The author has created such a vivid picture of 1940s France, from the physical environment to the social atmosphere, that you will feel transported in time. However, the story will soon see you glad you are not actually there as it is clear that there is some sinister stuff going on. This book crosses genres with its historical perspective but the plot itself is timeless and will appeal to all mystery lovers.

Where Every Man by Charlie Garratt is number four in the Inspector James Givens Mysteries series and takes place in the French countryside before Hitler invades. Givens is a retired police inspector from England who suffered outrageously during his final two investigations and so has retired to the country with his new wife, Rachel. He has fond memories of his youth and the harvests he engaged in and he is ready to be outside. His injured leg doesn't pain him as much walking in the country. Their life is good when one of his wife's music students tells him she wants to be a police officer and can he help her get ready. He finally gives in and they look at an accidental death that has taken place recently, just to teach her how to investigate. The problem is, as they investigate, they come upon anomalies and finally take the matter to the local policeman who is not happy at all to have his decision overturned.

Givens and his wife Rachel are lovely people who simply want a simple life. Although their original plan had been to follow the harvest, Rachel has settled in this town and wants to stay. She is worried that James is putting that desire and himself in danger with this investigation. She is quiet and supportive but has been known to freeze him out when she is displeased. James is like a dog with a bone. He can't let it go. He works well with others and this time uncovers a crime that no one thought existed. It is a fractious time in France, in all of Europe, and everyone is in danger. James has no desire to make it all worse. It is an intriguing story with a good plot, excellent pacing, interesting topic, and wonderful characters. This is the first in the series I have read, and enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Where Every Man by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #whereeveryman

This is a very good series and I liked this last addition.
A gripping and highly entertaining story that kept me hooked.
The historical background is well researched and vivid, the characters are well thought and interesting, the solid mystery is full of twists and turns.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Where Every Man is the fourth Inspector Given novel by Charlie Garratt. Released 6th Oct 2020 by Sapere Books, it's 243 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

I've been following the development of this series since the first book. It's such a contemplatively and gently written book - full of well rendered characters and deeply researched background. The narrative feels very real to the period (the verge of WW2). Although this is the fourth book, it would work well as a standalone, though I strongly recommend the previous books for the quality of the writing and plotting.

The descriptions of the French countryside and his life on the farm, the villagers in the nearby towns, and his interactions with his neighbors and family lend this such a warm and nostalgic period feel. It was a real pleasure to read. I believe this series will have high re-readability, strictly for the characterizations and descriptive prose. Beautifully done. I really enjoyed this one a lot. I did figure out "whodunnit" by the end and had a pretty good idea of why, but was still impressed by the subtleties of the denouement which I hadn't predicted.

The books do have some overarching plot threads - especially concerning James' extended family (a major plot element in book three was him trying to locate his uncle in France), but again, nothing that will especially spoil the plots of the previous books. I do recommend reading them in order if possible, since the writing is superlative.

One of the few series I've read lately which is consistently rated over 4 stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Do great detectives ever REALLY retire?

Leaving Britain and the stress of a job behind, James and Rachel Given move to Vieux-Croix, France, to start enjoying retirement. Although war between France and Germany had been declared in September 1939 before they moved, Given felt that they would be safe in Brittany. Afterall, reporters were using the term “phony war” to explain the lack of action on France’s Eastern border. Just as they are beginning to enjoy a slower-paced life selling produce at a market stand, Given starts to feel uncomfortable as the town mayor starts questioning their politics, religion and movements. Then a local girl, with a keen desire to follow in Given’s footsteps, slowly entices him to start investigating a cycling death. As is expected, Given finds himself pulled in two directions as his wife encourages him to remain retired and the allure of investigating a potential murder taunts his thoughts. What ensues is a fantastic, tightly-woven, well-paced and extremely well-researched storyline. Although it’s not highly dramatic, this cozy mystery in a realistic setting, with war looming in the background, will be an enjoyable read. Adding to the success is the author’s ability to capture the uneasiness of this time in history when nobody knew who to trust and tales of spies were plenty.

The title, words spoken by Antonio and taken from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, makes reference to war and how every man, ordinary people, can contribute.

Although book 4 of a series, this cozy mystery could stand alone. I have no doubt that trouble is in Given’s future as history tells us that Germany invaded France in May 1940.

It’s March 1940 & James Given has left his job as an inspector in England and moved with his wife Rachel to start a new life in France. But when a local woman, Lisette Perron, dies under suspicious circumstances, James comes out of retirement to investigate the possible murder. What had first appeared to be a tragic cycling accident seems to be something more sinister. As James begins to question the locals, it becomes apparent a spy is in hiding nearby. And with the Second World War intensifying and the terror of the Nazi’s an ever-present threat, Given is unsure of who he can trust.
This is the fourth book in the series & is easily read on its own. Another well written book that kept my interest all the way through. I love James who once he gets his teeth into a case he won’t let go. This time I did work out who the killer was but not the reasons why. I also loved the history & it gave a real feel of life in Europe at the start of WWII.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Now married and retired from his detective job, James and Rachel are living happily on a farm in France. When the local librarian is found dead in the river and the police declare it an accident, one of Rachel's violin students casts doubt on the idea and asks James to help her solve the potential murder, as practice, since she wants to join the police herself. The police are strongly against reopening the case, but the more James digs, the more the evidence seems to point to murder. But when hints suggest the presence of a spy in their midst, the stakes are raised considerably. Is there really a spy in the village, and if so, who is it? And did the spy murder the librarian?

As I've said before with this series, I enjoy it not so much because of the mystery but because of the characters and the history. This book was no exception. Yes, the mystery is what each book is framed around, and is well done, but what keeps me coming back for more is my interest in James' life and the insights into history around the start of WWII from the common man's point of view. Now that James is married, you get a bit of a view of early matrimonial life, but don't worry - it stays completely away from the bedroom and is quite clean. While part of a series, and with references to past books, enough information is given that readers shouldn't feel lost if they haven't read earlier books - though without getting annoying for those who have read them. All in all, it's not necessarily the "can't put it down, mustn't start late at night" kind of book, but it is the sort that I can imagine coming back and enjoying again at some point.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

France, 1940, family-dynamics, friendship, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, historical-fiction, historical-research*****

Rural France. 1940. James is somewhat of a migrant vegetable worker with his wife of a year, Rachel. But he has secrets. He has a contact in British intelligence, and he is a Jew. He had been a merchant mariner, and more recently a Homicide Inspector but both careers had crashed and burned so they settled with friends in a lovely rural area of France. Rachel is a music teacher and one of her pupils is a girl who really wants to become a police detective. When the local librarian is murdered the budding detective is certain that it is murder and coerces James into teaching her how to do a proper investigation as the local constable just went for the easy answer of "accidental death". Thus the sleuthing begins! Very well done and a delight to read.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sapere Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Inspector James and his wife Rachel move to France in March 1940. While in France a women. James decided to investigate the murder. This book was well written and kept me guessing.