Several years ago, silent images of a ruined town, an opening sequence to one episode in the World at War television series, made an impact on me. When I moved to France, I realised that I had chosen to live near that same town of Oradour-sur-Glane, destroyed by the Germans on 10 June 1944. The annihilation of this town and the massacre of its inhabitants were an example of German retribution towards the French in retaliation for resistance activities against them.
The role of the Resistance in this part of France still attracts mixed reactions whenever one raises the topic; quite often, a Gallic shrug with a crisp ‘c’est la guerre’ is the immediate response. However, wartime recollections of local friends and neighbours enter the conversation occasionally and continue to fascinate me. I considered that it would be sad if some of their tales were lost, because those who had experienced the German occupation were gradually dying of old age along with their memories. These thoughts prompted me to write Les Ruines.

The challenge lay in weaving these snippets of recollections into a credible plot. The main events of the story are historically correct but I have interpreted and embellished the personal anecdotes to create an intriguing mystery of historical fiction set against a background of uncertainty, disorganised resistance, fear of reprisals and suspected collaboration amongst the indigenous population.

Les Ruines paints a picture of life in southwest France during the dark years of the German occupation towards the end of the Second World War. Almost seventy years later, a young woman stumbles on a mystery from that period and embarks on a mission to seek the truth.
Her quest takes her on a journey of revelation about the chaotic weeks that led to the fragmented liberation of France. With her marriage falling apart, she invites a close friend to accompany her, leaving her husband at home.
The two women begin to open a ‘can of worms’ as they uncover evidence of gruesome secrets buried in the ruins of La Perrière, a former chateau. Her obsessive investigation brings her into contact with Marcel, a former member of the maquis. His reticence to discuss his own involvement leads her to delve deeper into the past. As she learns about the terrifying exploits of the Das Reich 2nd Panzer Division during its march from Montauban to Normandy, dark secrets begin to emerge.
On her return to England, her personal life continues to unravel causing her domestic situation to reach crisis point. As the mystery in France appears about to be resolved, tragedy strikes.

Author James R Vance, originally from north west England, now lives in south west France. Les Ruines is an historical fiction novel based on some factual events in France during WW II. His previous novel set in France, Eight, published in 2011, was a sequel to a trilogy featuring a detective and one of his suspects. The novels in the series, Animal Instinct, Killer Butterfly and The Courier were published in 2008 / 2009 / 2010.
His knowledge of Cheshire and Greater Manchester is apparent in both Animal Instinct and Killer Butterfly. The final novel of the trilogy, The Courier, uses his experience of working in northern France and London as an inspiration for the storyline. Eight, uses his knowledge of both countries to provide a backdrop for the plot. During this same period, he also wrote and published a children’s short story, Goose.