ADIEU, HARRY HUSBAND! BONJOUR, NOUVEAU MONDE!
A dead husband with a secret life is always a winner (fictionally speaking, of course), but what about a secret past for a special treat? In fact, a past so secret even Harry the husband didn’t know about it. That’s the delicious underpinning of this sprawling, exuberant, generous-spirited cozy mystery with a yummy side of international adventure.It … international adventure.
It might be sadder except that once Harry dies, his widow, Merle Bennett realizes almost immediately it was no wonder she didn’t know anything about him. They’d pretty much been leading separate lives—several of them, as it turns out. Still, the will’s quite a shock. And so is an intriguing surprise—Harry left her a family home in a tiny French village. Or maybe a family home. Because who was Harry’s family? Finding out is half the fun.
Merle sets out to claim her inheritance, adolescent son in tow, and thus begins a sojourn reminiscent of A Year in Provence, or perhaps Under The Tuscan Sun all mixed up with something by Carolyn Hart, maybe, or M.C. Beaton. Because Malcouziac, Merle’s tiny Dordogne town, is the quintessential village—just perfect for a murder. And a rollicking good time.
Once Merle gets there, she finds…well, France! An unexpected romance! Mystery galore! Murder! And not just murder, but the unnerving experience of being a suspect. Once her passport is confiscated, what can she do but stay and restore her ancient battered house? While enjoying the tender attention of the unusually well-educated, handsome and…yes, quite mysterious roofer she’s hired.
Author McClendon doesn’t take a whole lot very seriously, being clearly more interested in Merle’s journey than in emulating Agatha Christie. And that works out beautifully for the reader. Particularly recommended for those who love France or have plans to visit there. Mystery lovers, chick lit fans, and cozy fanatics will all find it très chouette— more prosaically, simply awesome. Not to mention formidable!
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When Merle Bennett’s husband dies unexpectedly and leaves her a crumbling house in a provincial town in France, she thinks: “a few simple renovations and I can put it on the market, then vamoose back to New York.” Surprise! In France, Merle stumbles on a tangled web of secrets and lies … not to mention murder … and romance!
Blackbird Fly …
unique story with interesting characters and setting. Old mysteries are full of surprises. Linda
I really liked this novel – so many appealing aspects: a mystery that primarily takes place in a small French village, delicious food and wine, a romance, a woman rediscovering herself and her life. I was engaged from the start, when Merle learns her recently deceased husband owned a house in France that she knew nothing about. This was a …
I Love Lise McClendon. This series is a great read. The fantasy of moving to a small village in France and falling in love with a Frenchman!
This is a book that begins with tragedy, but ends with inspiration!
Unusual read. Fascinating story with a lot going on. The characters were very interesting.
Loved the book!
I wasn’t sure from the title what the book would be about…and then I found the story to pull me in and entertain me. Well done.
Sort of stumbled onto this book and, having lived for 18 months in France, the pitch caught my interest. I thoroughly enjoyed the “French” small village characters, recognizing the inherent cloistered reality of French village life and the often tyrannical bureaucracy. The storyline of the 1940s people is captivating and rings with unwanted …
Good story about a woman coping with the death of her husband and what she found out about him after his death.
Looking forward to more books by this author.
Fun read!! “Under the Tuscan Sun” with murder and intrigue!!
This series has characters you care about, a house in France, witty dialogue, and a mystery. The mystery is almost secondary to the lives of the characters, the house, and how it all intertwines.
Great story line. Not your typical perfect characters.
Very enjoyable story line
A hard to put down book that I really enjoyed
Loved this so much I got the whole series! 5 Stars for the Bennett Sisters series!
I enjoy books-fiction or non-about life today in other countries.
This story is about a woman who’s husband dies and leaves her a shocking will. Seems he has a ‘family home’ in France? Well, is there a family to go along with this home? Merle Bennett is about to find out just how little she knew of good ole Harry! Once there Merle finds more trouble than even she bargained for. But the biggest one is being a …
Take a bit of mystery, add some chicklit, a dash of adventure, and lots of humor and what do you get? A great book by author Lise McClendon. The first book in the new Bennett Sisters Series has hit the mark.
When middle sister Merle becomes a widow with the sudden death of her husband Harry, she discovers that he was living a life she wasn’t …