Death in the Vines

Praise for M. L. Longworth's Provencal Mystery series The Verlaque and Bonnet mysteries . . . plunge you into a languid world of epicurean pleasures and good living. --Eleanor Beardsley, NPR Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail--great wine, delicious meals, and fine company. --Publishers Weekly Longworth's novels . . . are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served. --Booklist Praise for Death in the Vines Judge Antoine Verlaque, the sleuth in this civilized series, discharges his professional duties with discretion. But we're here to taste the wines, which are discussed by experts like Hippolyte Thebaud, a former wine thief, and served in beautiful settings like a 300-year-old stone farmhouse. So many bottles, so many lovely views. A reader might be forgiven for feeling woozy. --Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review Though the plot is hair-raising, what keeps you glued to this mystery is its vivid portrait of everyday life in Aix, which deftly juxtaposes the elegance of the city . . . with quotidian woes and pleasures. --Oprah.com As much as the mystery intrigues--in this case some intertwined crimes involving a local winery, a missing elderly woman, and a rich man's suspicious construction project--what really makes Longworth's books enjoyable are the atmosphere and details that she includes of the South of France. --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer What follows is a lovely, almost cozy police procedural that deserves to be read with a glass of wine in hand. Longworth paints such a loving picture of Provence that it's likely you'll start planning a vacation trip to France the moment you set the book down. --The Denver Post This is an intelligently written police procedural with the warm comfort of a baguette with banon cheese. --Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Enjoyable . . . the book's real strength is its evocation of place. --Publishers Weekly Praise for Murder in the Rue Dumas Fans of European sleuths with a taste for good food . . . will have fun. --Publishers Weekly What really makes Longworth's writing special is her deep knowledge of French history, landscape, cuisine, and even contemporary cafes and restaurants. This is that rare atmospheric mystery that is street-wise and cafe-canny. --Booklist (starred review) Longworth's gentle procedural succeeds on several levels, whether it's for academic and literary allusions, police work, or armchair travel. With deftly shifting points of view, Longworth creates a beguiling read that will appeal to Louise Penny and Donna Leon fans. --Library Journal French-set mysteries have never been more popular [and] among the very best is a series set in Provence featuring Monsieur Verlaque, an examining magistrate, and his sometime girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet. --The Denver Post