Vianne Rocher has settled down. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has finally become her home. With Rosette, her 'special' child, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend.
But when old Narcisse, the florist, dies, leaving a parcel of land to Rosette and a written confession to Reynaud, the life of the sleepy village is once more thrown into disarray. The arrival of Narcisse's relatives, the departure of an old friend and the opening of a mysterious new shop in the place of the florist's across the square - one that mirrors the chocolatier, and has a strange appeal of its own - all seem to herald some kind of change: a confrontation, a turbulence - even, perhaps, a murder...
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There's always a moment before a storm when the wind seems to change its mind. WIND, 1, FRIDAY MARCH 10
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(@orionbooks, 4 April 2019, 368 pages, ebook, bought from @AmazonKindle)
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Joanne Harris is one of my favourite writers. I've been looking forward to reading this for ages as the Chocolat books are among my favourites. I could wait to see where the author took my favourite characters. The Strawberry Thief had everything I've come to expect from the series, great characters, delicious chocolate, magic and small-town life in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes which is interrupted when a tattooist opens a store opposite Vianne's and her daughter Rosette, who hardly communicate is left a strawberry field in a will and ignites a bitter family row. Vianne doesn't like the tattooist who seems to have magic as well and reminds her of Zozie d'Alba from The Lollipop Shoes who almost destroyed Vianne long ago. She doesn't like the fact groups of children are hanging around the tattoo parlour. She's also worried about her eldest daughter, Anouk coming to visit from Paris and Rosette, who seems to be slipping away from her. I loved every second of this book.
