Charity had been greatly looking forward to her driving holiday through France with her old friend Louise – long, leisurely days under the hot sun, enjoying the beauty of the parched Provencal landscape. But very soon her dreams turn into a nightmare, as Charity becomes enmeshed in the schemes of a gang of murderers, one of them a man with whom she is rapidly falling in love . . .
Madam, Will You Talk?
By marystewart
This is a wonderful romantic suspense novel reminiscent of an old Alfred Hitchcock movie. When Charity and Louise check into the quaint Hotel Tistet-Vedene in the south of France to begin their holiday, they meet an interesting array of characters, including a young boy named David and his dog, Rommel. Soon Charity is drawn into a mystery that sends her racing through the countryside, trying to out-smart a deranged killer. There’s plenty of intrigue and action as the heroes and villains change places constantly until an exciting car chase reveals all. Entertaining and fun.
Listened to the audio and I wonder if that may have drummed some of the enjoyment out of this one as it’s a three stars. Still decent butThis Rough Magic, Nine Coaches Waiting, My Brother Michael, The Ivy Tree and others are so much better.
Here the heroine drives through Provence or I should say is chased through Provence as she attempts to help the poor plot moppet with a dubious but well-dressed stepmother (post WWII-Dior) and even more dubious father.
As always Stewart would make a great travel writer as her locations serve as characters as much as her created characters do. In Madam, Will You Talk?, Provence is by far the most enjoyable. The heroine is a courageous and relatively sane widow who has somewhat questionable taste in men. Her dead husband was somewhat of a reckless charmer and was killed in the war, and her current and future swain, the plot moppet’s accused father, is a sadist in training. He’s not a very nice guy and no matter what happened in the story I felt like Charity will always be second best to the H’s son. I may reading this through typical romance goggles, but I have a bad feeling about the relationship. The mystery or McGuffin is a little thin as well and stems from hidden identities and horrors from WWII.
Enjoy it for a step back in time, the clothes, and another Stewart suspense story, but don’t get too attached as even for the time these characters are smoking themselves into either an early grave or emphysema.
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4.5 stars . . . a fun exciting read with a thread of romance . . .
I love Mary Stewart books, and this, her first novel, is one of my favorites! Such romance, action, derring-do, and good old-fashioned affection woven throughout. I highly recommend this fun, exciting, romantic read!
I am currently on a Mary Stewart re-reading binge. I love all her books, and this is a fabulous debut published in 1955.
Loved this book!! One of my favorite Mary Stewarts. The characters are wonderful and the plot kept me glued to the story until the end. This one has more romance than some of her others which I really like.
Mary Stewart always describes places so you feel you are there
One of my favorite authors. Mary Stewart.
Recently I was asked to list 15 authors who have influenced my writing, and Mary Stewart has to be near the top of the list. Her romantic suspense novels are classics, and I re-read them often. I just finished re-reading this novel and it reminded me just why I love her books.
Charity Selbourn is on holiday in Avignon, France. (The setting is wonderfully described.) Here she meets a young boy called David. They strike up a friendship, and Charity discovers David has witnessed a terrible event, and that his father – Richard Byron – has been accused of murder. Richard is hot on the trail of his son, and David appears terrified of him. This is the start of a gripping cat and mouse chase across France. I loved Charity. Like all Stewart’s heroines, she’s just an ordinary woman who turns out to be extraordinarily brave. And I totally loved the hero.
Mary Stewart’s books can seem a bit dated now but they launched the romantic suspense genre and they’re still a gripping, romantic read.