Detectives with a French twist

[therealsnape]

I've lots of work, so obviously procrastination was in order.

It took the form of checking out some favourite French authors to see whether they have something new.

And I found that one of my all-time favourite detective stories, good enough to read and actually re-read, has been translated into English! At last they're accessible to all of you.

The two protagonists are Lola Jost, a former police officer, and Ingrid Diesel, an American in love with Paris, and when the owner of Lola's favourite restaurant is accused of murder, the two investigate.

There's a series of 6 about these two now, but while I still want to read the new ones, the first one is the one I love best. Not very hard-boiled, but definitely no 'cozy'. Lola doesn't do cozy.

"Do you want a calvados with your pudding, Madame Jost?"
"No. I want a calva with my calva."

You'll find Dark Angel here.

And Fred Vargas and her fantastic band of sleuthing historians is suddenly available, too. You'll find The Three Evangelists and the next book in the series here. Very French, the police officer is judged not just by his detecting skills, but also by his gratin of cauliflower (which he makes marvelously well).

These characters also show up regularly in the Inspector Adamsberg series. As the books progress, the gothic and fantastical elements sometimes get a bit overwhelming, but if you're in for a detective with a bit of a French twist, Vargas is great.

Also, three diminutive knights were holding a sword-fight outside my window. If the blades are red, blue, and green, does that mean it's actually light sabres and The Force Awakens?

They were wacking vigorously, anyhow.

Comments

[minervas-eule.livejournal.com]

The two French detectives, whose cases I follow these days, have a great love of good food and one of them is an excellent cook himself as the other knows all the restaurants (who are real places!).... there are tips for tourists who want to follow in their footsteps included as leaflets in both series :-) - Bruno in Périgord http://www.amazon.de/Death-Dordogne-investigation-English-Edition-ebook/dp/B004EYT55Y/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1
and Dupin in Bretagne (around Pont Aven)
http://www.amazon.de/Bretonse-verhoudingen-zaak-commissaris-Dupin-ebook/dp/B00O7PHATS/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1453651295&sr=1-11

So funny my "crime-focus" shifted from GB to France ;-). I have put your recs on my amazon-wishlist :-)

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

And I've put yours on my list - the first Bruno book is very cheap right now. I'll get it!

[tetleythesecond]

Ingrid and Lola sound like the perfect motivation to work on my French again. Is this "Passage du désir?"

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's Passage du désir, and it's by far the best book in the series. I think you'll love Lola.

But the sleuthing historians are fun, too, especially the first book (Debout les morts).

[lash-larue.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can get those, thanks for the tip.

Best to you and Lord S.

L

[cranky--crocus.livejournal.com]

I have added these to the to-read list, which I shall presumably get to someday, once I'm able to read more than just book-club books and books overdue at the library (Irma would skin me).