Peter Mayle's Caper novels are technically mysteries, I guess. There's a crime, a detective, usually a chase or some sort of counter-scam, and the bad guys get caught. I don't think of them as mysteries, though. I solve them much too easily, and think of them mainly as a framework for a series of fantastic meals and postcards from the south of France.
The Diamond Caper adds a slight twist to Mayle's usual blueprint. This time the crime, diamonds stolen from a well-hidden personal safe, were insured by Knox Insurance. That's Elena Morales's employer and the crime occurred just as she and Sam Levitt bought their house in Provence. Between the lure of long lunches and the company's setback, she's decided it's time to become a lady of leisure - after she and Sam solve the burglary. With the help of their friend, the slightly disreputable mogul Francis Reboul and a detour through several stately homes, they discover the subtle clue to the obvious (to me, anyway) culprit. Like most of Mayle's books, it's quick. light, and enjoyable, best read either on a beach or in the depths of winter when you wish you were somewhere warmer and less depressing.
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