Monsieur Pamplemousse is a wonderful new discovery.
I didn't know about this series until finding Monsieur Pamplemousse Afloat, which is the eleventh in the set. Author Michael Bond is best known for creating the Paddington Bear series of children's books.
Monsieur Pamplemousse is an ex-policeman who now works for Le Guide as a restaurant reviewer and wine lecturer. Their logo depicts two escargot rampant, and the boss would like to change it. Perhaps using the likeness of Monsieur Pamplemousse's companion, the bloodhound named Pommes Frites. To get the dog into shape, they are to take a boat cruise through Burgundy along the Canal de Bourgogne. Such a leisurely cruise that Pommes Frites will walk beside the boat along the bank for exercise - he must look his best for the photos.
Aboard the Le Creuset, there are several amusing characters with dubious backgrounds, local specialties on the buffet, and soon a sexy blonde in flagrante delicto in Pamplemousse's shower or doing cycling excersizes in his bed, watched over by Pommes Frites whose head has gotten stuck in the porthole.
There is a local theatrical diversion for amusement, until the star, a talking parrot is shot. There is intrigue at a local winery with connections to the Le Guide Director.
And there is the rainy night where Monsieur Pamplemousse must find a town with selling both video equipment and Ladie's fashions, ending in a nightmare ride on his bicyclette down the steeply winding hill leading to the Vallee d' Ouche, witnessed and retold by Pomme Frites.
Yes, Pommes Frites witnesses many strange events as one of the narrators, though he might want to forget getting his head stuck in the porthole.
My copy is an A&B Crime paperback on which the Sunday Mirror states "Chuckles Guaranteed".
I started reading it expecting a murder mystery on a boat, but soon realized the Pamplemousse mysteries are a mixture of farce, cuisine and a little bit of detection. Someone dies, but not until page 191 of 214. The characters, mix-ups, and trials of the voyage are laugh out loud funny and it was an enjoyable read.
Michael Bond is one I definitely will be looking out for, I'd love to read the whole series based on this novel. Just the fact that the boat goes about 4 km an hour tells you there is time for plenty of hijinks as well as trying the chef's signature jambon persille.
If you love French cuisine, wine and wineries, boat tours, naked blondes, dogs, skullduggery among the vines, and discovering new locations to seek out fresh escargots, I'd recommend the Monsieur Pamplemousse series.
Monsieur Pamplemousse Afloat was hilarious.
1998 / Paperback / 214 pages
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