'Madame Blanc' Investigates a Historical "Blueprint"

Jean and Dom are excited to have an all-expenses-paid getaway to Malta as this week’s episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries opens. It’s their first time away as a couple, and although it’s a working holiday for Jean — she’s been hired to examine what may be the original blueprint of the capital city, Valetta — she doesn’t think it’s going to be anything particularly complex. It’s a five–century–old mystery, after all. (We viewers get to see more of the real Malta, where the fictional town of Sainte-Victoire (which looks so very French) is filmed, and enjoy panoramic, dazzling shots of its capital, Valetta.) 

Jean dons her Lucy Worsley historian hat and explains that the capital city dates from the sixteenth century. It was rebuilt after Jean de Valleta defeated an Islamic invasion, thus saving Europe and Christianity. But de Valleta died soon after his military victory, and Grand Master Pierre de Monte took over planning and building the new city. Now, a couple of antique dealers in Valetta claim they have the blueprint of de Valetta's original city plan, and they want Jean to validate it. If it’s genuine, it would be priceless and change the history of Malta. The most obvious difficulty of Jean's task is that there appear to be numerous "originals" around. (Blueprint count: One.)

But their plans for a romantic holiday are spoiled by an attack on their colleagues, Margot and Bobby, when they come to meet them at the airport. Jean and Dom hear a woman scream and see two people run back into the airport. Seconds later, a car speeds past them toward the exit, driving on the wrong side of the road and nearly hitting Dom. Jean and Dom find Margot and Bobby still in their car, both injured, Margot seriously, and clutching an empty leather tube. 

Jean picks up a crystal that she believes belongs to Margot, but there are no real clues otherwise. After Margot is hospitalized, Jean and Dom comfort Bobby (Derek Horsham) at his home, where they meet Police Inspector Aguis (Chantelle Grimaud), a descendant of the architect who rebuilt a city gate in the 1860s, and found the blueprint in its foundations. She feels strongly that the blueprint should stay with the people of Malta, but isn't convinced hers is original. (Blueprint count so far: Two.)

Bobby is visited by the Attards (Carmel Sammut and Pia Zammit). a couple who run a nearby restaurant. Mrs. Attard also claims to be a descendant of an architect who discovered the blueprints in a different rebuild a decade or so later. They’re convinced the documents in their possession are genuine, and should be examined for authenticity and returned to the people of Malta. At this point, we begin to wonder how many fake copies exist, and how many people’s forbears were involved in rebuilding the city. (Blueprint count: Three.)

Dom has been slightly concerned that he lent his beloved car, Madeleine, to Gloria’s dad, Trevor (Paul Chuckle). Back in Sainte-Victoire, the gang is gathered at La Couronne, where Patrick is doing his best to dissuade the owners, the Lloyd-Jameses, from changing the menu. Judith Lloyd-James is convinced that now is the right time to make fondue great again, although Patrick argues that the equipment would be too expensive, and besides, no one liked fondue even in its heyday in the 1970s. “Pardon me for being a visionary,” Judith sniffs, offended that her favorite decade has been insulted.

Gloria and Trevor recount their adventure on the drive over. Trevor was distracted by a loud noise at the rear of the car, and hit a pedestrian. Trevor doesn’t have insurance (oops). By an extraordinary coincidence, a similar mishap occurred to Jeremy Lloyd-James, who drove the victim home and gave him €5,000 as an apology. It’s a crash-for-cash criminal enterprise, likely connected to dangerous gang activities, and Police Chief Inspector André Caron warns them to be cautious. 

(Do you think this bunch of senior loonies will go down without a fight?)

Very soon, the gang is on the road, guided by Jeremy to the house where he dropped off the “victim” he injured. Proceedings are held up by the demands of Jeremy and Trevor’s bladders, and Judith, annoyed by the men's indecision, decides on a Girl Power approach. They return to the bar, where Judith proposes they will all go in Gloria’s van (men with her dog in the back, women in the front) and video the crooks in action at their usual spot. It all goes like a dream, except Trevor was given the honor of filming and didn't notice the cellphone was set to take selfies.

In Malta, Bobby tells Jean that Margot had a historian friend, Colin (Marc Cabourdin), who may know more and would want to buy the documents rather than return them to the Maltese people. Jean offers to talk to Colin, assuring Bobby she’ll be discreet, and she has helped the police with a few cases at home. Dom is unhappy that their romantic getaway is business as usual for Jean, and he isn’t shy about making his feelings known. Jean returns the crystal she found at the airport to Bobby, who confirms it is Margot’s.

Assuming a posh accent, to Dom’s amusement, Jean calls Colin, pretending to be a historian at the Museum of the Order of St. John’s in London, where, she claims, they are clearing out inventory. She knows he is an avid Jean de Valleta fanboy and offers him the chance to buy a crystal cross that belonged to his idol. But Colin becomes particularly excited when she mentions the blueprint, hinting at a trade, and Dom, lurking around keeping an eye on Jean, sees him get into a familiar car — the one that sped away from the airport. Jean is now convinced he stole the blueprint.

Inspector Aguis interviews Colin after the blueprint has been found in his car, but she’s more interested in him as a suspect for Margot’s assault. He claims he loves Margot, and was at the airport returning from a trip to Italy, on which she was supposed to accompany him, but backed out at the last moment. He is arrested for murder when the police learn Margot has died.

With Jean entangled in solving a crime, Dom finds their getaway not as romantic as he anticipated. Jean suggests they share the truth about their relationship with their friends back home, but he advises them to stay as they are, enjoying their time together. He also wants the first person to know to be his daughter, Claudie. As Jean takes a call from Bobby, he lingers in a jeweler’s, where he tells Jean he was buying a present for Gloria’s birthday. (I don't think so...) But they both assume their usual good humor and agree to go to the Attards’ restaurant for a romantic dinner. 

To their surprise, Bobby is there. However, the Attards claim the restaurant is closed, telling Jean and Dom to go home. Jean finds a copy of the blueprint lying around, and is curious why it’s not with the police, though she recognizes it as a fake. Bobby admits that he created fake documents that were good enough to fool Margot. Jean now realizes the crystal she found at the airport belongs to Mrs. Attard, not Margot. Bobby is upset that Jean messed up his lovely plan, which he had created in revenge for Margot’s years of infidelity with Colin. He orders Attard, lurking behind the bar, to shoot Jean and Dom, but Attard has had enough. Holding the gun on Bobby, he tells Jean and Dom to go to the police. 

Final Blueprint count (but really who knows?): 3.5

It’s time for Jean and Dom to go home. They both look worn out and exhausted.

Judith rallies the gang again, and this time she volunteers herself as the target and the recording is successful, with Caron summoned to arrest the criminals. He is furious that they took it upon themselves to see justice done (they keep blaming each other for coming up with the idea). He reminds them that they could have encountered some real danger, but they remain relentlessly cheerful. Dom calls Trevor to make sure Madeleine the car will be returned to the airport, and is vaguely surprised that all his friends are  together.

At the Malta airport, while Jean is buying them restorative beers, Dom opens the bag from the jewelers. As we suspected, he didn’t buy anything for Gloria. He bought an engagement ring. He smiles briefly, despite his uncertainty and fatigue. Let’s see what happens next in the penultimate episode of Season 4.

The Madame Blanc Mysteries Season 4 continues with new episodes every Monday through August 4, 2025, on Acorn TV. Seasons 1 through 3 are available to stream on Acorn TV. You can also watch Seasons 1 and 2 on select PBS Passports––check your local streaming services.