Death on the Riviera

 

Death on the Riviera

by John Bude
Fiction - Cozy Murder Mystery

242 pages

SUMMARY:

Detective Inspector Meredith and Sargeant Strang of Scotland Yard leave London's grey February weather for the warmth and tropical paradise of the French Riviera in pursuit of a notorious criminal. Joining forces with the local police force to uncover a currency counterfeiting ring, they are drawn into a murder investigation. The investigations lead them to interact with the inhabitants of the riviera - including a wealthy widow with a curious circle of dependents staying at her villa. Will Meredith and Strang find their criminal and help the local police force with their investigation?     

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK: 

Originally published in 1952 during the golden era of British Crime Fiction, this cozy murder mystery is escapism at its finest! It felt like an undiscovered Agatha Christie novel - but a bit more elevated and original than some of Christie's churned out thrillers!

 

This novel was a new combination of familiar and beloved elements - a rich tyrant and her dependents, the luxurious world of the rich, the post-WWII environment as well as young girls entering romances and trying to discern men's true character. It contains wonderful old-fashioned turns of phrase such as "a catholic collection of friends" to describe a character's wide social circle.

 

My biggest disappointment was how the mystery was resolved in the end. The resolution felt hastily thrown together as if it were not important. I guess the focus of the novel was creating the elegant and glamorous old-world atmosphere... which the author did amazingly. I reveled in the experience of reading this book but then was letdown in the end.

 

I guess this would be described as a historical novel, versus historical fiction, because it was actually written in the era it is depicting. I MUCH prefer this to modern 'historical fiction' which attempts to depict historical eras but inevitably ascribes modern values and practices to the characters. It is 100% better to just read an authentic novel from the era!

 

At one point, a character sails from Dunkirk and can still see rubble from the war. Imagine being alive in the 1950s - the scars of war that must have still been seen and felt! I also loved the direct communication and link between intentions/actions shown by the characters. Good and bad were obvious, rather than intentionally colored with modern shades of grey. It was refreshingly attractive.  

RECOMMENDED FOR: 

Fans of Agatha Christie and cozy murder mysteries! Adult readers who love to escape into the elegant lifestyles of the rich or the refinement of life in the post-WWII era.