Today, I’m welcoming another new-to-me author to Celtic Connexions. I’m reviewing Mistral by Robert Cole.
Blurb
Adam’s wife, Maryanne, vanished without trace whilst on holiday in southern France, more than two years ago. Unexpectedly, he receives an enigmatic message. It prompts him to return to the scene of her disappearance. His efforts to piece together what happened force him to reexamine their relationship, coupled with his feelings of guilt.
Retracing events that led to that fateful day, he soon learns that his return has not gone unnoticed, and his efforts to find Maryanne are far from welcome. Adam is joined in his search by Abigail, Maryanne’s daughter from a previous marriage. It is February. The mistral is battering the streets and dark corners of the ancient towns across this area of France.
As more of Maryanne’s past is revealed, the search, enmeshed in a world of intrigue and deceit, with its past rooted in antiquity, becomes increasingly dangerous. They discover that some will do anything to stop them from uncovering the final, terrifying truth.
My Review
This book started as a slow burn for me, but I was soon wrapped up in the story. Adam has gone to France to find his wife, who disappeared a few years ago. Her daughter, Abigail, arrives to help with the search. Add in a few good friends, some mysterious characters from Maryanne and Abigail’s past, and things become twisted.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I will definitely look for more books by this author.
Book Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230398001-mistral
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/mistral-zbt
About Robert Cole
Robert Cole trained as a clinical psychologist but spent most of his career within the corporate business world, both in the UK and overseas. He has held senior positions in Human Resources within a number of large global companies.
Mistral is his second novel and is a powerful and sweeping drama set amongst the vineyards and picturesque towns and villages of the Languedoc and Provence areas of the South of France.
His well-received first novel, A Breeze Across the Aegean published in 2020, draws on his affinity with Greece and its diverse islands.
He is currently working on a sequel. In addition to the UK he has lived in Singapore, Cyprus, the Netherlands and South Africa. Currently he divides his time between Surrey and Uzes in France.
This anthology of historical fiction leads from the BC era to the present day.
First up is Amy Scott, twin sister of Michael (from It Happened at Niagara Falls).
Emma Williams, Amy’s friend and co-worker. Both Amy and Emma are nurses at the new hospital in Sudbury, Ontario.
David Carter, Amy’s other half. He’s a finance officer for the City of Greater Sudbury. He’s also not very nice to Amy, but I won’t tell you more because it will ruin the book for you when it comes out.
Kyle Ferris, a Lunenburg local who works in Quality Control at High Liner Foods, and on weekends and holidays leads guided tours through the town. He’s also a descendant of Privateer John Ordronaux.
Here he is dressed for his tour.
Isabelle “Izzy” Morrison, an author who is suffering from a severe case of writer’s block and is writing to deadline not very effectively. She initiates a house swap between herself and Amy, which is how Amy and Seaumus (spelled this was intentionally) end up on the east coast of Canada in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
