I really enjoyed this book. My first time reading @IanMoore and I wasn’t disappointed. This is book #1 in the #JugeLombard series and I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Set in France in the Loire Valley where the murder of English expat Graham Singleterry is discovered. Juge d’instruction Matthieu Lombard is assigned to the investigation with Commissaire Guy Aubret.
A well written story with possible links to Joan of Arc and some great twists. The characters are interesting with good backstories. I liked the strained relationship between Lombard and Aubret as it adds to the story. The setting is beautifully described
It is slower paced but the in-depth storyline kept me interested throughout.
Overall a brilliant police procedural. Definitely recommend this one. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to #NetGallery @duckworthbooks for an arc of #TheManWhoDidntBurn in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book publishes 12th October 2023.

A strong storyline but disappointing to me.
This book has such a lot going for it. A horrendous killing followed by more, friction between those investigating, small town politics and corruption, strong historical links, an off beat lead character and a very clever denouement.
Despite this it was spoilt for me. The author is clearly a lover of France and particularly the Loire Valley, but he goes into so much detail about the area and the town's that it reads like a travelog. There is such a lot of this and other unnecessary "padding" that on 3 or 4 occasions I almost have up on it.

With the numbers of French crime dramas now featuring on mainstream British TV channels this is a timely offering, featuring as it does what is to British eyes and ears the strange organisation within the French criminal investigation system. In this system there is a very specific role for magistrates or ‘juges d’instruction’, as they are known in France. Our hero in ‘The Man Who Did Not Burn’ is a juge d’instruction, with the inevitable complex back story - seemingly de rigeur now in crime fiction.
Once the reader has oriented him/herself within the French system things get more interesting, with Juge Lombard taking a much more active role than is normally envisaged. The plot is suitably complex with a healthy number of suspects scattered around, but for many readers it will be the relationship between Lombard and commissaire Albert, the lead detective on the case that provides a constant thread as the plot unfolds. The subtle humour involved in Lombard’s activities and how these are explained and interpreted by the author also provide an effective hook that should keep most readers actively engaged. The denouement is reasonably satisfying, although a lot of action and explanation has to be delivered in the final chapters. Overall, this is a satisfying read, with suitably idiosyncratic elements to capture readers’ interests.

Apologies but this was a DNF for me. I have really tried with it but gave up around 30%.
I cannot put my finger on why. Maybe it is the slow burn of the story, or the French legal system. I think it is probably a combination of the two. I also felt the characters were a little flat and monotone and I struggled to connect with them and identify their differences.

I love the machinations and alternative processes of the French police and legal system, thanks to the TV series Spiral with its charismatic "Monsieur Le Juge." This procedural from Ian Moore, set in a beautiful part of France, satisfied my hunger for more.
Juge Matthieu Lombard has his work cut out withthe ritualistic death of an ex pat. Deciphering a number of clues based on French history is just one of his challenges, as he discovers the expat community is a simmering cauldron of feuds and grievances.
There's a pleasing combination of red herrings, strong characters and yes, another charismatic juge, that make this a compelling read, particularly for those who love a complex thriller.

Disappointing. I thought I would enjoy this book but after 20% I'm struggling to finish. It could just be the wrong book at the wrong time. I just couldn't connect to the style of writing or the characters.

I have been considering reading an Ian Moore book for a while now and as a rugby fanatic with the Rugby World Cup currently taking place in France it seemed an ideal time for an introduction with its French setting. I was not disappointed the light humorous touch of Ian's writing entertains the reader as one would expect from an author who is also a comedian. Recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I can't get enough of Matthieu Lombard, my new favorite literary character! He's an Englishman living in France, or a Frenchman who grew up in England, depending on your perspective, which means he never seems to fully fit in. This first book in what I hope is a long series centers around a symbolic murder at a small town Joan d'Arc festival in rural France. Lombard has been on leave from his position, (sort of an investigating prosecutor? It's explained, basically the police answer to him. Sort of). and returns to look into this case where his ability to annoy both the local French and the English ex-pats makes for a great read. It's a great plot, the twists fit in well, and has plenty of chuckles along the way. I anxiously await the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a highly enjoyable read. Sprinkled with bits of humour, including some very perceptive comments on French society, I really enjoyed it. I having recently been on holiday in Tours and Azay le Rideau, I particularly appreciated the descriptions of these towns. I am eagerly awaiting another in book with Juge Lombard!

I really enjoyed this book, a detective story with a difference ,set in France in the beautiful Loire valley this is a brilliant thriller /murder story .Lombard and Aubret are great characters in different ways .Multiple murders ,very atmospheric a great story ,I can't wait to read the next book in the series .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

Despite the fact that this book deals with brutal murders, it is written at a very gentle pace. It is set in France where the English Expats and the local French residents live in relative harmony. As with all communities there is intriegue and feuds. With so many twists and turns, it is a true whodunnit in all ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for the advance copy of this book.

Ian Moore is already one of my favourite writers since I discovered his death in the Loire series. This is a bit more serious and is full of details about French crime solving, so is both educational and a great read.

Sorry this one just not for me. Slow burner. Unlikeable characters. Over complicated due to French judiciary system.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I’m afraid this wasn’t for me and I didn’t enjoy it.

It’s a book that starts off well, with a man dying on a French hillside. However, very quickly I found it hard to follow. There are many French descriptions, which add authenticity to the storyline, but which, for me, were hard to follow. I struggled to finish it and found it a difficult read.

Apologise to the author and publisher and I’m sure it will find it’s following, just, not a book for me.

An English ex-pat brutally murdered in the Loire Valley, a group of decidedly dodgy town officials and what appears to be a connection to Joan of Arc. There’s only one man for this case, and that’s Juge d’Instruction, Matthieu Lombard.
Lombard has been on extended leave following the death of his wife but, thanks to having an English father and a French mother, he is perfect for the case. If nothing else, it saves the need for a translator. Lombard has to delve into both the sizeable ex-pat community and the local one to find who would commit such a heinous crime?
I really liked this book. An insight into the French judicial system is new to me, and while the book is essentially a police procedural, there were a lot of things going on besides that. Personally, I found the references to Joan of Arc fascinating and made me want to find out more about her.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Despite the title (The Man Who Didn't Burn by Ian Moore) the story behind the gore is one of great charme. I used the French word as a guide to the writing style but it's also an exposé of small town French life where expats rub along with the locals. We've all seen the obsequious 'hommage' paid to the visiting Marie when the ingénue expat wants their latest business venture to receive the blessing of the local Mafia. In The Man Who Didn't Burn we find out about the deals that are cut in the small town of Saint-Genèse-sur-Loire to keep it a thriving tourist destination not to mention an expat magnet with the Notaire coining it. But is the macabre death of local expat Graham Singleterry with its Joan of Arc symbolism designed to create discord between the two communities?
Could it be that Singleterry got his comeuppance because he dared to promote that Saint-Genèse should be fully open on a Monday? Obvious heresy parallels with poor old Joan. But maybe the death is a diversion, an obfuscation? To find out we will have to embed ourselves with a rather tragic man, juge d’instruction Matthieu Lombard. Lombard, a man who hasn't really come to terms with his wife's death.
One of my favourite little passages: A fly buzzed fussily between them, like a boxing referee urging some action from inert heavyweights.
This is a beautifully written detective novel with great characters and as already mentioned, great charme.

I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley. Thank you so much as well as Duckworth Books.

After an English Expat was murdered near a French village Matthieu Lombard, the juge d'instruction, was called in to investigate.

Every clue is pointing towards a link with Joan of Arc but Lombard sees past it and tumbles head first into secrets, grudges and feuds between the residents of this idyllic French village.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this book and figure out who everyone was but the more I read, the more background of the characters I learned and the tempo is quicken as the investigation was progressing.

I liked how all the characters were connected and those connections were explored during the book. It was like a really village were everyone know everyone and most of their secrets.

I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.

This is the first book in a new series s,et in France, I was not sure initially as I found it difficult to understand the French judiciary system. Having said that, once I had got passed this and became to understand and like the main characters I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to reading the next instalment.

Set around a small village a body is found dressed as a scarecrow. All the local secrets and local politics play a part in this excellent book. Thank you for the early copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

A crime mystery set in the French Loire valley and the first of a series featuring the enigmatic and troubled Juge Lombard. The murder of an English ex pat forces the Anglo-French Lombard to return from enforced leave and investigate. As a reader I as transported to France and enjoyed the twists and turns of the story.

This book starts with the horrific murder of an English ex-pat living in France's beautiful Loire Valley. Troubled Juge d'instruction, Mattieu Lombard is tasked with finding the killer but there are so many clues this proves difficult.
All the evidence seems to link to St Joan of Arc who famously wanted the English to leave France. Are these crimes just about ridding France of the English incomers?
Lombard is battling his own demons following the death of his wife and a period of leave. His superiors may want him to fail so that they can finally remove him. In addition his mother is troublesome with her eco-crusades.
This is a new crime series from Ian Moore and was thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to the next Lombard story.