The Marseille Caper (2012)

Book Info

Author

Peter Mayle

Genre

Mystery & Thriller

Series

Sam Levitt

Rating

3.14 of 5 Votes: 5

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ISBN

030759419X (ISBN13: 9780307594198)

Language

English

Publisher

Knopf

Shops

Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble

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About book The Marseille Caper (2012)

A fun, if predictable caper. There were no surprises in the direction the plot took, or the eventual resolution, but still the story was enjoyable. What keeps me from rating the book higher, beyond the predictability, is how stereotyped every character is. The women in the story are especially insufferable. Elena, for example, is a corporate executive and the significant other of Sam. Presumably she is an intelligent woman and would be Sam's confidant - yet the only topics we hear he weigh in on are ones of food and style. The frequent side-tracks into local history and recipes are also distracting. I can agree with the other reviews I read about this book, but in the end I have to say that I enjoyed reading it. Mr. Mayle's characters are just plain fun...even the stupid bad guys are good for a chuckle, and of course the best part of his books is always the descriptions of Provence and the food. Ah, the food! I get hungry reading about it, and even think his books should include an appendix with pictures of all the delicacies he and his characters so decadently enjoy. Who cares that the mystery and suspense is not of great caliber? Vive la Provence!