The Stranded in Provence Mysteries, Books 1-3 (Stranded in Provence #1-3)
Published August 1st 2017 by San Marco Press, Kindle Edition 546 pages
Ever wonder what you’d do if someone pushed the re-set button on the world?
The Stranded in Provence Mysteries tell the story of an American woman on vacation in the south of France when the unthinkable happens. After a dirty bomb explodes over the Riviera she finds herself stranded in a French village where daily life is essentially sent reeling back to the 1950s.
So now forget solving crimes with DNA or accessing massive criminal databases. Likewise forget worrying about international terrorism, because that’s now gone too. But you can also forget spending hours on your smartphone, tablet, computer or even TV set.
On the other hand, the bistros are all still open, the produce and cheese markets still run every morning, bicycles dominate the wide avenues instead of cars, and for a budding amateur sleuth and now permanent ex-pat, any murders she stumbles across will have to be solved the old-fashioned way—with brain power and shoe leather.
Oh, and it turns out that romance still works the same as before too.
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Stranded in ProvenceJules has gone to Provence on holiday... and there's an EMB (Electro magnetic bomb which means loss of mobile phones, computers, technology...life as we know it in 2019!)
I've read books 1-3...not great literature, but definitely better than a box set on TV. Pour yourself a cuppa, tuck a blanket around your knees, and get stuck in!
Rating: really liked it
Enjoyable for anyoneClever whodunit will have you laughing out loud with twists and turns you did not see coming. Well done and keep them coming.
Rating: really liked it
I am just starting this book. I really like the premise, but it is a difficult state to imagine and write about - continuity matters greatly.
This first book needs an editor. An editor will help with punctuation and with the continuity. For example, the “dirty bomb” concept would not allow for the visitors in Atlanta to be figuring out the microwave.
Now, those criticisms leveled, I am enjoying this book!
The author depicts much of what I experienced while travelling in France and has me wondering what living there would be like without current technology (like the ability to write this review). I have to agree - there are definite practices that would make living without power less of a challenge.
I am concerned for the reviewer who perceived this book to be America bashing. It is far from bashing - it is an attempt to imagine a, hopefully, far-flung situation, based on extrapolating from real life experience. I have also spent time in large American cities, and like many large cities in other parts of the world, there is a feeling that everything could grind down into mayhem quite quickly, if it were difficult to enforce rule. The degree of gap between the haves and have nots, and degree to which this matters, could have an impact. So far, I think it is an interesting way to express the differences between a city and a small community.
I could be incensed because the character’s mother lives in Canada - and when you read the description of the relationship with the mother, you will understand why.
I am kidding.😁
I am curious to see how this story develops.
Rating: really liked it
This Woman Really Is Stranded!These three books consider an interesting dilemma: what might life be like after some kind of dirty bomb takes out all the electricity, everywhere on the planet? And to add to this interesting situation, our heroine is an American stranded in a small French village because she had exchanged her American apartment with some people from this village to have a 2 week experience in France, and they in America.
These 3 books are challenging mysteries about who committed the murder, or murders, and our heroine manages to solve each one before the police do. I realize this is typical in cozy mystery world, but what I really like about it in these stories is there is a rational reason for the heroine to be the one to figure things out first: the police are too overwhelmed by the societal changes the dirty bomb brought on. Imagine no lights, no cell phones or computers, no email, no faxes, very few vehicles work, and for the police, no 911, no forensic testing, no communication with other police departments, etc. Interesting challenges.
There are also language differences that Jules, our heroine, manages to navigate. Also, many believable characters who help her out in many ways. And her main love interest is...well, I don't want to spoil it for you.
I have many books in my queue waiting to be read, but I'll be downloading Book 4 next.
Rating: really liked it
From one apocalypse to another....Reading this wild romp about a post-EMP world in the middle of the COVID 19 lock down is trippy, to say the least. It is very well written and just plain interesting to read fiction about how a small, charming French town defines a new world order, as seen from the eyes of a flaky American. From the synopsis, I feared going in that this might be some weirdo prepper story, which thank goodness, it is not. So far, I'm finding Stranded in Provence a solid, delightful cozy mystery series with rich, vibrant characters and the added challenge of (legitimate) world building as well as a fantastic take on the human psyche. One of the best new series I have come across. Bravo!
Rating: really liked it
Such an annoying main character...It was quite an accomplishment for me that I read completely all three books in this trilogy. The main character, Jules, was completely annoying and a selfish spoiled brat, in my opinion. Maybe her personality would be attractive to some readers but I just found it painful to read her thoughts and her inane conversations with those around her. I did not hate the book, thus my three rating rather than a one, but it was not one that I enjoyed. I did very much enjoy the French setting of the stories. I have not read any other books by this author but, hopefully, other main characters are more engaging and likable.
Rating: really liked it
DnfI was very curious to see what this book set was about. An EMP bomb is dropped on Europe and the U.S. The heroine is stranded after a house swap with a French couple. Unfortunately, the author decided to make the bomb America's fault. Iran dropped it but in retaliation for an unnamed thing America did. Combined with other America bashing ( through a ham radio they find out Americans have gone crazy and are killing each other. The author states that is what you should expect from a society that allows its citizens to arm themselves!), I dnf.
Rating: really liked it
Stranded in FranceLoved these books. My heroine Jules Booker is now in a small charming French village after an event that causes all to be without electricity, which means no refrigerators, no cars because of lack of fuel etc. She was on vacation and can't go back to USA. She gets involved in a few murders, a little romance, and meets eccentric characters. These books were great reading, hard to put down, and I loved all the relationships and stories. Can't wait to read the next one.
Rating: really liked it
Jules adventuresJules wants to get away to forget about a broken relationship, however her trip to France isn't what she expected. She planned to immediately head home back to Atlanta when she discovers a dead body and then the world came to an end as we know it. The power grid around the world has been destroyed by a bomb. A must read to find out how Jules servives living in a foreign country with limited language skills. I really enjoyed read these books and look forward to reading more by this author.
Rating: really liked it
Ok readIf you don't mind Americans being bashed by the citizens of Provence or the elderly being disparaged by a snarky know it all who has a serious case of diarrhea mouth around potential murderers as she tries to function in a foreign country where all modern amenities have come to a halt when an EMB has been leashed on the world, then you might enjoy reading these books. All in all, not a terrible read with lots of twists and turns probably better geared to a more juvenile or younger reader.
Rating: really liked it
French murder mysteryBook 3 in the series sees Jules living on the farm with the elderly sisters and selling their wine. An elderly schoolteacher was murdered and other bodies have shown up. The sisters want Jules to travel to the night market to sell the wine but it's very dangerous. Her friend Katrine asked her husband to accompany Jules but why does Jules feel afraid when they are travelling? Lots of twist and turns to keep one guessing throughout. Entertaining read
Rating: really liked it
Unique story lineI really enjoyed the three books. The story was unexpected and entertaining. I enjoyed Jules and look forward to her relationship growing with the locals and her new community. The village sounds gorgeous and makes us all want to live there if there is an actual EMP.
Rating: really liked it
FunI really enjoyed these books. The mystery in each book is completely resolved, however, there is a hook into the next book regarding the main character’s life. I prefer books that are complete, and if they’re well written I eagerly read the next book without having to be hooked into it. These is a clean, fun mystery series and I look forward to others.
Rating: really liked it
Good story line. Woman from Atlanta goes to Provence for a vacation when an EMP goes off over the Medditerrian. She can't get back to the U.S. Not much seems to change in France. Restaraunts and bars are still open. The French need to keep their daily lives as usual as possible. There's markets taking pkace. She has to has to earn a living, so she decides to become a private detective.
Rating: really liked it
I read the first one because I really enjoyed the Maggie Newberry series. It's quite different and the writer carries off the whole apocalypse thing really well. It's kind of back to basics with the policing which is interesting.
It looks as though the French really could live on wine and cheese at the end of the world.
