Death at Chateau Bremont

 

Saint-Antonin, France

APRIL 17, 12:05 A.M.

The attic light was burnt out. He d talk to Jean-Claude tomorrow. Étienne sensed that the caretaker had never really liked him, or perhaps his coolness was out of respect for their difference in class; Jean-Claude was polite but never looked his employer in the eye. They had easily avoided each other while Étienne s parents were still alive, but as Étienne was now the only Bremont living in Aix, the château s enormous upkeep required that owner and caretaker have more frequent contact. Jean-Claude was a huge man but clumsy. His size had never caused Étienne much worry, but there was something in the way Jean-Claude looked at him sometimes that made him uneasy. Étienne de Bremont had recently found himself fascinated by the caretaker s enormous hands, which would lie stiffly at his sides as he received his employer s blunt instructions; after a few seconds his fat fingers would slowly, and then quickly, begin to twitch, as if they were waiting for messages from the brain that would call them into action. At any rate, the fingers seemed to be thinking ahead of the slow, still hands.

Luckily Étienne had brought a flashlight with him, out of habit. There was always a burnt-out lightbulb somewhere in the crumbling château a home that no one lived in, more trouble than it was worth. He shone the light around the dusty room, one of the only rooms of the twenty-odd that brought him some good memories. His first ten-speed bike was propped up in a corner: it had taken him downhill into Aix-en-Provence in forty-five minutes, the return trip took almost double that. He was fit then, and still was, considering in five years he would be forty.

Next to the bike, a rosary hung on the post of a nineteenth-century iron bed, as it always had, and he thought of her laughing face and green eyes. He missed her, but it wouldn t do to call. Their lives were too different, their friends

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.

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
 
Beguiling . . . Longworth evokes the pleasures of France in delicious detail great wine, delicious meals, and fine company.   Publishers Weekly
 
Longworth s novels . . . are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served.   Booklist


Praise for Death at the Chateau Bremont

This first novel in a projected series has charm, wit, and Aix-en-Provence all going for it. Longworth s voice is like a rich vintage of sparkling Dorothy Sayers and grounded Donna Leon . . . Longworth has lived in Aix since 1997, and her knowledge of the region is apparent on every page. Bon appétit.   Booklist

A promising debut for Longworth, who shows there s more to France than Paris and more to mystery than Maigret.   Kirkus Reviews

Mystery and romance served up with a hearty dose of French cuisine. I relished every word. Longworth does for Aix-en-Provence what Frances Mayes does for Tuscany: You want to be there NOW!   Barbara Fairchild, former editor in chief, Bon Appétit

Death at the Château Bremont is replete with romance, mystery, and a rich atmosphere that makes the south of France spring off the page in a manner reminiscent of Donna Leon s Venice. A wonderful start to a series sure to gain a legion of fans.   Tasha Alexander, author of the Lady Emily mysteries

Longworth has a good eye and a sharp wit, and this introduction to Verlaque and Bonnet holds promise for a terrific series.   The Globe and Mail

Death at the Château Bremont offers charming French locales, vivid characters and an intriguing who-done-it.   Kevin R. Kosar, author of Whiskey: A Global History

Here s hoping the series lasts for