The Diamond Caper

By: Peter Mayle

Narrated by: Erik Davies

Bon vivant and expert sleuth Sam Levitt and his partner in love and intrigue, Elena Morales, return in the latest installment of the delightfully sun-splashed Provençal Caper series.

When a Riviera socialite's diamonds are stolen - the latest in a string of seemingly unconnected but ever-more-audacious jewelry heists across France - Elena flies in to investigate the insurance claim. It's a trip she's more than happy to make, as it gives her a chance to meet up with old friends in Marseille - and, particularly, with Sam.

Once reunited, Sam isn't entirely distracted by domestic matters. In the pattern of these "perfect crimes", he's beginning to see a master at work, and he's quickly determined to connect and solve the cases. But as he and Elena dig deeper, they begin to realize just how much is connected and how dangerous it may be to pursue the whole truth.

Meanwhile, there's a house to renovate, rosé to share, and feasts of Provençal summer bounty to enjoy. Full of Peter Mayle's inimitable wit and style, The Diamond Caper is sure to charm faithful fans and new listeners alike.

©2015 Peter Mayle (P)2015 Random House Audio

Entertaining

These books are entertaining but not high quality literature! I love Peter Mayle and have read all his books....and will continue to do so. These "caper" books all pretty much sound the same, but they are light reading and fun. The reader could be better...while not annoying, he doesn't bring much to the experience of listening. Maybe you could try a different reader?? Definitely worth a credit, in my opinion!

Great light read

As are all Mayle's works, this light cheerful story is a nice distraction from real life. Food, wine, the life of leisure in the south of France. Delightful.

Charming story with an excellent performance

The French Riviera is the background. We follow the story of Sam and Elena, an American couple with the money to have an architect and a squad of workmen transform an old house with a view.

As the house becomes more beautiful, they start discussing the diamond robberies from houses covered by the insurance company that employs Elena. Sam starts investigating the robberies.

Very well written!

Disappointed--Elena becomes a flighty headed chara

The plot is good, the food and wine descriptions are wonderful. But Elena has no part in the plot, pouts, shops and acts like some stereotypical conception of a no brain woman. So disappointed and Coco as a character doesn't make sense--what happened to her suspicions of Gregor??
No more of these please.

A good "caper," atrocious narration

Narrator's french pronunciation so wrong it's distracting. Where was the director on this? Erik Davies disappointing performance ruins an otherwise charming story - although the Caper series hasn't beat the excitement of the "Marseille Caper" earlier in the series. This story feels a great deal more discombobulated, as if Mayle were searching for a common thread and then it all comes together in the last chapter.

You can do better

Any additional comments?

I love(d) Peter Mayle. A Year in Provence started the genre of literary memoirs of ex-pats learning about life through emigrating to a new country. Even Mayle's early forays into fiction were enjoyable. Ah, my 25+ year old nostalgia for Peter Mayle lured me into reading this book (and its cousins). None are very good - not nearly as good as some of Mayle's earlier works. However, that bon vivante tone, the focus on food, wine, and high living - they are all still there albeit without a real story or memorable characters to fill the interstices. You could read better - merely reach for one of Mayle's earlier works.