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The Messengers of Death: A Mystery in Provence (Commissaire Laviolette Mystery, 2) Paperback – September 29, 2009

by Pierre Magnan (Author)
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
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A Publishers Weekly Best Mystery of 2008, this is the exceptional follow-up to Pierre Magnan's highly acclaimed Death in the Truffle Wood

Local handyman Emile discovers an envelope addressed to a Mlle Veronique in a disused mailbox. Being a former postman, he dutifully purchases a stamp and mails the letter. But when the body of this same Mlle Veronique is soon found murdered, Commissaire Laviolette is coaxed out of retirement to solve one of the most bizarre crimes imaginable.

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  1. Print length
    311 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Minotaur Books
  4. Publication date
    September 29, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.72 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0312387571
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0312387570
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Stylish . . . a detective tale with a theme as old as Cain and Abel, as new as tomorrow's headlines, and as eternal as the Greek myths that inspire Magnan's fiction.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Messengers of Death

“A pleasantly old-fashioned mystery thriller with quirky charm aplenty.” ―Kirkus Reviews on The Messengers of Death

“An intellectual feast . . . worthy of that other master of the French mystery, Georges Simenon. A winner.” ―Richmond Times-Dispatch on Death in the Truffle Wood

“Delightful, old-fashioned . . . wrapped in the rich atmosphere of 1960s Provence. The setting will draw in Peter Mayle fans, even if they are not regular mystery readers.” ―Booklist on The Messengers of Death

About the Author

Pierre Magnan is an award-winning French crime writer. Death in the Truffle Wood was his first Commissaire Laviolette mystery to be published in the United States. He is also the author of The Messengers of Death and The Murdered House, published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Minotaur.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books; First Edition (September 29, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 311 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312387571
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312387570
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.72 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

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Pierre Magnan

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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
13 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cathy G. Cole
4.0 out of 5 stars Oozes French charm and wit
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013
Originally published in French in 1986, The Messengers of Death tells the tale of a series of crimes that occur in the 1960s. Pierre Magnan skillfully takes readers back to what seems a quaint and simpler time in the countryside of southeastern France.

Over his long career, Commissaire Laviolette has learned a great deal about the habits of people who live in small villages. He's an observant, intuitive sort of policeman who knows that the postmistress undoubtedly reads the mail that comes in and out, and he also believes that the reason for these crimes lies in the past. When one needs stored memories, where better to go than the local old people's home? His interactions with all the townspeople allows Magnan to show their foibles to perfection.

Another area in which the author excels is in using the setting and the weather to affect the mood and to create tension and suspense. In more than one scene, the killer is moving through the rooms in the victim's home, and Magnan had the hair standing on the back of my neck. (If I'd been reading late at night, I would have jumped a mile if a floorboard had creaked.)

I know that some readers worry about translated books, but I had no problems with it at all. I slid easily into the story and quickly became so intrigued that I had to know how it ended. At times throughout the book, I had to smile. Each woman's appearance and sex appeal are speculated upon in a manner that did not offend me in the slightest but made me wonder if Magnan had been a bit of a ladies' man. This book is not only an enjoyable mystery, it also oozes French charm and wit. Do I recommend Pierre Magnan's books? Bien sûr!
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R Elliott
3.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2012
Some of the writing in this novel is incredibly lovely. The wind in the trees is so menacing and mournful, and the descriptions of Barles, its bleakness, the tenacity of its people, its history as a place that makes strangers uncomfortable: a pleasure to read. Of course, this is a translation, so perhaps in French literature these are very banal things. But for me, the scenes with the killer stalking another victim were so tense, almost cinematic, that I began to feel anxious as I was reading. I especially liked the character Combaluzier and his relationship with the sea.

Purely personally, I was really irritated that every female character's appearance and sexual appeal and affairs had to be discussed at length. In a scene where two characters ostensibly are trying to prevent a woman from being murdered, they are distracted immediately by partygoers dancing without pants! Even as we know the killer is somewhere in the room, the investigators become useless, and I was subjected to pages and pages of descriptions of women's bodies, their costumes and lack thereof, who is the most appealing to each investigator - were there any men at this party? Were they wearing clothing? Don't worry, you won't have to suffer through any appraisal of the male figure. How dull! I am not the audience Magnan had in mind.
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reneereader
4.0 out of 5 stars charming and clever
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2010
I didn't have any trouble getting into this book as the one reviewer did. I figured that any stiltedness came from translation - plus these characters are not ones who would be super talkative anyway. What I enjoyed most was the clever way the author described settings and wry social interactions. For instance, the descriptions of whether the local postmistress has read or seen the person posting the letter later known to be written by the murderer: we see the postmistress speculating about it, the detective thinking to himself she probably read it, the umbrage she takes at the idea of her offending the privacy of the post! Oolala, the little character points. The murders and the reasons behind them were set up well to make you want to know why these women are being targeted and just what "treasure" it is the murderer wants that they are hiding. The author does a nice job of using the environment and setting to increase the sense of some tragedy playing out. Yet at the same time it feels a lot like a "cozy" or "country house" mystery. We feel buffered from too much gore, and the provincial setting with all the townspeople and their little ways reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie. I plan to read the others as they are translated to English.
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avid reader
2.0 out of 5 stars Too hard to get into
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2010
I have a policy that I give EVERY book until atleast page 50 to grab and interest me. Unfortunately I could not get into this book. As another reviewer has stated, it is written in such cut english that I had a hard time reading the dialogue. I LOVE mystery novels....and was so sad I could not get into this one. The opening scene had me so interested...and then it seemed to get less interesting from there. Like I said, I gave it 50 pages, and I realised it was taking way too much effort to considering "leisurly reading". I think that if you are an intellectual and a deep thinker, you would probably have an easier time with this book. See, I read as an "escape". I am a stay at home mom, so my couple hours of "me" time to read is very precious...so if it requires too much attention, I am not interested. Hope some of you might be able to enjoy this book more! I was sad I could not:(
4 people found this helpful
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Margaret
4.0 out of 5 stars A Dark and Stormy Night in France . . .
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2008
If you're willing to engage in quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, you'll be rewarded by smart writing, engaging characters and a page-turner plot set in the dark yet appealing French countryside. The dialogue seems a bit awkward, sort of like anime cartoons translated from Japanese. It's understandable, but English speakers don't usually speak as disjointedly as the French characters do.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

S aldridge
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2014
Verified Purchase
Another brilliant book from Pierre Magnan. Quel Dommage il est morte.
2 people found this helpful
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Huck Flynn
3.0 out of 5 stars Bizarre and atmospheric
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2011
Verified Purchase
Magnan is an original writer and his detective Laviolette an enigmatic creation. This story introduces a wealth of idiosyncratic provence provincials who wouldn't be out of place in a zola, balzac or flaubert novel set in Clochmerle. Un pincee de sel or deux required as this atavistic tale of the revenge of a serial killer meanders round the picturesque french valleys unearthing old crimes, family feuds and inheritances, valuable and genetic. For me the over elaborate details and style got in the way of a deeply satisfying mystery. I feel quite certain that the book is well translated although probably many of the subtleties were lost to me - at times it lost my interest and i got confused with the names of characters. Quirky, atmospheric and informative but a bit heavy on the garlic at times. Probably 3 and a half stars. I'll perhaps sample another.
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MR BRIAN J JONES
4.0 out of 5 stars Tres interesant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
If you like your crime novels to entertain rather than turn your stomach, try Pierre Mangan and Inspector Laviolette. Definitely not Noir mais jolie. Set in Provence they are an ideal advert for holidays in the South of France. Larger than life characters with a very French personality.
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Sue
1.0 out of 5 stars Was disappointed with this book as I enjoyed reading 'Death in ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
Was disappointed with this book as I enjoyed reading 'Death in Truffle Woods" 'The Messenger of Death" has put me off buying any other books by this author. The story just seemed sordid and manic. But that's just my opinion.
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