Flora and Jack are an excellent investigative duo and I love their chemistry. This novel takes them to Paris on a murder investigation. It is a great installment to the series and I look forward to the next one.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Murder in a French Village is the seventh book in the Flora Steele Mystery series which is predominantly set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. However, as with the third novel in the series, Murder at Primrose Cottage, the action this time is away from the village as Flora and Jack head to France for a trip which turns out to be even more dramatic than usual for this pair of amateur sleuths. I've followed this series since the beginning and while the new mystery in each means they can be enjoyed as standalones, the ongoing development of the relationship between Flora and Jack means I recommend reading the books in order, if possible.
As much as the mysteries in the books are compelling, this is really a character-led series and it's predominantly Flora and Jack's personal lives which keep readers coming back for more. Murder in a French Village introduces Jack's estranged mother, Sybil when she calls him demanding his help. Despite their difficult relationship, he agrees to travel to Paris to look into the hit and run accident which killed her friend. Sybil is convinced the tragedy was no accident and that she was the actual target. Following an acrimonious split from Jack's father some years ago, she is living with an Italian count but not everybody is happy they are together.
When Jack asks Flora if she would like to come to France with him, she is initially a little conflicted. Her love for the All's Well bookshop is well established but she also bears the burden of guilt sometimes living up to her beloved Aunt Violet's standards. However, her feelings for Jack and the realisation that she can shut up shop for a short time soon sees them on the ferry to Dieppe. Flora also has her own reasons for going to France, beyond wanting to be with Jack but although she needs the resolution, she is scared as to what she might discover about her past.
Merryn Allignham’s rich descriptions are engrossingly transportive and the vibrant sense of place throughout Murder in a French Village is excellent; as the title of the book suggests, the killing of Ruby King in Paris isn't the only murder and much of the storyline is set in Provence. The contrast between the beautiful scenery and the rather oppressive interactions between Massimo Falconi's family at Chateau Constantin is striking. Sybil is an imperious figure who is difficult to like but her treatment by others is undeniably awful and the brief flashes of her vulnerability ensured I was able to feel some sympathy for her. As other strange, suspicious accidents take place, Jack and Flora become convinced that somebody really is trying to hurt or even kill Sybil and their resulting investigation is cleverly plotted to baffle readers into suspecting almost everybody at one point or another – particularly as the novel is populated with unlikeable characters.
The undeniable charms of the bucolic landscape with its long and varied history, especially in the haute-ville, isn’t enough to hide the darkness which brings very real danger to Flora and Jack. They might be a long way from Abbeymead but as always, their determination to uncover the truth finds them risking drawing the attention of a ruthless killer. After a number of twists, turns and potential leads, in what is a frustrating case, the tense conclusion is actually quite tragic. Meanwhile, Flora and Jack's relationship undergoes significant changes as a result of their stay in Provence and without giving anything away, I'm looking forward to seeing what the future now holds for them. Murder in a French Village is another evocative, heartwarming cosy murder mystery – I hope more death and deception continues to find Flora and Jack soon!

Already at Book Seven in this series and we find Flora Steele, village bookshop owner and Jack Carrington, famous author on a jaunt to France.

We get to meet Jack's mother, Sybil who has asked for his help. Her latest beau is a French Count but everything is not as it seems. When Sybil's friend is killed in Paris, Sybil, Jack and Flora finds themselves in a village in the South of France. When more accidents happen, all directed somehow to Sybil it seems she may be the target.

But it begs the question why ? Who has she upset? With a nose for such things both Flora and Jack seek to find out the truth. Their sojourn to France is not one they will forget for a long time.

For me quite a weak story, but perhaps that is because they are out from their familiar surroundings and it just doesn't work. That said, it will not stop me picking up the next book and seeing how many more bodies these two delightful characters can encounter.

Flora and Jack head to France in response to family matters. She believes she might have finally identified the location of her parents' graves and he is summoned by his mother who thinks her friend was murdered in her stead.
Murder in a French Village is the 7th book in the Flora Steele cosy murder mystery series set in the 1950s.
Both of our main protagonists have family issues at the forefront on their minds. Flora's parents died in a car crash in France but she has never been able to say a final goodbye at their graveside. Jack's mother saw her new friend killed in a hit and run but thinks she may have been the intended victim as someone also tampered with her pills.
We met Jack's father in an earlier book and his relationship with his mother is just as fraught. Sybil is quite self centred and often difficult to like. Her new relationship with an Italian count has been unpopular with his daughters and ex wife so she suspects they may be trying to get rid of her.
The change in setting, new characters and relationship progress provides a refreshing dynamic. Jack and Flora move from Paris to the French countryside as they investigate their family mysteries. They are comfortable and confident with each other and I couldn't help wanting their romance to warm up a bit quicker.
Murder in a French Village is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery.

A lovely addition to the series and an overseas jaunt to help Jack solve a murder and to search for answers to the deaths of Flora’s parents.

Well written, lighthearted and thoughtful cozy crime which keeps the reader engaged by building in the relationships between the characters and finding more about them and their pasts.

The Flora Steele Mystery Series is an auto- read series for me. I love cosy mysteries, and this is a great series with a cast of interesting characters.

This book gives us a glimpse into Jack’s life and his relationship with his mother, Sybil.

Sybil calls Jack out of the blue, demanding that he comes to France and helps her after the death of her friend. Scared for her own safety, Sybil expects Jack to drop everything and head to Paris.

Jack and Flora use the opportunity to add a, hopefully, romantic trip to Paris and for Flora to find some resolutions of her own.

Sybil is spoiled and selfish. She expects Jack to find out what has happened to her friend but doesn’t really offer him any help. She is more concerned about securing her marriage to the wealthy Count Falconi.

As Jack and Flora investigate, it becomes clear that Sybil could actually be in danger and tensions are rising between the members of the Falconi family.

I loved the glimpse into Jack’s childhood and to be honest, it is nothing short of a miracle that he has turned out to be so lovely! Flora also finds out more about her own family – no spoilers from me!

I really love how the characters grow and develop. So many cosy series have static characters that remain the same in each book. Jack and Flora are finding out each other and themselves, and there is a real authenticity to their relationship.

I’ll definitely be reading the next instalment of Flora’s adventures.

This is one of those books that features some important changes in the characters' arc and introduce us to some new one.
It's also a very entertaining and fast paced mystery that kept me guessing. Set in a different setting, it kept me guessing and enjoying the old and new characters.
I can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"Join bookshop owner Flora Steele and handsome writer Jack Carrington as they set off on a French adventure and solve a chilling crime!"
...

I just said au revoir to one Jack and in the very next book on my TBR pile, I am bidding bonjour to another. In fact, such is the coincidence that in another life, they may well have known one another! Jack Harman and Stella Darnell amateur detectives of slightly more mature years, who solve crime in the present day, hail from Sussex; as do Jack Carrington and Flora Steele amateur sleuths from the 1950s and of a slightly younger generation, but who also seem to find murder around just about every corner. Add to that, Jack Carrington is an up and coming murder/mystery author and Flora Steele owns and runs a bookshop and you have the ideal couple for any avid and addicted reader of the genre.

Either way, four of my favourite detectives and two fantastic murder mystery authors back-to-back - I am one 'happy bunny'!

...

It is 1957 in the fictional, quiet Sussex village of Abbeymead. Mystery writer Jack Carrington and bookshop owner Flora Steele, are going about their everyday lives, not a murder in sight to be solved; when out of the blue, Jack receives a desperate message from his mother who is currently living in France, saying that she believes her life to be in danger and she needs her son's help urgently. There has never been any love lost between Jack and either of his parents, who on their divorce, had both abandoned him as a young child, to the tender mercies of the boarding school system. Flora too, had had a traumatic childhood, although this was as a result of her parents death in a car crash, with Flora having being raised in Abbeymead by her aunt, the previous owner of the bookshop. For Flora however, there had been no closure following her loss, as there had been conflicting reports about exactly where her parents had been buried and she had yet to find their graves, although one rumour had it that they were to be found in a cemetery in rural Provence, France.

Flouting the social mores and conventions of the times, Jack and Flora decide to try and bring about a conclusion their individual unsolved family mysteries and resolve to go to France together, with the aims of helping Jack's mother Sybil out of whatever mess she has managed to get herself into, laying ghosts to rest for Flora, as well as enjoying a short break together. This will be the first time Jack has seen his mother in many years and after just a few minutes of being reunited, he was almost wishing that he hadn't agreed to make the trip to Paris, where she is convinced that her friend's death was in fact murder and that she herself had been the intended victim. However, when another 'accident' happens, Jacks reads between the bouts of hysteria and ingratitude that he hasn't solved the crime within the first twenty four hours of them being there, and realises that his mother might indeed be in real danger.

Sybil's latest beau is an Italian Count, who owns a sumptuous chateau in the beautiful region of Provence, so Jack suggests that all three of them regroup there, to try and discover who is targeting Sybil and what can be done to call them to account. The Count dutifully welcomes Jack and Flora into his home, although it is abundantly clear that the family, an ex-wife and two daughters, he has from his first marriage, neither approve of them, or Sybil, making their displeasure clear for all to see. When another body is discovered and not only Sybil, but Flora herself, is threatened, Jack decides that things have gone on for long enough and he urgently needs to draw their unknown assailant out into the open, whilst at the same time protecting Flora, who he now realises is the one for him, if she will have him.

However, when Flora, by now free of much of the burden of guilt and uncertainty she has carried with her since childhood, learns that Jack intends to pack her off home to England for her own safety, she is furious about being left out of the final showdown with a murderer for the first time ever, and all of Jack's best laid plans look about to be torn asunder.

Is this destined to be Jack and Flora's swansong being played out on foreign soil, or will their friends back home yet have cause for celebration?

...

I know that I begin my review of each new story in this series, by saying that it is better than the last. However, 'Murder In A French Village', is for me, the best yet and author Merryn Allingham is really going to have to pull the proverbial "rabbit out of the hat" to come up with a storyline to top it, although she does have an ace up her sleeve as a good starting point for a premise, but you'll need to read this book until the very end to discover what it might be.

The lovely cover art of this book immediately captured my attention, which is not perhaps what I should be basing my thoughts around, but in this instance it only added to the overall integrity of the premise. The chapters are, as usual, short, punchy and well signposted, perfect for all those times when I needed to take a break in my reading, although believe me, I really didn't want to put this book down for even a second. The storyline was well constructed, with all the usual twists and turns and red herrings I have come to expect from a 'Flora Steele' mystery, and then some! The suspect list was lengthy, which at one point seemed to be quite overwhelming for Flora, who without Jack's steadying hand, might well have given up on the case. I must admit that I worked out who one of the perpetrators was quite early on, but I was totally unprepared for the final sting in the tail and the journey was almost as good as arriving at the final conclusion, as Flora's thought processes were often quite quirky and unpredictable, making her, most unusually, a little unsure of herself and vulnerable, which only added that perfectly engaging touch to the storyline.

Flora and Jack are really beginning to own their characters with increasing confidence and their shared love of solving a good murder/mystery is apparent as the personal relationship between them grows exponentially with each new case they work on together. This time, it was great to be able to share more intimate details of their family backgrounds, which have hitherto been one of the stumbling blocks preventing them from being able to move forward and openly declare the feelings they have for one another. As a side effect, this storyline explores and lays to rest the trauma which childhood abandonment (however deeply and subliminally buried) by ones family can cause, either through the mystery surrounding an unexpected death, or the very intentional result of being used as a pawn in a marriage breakdown. The space which being away from their usual busy home life environment has given them, means that these issues could be fully explored, reconciled and laid to rest, enabling them to have a much clearer perspective on their lives going forward, strengthening their connection, not only with each other, but with me too.

Merryn did an excellent job of making the rest of the characters on the French side of the Channel, (including Jack's mother) to a person, the most selfish, unlikable and demanding people I could wish to never meet. The malevolent and duplicitous family dynamics were something to behold and the many complicit and unreliable cast of extras, made them as a collective, totally unauthentic and completely lacking in any morals, not people I could relate to or invest in, that's for sure.

The 'regular' inhabitants of Abbeymead, were just as effusively welcoming as always, cementing Jack and Flora's belief that returning home to this idyllic place, surrounded by so many friends who love and care about them, is just where they are destined and indeed, want to be, for the foreseeable future. I am never sure whether living in such a small and insular community where my private business would never be my own, would be outweighed by the benefits of being amongst folk who genuinely cared about me and would look out for my welfare, as I would learn to theirs.

For most of this story Jack and Flora are based in France, at first in Paris, but then moving to a beautiful chateau in Provence. The locations on the far side of the Channel are all real and made for some excellent research opportunities, for this confirmed 'armchair traveller', although the couple's English home village of Abbeymead in Sussex, is as always, fictional. However, all locations are wonderfully described and totally immersive, as author Merryn Allingham definitely knows how to take full advantage of the palette of words at her disposal to make me feel that I am part of the journey alongside our intrepid duo, and she has certainly done it in style this time. Bravo!!

In this 7th entry of the Flora Steele Mystery series, Flora and Jack travel to France at the request of Jack’s mother, Sybil. Strange events have her worried that someone is trying to cause her harm. As Jack and Flora investigate, there are plenty of suspects and inevitably they find themselves in danger. Flora also deals with some personal history and makes peace with her past.

Another foray into this delightful cosy series featuring our favourite bookshop owner and crime writer, turned amatuer sleuths! This time they are called to France where Jack's estranged mother has summoned them after the sudden and untwoard death of her friend Ruby.

Upon arrival in France, after a somewhat rough crossing over the channel which saw Flora turning a shade of green, the crime fighting duo got straight to work investigating the hit and run on a Paris street with seemingly few answers. When Jack's mother Sybil announced that her betrothed, the count - Massimo Falconi - was whisking her back to the safe confines of Provence, Jack and Flora felt their answers lay further afield. For Flora, her reason for this trip (aside from accompanying Jack) was to see the graves of her parents that were apparently nestled within the south of France.

From Paris to Provence, inquiries lead the duo hot on the tail of a murderer intent on harm. But who wants to be rid of her mother? The count's former wife, Isabella, who is unable to let go? Or his daughters Allegra and Clio? Or maybe one of the many servants of the chateau? Or even the vineyard manager, who may have designs on inheriting the vineyard for himself?

Soon Flora and Jack find themselves laden with suspects and no real motive. But if they are to prevent any further attempts on Sybil's or even Flora's lives, the sleuths must work fast to uncover the truth...and quickly!

Another delightful cosy mystery this time set mostly in France, with only the first and last chapters back in the safe confines of Abbeymead. But the promise in the final chapters allude to something bigger coming...and I for one am looking forward to it. I never tire of this series. It is light easy reading with a touch of humour.

While this isn't my favourite of the series, it is still an interesting adventure and opens up new doors for the crime fighting duo, making it an easy and enjoyable read. I look forward to the next one with baited breath!

I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderInAFrenchVillage in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

If you’ve read previous books in Merryn Allingham’s Flora Steele series, you know there’s no love lost between Jack Carrington and his parents. So when his mother calls from France beseeching him to come to Paris, he’s taken aback. He hasn’t spoken to Sybil in seven years. Why is she calling now? Because an acquaintance was struck and killed by a car, and she thinks the car was actually aiming for her.

Flora also has unfinished business in France. According to her former boyfriend, she will find her parents’ graves there. So she and Jack travel together to meet Sybil in Paris. Paris is quite the experience for Flora! Soon they travel to the village of Vaison, where Sybil is living with Italian count Massimo Falconi and his family. It doesn’t take long for Jack and Flora to pick up on the not-s0-subtle undercurrent of hostility in the villa. Does Massimo plan to marry Sybil? (Sybil certainly hopes so!) Who might resent that enough to try to kill her? One of his two daughters? His ex-wife? One of the maids at the villa? A local mechanic?

Merryn Allingham spends a fair bit of time focusing on the scenery in Paris and Provence. We get to see it through Flora’s eyes, and her sense of wonder at her surroundings is a lot of fun. I’ve never been to Paris or Provence, so I enjoyed living vicariously through Flora!

But the mystery isn’t left hanging for the sake of the environment. I can certainly see why Richard Frant is Flora’s FORMER boyfriend. He irritated me from his first appearance in the book. I was hoping he hadn’t led Flora on a wild-goose chase in some misguided attempt to win her back.

And Sybil. What a piece of work she is! But I did feel for her, because she was surrounded by people who (with the exception of Massimo) really did not like her. No matter how unpleasant she might be as a person and how lackluster her parenting skills might have been, she was in a situation that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

We get to see Flora and Jack draw closer here. The trip is good for Flora in more ways than one, and she loses some of her hesitancy in letting herself admit how she feels about Jack. That makes me happy. They’re wonderful together, and I hope there’s a wedding for them in some future book!

An intriguing mystery in a beautiful setting, suspects and red herrings aplenty, and a satisfying touch of romance. Merryn Allingham has another winner with Murder in a French Village!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Murder In A French Village' by Merryn Allingham.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 30th October 2023.

This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the seventh book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series. I have previously read 'The Bookshop Murder' which is the first book in the series, 'Murder At The Pier' which is the second book in the series, 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' which is the third book in the series, 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' which is the fourth book in this series and 'Murder At Abbeymead Farm' which is the sixth book in this series and all of them I highly recommend, although they can each be read as a standalone.


This novel consists of a prologue and 32 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


Another fantastic success by Merryn!!! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!!


Well I must say this is yet another explosive book in an absolutely addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and very fast paced. I absolutely love the fact that the main characters Flora owns a Bookshop and Jack is an author. I always look forward to meeting them and am gutted to come to the end of each book as they have become like friends to me. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. In this gorgeous addition to this amazing series Flora and Jack head to France after a frantic phonecall from Jack's mother Sybil insists Jack comes to France after her friend was killed in a hit and runs and Sybil believes she is at risk. I absolutely loved heading to France with this amazing couple and getting away from rainy flooded Wales for several hours. Thanks to Merryn's stunning evocative descriptions I could feel the sun on my face, taste the wine, feel the sea breeze, enjoy the sights including the Notre Dame de Nazareth and much more!!! Although, unfortunately during their trip away Flora, Sybil, Sybil's partner Massimo and Jack's lives are threatened and put at risk. This is one of the most action packed books in this series and as well as loving exploring the stunning scenes my heart was also in my throat on several occasions. One thing I will say is OMG ABOUT TIME, ABSOLUTELY LANDED!!! Landed about what? I hear you ask, well grab your copy and if you've been reading this gorgeous books I know you will feel the same way!!! You'll just have to pick up a copy of this fantastic cozy mystery today to find out more!!! At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. I loved that this book is based in Sussex as the atmospheres suit the book perfectly. Not only is this a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!! This book was extremely well written and I do believe alot of research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1957. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the storyline along with Flora and Jack. This book is yet another fantastic addition to a brilliant cozy mystery series that I absolutely love looking out for the next book in!

OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!! 😍 😘 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ WELL DONE MERRYN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!!

A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery. Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!

Although this is the seventh book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I am thoroughly invested in the characters and really enjoyed meeting Flora and Jack again both with their fantastic and quirky personalities!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. Some of the characters I was glad to see the back of but what fun would there be if we got along with them all? Flora and Jack have definitely become like friends to me and I look forward to meeting them again each time Merryn brings out another fantastic book in this series. I have loved watching Jack and Flora getting closer and closer and they make the perfect partners in crime and love!! Some of the other characters I enjoy meeting each time include Flora's friend and cafe owner, soon to be married, Kate, Alice and Jack's little helper Charlie and although we didn't see much of them in this book there are still several mentions of them and we see them at the perfect ending!!! I wasn't a fan of Sybil or many of the French characters who I found to be quite stuck up but I won't say anymore as I don't want to give anything away but as always with this great series there is a perfect mix of strong and realistic characters to make an addictive storyline.

Congratulations Merryn on yet an absolutely fantastic book in an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!! Here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an page turning, perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive addition to an addictive series!!!



262 pages.

This book is just £1.99 on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.65 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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The story begins with a terrible event, and then Jack receives a panicked telephone call from his estranged mother, Sybil. She believes her life is in danger and demands he come to France to help her. Despite a less-than-idyllic upbringing, Jack feels he must go and hopes Flora will go with him, which she does. Set in 1957, the author evokes Paris and later Provence and immerses the reader in the sights and sounds. The mystery is multilayered, and Jack and Flora run through several likely reasons for the accident before believing that Sybil may be in danger. When they all travel to a small village in Provence, they stay with Sybil in a toxic atmosphere, and the threat and suspects increase, giving the reader both false leads and twists to solve. I like the 1950s setting, the vivid descriptions and the complex characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Writer Jack Carrington receives a phone call from his mother Sybil, and she wants him to come to France immediately. Together with his partner Flora Steele, they waste no time, pack their bags and take the next flight to France. Upon their arrival, Sybil informs them that her friend was murdered on the street in Paris. They have already made the journey so they decide to stay and help her. But when the trail leads them to the south of France they soon discover that Sybil was actually the target. She fears for her life and Jack and Flora must solve the mystery and find the murderer before it's too late. There are many possibilities of who may want Sybil dead, from Massimo Falconi, her boyfriend and rich Italian count. Allegra, Massimo’s daughter, his business partner Pascal and the jealous estranged wife, Isabella all have something to gain by murdering Sybil. But when another person is found dead in the picturesque little town, Jack and Flora must find the culprit, and fast, before the murderer strikes again.

Murder In a French Village written by author Merryn Allingham, is a wonderful addition to the Flora Steele Mystery Series. This was a wonderful whodunnit mystery that kept me wondering who the culprit was. I enjoyed this story very much and I love how the author gives such a detailed description of France. I love the sleuthing team of Jack and Flora. They work well together and the duo makes this series captivating and entertaining. This cozy mystery is one that is a must read that can be enjoyed as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading this series.

I enjoyed this book in the series. Being in France was nice. Jack's mother is a piece of work! I do like the two main characters. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars
One Liner: A little slow but entertaining
Jack’s mother calls him in the middle of the night, demanding that he travel immediately to Paris and help her. Jack obliges despite being estranged from his parent. Flora decides to accompany him. After all, she needs to find out about the supposed latest discovery of her late parents.
The duo spends time in Paris and Provence, trying to find out if Jack’s mother, Sybil, is really being targeted. Is her lover’s family a threat to her life? Soon, they realize that the list of suspects is growing, but there are hardly any solid leads to follow. With Jack and Flora also under threat, the amateur sleuthing couple has to work fast and smart to uncover the truth.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Flora and Jack.

My Thoughts:
Despite being the seventh book in the series, this one can be read as a standalone. However, you will enjoy it more if you read at least the previous book or two.
The setting, especially Provence, is vivid and beautiful to read. We get a majority of the descriptions from Flora’s POV. It helps that this is her first visit to the country. The narration has a sense of awe and makes it a delightful read.
Sybil is quite a character. She’s annoying and infuriating; someone we would love to hate. Luckily, Jack and Flora know how to deal with her tantrums (which is to let her go on until she’ll shut up).
The other characters, aka suspects, also have definite personalities, some bordering on stereotypes. Still, this is a cozy mystery, so it works well for the plot.
The pacing is slow due to the focus on the setting, but I don’t mind it much. Reading about new destinations is always fun, and the duo is a favorite of mine. We also see progress in their personal lives (Flora’s backstory feels anticlimactic, though I suspect it’s a deliberate choice and necessary).
The mystery has multiple elements, though if you pay attention, it is easy to identify the actual culprit. Most questions get answered by the end, while a couple of them are left to guess (even for the main characters). The reveal comes in two stages, followed by a nice rounded ending. I’m also sure we have two leads for the next book.
To summarize, Murder in a French Village is slower but never boring. It combines mystery, emotions, and introspection to deliver an enjoyable read. The book is a solid addition to the series, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Links updated.

Another lovely installment in the adventures of Flora Steele, bookshop owner, and Jack Carrington, a writer. This time they travel to Paris but all is not what it seems. Good addition to the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Jack is stunned to receive a call from his estranged mother, Sybil, asking him to drop everything and come to France. Together with Flora, his fellow sleuth, they pack their suitcases, & head to France. It’s only when they arrive in Paris that they discover the shocking truth, Sybil’s friend Ruby was killed on a street in Paris, and Sybil thinks she was the intended victim. The case leads them to a picturesque village in Provence where life should be rosé, but even the bright blue skies can’t hide the fact that something is very wrong. Then when another person in the small French town dies in suspicious circumstances, Flora is convinced the two untimely deaths must be connected.
The seventh book in the series & things change in this book. Flora needs to go to France to find her parents graves, which she does & speaking to someone about them, rocks her world & gives her a new perspective. The case is also different as there are lots of suspects as well as red herrings & twists & turns but I felt we were left with some lose ends & things weren’t fully explained. I loved the descriptions of Provence & the developments in Jack & Flora’s relationship but the actual mystery wasn’t as engrossing as previous ones – maybe because I didn’t like any of the other characters & wasn’t routing for any of them.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

My thanks to Bookouture for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Bookshop owner Flora Steele and mystery writer Jack Carrington, partners in crime solving (and perhaps, life?) are back for their seventh outing which takes them away from their Sussex village of Abbeymead—across the Channel to France. Set in the 1950s the series began when the reclusive Jack Carrington visited Flora’s shop, the Alls-Well, to pick up a book (instead of sending his errand boy as he usually did), only to find a body. The two get investigating and haven’t stopped since, some of their adventures involving travel but so far within the country. Their relationship on the other has proceeded slowly over the series, as while they do like each other, previous bad experiences in love have left them hesitant and cautious. Alongside, we also follow developments in Abbeymead with the stories of its different residents and the village itself.

In Murder in a French Village (2023), Jack gets a phone call from his (estranged) mother, Sybil, now living in France with an Italian count, Masimo Falconi, whom she hopes to marry. She has been the target of a road accident in Paris, which left her friend dead and herself injured. The ‘accident’ she suspects was deliberate, and herself the likely target for the count’s family—his ex-wife and daughters are unhappy with their relationship and want her out. Meanwhile, Flora, as we know from previous instalments has been wanting to go to France as well, as her former boyfriend, Richard Frant had suddenly contacted her saying he’d found her parents’ graves there. Flora is shocked at this revelation as she’d been led to believe they were in a Highgate cemetery (she’d never visited) after they died in a car crash when she was a child. Jack sees this as a chance to solve this ‘mystery’ too and invites her to join him, and she agrees.

They arrive in Paris to pick up a few clues, though Jack is not entirely convinced his high-strung mother isn’t imagining things. The two then travel to the small village of Vaison-la-Romaine where Falconi owns a Chateau and vineyard. Soon various small (and not to small) incidents start to occur, justifying Sybil’s suspicions, and Jack and Flora must get to the bottom of things if Sybil (and indeed themselves) are to escape unscathed. Coincidentally this is also the village where Flora’s parents are buried but she must overcome her fears and hesitation to learn their story.

The Flora Steele mysteries are one of the few series that I’ve been following right from the start and have enjoyed all through. They are cosies and may not be perfect in every aspect but the characters are likeable and the mysteries and settings (whether Abbeymead itself or when they travel) fun. This was the case with this instalment too, and I had a great time reading the book.

We get a lovely trip to the French countryside (also a brief stop in Paris) and a vineyard tour, even learning how the wine is produced, bottled, aged and such which was interesting, and also a sense of the beautiful landscape and village life (including a trip to a weekly village market). While we are entirely away from Abbeymead for this mystery, Flora does call back (mostly her friend Alice) to check on her shop and Jack his friend Inspector Ridley for help when they need it, so one feels in touch with them as well and abreast of developments in the village there even if nothing much happens.

The mystery here throws up numerous suspects—from Count Falconi’s venomous ex-wife, Isbella to his daughters Allegra and Clio, and even others working on the vineyard (truly, a pit of snakes as Flora terms it)—which of them it is, or whether it is more than one working together we only find out at the end. Although everything is explained at the end, despite the outcome/denouement I somehow expected another twist in the tale which sadly didn’t come. Still, it was a good mystery even if a tad less satisfying than I’d have liked. I also liked that Flora’s parents’ story doesn’t turn into a full-fledged mystery and is resolved in a gentle way.

On the personal front, there are developments in Flora and Jack’s life (I won’t say what) but they were good to see and perhaps a hint to what the next book would be set around. Certainly looking forward to it, and I’m sure it won’t be long coming as Allingham does write these at lightning speed, it would seem.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.

This is the first novel I read in this series. It can be read as a standalone. The author does a good job catching us up on the characters, their relationships, and the previous stories. Jack and Flora are great characters and their chemistry is obvious and well-described. I really liked this couple and enjoyed following them to France.
The pace is slow (too slow for a mystery book for me), especially because of the description of the settings. Paris and Provence sound enchanting.
While I didn't mind most of the characters, I couldn't relate to Sybil at all. I guess the author did a great job at making me get a reaction, even if it is disliking her.
About the mystery, it's a slow reveal (mostly because of the slow pacing), so it doesn't come as a surprise at the end. Plus there a few questions left unanswered. I'm sure we'll get the answers in the next installments.
Overall, an enjoyable read.