Death on the Riviera by John Bude
Since this summer has been something of a washout, weather-wise (at least where I live, anyway), I was glad of the chance to escape to warmer climes recently; and in a bit of an uncertain state about what to read next I launched myself into this lovely volume from the British Library Crime Classics which I picked up on a jaunt to London over the summer. I’ve read and reviewed several of John Bude’s books on the Ramblings, and he’s definitely one of the successes of the BLCC range. His Inspector Meredith is a down-to-earth and appealing character, his mysteries are always set somewhere specific with a strong sense of place, and the plot is always solid and satisfying. And certainly the sunny south of France had a lot more going for it than soggy Suffolk at the end of August…
“Death on the Riviera”, first published in 1952, sees Inspector Meredith and his young sidekick, Acting Sergeant Freddy Strang, heading off to the south of France in pursuit of a criminal. Interestingly, it’s not a murderer they’re after but a counterfeiter, known as ‘Chalky’ Cobbett, and their visit is part of an international effort to track down forged money which is making the rounds. En route, they encounter Bill Dillon, also travelling south, though he is heading to the village of the ageing Nesta Hedderwick in pursuit of his absent wife Kitty. The villa is a centre for some decadent goings-on with a dodgy resident artist, a playboy who’s also keen on Kitty and various hangers-on. Nesta’s niece Dilys seems surprisingly normal, and it’s not long before the two worlds collide, Freddy falls for Dilys, and it seems that the villa may be more involved with the forgery scam than might have first appeared likely. However, this is no straightforward golden age mystery – it’s not revealing too much to say that murder doesn’t happen until well into the book – and it takes all of Meredith’s ingenuity to untangle the threads of the plot and sort out a solution.
I was reminded how much I enjoy Bude’s books as soon as I picked this one up, and it was one of those golden age mysteries you just don’t want to put down. The setting, both in place and time, was spot on; the south of France, with its rich and poor, trend setters and hangers-on, was very vivid, and the fact that the book was set so close, relatively speaking, to the end of WW2, added a little frisson. In fact, the opening of the story, when Bill Dillon is passing through customs at Dunkirk and casting his mind back to the last time he was there, is very atmospheric. Bude’s descriptions are often quite lovely, bringing to life the sun, the landscape and the area beautifully.
The plot itself is clever and complex, twisting and turning all over the place. Bude *does* pretty much play fair with the reader and I sussed one particular twist before the end although the specifics evaded me. And several other twists passed me by until they were resolved, if I’m honest. One of the joys of Meredith is that he usually gets his man (or woman) through sheer hard graft. No flights of fancy, but door-to-door questioning, going over and over the problem – and yes, I suppose in the end he *does* let his little grey cells eventually come to the right conclusion. But watching him going through the process is a delight, and the comical romantic misadventures of Strang were great fun too. The solution to the smuggling plot was very, very ingenious and having this run alongside the murder plot added an extra element.
Any misgivings? Not really – I would have liked a little more after-story about a couple of the characters; one in particular was left hanging in an uncomfortable situation at the end of the book and it would have been nice to find out what happened to her (and the other character associated with her). But apart from that, “Death on the Riviera” was the perfect, relaxing, end of summer read and at least I got transported to the sunny coast for a day or two – even if it was in the company of criminals! :))
JacquiWine
Sep 10, 2017 @ 07:58:02
Lovely review, Karen. I’ve had my eye on this for a little while, so I’m glad to hear that it proved a hit with you (minor misgivings aside). It’s hard to go wrong with these Inspector Meredith mysteries, isn’t it? They’ve all been very engaging.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 10, 2017 @ 10:59:37
Thanks Jacqui. Yes, the Meredith stories are very readable and enjoyable. My quibbles were minor, and the fun of the twisty plot and the setting completely compensated! 🙂
heavenali
Sep 10, 2017 @ 11:56:07
This sounds really good, I rather wish I had a copy to pick up. I read another BLCC earlier this week and although I enjoyed it wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. I have read a couple of other John Bude novels and so know I would enjoy this one too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 10, 2017 @ 14:06:08
It *was* good – Bude is always a reliable read, and the setting was just lovely. The BLCC books are usually good, although I’ve read a couple that were slightly thin – but this was just what I needed at the moment.
Izzy
Sep 10, 2017 @ 17:22:13
The Riviera is highly overrated, Karen. I wouldn’t trade gorgeous (and often rainy) Brittany for the Côte d’Azur ! So I hope a lot of people get killed in your book…:-)
And I’d love to visit suffolk !
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 10, 2017 @ 17:27:53
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Well, that’s good to know! Suffolk has its good points – mostly the charity bookshops!!!
Helen
Sep 10, 2017 @ 20:54:42
This does seem like a good way to make up for the disappointing summer we’ve had this year! I haven’t read any of John Bude’s books yet, but they all sound so good I think I’ll have to try one soon. 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 11, 2017 @ 06:43:36
It’s been a soggy one, hasn’t it? The Bude books are lovely – solid reads with a strong sense of place and always a very satisfying mystery!
Café Society
Sep 11, 2017 @ 18:33:30
I have this dream of one day doing a survey of crime fiction through the ages including, of course, the Golden Age and this series would be essential. However, the only one I’ve tried was a disaster and so I’ve never been back. I shall have to get over my disappointment and try again.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 11, 2017 @ 19:17:03
Sorry to hear that! Pretty much all of them that I’ve read have been good in one way or another. Perhaps try something like The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley, which really plays with the genre!
buriedinprint
Sep 11, 2017 @ 22:24:05
That sounds quite delightful. Some of the Mavis Gallant short stories I’ve been reading are set on the south of France (often considering what the single, independent women do when it’s off season there and they are part of another kind of world) and the idea of reading this kind of story, set in a similar time period, seems very appealing. I think it sounds like a fair balance to have seen one twist but not the others (although I would have wanted to know what happened to those other two characters too),
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 12, 2017 @ 13:59:13
I think the balance is pretty good too – I don’t like to guess all things! But I really *did* want to know the eventual fate of one particular character!!
Izzy
Sep 12, 2017 @ 11:45:44
Buriedinprint, could please tell us the titles of the Mavis Gallant collections you’ve been reading ?
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 12, 2017 @ 13:58:37
I’d recommend checking out BiP’s excellent site, as she’s been covering Gallant in a lot of depth recently.
Izzy
Sep 12, 2017 @ 18:20:09
This site had escaped my attention, so thank you !
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 12, 2017 @ 18:35:38
Welcome! The site’s linked in my Blogroll!
BookerTalk
Sep 12, 2017 @ 22:23:42
Since I’m not likely to get to the Midi this year, travelling there via a book would help soften the blow. Perfect antidote to this rubbish weather.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 13, 2017 @ 07:11:43
It has been grim, hasn’t it? Definitely time to be reading about the sunny Mediterranean!
madamebibilophile
Sep 13, 2017 @ 08:06:52
This sounds great, and a lovely bit of escapism! I’ve enjoyed the Bude novels I’ve read so I’ll definitely look out for this – the Riviera would be most welcome right now 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 13, 2017 @ 15:52:00
Definitely – this is pure indulgent escapism and I make no apologies for enjoying that! 🙂
Cavershamragu
Sep 15, 2017 @ 11:06:07
I really must get some of these – still not actually read any of the BL reprints and the Bude books really seem to encapsulate what most people enjoy in these GAD titles – sounds great Karen, thanks.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 15, 2017 @ 11:39:29
They’re great fun, the BL books – the quality *can* vary, but the Bude books definitely a highlight. Lovely reading, proper GA crime and plenty of twists!
armchai4
Sep 17, 2017 @ 18:41:28
Ooh, sounds like something I can get into! I’m trying to find other authors who fall along the same vein as George Bellairs.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 17, 2017 @ 20:24:43
Oh, well definitely give him a try! His detectives are good and solid, his plotting and settings excellent and the mystery always satisfying!
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