A Vintage End by Darcy Kavanagh



A Vintage End
Paul Burke Mysteries Book 2
D'Arcy Kavanagh

Pages: 398
Genre: Mystery
Published: 08 March 2022
Publisher: BHC Press
Publisher Twitter: @BHCPressBooks


Publisher's Blurb


Almost a year has passed since ex-pro cyclist Paul Burke from Montréal, Canada helped solve several murders, two connected to the world’s most famous bike race, the Tour de France. Recovered from his near-fatal injuries sustained during his efforts investigating the crimes, Burke is back to enjoying life on the French Riviera as a blogger-columnist, and back on his bike in the first of a series of vintage bicycle races celebrating the history of the sport. However, near the end of the inaugural event, participants encounter a macabre scene linking a major sponsor to one of the worst periods of recent French history. The scene is initially reported as a silly prank, but Burke believes more serious intentions are behind the stunt ̶ and he expects similar actions to occur in the next races. Assigned to blog about the competitions as well as ride in them, Burke senses the events have the potential not just to damage the sponsor but to turn violent. And as events prove him right, Burke finds himself in the middle of a mystery with deadly implications.

Review

Ex-professional cyclist Paul Burke, in his new role as a news reporter and blogger, is thrust into an intriguing investigation when two skeletons dressed in Nazi uniform are discovered by the roadside in the first of a series of vintage bike races in rural France

I enjoyed all elements of this second outing for Paul Burke. The characters were distinctive, the plot suitably mysterious and the narrative had a gentle easy-flowing style that made this a joy to read.

Nice descriptions of the featured towns and some interesting historical facts along the way.
The story is self-contained so that you don’t need to be familiar with the previous title in the series

Buy on Amazon

The Author

Twitter: @DArcy_Kavanagh
Facebook: darcy.kavanagh.3


After forty years as a journalist and journalism instructor, D’Arcy Kavanagh turned to writing fiction. He is the author of the Paul Burke novels, a cozy mystery series featuring an ex-pro cyclist/blogger from Montréal, Canada, who lives on the French Riviera. His novels include The Bastard Is Dead and A Vintage End.

To ensure the authenticity of the areas (and the food, wine, and beer) he writes about, D’Arcy and his wife Lynda spend six weeks each year in Europe cycling the areas featured in his work and discussing plot strategies. (Suggestion: Never discuss murdering someone while you’re in a public place.) When he’s not pounding on his keyboard, D’Arcy is a Celtic musician. He lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.



Also by D'Arcy Kavanagh

Book 1 in the Paul Burke Mysteries

Paul Burke is an ex-pro cyclist from Montréal, Canada who has settled down to a quiet, unproductive existence on the French Riviera. He’s managing to pay the bills, but spends most of his time just killing time. Then the Tour de France comes to town and Burke finds himself caught up in one death and then a second. As he tries to sort out what has happened, Burke knows life will never be the same for him‒and those around him.




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