Serena Kent

Serena Kent's novel appealed to be because I am always a sucker for someone going to a small village in France and then buying a place, subsequently coping with small-provincial angst, and a mystery.

This particular story was frustrating for me because I've come to loathe female Main Characters who allow themselves to be pushed around and cave in like doormats. Perhaps it is a literary device to set up the plot. It could even be called a trope, I suppose. This novel had a few mysterious twists and turns and a satisfying dénouement, however.

If you enjoyed the Kate Hamilton Mystery series (by Connie berry), I suspect you'll have fun with this one too. Not nearly as engaging as Peter Mayle's Hotel Pastis for descriptive writing and character development, though.… (mer)

3.5 stars.

The first installment in the Penelope Kite series, Death in Provence by Serena Kent is a charming cozy mystery.

Following a holiday in the French countryside, Penelope Kite rather impulsively purchases a rundown country home in Provence. Upon her arrival, she is confronted with an overgrown yard, falling down plaster, no electricity or running water. Drowning her sorrows in a delicious rosé, Penelope is startled by the drunken appearance of a man who claims he owns her property. The next day, the same man is found dead in her swimming pool and Penelope finds herself playing amateur sleuth as she tries to uncover the man's killer.

Penelope is in her early fifties, divorced, retired and tired of being taken advantage of by her unappreciative children. She is unsure she made the right decision following her out of character purchase but she is eager to settle into her new home. The murder of local Manuel Avore is certainly puzzling but she is also interested in finding out why her estate agent Clémence Valencourt keeps appearing at her new home. And why is gorgeous mayor Laurent Millais so involved in the case? Penelope is also put off by Chief of Police Georges Reyssens' dismissive attitude and seemingly lack of interest in solving the Manuel's murder.

Penelope is joined by her best friend, Frankie Turner-Blake, who is the perfect foil for Penelope's uncertainty. Frankie is brash, outspoken and loves her bling. Her French is also much more proficient than Penelope's and she discovers some very interesting and somewhat troubling information. Frankie and Penelope then team up to do a little snooping around before Frankie returns to England.

While the premise of Death in Provence is intriguing, the pacing is slow and the story is a little repetitive. Penelope's former profession provides her with insight into the goings on, but her lack of self-confidence leaves her second-guessing herself. With a very unexpected plot twist, Serena Kent brings this cozy mystery to a very surprising yet satisfying conclusion. Fans of the genre will want to grab a glass of rosé while reading this enjoyable beginning to the Penelope Kite series.… (mer)

After reading Martin Walker's delightful Bruno Chief of Police mysteries and now this charming series opener, I might be forgiven for believing that all crime in the south of France seems to tie into World War II. A lot happened then, and old resentments seem never to be forgotten, only handed down from one generation to the next. Yes, the mystery in Death in Provence does hark back to that period of time, and it is a good, strong puzzle to solve, but I found myself liking other things even more-- especially the main character, Penelope Kite.

Penelope is a fiftysomething woman with a good head on her shoulders. Her background working with forensic scientists means she has a good idea of how investigations should be conducted and how evidence should be handled. I had to give her a lot of credit because she always kept the local police apprised of her findings regardless of how shabbily they treated her. Which brings up another point.

A year or so ago, I read the first book in another mystery series set in the south of France, and the major reason why I did not care for it is that the main character spent most of her time whining about how her new neighbors didn't think she was wonderful and accept her into their midst in five seconds or less. For the most part, newcomers in key tourist areas like this are not going to be accepted quickly (if at all). Their habit of investing in properties at inflated prices means that young local families can't afford to buy their own homes. Resentment grows if the newcomer only lives there for a week or two each year, and it festers if other things are (or are not) done. I loved watching how Penelope conducted herself. This is one woman who is really looking forward to her new life, and she's going about it in just the right way.

Death in Provence contains an excellent recipe for a continuing series: a puzzling mystery to solve, a dash of humor, the wonderful cuisine of Provence, a beautiful farmhouse to restore, and the perfect woman to handle it all. I look forward to the next book. Allons-y!… (mer)