That Dark Spring cover art

That Dark Spring

A True Story of Death and Desire in 1920s Provence

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That Dark Spring

By: Susannah Stapleton
Narrated by: Nathalie Buscombe, Susannah Stapleton
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About this listen

'I couldn't stop reading it . . . a classic of true crime' - Lissa Evans, author of Small Bomb at Dimperley

'A fascinating true crime case study . . . deeply moving' The Times

A gripping, explosive murder mystery by acclaimed true crime writer Susannah Stapleton.

In April 1929, the body of British artist Olive Branson was found submerged in a water tank outside her farmhouse in a picturesque Provence village. Dressed only in a pink shirt and stockings, she had a bullet hole between her eyes and a revolver by her side.

Was it suicide – or murder?

The initial investigation concluded suicide, but under pressure from Olive’s family to conduct a murder enquiry, city detective Alexandre Guibbal was brought in to reopen the case.

Examining never-before-seen evidence, acclaimed true crime writer Susannah Stapleton builds a vivid and absorbing picture of an unconventional life and a violent death, and an investigation that shines a bright light on a village simmering with resentments and dangerous rivalries . . .

 Art & Literature Artists, Architects & Photographers Crime Europe France Murder True Crime Women

Critic reviews

That Dark Spring is brilliantly structured and perfectly paced, and I couldn't stop reading it. Susannah Stapleton writes with beautiful clarity and has produced a classic of true crime. (Lissa Evans, author of Old Baggage and Small Bomb at Dimperley)
Stapleton is a masterly storyteller. She brings a vanished world to life (Judith Flanders, author of The Invention of Murder)
A gruesome but richly fulfilling thriller
'A fascinating true crime case study . . . A ghost story, a tale of folk long-dead, a portraitof a vanished world'
All stars
Most relevant
This story is so well researched and delivered in such an engaging and enjoyable way. Highly recommend!

An incredible true story that is captivatingly narrated

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I really enjoyed this Audible book. The narrator’s voice was very pleasant and the events of Olive’s life and death were very well researched and very interesting.

Fascinating

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