Jacquot and the Waterman. Martin O'Brien

More than just a police procedural, this is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. The characters are well developed, the mystery is not contrived, and although the author is British, he knows Marselles like a native. I couldn't wait to read the sequel, ordered it from England.

Travel writer O'Brien's debut introduces Marseilles police detective Daniel Jacquot, an intuitive, straight arrow who is still recognized on the street for his rugby exploits 20 years earlier. Jacquot, his personal life on the skids, throws himself into the hunt for a serial killer who drugs, rapes and drowns young women. His search takes him into the neighborhoods, byways, docks, boardrooms and mansions of Marseilles and beyond, giving the reader a gritty, atmospheric tour. The plot is intricate and at times confusing with a plethora of viewpoints, from the intrinsically evil genius of a disfigured mobster to the ambitious risk-taking of a morally ambiguous businessman, to the peculiar sexual proclivities of a wealthy city functionary. And more, from victims to journalists to wives, all of them contributing bits of the puzzle outside of Jacquot's view, while his adroit footwork slots the puzzle pieces into a coherent whole. The ending is less than satisfying, particularly given the intricacy of a story filled with corruption and blackmail on a grand scale, but O'Brien's writing is so colorful and atmospheric and Jacquot such an engaging, well-rounded individual, that most readers will forgive the lapse and look forward to the Jacquot's next appearance. --Portsmouth Herald

As his personal life is in the dumps since his relationship with his beloved Boni Mihaud teeters on the brink of extinction, Marseille Chief Inspector Daniel Jacquot buries himself in his work. He even left town to allegedly see the latest corpse, the third battered drowned victim in a month; he knows that he did not have to go to the crime scene, but did as a rationalization to escape domestic hostility. When Boni finally leaves him, Jacquot feels the blues deeply finding only work as an escape from his depression. There are three brutalized beautiful young women drowned by what appears to be a serial killer in the Marseilles area. The media is going crazy, which makes the politicians on edge and even wackier. Marseille Police Judiciare Chief Yves Guimpier is grumpy and jumpier than usual as he tells Jacquot to catch the perpetrator immediately. As he continues to investigate while wondering what happened with Boni, Jacquot ironically thinks he has never worked harder on a case yet his superior says work even harder. Rugby was never this difficult. JACQUOT AND THE WATERMAN is a terrific French police procedural starring a wonderful protagonist who finds his life falling apart on the personal and professional fronts. Jacquot cannot understand why his relationship with Boni collapsed and how he can do anything more than he is on the serial killer investigation. His troubles almost drown the likable detective, but in spite of the pressure and nothing and no one to help him relieve it, Jacquot keeps plugging away even as each clue makes the case spin further out of resolution. This is a fabulous tale with apparently other Jacquot stories already released in England. Harriet Klausner

Good police procedurals are one of my favorite types of mysteries, and this was good! Jacquot is an interesting and memorable character who is tied to his city, his friends and his past. He may not be lucky at love, but he loves what he does. He is out to get the bad guys, but has a certain realistic viewpoint about it. There were a lot of characters, but I never felt confused. The suspense begins at the opening chapter and, while not nail biting, is maintained through the story. The dialogue is excellent. Not knowing Marsailles at all, I'd have liked a stronger sense of place, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment. There are very good twists along the way and even for the one bad guy who gets away you a sense it will catch up with them down the line. Book two of the series is already on my shelf and I'm anxious to read it.