A NICE CUP OF TEA

Charming restaurant La Mosaïque is in dire financial straits, but when its owners try to auction off some artwork, they set off a chain of events that may spell utter ruin.

In this, Imrie’s third novel about five Londoners who have retired to the South of France (Nice Work (If You Can Get It), 2016, etc.), pooled their resources and talents, and opened a chic restaurant, hilarity mixes with rather serious troubles. Of course, the Brexit referendum and the terrorist attacks of July 14, 2016, have economically devastated the businesses of Bellevue-sur-Mer. The friends’ plan to sell the Picasso mosaic medallion embedded in the floor of their restaurant, however, inadvertently draws the attention of the Picasso estate, which not only bans the sale, but also presents a bill for administrative costs of recovering the priceless art. Luckily, Marcel, the owner of a neighboring bar, may be interested in buying them out if he can have their financial books for a few days. Yet the five friends face personal troubles, as well. Sally, a former actress, is beset by the unwelcome attentions of a horrible couple she once shared the stage with—and Phoo and Eggy Markham are eager to take every opportunity to remind Sally what a failure she was. Chef Theresa has begun receiving strange gifts, photos and phone calls, suggesting she may have a stalker. Even worse, Theresa’s granddaughter, Chloe, has gone missing and may be traveling to France in the company of a pedophile. From marijuana-laced brownies to slapstick boat chases, Imrie capitalizes on her background in comedic acting, creating scene after scene rife with screwball comedy. And as the multiple mysteries collide—besides the stalker and kidnapping, there's the question of who is sabotaging the restaurant’s online reviews—Imrie nimbly ratchets up the excitement.

A caper-filled romp in the Riviera sure to delight expats and mystery lovers alike.