The Case of the Black Pearl

This is the first in a series which features Patrick de Courvoisier, known as ‘the fixer’, who spends his days aboard ‘The Three Sisters,’ moored in Cannes – playground of the rich. Normally, de Courvoisier spends his time climbing, reading, diving, driving his expensive car far too fast or visiting the local casinos. On the day we meet him he is bored and so, although he anticipates trouble, he is happy to welcome aboard an attractive woman who has a problem. She says that her half-sister, actress Angele Valette, star of the “The Black Pearl,” vanished during the launch party aboard “The Heavenly Princess,” owned by the Russian Vasily Chapayev, who financed the movie. The Black Pearl she wore in the movie has vanished too and, although those associated with the film claim that she has simply left Cannes for a few days, she has been unable to contact her. Of course, de Courvoisier goes in search of the beautiful actress, and the stunning pearl; determined to track down both.

This is a wonderfully realised mystery with an exotic and glamorous location. There is a great distance between the locals and the tourists, as well as the film people who have invaded Cannes for the festival. The author uses all the strands to build de Courvoisier a great cast of characters to work with in future books – including the police Lieutenant Martin Moreaux , although you are never sure about which side of the law his sympathy lies with, the glamorous high class madam Brigitte, and various friends and acquaintances who flesh out the story. This has everything you could want from such a mystery – bodies turn up, de Courvoisier is framed, shot at, and attacked at every turn; there are violent Russian henchmen, fast cars, beautiful people and dangerous dives. This novel features many nods to James Bond, but overall it is great fun and would be the perfect holiday read.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.

Patrick de Courvoisier is an Englishman living and working in Cannes in the South of France. His skillset is somewhat sketchy in the beginning but as the Cannes Film Festival gets under way; his services are very soon called upon. A young actress Angele Valette who is the lead in the new film has gone missing, along with the elusive Black Pearl. Patrick’s past is quite a mystery and as he undertakes the search it seems he has contacts all over the place. Patrick most definitely is a Bond type of character that much is certain.

Although Patrick takes chances with the case they don’t always pay off and he frequently finds himself on the wrong end of the trouble. The storyline is much more in the mystery genre but it certainly held my interest and by the last quarter of the book I knew I wanted to read more about Patrick (and his dog Oscar!). Having said that, I still felt there was something missing and maybe this is the lack of knowledge the reader has about him as a character.

I think this is a great start to a series and certainly full of intrigue and mystery. I will certainly be looking out for the second book but hope that we find out more about Patrick in the second instalment.