Although Pont-Aven
is not his territory, Georges Dupin is assigned a brutal murder case
because the Commissaire for that area is on holiday. Dupin isn't
enthusiastic about the case. A famous hotelier has been murdered in
the bar of his hotel. There are few clues, but the pressure is high
to find the murderer, particularly since it's almost tourist season
in Pont-Aven
Pont-Aven is a
delightful small town in Brittany that was once home to a famous
artist's colony who premier member was Gauguin. The area is
beautifully described. It makes you want to visit. The history of the
art colony is another plus. I enjoyed learning the history of this
group.
Dupin is a somewhat
grumpy character. He dislikes authority, likes to work alone, and is
sometimes difficult for the inspectors who work with him to keep up
with. He loves long walks, coffee, and cafes.
He works very hours,
forgets to eat, and is often hungry. However, when he does eat the
food is lovingly described.
The other inspectors
are good foils for Dupin. Le Ber, who works most closely with him,
has learned to do what Dupin wants and not ask too many questions.
Labat is much more formal and finds it harder to deal with Dupin's
quirks.
For me, the delight
of this mystery was driven by the descriptions of Brittany and the
history of the artist's colony. The murder itself is not hard to
figure out because there aren't many suspects, but the motive is much
more interesting. If you enjoy a mystery in an exotic setting, you'll
enjoy this one.
I reviewed this book
for Amazon Vine.
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