Jean-Luc Bannalec is the pseudonym of a German author, who writes in German, and lives between Germany and Brittany. He has published several novels featuring the French commissioner Dupin, who carries out his police work in a department of the French Finisterre. He has achieved wide success in these two countries, and in Germany. Films have even been made of some of his novels. In Spain, Bretonisches Gold is his third novel. It was published just three years after "The mystery of Pont-Aven" and "Death in the islands."
"Death in Brittany" is set in the Guerande region, where an intensive and extensive salt industry has developed, considered by some to be the best salt and “fleur de sel” of the world. The novel is a hymn to the beauty and goodness of the land of Brittany and all related to it, with very frequent references to culinary traditions, landscapes, local customs and idiosyncrasies. It also details the work carried out in the industry, and the marketing and importance of this indispensable product of nature. In the novel, the psychology of the inspector, who is friendly and approachable, and that of the rest of the characters, is well described. There is perhaps an excess of attention paid to details of geographical descriptions and numerous movements and trips done by the characters, which are difficult to follow without knowing the area. The plot is well planned, although it takes a while more than expected in unravelling the initial knot of the crimes; but it is realistic and designed to entertain and keep the reader in suspense. In short, Bretonisches Gold is an entertaining detective novel, with enriching knowledge of some places, activities and cultures, and that, without being a fundamental book, is worthy of being read.
A.G.P. (Spain, 2015)