Death in le Jardin

Ian Moore

From Shelf: New in hardback fiction, June

Crisis hits Richard's rural French B&B when his redoubtable housekeeper is accused of murder. With Valerie d'Orcay at his side, their investigation leads them to a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed.

On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about.

Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiance, turned brother-in-law. None of which the stubborn old woman denies.

Valerie d'Orcay is having none of it and their investigation leads them to a strange tourist garden village, where backbiting, recriminations and even former colleagues provide a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed.