Ill Met by Moonlight

In 1952, a British family was brutally murdered in a lay-by in Provence, France. The French family accused of the crime were farmers defined by their land and codes of conduct, and they closed ranks and lied repeatedly to save the family's honor. The case is still contested, with conspiracy theories and family members of the man convicted of the crime still claiming his innocence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2023
Publisher: Troubador Publishing

On a scorching August night in 1952, a British family sought solace by resting beside their car in a lay-by. However, their peaceful slumber was abruptly shattered by a chilling act of violence. Before the dawn of the new day, all three members of the family, a father, a mother, and their ten-year-old daughter, had been brutally murdered.

In a remote and picturesque corner of Provence, two distinct worlds collide under the enchanting glow of a full moon. The British family, renowned for their pioneering scientific achievements and cosmopolitan outlook, found themselves in the midst of a French community known for its rural traditions and deeply ingrained codes of conduct. These codes, which seemed foreign to outsiders, were considered feral and set the accused farmers apart. In the face of this adversity, the farmers closed ranks and resorted to deceitful tactics, repeatedly lying in the shadow of the guillotine, all in an effort to preserve the family's honor.

The sudden turn of events prompted the arrival of an inspector, a determined individual who embarked on a relentless quest to unravel the mystery behind the murders. With unwavering determination, he relentlessly tracked down the man known as "the monster of the farm of the damned." This is the true story of the most contentious murder in France since the Second World War, a saga that has inspired numerous films, tales of espionage, covert operations, wartime bullion treasure, and even chemical weapons research.

Despite the passage of time, doubts persist locally in this region of France regarding the final judicial outcome. Conspiracy theories about the motive behind the murders continue to circulate, and some family members of the man ultimately convicted of the crime still fervently maintain his innocence. The case remains a haunting reminder of the complexities and uncertainties that can surround even the most straightforward of crimes, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of those involved and the community as a whole.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805140627