Audiobook8 hours
The Curse of La Fontaine
Written by M. L. Longworth
Narrated by Christa Lewis
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
About this audiobook
Chef Sigisbert "Bear" Valets has just opened his own restaurant, La Fontaine, in Aix-en-Provence. It's an immediate success-glowing reviews and a loyal clientele, including our favorite investigative duo, Verlaque and Bonnet. But when he decides to extend his restaurant's seating into a historic courtyard, some very powerful neighbors are against him. The local historical society wants the courtyard, which witnessed a seventeenth-century hanging and two World War II-era murders, to remain untouched.
Valets charges on, even after a skeleton is found buried next to the courtyard's ancient fountain. But when Valets begins receiving threatening letters, he becomes convinced that his life is in danger. And then the fountain inexplicably stops running. By disturbing the garden, has Bear triggered an age-old curse? And can newlyweds Verlaque and Bonnet solve the mystery before someone else ends up dead? Set against the blossoming backdrop of the south of France, M. L. Longworth's latest is sure to thrill fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri.
Valets charges on, even after a skeleton is found buried next to the courtyard's ancient fountain. But when Valets begins receiving threatening letters, he becomes convinced that his life is in danger. And then the fountain inexplicably stops running. By disturbing the garden, has Bear triggered an age-old curse? And can newlyweds Verlaque and Bonnet solve the mystery before someone else ends up dead? Set against the blossoming backdrop of the south of France, M. L. Longworth's latest is sure to thrill fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri.
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Reviews for The Curse of La Fontaine
Rating: 3.8823529441176468 out of 5 stars
4/5
34 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Curse of La Fontaine by M. L. Longworth is a Verlaque & Bonnet Provencal Mystery, Book #6.Newlyweds, Antoine and Marine delve into a centuries-old curse.Once again, I have enjoyed this title and continuing series very much.The book is filled with scenic locations both in southern France and Italy. The (very accurate) descriptions of Aix-en-Provence are especially stimulating. One wants to be there in person! Along with the locations, the restaurants and wines, the historical ‘tidbits’, the very detailed characters and plots - all make for a wonderful read.I did like the characters in this title very much. I had to reread several chapters to make sure I understood the mystery and the many different characters. The cigar smoking doesn’t interest me and puts me off a bit (truthfully) but it is part of Antoine’s character and is a bit of a subplot, all on its own. So I will adjust my thinking.A great title and a Great series. ****
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This one was better than #5, but not quite as compelling as the first few. But I think that's to be expected as a series progresses: familiarity with the characters and the storytelling creates a higher set of expectations. Love has made Verlaque soft. This isn't a bad thing, but I'll admit he's slightly less interesting now that the sharp edges have been softened. Marine had far fewer pages in this book, which was a little bit of a disappointment; I liked her presence and contributions to earlier cases in previous books. There were several plots going at once, all interwoven together and delightfully - and believably - muddying each others' waters. Almost all of the stories were interesting (one was a bit meh) and the resolution concerning the murder victim's drug usage/dealing was so very cheeky; I loved it. In the background runs the Curse of La Fontaine, adding a touch of atmosphere to everything. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series and am very pleased there's another one on its way; I'm really looking forward to its release. This works for the Book themes for Advent: [...] or a book featuring 4 siblings. The murder victim is 1 of 4 brothers, and at least one of the other brothers plays a significant part in the book; the other two brothers appear frequently as well.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Actually 3.5 StarsJudge Antoine Verlaque & Marine Bonnet have just gotten married. He is a Magistrate of Aix (France) and she is a Professor of Law who has just finished writing a book on the relationship between Beauvoir & Sartre. They share two apartments, but it is Marine's that overlooks the garden & "La Fontaine".La Fontaine is the source of water for those living around its garden and is said to be cursed due to the hanging of a French peasant who refused to hail Louis XIV and the murder of two WW II partisans by the Nazis. Whenever murders have taken place, La Fontaine has stopped flowing until justice has prevailed.When the new tenant, Chef Sigisbert "Bear" moves in & opens a small restaurant, the past is stirred. While working in the restaurant's herb garden the skeleton of a young man is dug up, and La Fontaine immediately stops flowing. To further add to the mystery, Bear begins to receive threatening letters, the local racists & pro-nobility group gets riled up and begin making threats as well...There are other quasi-interesting sub-plots, but for those you must read the book.At first I really didn't know what to think about the book... It was odd in the fact that I really couldn't be sure that this was a mystery; Antoine's & Marine's life was just going along just fine (I was like: "where the heck is the murder?") and then in the 8th-9th chapter the bones were dug up in the garden. From that point, the book picked-up and became much more interesting, which gave it the extra 1/2 star.The writing has a nice comfortable flow and it held my interest. Although I enjoyed the characters, I held no pronounced feeling for them one way or another.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The best thing about "firsts" is discovering new authors. That is what happened to me in this case. I not only found a new author but a new series of books as well. After having such an enjoyable time reading this book, I want to go back and check out all of the prior novels. Verlaque and Bonnet were good together. They were the right balance. Verlaque is a bit more serious and Bonnet is free spirited. Although, Verlaque and Bonnet were not the only ones that I had the pleasure of meeting in this book. There is Chef Bear and his staff as well as the other Aixois of the historical society.It was like I was transported to this quaint city in France. Everyone I met throughout this story was so interesting. The mystery regarding the death played nicely in tying in the story and bring out the relationships involving the characters. A nice cozy mystery. If you are in the mood for a new author to try, then, you have to check this book out.