The episode opens with an irate Robert Coste (Nick Von Schlippe) telling his son, Eric Coste (Nicolas Van Beveren) that it was the final straw when his grandmother’s Puiforcat cutlery went missing. He informs him of the house being sold before saying he’ll get nothing else from him. He assures Lela (Frida Cauchi) that she’ll be financially taken care of when Flora Marshall (Harriet Thrope) arrives to witness his new will. She asks if Lela will be going with him. Lela says yes before retiring to her cottage. He tells them that he’ll give the new will to his solicitor in the morning.

Jeremy Lloyd James (Robin Askwith) and Judith Lloyd James (Sue Holderness) arrive at their new house (Robert’s house) when a gunshot rings out. She rushes into the house to find Robert dead at the dining table.

Jean White (Sally Lindsay) and Dom Hayes (Steve Edge) arrive at the crime scene. Jeremy informs them that the home is their new investment. Caron (Alex Gaumond) says Robert had a shotgun wound to the back. Gendarme Richard (Jacqueline Berces) demands Judith and Jeremy leave because the house is a crime scene.

Jean identifies a piece of jewelry from the crime scene as a mass-produced 1930s peacock pendant. He asks if it’s expensive. She tells him that it cost about €20.

Robert’s housekeeper, Lela tells Jean and Caron that Eric lives at home. Caron asks if Eric was there last night. She says it isn’t possible to see the house from her cottage. She says Robert and Eric are always arguing over money. Caron asks if anyone else visited the house last night. She informs him of Flora witnessing Robert’s new will. He asks where she was at 9:30am and if she heard the gunshot. She claims to have been wearing earplugs while cleaning her cottage.

While trying to find the source of a key from the crime scene, Jean fills Dom in on Roentgen cabinets from the 17th century. She’s disappointed when the key doesn’t fit an 1880-century Burmese peacock sewing box.

Gloria’s Garage – While asking Gloria (Sue Vincent) to look at his vehicle, Cooper (Avant Strangel) asks if she’s single. She says maybe.

Eric’s irate when he arrives at the crime scene. Lela rushes over to calm him down. He claims to have been in Toulouse at the antique fair alone.

Caron describes Eric as a “troubled man.” Jean says her friend who runs the ticket box at the fair should be able to validate Eric being in Toulouse. He assures her that Eric’s relationship with Robert wasn’t right but he’s still the heir of his estate. She reminds him of the new will when they reach Flora’s cottage.

Jeremy and Judith want to hire Dom to measure Robert’s house so it can be decorated before their tenant arrives in two weeks. Dom reminds him of Robert’s murder inside the home. Jeremy informs him of the tenant being heavily invested in one of his projects. Dom isn’t keen on the idea until Jeremy offers to pay €2000. Judith thanks him with a bear hug.

Flora admits to witnessing the signing of Robert’s new will last night at 9:30pm. Caron asks if she knows the specifics of the will. She says Robert was intoxicated like always.

Gendarme agrees to permit Dom to stay in one of the rooms in Robert’s house. When she answers her phone, he snaps photos of the room.

While leaving, Jean compliments Flora on her emerald and diamond bracelet.

Jean informs Caron that her friend claims Eric Coste didn’t purchase a ticket at the fair in Toulouse. Eric tries to flee when Caron confronts him with the evidence. The ballistics report reveals the gun utilized in Robert’s murder was an 1892 revolver.

Jean utilizes the key from the crime scene to unlock a Bible where she finds Robert’s new will. Dom scans the will to discover Eric isn’t the heir of Robert’s estate. Caron suggests setting a trap to see if Eric returns for the will.

Gloria tells Cooper his car battery was dead. She asks if he’s new to Sainte Victoire. He tells her that he needed a fresh start after his 25-year marriage ended in divorce. He invites her out to dinner. She asks if the invitation has to do with her taste in music. He says she’s gorgeous. She watches as he attaches a taxi sign to the hood of his vehicle.

Dom, Jean, and Caron stake out Robert’s house to see if Eric returns for his father’s will. Flora knocks over a picture frame when she enters the house. When Caron flips on the light, she’s holding the broken frame with a photo of Robert’s wife.

Jean asks Flora if she’s in a relationship with Eric. Flora admits Eric had his mother’s necklace turned into a bracelet for her. She describes Robert as a “cruel man” who blamed Eric for his mother’s death. Jean asks if the murder weapon was her father’s gun. Flora admits to killing Robert the next morning but couldn’t pry the key from his hand before Judith entered the house.

After viewing the toxicology report, Caron determines Robert was already dead when Flora shot him. He says the reason she couldn’t pry the key from his hand was that rigor mortis had already set it. His toxicology report shows a high level of antihypertensive (high blood pressure) medication.

Lela tells Caron and Jean that she always administered Robert’s medicine. He informs her that Robert died from an overdose of high blood pressure medicine. Lela says Robert bullied her over the least little thing. Jean asks why she decided to murder him now. She says it would be unbearable to live with him in a Penthouse in Paris. She believes an autopsy wouldn’t have been ordered if he hadn’t been shot.

Jean tells Dom that Eric was selling his grandmother’s stolen Puiforcat cutlery when Robert was murdered. Dom asks why he didn’t tell the police. She suggests he was afraid of being charged with a crime

Judith tells Jean that Dom was taking measurements of Robert’s house while she was trying to solve his murder. Dom admits to believing it wouldn’t do any harm. Jean reminds him that Robert’s house was a crime scene. She says if people find out, it will ruin her business. He tells her that he needed the money. She assures him that she would have given him the money as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Madame Blanc Mysteries Review

After selling his home to Judith and Jeremy, Robert prepares a new will that doesn’t include his son, Eric. He asks a neighbor, Flora to witness the signing of his new will. She’s shocked to discover he invited Lela to move with him to Paris. The following morning, Judith and Jeremy arrive at the house as a gunshot rings out. She discovers Robert’s lifeless body inside the house.

Lela, Robert’s housekeeper, resides in a cottage nearby. Eric claims to have been at a fair in Toulouse. Jean’s friend who worked the ticket box at the fair doesn’t find a ticket for Eric.

The ballistics report reveals the murder weapon is an 1892 revolver. An image of Flora’s grandfather in military fatigue gives Jean the idea that the gun belonged to him. Flora admits to killing Robert to prevent him from writing Eric out of his will. Her plan to destroy the new will faltered when the Bible key cannot be pried from his hand before Judith entered the house. Flora and Eric were in love. Robert blamed Eric for his mother’s death because she died when he was born.

The toxicology report reveals a high level of antihypertensive medicine. Lela was responsible for administering all his medicine. Robert mistreated her but she felt it impossible to refuse his offer to move to Paris with him. She overdosed him with his high blood pressure medicine because she figured the coroner wouldn’t order an autopsy. Robert was a heavy drinker.

Once again, the episode was informative about antiques. A twist in the investigation spares it from being predictable. The episode deserves a 6. Get more The Madame Blanc Mysteries recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Ask about our advertising packages.