LJ Ross Book Group: July

This month’s book club pick is the British Library Classic, Death on the Riviera, the fourth episode in John Bude’s Inspector Meredith mystery series. In this outing, counterfeit money is circulating around the French Riviera and Meredith is sent, along with acting-Sergeant Strang, to trace the whereabouts of Chalky Corbett. Before long, they find themselves investigating the Villa Poloma, home to Nesta Hedderwick, an eccentric English expatriate. Once inside its bougainvillea-clad walls, surrounded by her merry band of Bohemian house guests, the two policemen find themselves investigating more than they bargained for…

LJ’s THOUGHTS: ‘Death on the Riviera is such an enjoyable summer romp, filled with 

charm and just enough humour to keep the pages turning. This comes as no surprise from John Bude, which is the pseudonym of Ernest Elmore, one of the best-known writers of the ‘Golden Age’ of crime fiction in the first half of the 20th century and a co-founder of the Crime Writer’s Association. His experienced hand is evident on the pages of this novel, and it’s a great escape for those of us who are unable to travel abroad at the moment!’