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Aimez-Vous Regarder Séries Télévisées?: Deadly Tropics, Louis XXVIII, and Crime is Her Game

17 Apr

Here are three French TV series I’ve enjoyed sampling recently. They all are subtitled in English. Do you have a favorite French show that is available to American viewers; share it with our readers in the comments!

Deadly Tropics
In Tropiques Criminels aka Deadly Tropics, after her husband is found guilty of corruption, Melissa transplants her two teenage children to her ancestral homeland of Martinique where she is the new Head of Criminal Police. I watched the first two episodes which dealt with a murder of her son’s schoolmate and a famous surgeon who had a hidden dark side. Fans of Death in Paradise will enjoy the tropical setting, but the stories that I viewed though with some humorous moments lacked some of the whimsy of that show. Melissa’s new partner, hot headed Capt. Gaelle Crivelli, was a highlight of the series so far for me. I look forward to watching more of the first two seasons available from Hoopla. Episodes are around 50 minutes each.

Louis XXVIII
If you are looking for something lighter with more laughs than you may enjoy Louis XXVIII. What if the French monarchy had never been abolished? Set in modern France after a tragic accident, a royal’s illegitimate son, a young teen is thrust from his common existence to the role of Luis 28, ruler of France. In the first episode Cedric first learns of his ancestry and the giant shoes he will now be required to fill. Fans of Blackadder will enjoy this comedic alternate history. With episodes around 20 minutes each this could be a fun binge during the rainy days we have been having lately.

Crime is Her Game
If you are looking for another mystery consider checking out Le Crime Lui Va Si Bien aka Crime is Her Game, my favorite of the three. Police Captain Gaby Molina, played by the hilarious Claudia Tagbo, is anything but by the book when it comes to crime solving. In episode one she is acclimating to a new more straight laced colleague, actress Helene Seuzaret, when a famous writer living nearby the family farm, she is trying to save, is killed suspiciously. In episode 2, Gaby attends a funeral where there is already a body found in the crypt; which leads her to a wealthy family with many buried secrets. This series has a great mix of drama, mystery, and truffle infused humor. There are only 7 episodes, but at 90 minute each there is plenty to love.

There are a variety of other French Television shows available from Hoopla including mysteries such as Captain Marleau, Alice Nevers, The Art of Crime, and Murder In.

If you are looking for Francophile fiction check out next week’s blog post focusing on two new novels set in Paris.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager


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Find the Missing Piece: The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers, Puzzle Palace, and Puzzles at the Library

10 Apr

The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers
by Samuel Burr
Looking for a sweet gentle read with a hint of romance and a lot of heart? The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers is your solution. The story interweaves the journey of Clayton Stumper to find out who his birth parents were with the life of his adoptive mother, who was the recently deceased leader of the Fellowship of Puzzle Makers who range from crossword creators to painters of puzzles to creators of intricate hedge labyrinths. The story will resonate for those who are looking for found families and a sweet lgbtq story in the vein of TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door. Though the Puzzle Makers lack actual fantastic powers, there is a sense of whimsy and joy that feel a bit fairy tale like with one character living on a house boat and a female taxi driver who has every country’s capital memorized. Because he was raised by the mostly aged puzzle makers, Clayton has adopted many old-fashioned affectations and interests and yet he at times seems also more childlike then many in their early 20’s would be. This was a fast paced read which slowly reveals the truth of Clayton’s heritage. There are also several puzzles throughout that you can try to solve.

Puzzle Palace
from Hoopla
When our Hoopla rep would ask me what I thought they could do to make Hoopla even better for our patrons, one of my suggestion was to add some sort of games to their selections since I know our patrons often enjoy interactive options like video games or crossword puzzles. Puzzle Palace Binge Pass is Hoopla’s first foray into gaming and if you are a Soduko lover you will be in heaven with 10 variations available including Stacked Sudoku, King Mini Sodoku, Classic Sudoku, and more. Plus crossword puzzle fans have 5 choices including the Premier Sunday Crossword to choose from. There is also puzzles like Namester, Guesstionary, and Word Sleuth to keep your mind sharp. The Puzzle Palace Binge Pass is good for 7 days and counts as just one of 20 checkout choices you have a month towards ebooks, comics, music, movies, and TV shows. New games are added daily!

Puzzles and Games for in Library Use
Some days you may feel like getting out of the house and what better than a visit to the library, but if you feel like something other than reading you can stop by the reference desk and borrow one of our puzzles, games, or drawing supplies. Perfect for family or friends. We hope you’ll stay for awhile and see what you can piece together. And if you have a puzzle or game that you no longer want, please consider donating it to our collection!

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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