It has been eight years since Vianne Rocher left Lansquenet, where she charmed some villagers and made enemies of others in Joanne Harris's Chocolat. Now, after facing down her own demons in Paris, Vianne receives a letter: her old friend Armande Voizin urges her to return to Lansquenet because someone there needs her help. Arriving with her daughters, Vianne is pleased to be back among friends; even her old enemy, Father Francis Reynaud, has softened with time. But a new settlement of Moroccans by the river has caused tension among the townspeople, and a mysterious veiled woman may be behind it all.
Harris expertly draws readers back into Vianne's world, with mouthwatering descriptions of the chocolates Vianne makes and the exotic, spicy foods of her new neighbors. She contrasts the quiet Catholic village with its new Muslim neighborhood, touching on issues of religious freedom--including the wearing of the face veils known as niqab. Vianne finds herself drawn into her neighbors' affairs, unsure whether her presence will help or hurt. And although Father Reynaud is inclined to mistrust the newcomers, he must confront his long-held prejudices if he wants to remain in the community he loves.
Fans of Harris's work will delight in her lush descriptions, vividly drawn characters and the bits of magic visible around every corner. Tension melds with joy into a finely crafted bittersweet ending, as rich and unforgettable as one of Vianne's dark chocolate truffles. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams