The Mystery of the Lost Cezanne

Praise for
Murder on the Île Sordou

“Charming.”

—
Marilyn Stasio,
The
New York Times Book Review

“[T]horoughly delightful . . . Longworth deftly handles what is in effect a locked-room mystery, but the book's real strength lies in the backstories she creates for each of the distinctive characters. The puzzle's answer, buried in the past, is well prepared by what has come before.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“Longworth once again immerses readers in French culture with this whodunit, which will delight Francophiles and fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri. The setting will also appeal to readers who enjoy trapped-on-the-island mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie's
And Then There Were None.
”

—
Library Journal

“Longworth's novels, set in the south of France, are mysteries for foodies, with the plot providing a table upon which the enchanting meals and accompanying wines are served.”

—
Booklist

“[A] charming read with a well-crafted mystery and characters as rich and full bodied as a Bordeaux.”

—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“A splendid read.”

—
Mystery Scene

“Longworth's maritime version of a country-house cozy offers genuine pleasures.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

Praise for
Death in the Vines

“Judge Antoine Verlaque, the sleuth in this civilized series, discharges his professional duties with discretion. But we're here to taste the wines, which are discussed by experts like Hippolyte Thébaud, a former wine thief, and served in beautiful settings like a 300-year-old stone farmhouse. So many bottles, so many lovely views. A reader might be forgiven for feeling woozy.”

—
Marilyn Stasio,
The New York Times Book Review

“Though the plot is hair-raising, what keeps you glued to this mystery is its vivid portrait of everyday life in Aix, which deftly juxtaposes the elegance of the city . . . with quotidian woes and pleasures.”

—
Oprah.com

“As much as the mystery intrigues—in this case some intertwined crimes involving a local winery, a missing elderly woman, and a rich man's suspicious construction project—what really make Longworth's books enjoyable are the atmosphere and details that she includes of the South of France.”

—
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“What follows is a lovely, almost cozy police procedural that deserves to be read with a glass of wine in hand. Longworth paints such a loving picture of Provence that it's likely you'll start planning a vacation trip to France the moment you set the book down.”—
The Denver Post

“This is an intelligently written police procedural with the warm comfort of a baguette with banon cheese.”

—
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

“Enjoyable . . . the book's real strength is its evocation of place.”

—
Publishers Weekly

Praise for
Murder in the Rue Dumas

“Fans of European sleuths with a taste for good food . . . will have fun.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“What really makes Longworth's writing special is her deep knowledge of French history, landscape, cuisine, and even contemporary cafés and restaurants. This is that rare atmospheric mystery that is street-wise and café-canny.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“Longworth's gentle procedural succeeds on several levels, whether it's for academic and literary allusions, police work, or armchair travel. With deftly shifting points of view, Longworth creates a beguiling read that will appeal to Louise Penny and Donna Leon fans.”

—
Library Journal

“French-set mysteries have never been more popular [and] among the very best is a series set in Provence featuring Monsieur Verlaque, an examining magistrate, and his sometime girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet.”

—
The Denver Post

Praise for
Death at the Château 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 years.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Your readers will eat this one up.”

—
Library Journal

ALSO BY M. L. LONGWORTH

Death at the Château Bremont

Murder in the Rue Dumas

Death in the Vines

Murder on the Île Sordou

A PENGUIN MYSTERY

The Mystery of the Lost Cézanne

M. L. LONGWORTH
has lived in Aix-en-Provence since 1997. She has written about the region for the
Washington Post
, the
Times
(UK), the
Independent
, and
Bon Appétit
magazine. In addition to the Verlaque and Bonnet mystery series, she is the author of a bilingual collection of essays,
Une Américaine en Provence
, published by Éditions de La Martinière in 2004. She divides her time between Aix, where she writes, and Paris, where she teaches writing at New York University.

PENGUIN BOOKS

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

375 Hudson Street

New York, New York 10014

penguin.com

Copyright © 2015 by Mary Lou Longworth

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Longworth, M. L. (Mary Lou), 1963–

The mystery of the lost Cézanne : a Verlaque and Bonnet mystery / M. L. Longworth.

pages ; cm.—(Verlaque and Bonnet mysteries ; 5)

ISBN 978-0-698-19578-3

1. Art thefts—Fiction. 2. Murder—Investigation—Fiction. I. Title.

PR9199.4.L596M97 2015

813'.6—dc23

2015004005

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design and illustration by Jaya Miceli