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The Man Who Didn’t Burn is the first book in Ian Moore’s Jude Lombard Mysteries.
An English expat Graham Singleterry is brutally murdered in Loire Valley. The police turn to juge d’instruction Matthieu Lombard to find the perpetrator. Lombard stumbles across a closet full of secrets, grudges, and feuds in the town of Saint-Genèse-sur-Loire. He suspects that people know more about the death than they are letting on. The only piece of puzzle that seems to link this mystery is Joan of Arc. What’s inspired the killer to murder the expat in gothic style?
When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was eager to read it. I am not new to Ian Moore’s writing and this new series caught my attention. I would compare Moore’s writing to that of Allingham’s. Initially, you might find the story to be a slow burn and a little difficult to follow through. Before you know, you are halfway through the story and you are hooked.
I admit I had no idea about France’s judiciary’s involvement in police cases. Juges aren’t involved in criminal cases as such but they are responsible for clearing a path for the police to investigate. In this case, Lombard involves himself in the investigation. He finds the missing link to the puzzle, questions suspects, and helps the police too.
Lombard has a past. His wife succumbed to cancer a year ago. He was on compassionate leave, first to look after her in her final days, and then to grieve. He was on a case when he went on leave and there was quite a fuss about how he withheld evidence that could send a violent man to jail for good.
As the story proceeds, we learn more about Lombard relationship with his wife – especially on her final weeks when he learned a secret about her. He was devastated but he couldn’t let it affect their relationship – as she was on death bed.
Lombard is assigned to the murder of an Englishman because he’s half English and it would help the local policemen while interviewing (English) suspects and witnesses. It’s Lombard who makes the connection to Joan of Arc. The victim was killed in gothic style – but he was also the man who didn’t burn… not completely at least.
A slow start but pace intensifies as the story proceeds. We have plenty of red herrings here so if you are used to playing detective, maybe give yourself a break this time and let Juge Lombard solve it.
I was hooked on to the story and couldn’t put it down until the end. I loved the denouement. There is this scene where Lombard comes face-to-face with someone who points a gun at him and I was like, Juge Lombard is a goner! Thank god for small mercies and surprising twists! Phew!
I loved this series debut and I am looking forward to reading the next installment. If you are looking for a unique and interesting mystery filled with details of French policing and a dash of French history, I highly recommend The Man Who Didn’t Burn by Ian Moore.
I received an ARC from Duckworth Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
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