Mystery of the Lost Cezanne: A Verlaque and Bonnet Mystery The

Product Description

The fifth entry in this acclaimed series finds Verlaque and Bonnet investigating a murder and the provenance of a mysterious painting.

Like Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri, M. L. Longworth's enchanting mystery series blends clever whodunits with gustatory delights and the timeless appeal of Provence. The Mystery of the Lost Cézanne adds a new twist by immersing Antoine and Marine in a clever double narrative that costars Provence's greatest artist.

A friend in his cigar club asks Antoine to visit René Rouquet, a retired postal worker who has found a rolled-up canvas in his apartment. As the apartment once belonged to Cézanne, Rouquet is convinced he's discovered a treasure. But when Antoine arrives at the apartment, he finds René dead, the canvas missing, and a mysterious art history professor standing over the body.

When the painting is finally recovered, the mystery only deepens. The brushwork and color all point to Cézanne. But who is the smiling woman in the painting? She is definitely not the dour Madame Cézanne. Who killed René? Who stole the painting? And what will they do to get it back?

Praise for M. L. Longworth

' T horoughly delightful...... Longworth deftly handles what is in effect a locked-room mystery, but the book's real strength lies in the backstories she creates for each of the distinctive characters. The puzzle's answer, buried in the past, is well prepared by what has come before.' Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

'Longworth once again immerses readers in French culture with this whodunit, which will delight Francophiles and fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri. The setting will also appeal to readers who enjoy trapped-on-the-island mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.' Library Journal

'Longworth's novels, set in the south of France are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served.' Booklist

' A charming read with a well-crafted mystery and characters as rich and full bodied as a Bordeaux.' The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

'Charming' Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

'A splendid read' Mystery Scene Magazine