Location! Location!! Location!!! Reigny-sur-Canne, a
lovely, quiet town in Burgundy is the locale for LOVE &
DEATH IN BURGUNDY. It is home to artist Katherine Goff,
and her musician husband, Michael. They are transplants from
California. Michael is happy living there as a recluse. He
only needs his music to be happy and content. Katherine,
however, will not be content until she is accepted into the
community by her neighbors. For three years she has been
snubbed and ignored by the locals who are resistant to
outsiders especially Americans.
Katherine has plans to change that soon! Asked by the
mayor to be Chairman of the yearly Feast of the Assumption
Celebration, she plans to wow them with her creativity and
line up of entertainers. She is also hard at work for her
own show of her paintings at the local gallery, happening
soon. How can they not accept her?
Talking to her cat, she tells it about her special luncheon.
She is inviting the important people she is hoping to
impress. At the top of her list is the elderly widow,
Madame Pomford, who is the "kingpin" in the village's social
scene. She is a grand dame, descended from Napoleon. Also
invited is Adele Bellegarde, who along with her husband,
Albert, are owners of the popular tourist attraction, the
Chateau de Bellegarde. Betty Lou Holliday, a famous country
singer, who with her movie producer husband, J.T.,are
working on a recording and a possible tour with Michael to
revive his fading career, will make an appearance.
Neighbors, Pippa an English Ex-pat, a wannabe Agatha
Christie, and Jeannette, 15 year old "Peeping Tom" and
motherless
thief are invited as well. Jeannette is a favorite of
Katherine's. She
uses her as a model and is trying to keep the teenager safe
from the Holliday son, Penny, a wealthy American from
Cincinnati who is having a relationship with Yves, the local
book shop owner. Michael refuses to attend.
The luncheon is a disaster. Albert Bellegarde arrives to
pick up his wife and argues with Yves, who is an uninvited
guest. Albert hits Yves in the head with a dessert dish
as the argument intensifies. The next morning Albert is
found dead at the bottom of a poorly lit rickety staircase
at his chateau. Is it an accident? Murder?
Author, Susan C. Shea loves France. Her delicious
descriptions of the culinary delights, especially the
cheeses, along with local wines made my mouth water. The
site is beautiful, her characters clever, witty, and
eccentric. A fairly weak mystery that brought out quirky
theories from everyone. Was it the gypsies? The nazis? A
tourist? Surely not a local? LOVE &
DEATH IN BURGUNDY is a quick and enjoyable read.
Merci.
"Shea launches a cozy series that richly details life in a small French village. The outlandish antics of the eccentric locals add to the humor. Suggest to fans of Rhys Bowen's early "Evan Evans" series for the humor, the characters, and the charming setting." -Library Journal
From critically acclaimed author, Susan C. Shea, comes Love & Death in Burgundy, an atmospheric mystery novel filled with good Chablis, french cheese, and, of course, murder.
After three years of living in the small town of Reigny-sur-Canne, all Katherine Goff really wants is to be accepted by her neighbors into their little community. But as an American expat living in the proud region of Burgundy, that’s no easy task.
When the elderly Frenchman who lives in the village chateau is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, the town is turned into a hot bed of gossip and suspicion, and Katherine suddenly finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the small town’s secrets. A motherless teenager, a malicious French widow, a brash music producer, and a would-be Agatha Christie are among those caught up in a storm that threatens to turn Katherine’s quiet life upside down. As more and more of the villagers' secrets are brought to light, Katherine must try to figure out who, if anyone, in the town she can trust, and which one of her neighbors just might be a killer.
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