A compelling mix of old and new characters and cold and current crimes make for a riveting mystery set in the south of France.

Homicide Hérault is the sixth book in author Bluette Matthey’s international mystery series featuring former military turned computer geek turned tour company operator Hardy Durkin. The mystery includes both the cold case of the murdered soldiers and another, which occurs right in front of the tour group and an entire audience of festival-goers.

The story is packed with tantalizing descriptions of food, drink, and the countryside of the Languedoc region through which the cyclists travel. The author slips in a wide range of interesting historical details about Roman settlements, the annihilation of the Catholic splinter sect, the Cathars, and the more recent and relevant to the story, events of the Algerian War, which ended in 1962.

Hardy calls on his Legionnaire friends, Lieutenant Colonel Alain Clotiers and Captain Luc Buvain, introduced in book one of the series, to hand off the investigation into the dead men. This turns out to be a wise move as factions still exist in the area that have a lot to lose should the truth behind the soldiers’ murders come to light.

The story takes a surprising turn when Durkin and the Legionnaires inadvertently uncover a human trafficking operation while investigating the cold case. The plot is compelling, with twists I never saw coming.

With its unusual and historical setting and mix of old and new, I recommend HOMICIDE HÉRAULT to mystery readers interested in international, off-the-beaten-path travel, unique history, and fans of the previous books in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. ( )

Two men, both military, one American, one French, are desperate to deliver a film that will rock French politics. Others are out to stop them. Decades later their bodies are discovered by a group of Americans on a biking holiday in Beziers, France. Luckily, their tour guide is none other than Hardy Durkin, a man of talent, ability and a more than a whiff of mystery. As multiple forces attempt to control the fallout from the finding of the bodies, a second murder occurs at a flamenco performance and once again, Hardy and his trekkers are in the thick of it...
If there was ever a book that shouldn’t be judged by its cover, Homicide Herault is it. My apologies to the cover designer but in my opinion, it hinders rather than helps. Inside this blah cover is a fun, lively book packed with historical tidbits, amazing description of the small towns that dot the South of France, food, wine, along with spies, intrigues and of course a set of murders that must be solved.
The writing is good, the pace is swift, and the author makes use of an omniscient POV to narrate the story from multiple viewpoints. A lover of murder mysteries, I enjoyed the investigation and dramatic resolution of the crimes. I especially loved the history of the region including the tragic stories of Cathars and the Knights Templar. The travel descriptions made me drool with envy and Beziers in now at the top of my bucket list of places to visit.
I highly recommend this enjoyable read for lover of murder mysteries set in unique locations with the added bonus of a history lesson threaded through the story.
I rate this book: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ( )