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Publication Order of Brittany Mystery Books
Jean-Luc Bannalec is well known as the author of the Brittany Mystery series of books that focus on Commissioner Dupin. The series began in 2012 with the release of Death in Brittany and has continued ever since. The series has been a major international hit with many of the books in the series made into films.
The name of Jean-Luc Bannalec is actually a pen name for Jörg Bong. In addition to his work as an author, Bong works as a German literary scholar, editor, publisher, publicist and photographer. He has worked as the Managing Director of S. Fischer Verlage and then went on to work for the same company as the curator of the S. Fischer Foundation. He got his start working for the S. Fischer Verlag in 1997. He would stay with the company in 1997, starting as assistant to the owner then working his way to editor and program manager.
Bong attended the University of Bonn and the University of Frankfurt am Main where he studied philosophy, history, and psychoanalysis. He would head to Frankfurt to work on his doctorate, focusing on the concept of fantasy and aesthetic questions between the late Enlightenment and early romanticism with a focus on the work of Ludwig Tieck.
In 2012, Bong published his first novel under the name of Jean-Luc Bannalec. The series of detective novels follows commissioner Georges Dupin who has recently been transferred from Paris to Concarneau in Brittany. Many of the book sin the series have been adapted by Das Erste and then aired as Commissioner Dupin as part of the Thursday crime series. The films were a big hit with millions watching in Germany, France, and Spain. The films then made their way Switzerland, Austria, other Eastern European countries, and the United States.
All of Jean-Luc Bannalec’s novels are set in Brittany. In 2016, Bong himself was awarded the Patron of Brittany award for his services to the region by the Regional Council of Brittany. The award is given to those who contribute to the cultural, tourist and economic reputation of Brittany to the world. Bong was also named as an honorary member of the Literary Academy of Bretagne and the Pays de Loire in 2018.
He has two homes as he splits his time between Brittany, France and Germany.
Death in Brittany is the first book in the Brittany Mystery series. The story follows a Parisian-born Commissaire Georges Dupin who has recently left Paris to Brittany in the remote Breton coast. One morning, he is taken from his morning coffee and croissant to investigate a murde rin the village of Pont-Aven. It’s the kind of place where nothing really happens and everyone knows each other so the community is in shock. Especially considering the body belongs to the ninety-one-year-old hotelier Pierre-Louis Pennec, owner of the Central Hotel. The murder couldn’t come at a worse time as Pont-Aven is at the height of their tourist season. Dupin and his team identify a group of suspects, but as he investigates he finds that there is more going on in this sleepy town than meets the eye.
The series continued with Murder on Brittany Shores. Dupin is pulled into a case of murder ten miles off the coast of Brittany in the fabled Glénan Islands. The beautiful area has white sand beaches, clear waters, and now, three dead bodies on the shore. At first the authorities believe that the deaths were simply an accident, but the identities of the victims tell a different story and Dupin is in to investigate. In order to properly investigate the case, Dupin will have to get deep into the history of the island and deal with the locals which include treasure hunters, marine biologists, and divers.
The third book in the series is The Fleur de Sel Murders. The salt works at Fleuer de Sel has been said by the old farmers to cause hallucinations. Commissaire Dupin soon starts to believe this to be true when he is attacked at the salt works. Dupin was looking for an escape from his day job by taking a trip to “white country” between the Atlantic ocean and the nearby rivers. However, a journalist friend ask for his help in investigating some mysterious barrels when he finds himself under attack. The offender is a mystery and then his journalist friend goes missing. Dupin is assigned to the case along with investigator Sylvaine Rose to figure out what is going on in the salt works.
The Missing Corpse is the fourth book in the Brittany Mystery series. This story takes place along the Belon River which is the home of forests, cliffs, oyster beds, and the Atlantic Ocean. Dupin is called here when an elderly film actress finds a dead body. Only when he arrives at the scene, there is no body. Shortly thereafter, Dupin receives a phone call that calls him to the mystical hills of Monts d’Arree where another body has been found. This case will prove to be quite difficult as Dupin will need to dig into celtic myths, a sand theft operation, and mysterious ancient druid cults.
The fifth book in the series is called Killing Tide. While Dupin has investigated all over France, he had sworn that he would never again investigate on the ocean. His latest case has other plans for him. The case will take Dupin to the unique Île de Sein, the former home of powerful witches and the devil.
The Granite Coast Murders is the sixth book in the series and finally sees Inspector Dupin taking a vacation. However, he doesn’t get to spend much time on the beach as a tourist vanishes without trace and then there is an attack on a deputy to the local assembly. The beach resort is soon home to an unwanted guest: a corpse. Even though he’s meant to be on vacation, Dupin will start to secretly investigate with the help of some local villagers.
Book Series In Order » Authors » Jean-Luc Bannalec
