WW2 crime mystery set in Canterbury, Kent (and London)
From New Zealand to SOUTH WEST FRANCE – a story of adventure and resilience
13th February 2026
My French Platter by Annemarie Rawson. From New Zealand to South West France – a story of adventure and resilience.
Pretty much on a whim, Annemarie and husband Steve decided in their 50s to abandon their life, family and friends in New Zealand and apply for a job as caretaker and manager of a 15th Century farmhouse in rural South West France. The property was owned by a gay English couple who used it occasionally themselves, offered it to friends for vacations, and ran the odd event there. They were thrilled to be appointed, but the reality of the task hit them full on when they first arrived at the farmhouse. The property was filthy and unhygienic, the garden was in a terrible state, and promised renovations and repair work had not been completed. The communication with the owners and their PA was chaotic and often contradictory.
They worked day and night for weeks on end to get everything sorted. And it was! They also gradually got to know the area, and began to make friends both with locals and ex-pats. Life was nowhere near as bad as at first they imagined it might be. There were outburst from the owners – sometimes of praise but more often of complaint, but nothing they couldn’t stoically cope with (even if the odd tear was shed behind closed doors). It was worth it to live in the place they were in. Then, quite suddenly, a big party at the house went seriously wrong. Not in any way the fault of Annemarie and Steve, but they were fired by the owners and given just 24 hours to leave the property. They opted to stay in France (which they loved) and try and find another (more carefully researched and thought-through) caretaker position. The story of their next adventure is contained in My French Platter Replenished.
What I particularly liked about My French Platter was firstly the attitude of Annmarie and Steve. Many would have cut their losses and headed back to New Zealand with their tails between their legs. They did not, they were determined to do everything in their power to make it work. Secondly, there are admirable descriptions of the life – and towns and villages – of South West France. A very good picture is painted of the area – from the markets and shops they visit, to the people they interact with. And finally, there is the food. Annemarie is clearly an excellent cook and the meals she prepares for her guests sound truly delicious. Some of the recipes are included at the end of the book.
Definitely worth a read.
Tony for the TripFiction team
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