The Secrets of the Bastide Blanche

Verlaque and Bonnet Provençal Mystery Series, Book 7

By: M.L. Longworth

Narrated by: Christa Lewis

One hot summer night, Aix-en-Provence is aflutter with news that controversial author Valere Barbier, who once shared dinners with French presidents and all-night drinking bouts with rock stars, has moved into La Bastide Blanche, a grand house left empty for decades. But Valere's ideas of a peaceful retirement are quickly dashed. Rambunctious neighborhood children, a fast-talking gossip of a housekeeper, and a rival novelist filter through the home at all hours of the day - and by night there are unseen visitors with more sinister intentions.

While Antoine Verlaque investigates Valere's sordid history, his wife and partner, Marine Bonnet, questions why the estate was abandoned in the first place - and what they both find raises more questions than answers. Is Valere imagining the ethereal cries that fill the bastide at night? Is he losing his mind? Or have these ghosts returned from Valere's checkered past to haunt him?

©2018 Mary Lou Longworth (P)2019 Tantor

Exceptional

Riveting. The narrator did a fantastic job. I enjoyed how rhis book brought all the characters together as a family.

the plot

very intense, more than others books in this series, enjoyed the ending and wrap up of the loose ends

Interesting, humorous in parts, intriguing character development!

Beautiful writing and narration. Multi-dimensional character development intertwined with the plot and cultural nuances.

The best one yet.

Wow. This series just gets better and better. The character development, sense of place, warmth, humor, insight, and pleasure shine even though it’s a murder mystery. Thank you!