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While not technically considered a mystery, BORDEAUX HOUSEWIVES does have an element of intrigue that makes it a delightful diversion from the norm. Due to scheduling issues I had to read this book in pieces over the course of several weeks, but each time I picked it up I was instantly spirited away to Southern France and the quaint little village of Montmaur, where secrets and scandals abound and things are not always as they seem. This enchanting tale revolves around three English women – Daphne (Daffy) Duff Fielding, Lady Emma Rankin, and Maude Haunt – all of whom have come to live in the South of France for varying reasons. Timid Daffy is deposited unceremoniously in Montmaur by her husband Timothy, a man described as ghastly by the locals. He purchases for her the dilapidated Hotel Marronnier as a way to keep her away from himself, his mistress, and Daffy's beloved son James. Maude Haunt, her husband Horatio, and their two small children, Tiffany and Superman, have left their tiny London terraced house for the beauty and rustic charm of La Grande Forge, a long white cottage half a mile from the village with pale blue shutters and surrounded by sunflowers. The Haunts have few everyday worries – the locals think they're vegetable farmers, their children are brilliant, and they eat fresh oysters every Sunday for lunch. Lady Emma is glamorous, predatory and eternally bored. From her lavish château she watches over all the new arrivals and pulls strings to bring Daffy and Maude together. But Emma's sights are set on handsome Horatio Haunt and gorgeous Jean Baptiste, a local builder who is smitten with Daffy and her hapless hotel. As it turns out, Horatio is the only man around for miles who hasn't taken a roll in Emma's hay, and even Jean Baptiste is growing tired of her selfish eccentricities and drug-induced ardor. In the midst of the mix is the crew of a reality TV show, brought in by friends of the Haunts who aren't quite convinced that their vegetable farming isn't a front for activities a little less legal than would generally be accepted by the local French populace. For the Haunts have an explosive secret, one that if discovered could land them in a lot of hot water, and only Jean Baptiste knows the truth. To add further suspense, along comes a character known as Skid, a scalawag whose favorite pastimes are rolling with Emma Rankin and freeloading off as many unwitting hosts as possible, including Daffy Fielding and her stores of pineau at the Marronnier. At Emma's urging, Skid delves into and discovers the nature of the Haunts' clandestine pursuits and then hatches a plan to expose them, blackmail them, or both. Over the course of the book we are given insight into each character's psyche as Waugh uses the omniscient point of view, shifting from one character's head into another with a seamless but slightly dizzying deftness. Another device she uses quite effectively but that might be a bit off-putting to some readers is the wealth of excellent conversational French – when taken in context it's usually quite easy to get the gist of what the characters are saying, but the effect of a full translation might be a tad elusive to non-speakers. Getting the gist was enough for me to enjoy the rich elegance of the language and even learn a bit in the process. Waugh does an exceptional job of infiltrating the story with the sights, sounds and flavor of the local landscape, including Daffy's stray animals, the boulangerie (bakery) across the way from the hotel, the bakers' sweet, hard-working Down syndrome daughter, the fresh air and sunshine of the countryside, and the myriad dirt-smeared children of the Haunts' TV producer friends. Skid and Timothy are delightfully disgusting creeps. I felt a little let down with Emma Rankin, as she didn't seem as fully explored as some of the other characters. Waugh's strongest characters by far are Horatio and Maude, followed closely by Daffy Fielding, who blossoms in her new environment, and the Haunt children, who are quite smarter than anyone but their parents are wont to give them credit for. The height of the book's excitement comes when the Haunts are summoned to perform their most dangerous assignment, one that could expose them for who they really are. Despite Horatio's protests, Maude undertakes the journey, all the while fretting that she has left the man she can't live without in the clutches of the scheming Emma Rankin. This is a clever, sexy story that sparkles with a nice blend of humor, intrigue and romance, a complete package of colorful setting, strong characters and a well-developed plot. Chick lit and mystery fans alike should enjoy spending time with the BORDEAUX HOUSEWIVES.
Reviewed by J. B. Thompson, September 2006
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