The Curse of La Fontaine - (Provençal Mystery) by M L Longworth (Paperback)

About the Book

"Chef Bear Valets has just opened his own restaurant, La Fontaine, in Aix-en-Provence. It's an immediate success--great reviews and a loyal clientele ... But when he decides to extend his restaurant's seating into an historic courtyard, some very powerful neighbors are against him. The historical society wants the courtyard, which had witnessed the 16th century hanging of an innocent man, and the murder of two resistant fighters in 1943 by the Gestapo, to remain untouched. Valets charges on, but has to temporarily close the restaurant when a skeleton is unearthed in the garden"--

Book Synopsis

In this captivating installment of M. L. Longworth's acclaimed series, our newlywed investigators contend with their most sinister challenge yet: a centuries-old curse

Provençal Mystery Series #6
Watch the series! Murder in Provence is now on Britbox.

Chef Sigisbert "Bear" Valets has just opened his own restaurant, La Fontaine, in Aix-en-Provence. It's an immediate success--glowing reviews and a loyal clientele, including our favorite investigative duo, Verlaque and Bonnet. But when he decides to extend his restaurant's seating into a historic courtyard, some very powerful neighbors are against him. The local historical society wants the courtyard, which witnessed a seventeenth-century hanging and two World War II-era murders, to remain untouched.

Valets charges on, even after a skeleton is found buried next to the courtyard's ancient fountain. But when Valets begins receiving threatening letters, he becomes convinced that his life is in danger. And then the fountain inexplicably stops running. By disturbing the garden, has Bear triggered an age-old curse? And can newlyweds Verlaque and Bonnet solve the mystery before someone else ends up dead? Set against the blossoming backdrop of the south of France, M. L. Longworth's latest is sure to thrill fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri.

"Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail--great wine, delicious meals, and fine company." --Publishers Weekly

Review Quotes

Praise for M. L. Longworth's Provençal Mystery series

"The Verlaque and Bonnet mysteries . . . plunge you into a languid world of epicurean pleasures and good living." --Eleanor Beardsley, NPR

Praise for The Curse of La Fontaine

"Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail--great wine, delicious meals, and fine company." --Publishers Weekly

"Longworth confirms her long-standing lovebirds as Aix's Nick and Nora; their pursuit of miscreants never interferes with their enjoyment of the good life." --Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Mystery of the Lost Cezanne

"Art theft is a hot topic on the mystery scene, and no one's heist is livelier than Longworth's." --Kirkus Reviews

"A sure thing for fans of art-themed mysteries." --Booklist

"Enchanting . . . the charming local citizens of Aix-en-Provence provide the true delights in this colorful story." --Library Journal

Praise for Murder on the Île Sordoun

"Charming." --Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

"Thoroughly 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." --Publishers 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 . . . 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." --Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"A splendid read." --Mystery Scene

"Longworth's maritime version of a country-house cozy offers genuine pleasures." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

M. L. Longworth has lived in Aix-en-Provence since 1997. She has written about the region for the Washington Post, the Times (London), the Independent (London), and Bon Appétit. She is the author of a bilingual collection of essays, Une Américaine en Provence. She is married and has one daughter.