Murder with a French Accent

Janet Hannah
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432743512
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (11/09)

 

Alex Kertesz is a microbiologist at the University of Jerusalem who recently developed Leparret, which is a genetically-engineered strain of bacteria that is used to prevent certain pests from ruining farm crops.  Agrogenie is a French biotechnology company that has bought the rights to Leparret, and as agreed to in the contract, Alex must travel there to instruct them on how to make the best use of the product.  Upon arrival, Alex receives a less-than-friendly welcome and cannot figure out why.  When it comes to light that strains of Leparret have been found in a rival company’s possession, Alex must try to determine whether it is someone from his lab or someone within Agrogenie who is behind the theft.

The premise of the story is good but the arrangement of the material seemed a little odd to me.  After I had read at least two-hundred pages, I realized there had yet to be a murder (as was suggested by the title).  The author spent a lot of time building up to the murder, possibly to increase the number of suspects, but the case was solved rather quickly.  The murder seemed almost like an afterthought.  I did enjoy the subject matter regarding genetic engineering.  However, some of the details provided may be difficult for those who are not members of the scientific field to appreciate.

“Murder with a French Accent” is the second Alex Kertesz mystery.  Having not read the first edition may very well have affected my perceptions of this book.  There are some background stories about Alex’s past that are not fully explained.  (Maybe they were discussed in detail in the first book.)  There are other subplots that I do not feel were sufficiently resolved, perhaps setting the stage for a third book.  Although each book should be able to stand on its own, it would be beneficial to read them in the proper order to have a better understanding of the main character.

“Murder with a French Accent” by Janet Hannah will provide adults with mystery, murder, suspense, and even a science lesson or two.  The plot moves fairly quickly and will easily hold the reader's attention.

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