Number 8 in this wonderful series. The book dragged a bit, but I loved the Christmas spin, and I loved the way it ended. Verlaque and his Martine leave us waiting for the next book with the dropping of some really good news. I had a little difficulty keeping the names straight of all the potential suspects, and this was exacerbated by the numerous countries that were represented in the Aix-on Provence Christmas trade show. I also found Verlaque a bit slow on the uptake, and, in fact, is upstaged by his wife in the solving of the case of the American man poisoned at a Christmas buffet feast. but it's a lovely Christmas-themed murder that i happened to read in February. On to the next one.