One of my favourite comfort reads is Ian Moore’s Follet Valley Mystery series. It’s a series I return to frequently, particularly the audiobooks, and they’re on my Instant Buy list when they’re released.
The series follows the put-upon B&B owner and former film historian Richard and bounty hunter (and chihuahua wielder) Valerie, who drags Richard somewhat reluctantly into solving mysteries. With a cast of eccentric characters, the whole series is a joy to follow. I do have a particular soft spot for the B&B’s cranky housekeeper, Madame Tablier.
Death and Déjà Vu sees Richard – newly elected Mayor – sent off for a holiday to recuperate, but everything feels off, and yet… familiar? Isolated off the coast of France in a renovated fortress with a group of strange strangers, Richard feels there’s more going on than meets the eye… and then people start dying off. Everything around him feels like a call back to classic mystery films – will Richard’s extensive film knowledge get him out of his latest predicament?
It’s nice to see Richard have a change of scenery, and loved how the characters we’re familiar with make cameos, and it’s a wonderfully entertaining, twisty and inventive story. I love the humour of the series, and it won’t be long before I get déjà vu and re-listen to this one!
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