This book is the first installment of the “Vanished! Mystery Series”, featuring American couple, Barbara and Sam, in their French village. A mysterious, nail-studded African statuette disappears from a local art exhibition at the same time that a young Senegalese migrant sets out on his hazardous journey to Europe through Al Qaeda infested Mali and Niger. Can Barbara and Sam help him to gain legal residency in France and also aid the beleaguered Ogoni tribe to benefit from a rich oil deposit discovered on their territory in the Niger River Delta?
Based on factual events and historical data, “Vanished! A Valuable African Statue Stolen in Southwest France” takes the reader on a hair-raising odyssey from West Africa to Europe AND a delightful holiday in France. These two very different trajectories are connected by a N’Kisi Kongo figure endowed with magical powers of divination by its people.
Along the way, the author touches with insight and feeling on hot button issues such as illegal migration, terrorist activity and corruption in present day West Africa.
ISBNs
9781637775127 / 9781637775134
9781637775141
Genres
Art Mystery / France
Amateur Sleuths
140 pages
Language: English
Imprint: Red Penguin Books
Roberta Samuels earned degrees in French and Art History from Northwestern University and the University of Paris at the Sorbonne. French Lessons, One Woman’s Tale of Sex, Wine and House Renovation and her art history mystery book series, Vanished! evolved from her passion for French culture, beau‐ tiful objets d’art and exotic travel.
The starting point for the books is based on her experience living in an 18th century farmhouse and then in a medieval townhouse in a French village. She worked as a French teacher, translator, tour escort and art gallery owner, showing her own artwork among others. She speaks French “uently. She lives in New York City and Montpezat de Quercy, France with her partner.
Reviews
Vanished! by Roberta Samuels was an exciting mystery novel with an interesting storyline.
Abdoulaye’s journey to France, one of the main characters, was an incredibly dangerous one and kept my interest up until the very end.
The factual information the author included on African Art, politics and the various destinations that Barbara and Sam visited in France made the storyline all the more enjoyable.
The detailed descriptions of Monet’s home in Giverny & Christian Dior’s home makes the reader feel they are truly in France.
This is not only Roberta’s first book, but the first in a mystery series about a nail studded
African statuette that disappears from a local art exhibition. Located in a small town in southwest France, Caussade, it’s full of intrigue
& excitement. Living in a medieval house in a French village Roberta has based all her information on fact. One of her wonderful characters, a young man Abdoulaye,
travels from Senegal through Algeria to Melilla
into Spain & France. We accompany him on a hair raising, thrilling journey to his final destination. We encounter such topics as illegal migration, terrorism and current day corruption in West Africa.
I love that she created characters with meaningful relationships. We become familiar with Barbara & Sam and curious as to their next encounter.
A suspenseful mystery that introduces the reader to African and French culture, art history and the struggles of the African people. Includes excellent descriptions of French towns and the French countryside as well as many interesting historical tidbits . An easy read that educates, entertains and enlightens