Jean-Luc Bannalec: An Island of Suspects

Brittany Mystery #10

An Island of Suspects is Jean-Luc Bannalec’s tenth book in his Brittany mystery series. The main character is Commissaire George Dupin, who works along with his team of investigators to solve various mysteries throughout Breton. An Island of Suspects focuses on the island of Belle-Île, and the murder of a wealthy and well known sheep farmer Patric Provost. Mr. Provost was actively being blackmailed and the deadline for payment came just before the discovery of his body. Almost as soon as they start investigating it’s clear that the victim was not at all liked in his community. Even his own employees seem to outright hate him. Mr. Dupin is soon faced with the realization that he has an entire island of suspects. read more

Michael Falco: Murder in an Italian Village

Bria Bartolucci #1

Few sights and experiences rival that of the coast of Italy, and the beautifully colored buildings of Positano balanced along cliff faces and overlooking stunning stretches of ocean. Michael Falco launches a new mystery series set in this idyllic place. The first book is Murder in an Italian Village and it follows widow and single mom Bria Bartolucci as she also starts a new life running a B&B called Bella Bella. While she has lived near Positano, she has only recently made it home for herself and her son Marco. She is not only striving to make her business thrive, but also to become an accepted part of the Positano community and not be seen as a tourist or outsider. read more

Lucy Connelly: An American in Scotland

I gobbled up this yummy first in a series book from Lucy Connelly.  As the title indicates, American doctor Emilia (“Em”) McRoy is fleeing a busy ER back in San Francisco as well as a relationship gone wrong, and headed to tiny Sea Isle, Scotland.  She discovers, as does the heroine in all fairytales, that she’s to live for free in a converted castle (I mean, church) and perks include free food everywhere in town as well as a free car.  The job also comes with a working brother and sister – Tommy does the gardening and the capable Abigail, who runs the office, as well as the new MRI machine that the “Laird” of the town has thought to provide. read more