protagonists have family issues at the forefront on their minds. Flora's parents died in a car crash in France but she has never been able to say a final goodbye at their graveside. Jack's mother saw her new friend killed in a hit and run but thinks she may have been the intended victim as someone also tampered with her pills.
We met Jack's father in an earlier book and his relationship with his mother is just as fraught. Sybil is quite self centred and often difficult to like. Her new relationship with an Italian count has been unpopular with his daughters and ex wife so she suspects they may be trying to get rid of her.
The change in setting, new characters and relationship progress provides a refreshing dynamic. Jack and Flora move from Paris to the French countryside as they investigate their family mysteries. They are comfortable and confident with each other and I couldn't help wanting their romance to warm up a bit quicker.
Murder in a French Village is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery. -
This book is the 7th book in a series, but despite not having read the previous books I was still able to read and enjoy this without feeling like I’d missed out on too much. I enjoyed the relationship between Flora and Jack and I gather that the suspense between them has been gathering for a while. Readers of the previous books will probably be very happy with the Flora and Jack outcome. The settings in Paris and the countryside sounded gorgeous, the Count’s family sounded horrible and Jack’s mother was just weird- I felt like she was lucky Jack did anything to help her at all. Flora sort of discovered what happened to her parents and I assume that this had been set up from previous books. At the beginning of this story it seemed like Flora’s parents story was going to play a 50:50 role with Jack’s mum, but I felt like they were barely mentioned - maybe that will be for a future book. I only gave 4 stars for this because I just felt like there was something missing from making the story absolutely awesome, but I’m not sure what it was.
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Jack gets a call from his mother, Sibyl, in Paris asking him to come help her. Someone is trying to kill her. Jack asks Flora if she would go with him, figuring she could try to find her parents' graves. When they arrive, they find that a care has deliberately rundown Sibyl's new friend when they were trying to cross the street. Sibyl is sure they meant to get her. She has been staying with the wealthy Italian Count Massimo Falconi. His divorced wife and two daughters are not happy that he is seeing Sibyl. Sibyl has already had all her money stolen and her pills changed.
They all go to Provence, where things continue to happen. The good thing is that Flora does find the resting place of her parents. Soon, there is another unexplained death, and Flora is almost caught by a falling wine case. Will Flora and Jack be able to find out who the culprit is before Sibyl, Flora, or Jack is the one found dead? The book becomes very exciting as one gets near the end.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for me to read before publication. -
So happy to read this next adventure of Flora Steele -
A '50s murder mystery in which she has so much to deal.
It starts with a phone call to her beau, Jack, from his Mum
Who demands he should to Paris at once come.
He'd not heard from his Mum, Sybil, for many years
But she'd called him now because of her fears.
She needs him now to find who is trying to kill her
The thought of which is a real chiller.
For Flora, exploring Paris has long been a dream
This could be her chance - or so it would seem.
She can also use the opportunity to investigate
What happened when her parents both met their fate.
A stay with an Italian Count and his family, too,
In his Chateau and vineyard could be a dream come true.
However, events there are of a more nightmarish kind
But can Flora and Jack the perpetrator(s) find?
With family dramas, romance and mysteries, too,
This is an enthralling read I highly recommend to you.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you -
As I share with you my honest review. -
The story begins with a terrible event, and then Jack receives a panicked telephone call from his estranged mother, Sybil. She believes her life is in danger and demands he come to France to help her. Despite a less-than-idyllic upbringing, Jack feels he must go and hopes Flora will go with him, which she does. Set in 1957, the author evokes Paris and later Provence and immerses the reader in the sights and sounds. The mystery is multilayered, and Jack and Flora run through several likely reasons for the accident before believing that Sybil may be in danger. When they all travel to a small village in Provence, they stay with Sybil in a toxic atmosphere, and the threat and suspects increase, giving the reader both false leads and twists to solve. I like the 1950s setting, the vivid descriptions and the complex characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. -
disrupting Provence Peace
The wine country in the south of France holds many wonders, misadventures and murders as my favorite cozy mystery couple face dangers and mayhem beyond belief. There was almost too much subterfuge and nefarious plotting going on to keep things sorted. Fortunately the author drew upon her amazing ability to blend the history, culture, and beautiful countryside to take my mind away from too much chaos and confusing character development. I was very comfortably happy with the ending, despite a mildly turbulent English Channel crossing!
