Roger Blanc, recently exiled from Paris to the Provençal police force, is called to the scene where the body of a cyclist lies. It was found on the road through the Camargue--a marshy area known for its flamingoes, white horses and fierce bulls.
The dead man was gored by one of the bulls that was being reared to fight. Everyone assumes it's a tragic accident, until Blanc realizes that the dead man is famous reporter Albert Cohen. He also finds evidence indicating that the bull was deliberately freed from its pen. Blanc's superiors are reluctant to make a murder of a probable accident, but Blanc refuses to back down. Then he discovers that Cohen was writing an article about Vincent van Gogh's time in Provence, which opens up a new realm of suspects in the art world.
Ably capturing this region of France, with its shimmering heat and fields of red rice, Cay Rademacher (Murderous Mistral) has crafted a curious mystery set in an unusual world. While Blanc's original "crimes" (which cost him his position as an officer in Paris) are never specifically mentioned, his stubborn refusal to back down in this case is a clear indicator of his tenacity. Yet Blanc's nuanced character, and those of his fellow officers--a drunkard, and a lesbian fighting for the right to marry--keep Deadly Camargue fresh. The van Gogh element is a delightful twist on a typical mystery, sure to make this one appeal to mystery lovers and art aficionados alike. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Tucson, Ariz.