And now for something completely different...

After reading the lengthy and invovled Game of Thrones, I decided to read something short and light hearted. Peter Mayle writes delightful, funny books and his latest was ready for me at the library. Mayle has been writing books that take place in the south of France for quite a while now. They are always light, funny, and full of descriptions of food and wine. The Marseille Caper, the latest book, is no exception.

Sam and Elena, who we met in The Vintage Caper, are back. Sam is hired by Francis Raboul, the man Sam tricked in the last book, to be a front for him in a development venture. Apparently Francis has a great idea for a housing development in Marseille, but the chairman of the committee that will choose the winning design hates him. Sam will got to Marseille and present the idea. Francis will step in after construction has started.

Sam and Elena are charmed by the south of France, but have some obstacles to maneuver around in order to even be able to make the presentation. They have to outwit thugs who will stop just short of murder to get their own way. Meanwhile, Sam and Elena enjoy the sun and food of the Marseille area.

Easy, relaxing read.

If you like your travel books with a dash of intrigue, then Peter Mayle's "The Marseille Caper" is what you are looking for. The second installment of Mayle's Sam Levitt mystery series has Sam in Marseille impersonating a developer to make sure that his employer's building development wins a competition, but another developer NEEDS to win, and hijinks ensue. Sam, with his coterie of unlikely heroes, must save the day-- and his girlfriend. It's all really quite implausible, and I am still fuzzy on the details. However, this is beside the point, which is to highlight Marseille and its designation as a European Capital of Culture in 2013. Mayle's talent lies less in mystery writing and more in extolling all things French, and here is where the book shines. He captures all that makes Marseille the beautiful and vibrant city it is today. So while, it does not hit the marks for a mystery, it does hit the marks for Marseille.

2.5 I guess Mayle should stick to his fabulous nonfiction. This was fairly predictable and a bit trite. I guess if you want a very light "caper", this is for you.

Very light, very fluffy reading. If you feel strongly that female characters should be more than sex objects, I wouldn't recommend this.

Peter Mayle's novels never fail to transport me to a different world. He paints the loveliest pictures of France and not just France in general, but very specific places and towns. This book centers on Marseille and I dare you not to start planning a trip after reading this (when/if we ever can travel again, that is).

The climax of the story is fabulously adventurous and improbable, very much like a Mitchum/Russell film of the 40s. Great fun all around.

I didn't read the first book, but this one was fun. I kept picturing Pierce Brosnan playing the lead role in a movie (in spite of the fact that the main character was an American).