Page 11 - Martin Downs Bulletin - May '23

Martin Downs, Page 11

BooK review

The Chateau are tempted throughout to has always been a struggling artist, withholding from
guess the guilty party. But Darcy for many years the fact that Seraphine has been
By Nils A. Shapiro in the hands of this gifted helping to support her art efforts with monthly financial
(Note: While preparing writer, the journey is an aid. Now Vix, a lesbian, is recovering from disfiguring
to write this review, I exceptional treat. cancer surgery only to learn that her lover, Juliet, plans
discovered that there have Seraphine Demarglasse, to break up their relationship.
been five or six earlier a woman in her 90s, is the Their other New York friend from university days is
books published with the lady of the magnificent Jade, a Jewish woman who is attractive, stays fit and
same title, The Chateau, chateau in Provence, is happily married. But Jade has never forgotten when
by different authors. The France, in which the Darcy brought her and Vix to the chateau for the first time
subject of my review here action takes place. She during a school vacation, and as they entered through the
is a novel by Jaclyn Goldis, lives alone, except for her big iron gates she saw Seraphine’s family crest … and
which will be published longtime housekeeper- recognized with shock how that symbol and name had
officially on May 23.) cook, Sylvie, and the impacted Jade’s own family’s history during the Nazi
Of the almost 200 books I have reviewed over the past groundskeeper, Raph. occupation of World War II!
16 years, I cannot recall the last time the subject was a Seraphine has invited her granddaughter, Darcy – who The fourth woman is Arabelle, housekeeper Sylvie’s
mystery novel. As regular readers of this column know, now lives in New York – and three of Darcy’s girlfriends own granddaughter who, when her parents died while she
I prefer works of nonfiction, and even when I stray from to the Chateau for a visit. Twenty years earlier, the was just a child, came to live with her grandmother in the
my preference this particular genre is not my usual choice. four friends studied together at a French university and chateau. Arabelle has known Darcy almost her entire life
But when The Chateau was suggested to me by had visited the elderly woman on vacations. But now and attended the same university with her and the other
someone whose judgment I trust, my initial reaction was Seraphine announces that she has a very special reason girls. Having learned many skills from Sylvie, Arabelle
overridden by what I felt was my obligation to see if the for her invitation: a secret that she will explain to all of opened an inn after getting married. But her husband left
book would be of interest to the readers of this column them in person. and she has decided to return to the chateau to help Sylvie
to whom, after all, my monthly efforts are dedicated. But Seraphine is murdered during the weekend of that in the kitchen and to care for her.
Since I am not a fan of contemporary mystery novels visit, the night before she is to divulge her secret. The author tells her story entirely through the eyes of
– although as a teen I read the complete Sherlock Holmes Of course, each of the women has a reason to wish her characters. Each brief chapter begins with a name:
mysteries that my parents owned in our home library, and the elderly woman dead, and it is up to the reader to try Darcy … Dade … Arabelle … and so on, and all that
have read a couple of Agatha Christies – I cannot claim to to guess the guilty party as the story unfolds. occurs during that time is seen and told through that
be an expert of the genre. But I am absolutely prepared to Darcy, Seraphine’s granddaughter, had married an character’s eyes and perspective. As a result, I found
state that, on the basis of The Chateau alone, in terms of American and lives in New York with her husband, myself scrutinizing every word to see if I could pick up a
writing skills Jaclyn Goldis stands with the best of them! Oliver, and their two young children. Although they have hint as to the guilt or innocence of each of the characters
The more involved I became in this murder mystery financial problems, Darcy has been reluctant to ask her … a slip of the tongue, a word here or there that might
the more impressed I was with author Jaclyn Goldis’s grandmother for help despite the enormous wealth of the betray the truth. As with every reader of murder mysteries,
seductive story line, exquisitely descriptive narrative chateau that boasts, as just examples, original Van Gogh I had my hunches, but had to wait until the very end – just
style, detailed character studies, and a feel for fluid and Renoir paintings on the walls. Oliver decides that he as I suspect you will.
dialogue so natural I couldn’t help but compare it to that and the children will join her on the trip to France, but The one confession I will make is that, while I may
of the masterful dialogue treatment in the Stephen King will stay in a nearby hotel (not be a part of the chateau still not be a big fan of murder mysteries in general, the
novel I had admired. visit) and make a family vacation of it afterward. next time I note Jaclyn Goldis’s name as the author of
Without giving away more than you need to know – no Two friends of Darcy who have been invited to visit a new book, it will be a must-read for me. It should be
spoilers here – the basic premise of The Chateau is typical the chateau again are also New Yorkers whom Darcy met for you, too, starting with The Chateau. Read the book
enough of such mysteries: a murder takes place; a number when they were all students at a university in France, and before the inevitable film comes out.
of people have reasons to be considered suspects, and we have been close ever since. Victoria (whom all call “Vix”)

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