Cezanne's Quarry

March 17, 2008
Could Paul Cézanne be a killer? That’s one of the disturbing prospects confronting novice magistrate Bernard Martin in August 1885 as he starts to investigate the murder of Solange Vernet, a recent transplant from Paris whose brutalized remains are discovered near a favorite haunt of the painter’s outside Aix, in Pope’s provocative debut. Was the freethinking beauty with the flame-colored locks slain by her lover, self-professed Darwinian scholar—and likely scam artist—Charles Westerbury, as Martin’s boss contends, or by a smitten Cézanne? Martin quickly recognizes that the case could be a career maker—or breaker—if he antagonizes the artist’s powerful family without overwhelming evidence. Pope animates her canvas with plenty of vivid period detail, but subplots, romantic and otherwise, dilute the suspense; later she telegraphs what should have been a surprise ending. Still, Francophiles and history buffs will find much to like.

Starred review from May 15, 2008
Dead women tell no tales. Or do they? Historian Pope (founding director, women's & gender studies, Univ. of Oregon) opens her debut novel with inexperienced, altruistic Judge Bernard Martin and cynical, seasoned Inspector Albert Franc investigating the death of Solange Vernet, strangled in a quarry in 1885 Aix-en-Provence during the last two weeks of a sweltering August. The two men, both eager to advance their careers, zero in on Solange's lover, Charles Westerbury, an English geologist, and Paul Cézanne, the French painter and another possible lover, as their two main suspects. Was the murder a crime of passion? Or was it something more sinister? Martin diligently pulls at various threads of the case to gather evidence to avenge Solange's death. Will he succeed in identifying the culprit before the other judges return from their holidays when all he has are uncooperative suspects and more questions than answers? Pope creates an enthralling cozy complete with captivating characters and a riveting plot set against the lovely backdrop of 19th-century Provence. Highly recommended for all historical mystery fiction collections. [See Prepub Mystery, "LJ" 2/1/08.]Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. Pub. Libs., MD

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