Anouk has returned to Paris to be with her boyfriend, Jean-Loup, leaving her mother and sister, Rosette, in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. Life in the village is much as we have remembered it in previous books and then Narcisse, the florist, dies. Narcisse's daughter and son-in-law are horrified to learn that although Narcisse has left them his shop, house and farm he has left the small wood to his special young friend, Rosette. Narcisse appointed Reynard, the priest, executor of his will and also bequeaths a folder containing his life story to the priest. The equilibrium of the village is also disturbed by the arrival of Morgane who takes possession of the former florist shop to establish a tattoo parlour - not something that one would expect to find in Lansquet-sous- Tannes.
This time the story is unveiled in three voices - that of Vianne, Rosette and Reynard. Rosette is now sixteen and begins to look for some independence as she questions why she is considered different from other young people her age. Vianne is concerned that she may lose Rosette and Reynard is haunted by past events in his life. The thread of magic, often propelled by the wind, weaves throughout the pages as does the gradual understanding of past events with their effects on the present.
The Strawberry Thief is a book that I really enjoyed reading, one where I was sorry when I reached the final page.
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