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- Verified Buyer
I never thought I’d call a murder mystery charming and delightful, but that’s a perfect description for Black Water Lilies, the magical book by French author Michel Bussi. This richly layered tale stars a bitter old woman, a seductive art teacher and a talented young art student who live in Giverny, the home of Claude Monet and his famous gardens. Monet, who died in 1926, also plays an important role in this wonderful tale. In fact, I learned things about him I didn’t know, in spite of a life long interest in his work, a fascinating day spent in Giverny a few years ago and several visits to The Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée d’Orsay, where most of his works are shown.The story begins with the discovery of a murdered man in the stream that runs through Monet’s gardens. It meanders through the mind of the old woman, who seems to know something about the murder victim, to the brash young cop who comes to investigate the murder. It flows through to the talented young girl, who hopes to win a prize for her interpretation of Monet’s famous water lily paintings, and meanders into the life of the beautiful school teacher, whose loveless marriage leaves her open to the flirtations of the dashing cop.Black Water Lilies is as impressionistic as Monet’s paintings. Just when you think you know whodunit, the book takes another turn, and you’re left wondering what happened. Michel Bussi has created a beautifully written story that’s both magical and mysterious. But if you’re expecting a traditional mystery novel, you’re going to be disappointed. Black Water Lilies transcends genre. It’s simply a great work of fiction.
