Series: Poireaut & Di Angeli
Volume: 1/?Publisher: Self-published
Genre/s: Cosy Murder Mystery
Length: 101 750 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✬✰
Two young men, French Raphaël Poireaut and Italian Stefano di Angeli go on a Nile cruise on the Queen of Egypt which changes their lives in a less-than-desirable way. Their acquaintance doesn't start as they would like, although over time it has the opportunity to bloom and turn into something more, special. Unfortunately, they cannot say the same about all the events that take place on the ship. When a murder is committed on board, everyone is suspect as anyone could kill. The investigation is being conducted by the Egyptian police, but when Raphaël and Stefano suddenly become part of a criminal mystery straight from a novel, it is not surprising that they are also getting involved in the whole case.
"Till Death Do Us Part" is the first volume of the series by Dieter Moitzi which has quite an intriguing title, "Poireaut & Di Angeli". However, I must admit that at the beginning I didn't pay that much attention to the title of the series, names or surnames of the characters. It was more like: a mystery, Egypt? Yes, I want to read it! At some point at the beginning of the novel, everything began to fall into place and that's when I noticed that to some extent the author is playing with the reader and doesn't try to hide this fact. Think about it, murder, a small group of suspects, Aunt Agathe and a young man named Poireaut? Does it ring a bell? You know, Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot... What's more, in "Till Death Do Us Part" we can find many direct references to Agatha Christie's novels, so even people who have never been interested in this British author's work at some point have to notice this obvious connection between the books. To be honest, I'm very curious how many references Dieter Moitzi hid in his novel because, personally, I've read only a few stories about Hercule Poirot, so I was only able to find the most obvious ones. However, now I really want to study this topic thoroughly. It's really fascinating!
Another very characteristic thing that shows the connection between "Till Death Do Us Part" and the novels about Hercule Poirot is the style in which Dieter Moitzi tells his story. After all, the very fact that in the novel we can see the clear cluedo motif is very meaningful and takes us back to completely different times. It should be noted that there is a huge difference in style between Agatha Christie's books and contemporary detective/mystery stories. While contemporary authors focus on solving the mystery simultaneously with the readers who become the detectives themselves, reading Christie's novels we are just the observers. What's more, nowadays great emphasis is put on the main characters' private life, their problems, while in the case of the novel about Hercule Poirot, we simply observe the world around us, life, nature, cities and towns, we meet people, we socialize with them. I have the impression that in "Till Death Do Us Part" the author to some extent combines these two styles, which I think is fantastic, although the reader really must get used to it, as the emphasis is put on the style that I personally associate with Agatha Christie. And that makes this novel undoubtedly unique.
As I've mentioned at the very beginning of this review, the fact that the novel takes place in Egypt was one of the reasons I wanted to read "Till Death Do Us Part". However, at the time I thought that the story set in this particular country is all I would get as the main characters would just pass through a city: they would cross this street, look at that place, interrogate someone here and there, chase someone in that alley, etc. However, Dieter Moitzi surprised me, because reading his novel we really have the opportunity to discover Egypt as tourists. We can even say that Egypt is not only the background of this book, but an integral part of the story presented in it. Something between the shape of the background and the main character themselves. I like the fact that the author chose this approach to the country his novel takes place in, because thanks to all that we get to know this place from a different angle than usual used in mystery stories.
As for the characters, I would say that in "Till Death Do Us Part" there are many of them, because in addition to the main two, Raphaël and Stefano, we also meet numerous side characters, some of whom we get to know on a deeper level, while we know others only slightly. This is probably due to the way of building this novel as almost every person has their own story to tell us. As to Raphaël and Stefano, they are undoubtedly charming, lovable, somewhat sweet. The reader really wants to know more about them and follow them during their mystery adventure on the Queen of Egypt. What's interesting, we don't see them in their natural environment, but during a journey, so the circumstances definitely differ from their everyday life. That's why we want to meet them again so that we can learn more about what they are like every day.
To sum up, "Till Death Do Us Part" is quite an interesting novel that resembles a theme park inspired by Agatha Christie's works. Readers who like this author will undoubtedly be delighted with the book written by Dieter Moitzi, while fans of modern detective stories will have the opportunity to discover this totally different, very characteristic and unique way of conducting a story. "Till Death Do Us Part" is absolutely worth reading so that you can see for yourself what the author has to offer.
Headcanon: Raphaël and Stefano visit all the places/cities where Poirot was solving his mystery cases.
Fanfiction idea: Raphaël and Stefano keep in touch by email. When Stefano unexpectedly stops writing back, Raphaël decides to find out what happened.
AU idea: 19th century!AU, Stefano is an archaeologist who explores the secrets of Egypt. One day his best friend and co-worker disappears. The police are helpless. What's when Stefano hires a private detective, Raphaël.
Here's some more about:
Book Title: Till Death Do Us Part (Poireaut & Di Angeli, Book 1)
Author: Dieter Moitzi
Cover Artist: Dieter Moitzi
Trope/s: M/M romance, enemies to lovers, slow-burn, HFN, holidays
Themes: painful past, Egypt, cosy, slow romance, holidays
Heat Rating: 2 flames
It is a standalone book.
Come on board the Queen of Egypt and discover this new murder mystery full of witty dialogs, funny situations, and blooming love! Already short-listed for the French Gay Book Award 2020!
Blurb
Blurb
When Auntie Agathe invites Raphaël Poireaut, a young Parisian bartender, on a Nile cruise, he isn’t really thrilled. To stare at old stones together with a bunch of old codgers—why, thanks for the gift. Unsurprisingly the trip starts off badly enough. Not only does Raphaël have an unnerving confrontation with a handsome but standoffish and haughty Italian guy, but he has barely stepped on board the cruise ship when he stumbles upon a tourist… who has been stabbed to death.
The young Venetian Stefano di Angeli agrees to spend his vacation in Egypt with his best friend Grazia. He hasn’t had holidays for six years. But his first encounter with a young, angel-faced, curly-haired Frenchie brings back painful memories. Besides, what could be worse to start a Nile cruise than to discover a murder has been committed on board? Cazzo—fate seems to bear him a grudge!
While the Egyptian police led by Colonel Al-Qaïb are investigating the murder, Raphaël and Stefano find themselves swept away by the events… and by the blooming feelings that inexorably draw them closer. Will they manage to sort out the truth from the lies and find the murderer? Will they be able to resist this mutual attraction that seems to overwhelm them against their wills?
A new, funny and light adventure by the author of “The Stuffed Coffin”, the French version of which has won the French Gay Murder Mystery Award 2019.
The young Venetian Stefano di Angeli agrees to spend his vacation in Egypt with his best friend Grazia. He hasn’t had holidays for six years. But his first encounter with a young, angel-faced, curly-haired Frenchie brings back painful memories. Besides, what could be worse to start a Nile cruise than to discover a murder has been committed on board? Cazzo—fate seems to bear him a grudge!
While the Egyptian police led by Colonel Al-Qaïb are investigating the murder, Raphaël and Stefano find themselves swept away by the events… and by the blooming feelings that inexorably draw them closer. Will they manage to sort out the truth from the lies and find the murderer? Will they be able to resist this mutual attraction that seems to overwhelm them against their wills?
A new, funny and light adventure by the author of “The Stuffed Coffin”, the French version of which has won the French Gay Murder Mystery Award 2019.
Excerpt
The young guy hears my quiet steps, or he senses my gaze. He turns around.
Oh, hel-lo, man! My heart does a backwards flip. In my job I meet handsome guys aplenty. But this one is a class of his own. His face could be that of a male model, I kid you not. As if one of those unreal guys had stepped out of the glossy pages of Vogue Homme or GQ. Manly features, sensual mouth. Square chin, Roman nose, neatly trimmed designer stubble. His forehead is bare, his dense hair styled backwards and falling behind his left ear in a natural, lazy wave as if doing it spontaneously.
Alas, my immediate interest isn’t shared. On the contrary, he reacts as if suddenly facing a monster. He should be thankful the rail in his back prevents him from moving too far back and falling into the Nile.
Quite a boost for my self-esteem.
The handsome cretin pulls himself together at the last moment and scans me from head to toe. His cold gaze hovers over my naked chest, and he frowns, his eyebrows bushy but perfectly drawn. I notice that his whole body-language exudes barely concealed distance and aversion.
Despite his hostility, I murmur, “Hi”. Somewhat coolly perhaps, but still. I was raised like that. All right, I add “Asshole!” in my head, because, hello?
The young man answers with a nod. A black lock falls over his eyes, he puts it back in place. He seems to hesitate, then turns his back on me again.
Okay, asshole. Go ahead, continue your moody brooding, I don’t care. I don’t need no mens, even if they’re handsome as fuck.
HALF AN HOUR LATER, THE sun has started its race across the pristine sky for good; the heat has risen as well. The hipster slash asshole is still sulking in his corner when I sit on a shady deckchair. Our meeting was unpleasant, but he and the guy in pink belie my initial prognosis, and that’s a good start. We’re at least three on this boat to contemplate our sixties from below.
With the back of my hand, I wipe off the sweat trickling down my chest and soaking my chest hair. I realize I’m thirsty. There’s a bottle of water in the fridge in my cabin. Let’s go get it. You always need to stay hydrated, as Auntie would say. Granted, she means drinks, as in alcoholic beverages, but that doesn’t make it wrong.
The man in the pink tracksuit has apparently seen enough, too. When I get to the top of the stairs, he’s on the last step.
He’s waiting downstairs, holding the door for me.
“Thank you,” I say.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he remarks in an affable tone.
I look up in surprise. His beautifully low voice doesn’t match his puny physique and the mousey face. He makes an affected hand movement. “The landscape, I mean. The light.”
Automatically, I think, Oh. Family. “Very beautiful indeed,” I reply. “And ‘splendid things gleam in the dust’…”
Recognizing the Flaubert-quote, he laughs good-heartedly.
The swinging door closes behind us. Another door slams softly somewhere down the corridor. In the first cabin, I hear a woman say heatedly, “... I think he got it. He won’t bother you anymore, tweety.”
Tweety! Smirk. I really wouldn’t want to be pet-named tweety.
We pass other cabins; the vague noises of conversations, no more than murmurs, drifting out. I can hear showers running as well. The ship is waking up. A nice smell wafts through the corridor, a woody, leathery perfume for men that strikes me as familiar. The pink, mousey guy in front of me must have sprinkled himself with it.
A few doors before mine, the young man stops. “See you later,” he says.
“See you later,” I reply. When I pass behind him, I get a whiff a his pronounced citrus perfume, very fresh, very pungent. Oh. He’s not the source of the leathery perfume smell…
He turns the key and opens the door. “Mon chéri—are you awake?” he asks. The door closes behind him.
I was right. Mon chéri, not ma chérie. He is family. I’m not the only gay guy on this ship.
I walk to my door while rummaging in my shorts pockets. Let’s see… mobile… pencil… notepad… h-m. Where have I put my keys? Did I take them? Damn—don’t tell me I locked myself out…!
And then—
Suddenly—
A YELL. “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
I JUMP, turn around, gaze down the empty corridor. What was it? Who was it? Where was it? What am I supposed to do?
“MY GOD! MICHEL!”
Michel?
A bad feeling bubbles up in my guts.
For a longer excerpt, please visit my author page:
http://dietermoitzi.com/till-death-do-us-part
About the Author
Born in the early 70s, I grew up in a little village in Austria. At the age of 18, I moved to Vienna to get my master’s degree in Political Sciences, French, and Spanish. Today, I’m living in Paris, France, with my boyfriend and work as a graphic designer.
In my spare time, I write, read, cook fancy recipes, take photos, and as often as I can, I travel (Italy, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, the UK, and many more places). My literary tastes are eclectic, ranging from fantasy, murder mysteries, gay romances to dystopian novels, but I won’t say no to poetry or a history book either. I’m more a hoodie/jeans/sneakers kind of guy than a suit-and-tie chap.
So far, I’ve published two short-story collections as well as four poetry collections. My first murder mystery novel “The Stuffed Coffin” featuring Damien Drechsler and the dashing Greek student Nikos has been released on January 6, 2019 and is also available in German and French. The French version has won the prestigious French Gay Murder Mystery Award 2019 (Prix du roman policier – Prix du roman gay 2019). You can also find me on Rainbow Book Reviews, where I write book reviews under the pseudonym of ParisDude (for French reviews, have a look at my review site livresgay.fr).
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