Book Review: Death In Provence

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Death In Provence     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Graham R. Wood
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Detective Lauriant

This is a pair of novellas published together under one cover, featuring Paris police detective Lauriant and set in 1960's France. Lauriant is drawn to the dry, picturesque regions of southern France, both by continuing relationships with old friends (and some romantic longings) and by his pleasure in the ambience, food, and scenery of the area. His occupation is known to the law enforcement of the area, and he is often called upon to assist in investigations.

In the first of these stories, a body washes up on the banks of a small stream - bashed in the head. Quite conveniently, Laurient is in the area to attend to funeral of an old friend, and once again is approached to help find the killer. The investigation draws upon the history of the area, the bitter resistance against the Nazis in the Second War, the refugees from the Spanish Civil war who fled the harsh regime of Franco, and other non political influences of romance and finance.

In the second, Laurient is again on vacation. The vicious intrigue and controversy of 1960's France regarding the situation in Algeria plays an important backdrop to the action. A high ranking military man has died under suspicious circumstances and once again Laurient is prevailed upon to investigate.

These stories move along at a leisurely pace. The tension is fairly low-key, but I enjoyed the characters and the backdrop of the Provence, a particularly lovely part of France. Wood employs tried and true story telling techniques, borrowed from Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Rex Stout, and other early writers in the suspense fiction genre.

Fans of the early days of mysteries would enjoy these novellas.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM