A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge Series: An American in Paris #2
Published by Kensington Books on April 23, 2024
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 299
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Postwar Paris is surging back to life, and its citizens are seizing every opportunity to raise a glass or share a delicious meal. But as American ex-pat Tabitha Knight and chef-in-training Julia Child discover, celebrations can quickly go awry when someone has murder in mind . . .
The graceful domes of Sacré Coeur, the imposing cathedral of Notre Dame, the breathtaking Tour Eiffel . . . Paris is overflowing with stunning architecture. Yet for Tabitha Knight, the humble building that houses the Cordon Bleu cooking school, where her friend Julia studies, is just as notable. Tabitha is always happy to sample Julia’s latest creation and try to recreate dishes for her Grand-père and Oncle Rafe.
The legendary school also holds open demonstrations, where the public can see its master chefs at work. It’s a treat for any aspiring cook—until one of the chefs pours himself a glass of wine from a rare vintage bottle—and promptly drops dead in front of Julia, Tabitha, and other assembled guests. It’s the first in a frightening string of poisonings that turns grimly personal when cyanide-laced wine is sent to someone very close to Tabitha.
After satiating myself on her Phyllida Bright Mystery series featuring Agatha Christie as a character, I was eager to taste test her newer series, American in Paris featuring the delectable Julia Child as a prominent side character. Colleen Cambridge does a spectacular job melding historical real life characters and time period settings with her clever, cozy mystery plots.
After relishing the first book in the series, I was definitely going to press forward with more amateur detecting in Paris for young Tabitha and her foodie buddy, Julia Child. Colleen Cambridge brings the post-WWII Paris, life of Julia Child at that time, and a clever original character and mystery plots together fabulously.
A Murder Most French is the second installment in the American in Paris mysteries. It’s a standalone mystery, but I enjoyed it more getting it in order and already knowing the regular characters and setting.
In fact, because this wasn’t the first book with the job of introducing the world and characters, I felt more engaged with the story right from the start. Gourmets will savor this one- and I did, too- because it takes Tabitha into the world of French fine foods and wines. I was struck by just how much wine is something of a patriotic emblem and this came to a fore during WWII when the Nazis occupied France and attempted to tarnish this through taking it or destroying it from the occupied French.
So, Tabby goes with Julie to an afternoon cooking demo and they watch their instructing chef keel over after consuming an old vintage bottle of wine that Tabby knows was a gift to him because hers truly brought it to him from the messenger boy. Inspector Merveille is on the case once again and he does not welcome Tabby nosing in on his investigation.
Tabby tries to stay out of it by shopping the street market with Julie, learning to cook for her grand père and Oncle, and having an exciting exploration into the catacombs under the city where a Paris mushroom grower shows her and Julie where the magic happens.
But, she can’t seem to help herself when others are dying and her mind latches onto pertinent clues and odd facts. Merveille is worried for her safety after her near death on the last case and he isn’t wrong this time either. Someone is killing off witnesses and anyone associated with a certain five-star restaurant that closed when the Nazis invaded. Tabby won’t give up because her grand père and oncle are among that group.
A Murder Most French had a savory blend of historical background, character development, food!!!, and mystery. I devoured it quickly and the harrowing ending was immensely satisfying. Those who want a superb historical cozy mystery series should definitely consider American in Paris mysteries.
About Colleen Cambridge
Colleen Gleason (aka Colleen Cambridge, C.M. Gleason, and Alex Mandon) is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide what type of book to write…so she writes a lot of different genres!
So far, Colleen has written everything from vampire hunters to dystopian romance, to steampunk, historical romance, and mysteries with a supernatural flair or a historical setting. One element, however, that appears in all of her stories, is that of partnership…whether it be professional, romantic, or both.
All of Colleen’s books feature strong heroines experiencing fast-paced adventures, danger, mystery, and of course, romance. But at the core of each story is the belief that every woman deserves a partner who accepts her for her strengths as well as her weaknesses—and vice versa.
Colleen lives in the midwest United States with her family and two dogs, and is always working on her next book.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I’d really like to read this series some time.
These are cozies with some darker elements and very interesting historical elements as well. I think you’d enjoy them even more than me because you love the food shows. 🙂
Yea! I’m glad you continue to enjoy this series.
Oh yeah, its aging nicely. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve read about a cyanide poisoning in a book before.
Agatha Christie had a handful, but yeah, I’ve never seen recent mysteries do it.
I’m so glad to see how much you enjoyed this one! I really want to pick up the first book and the 2nd in the Agatha Christie series.
I’m in love with both series now. Took me longer with the Agatha Christie ones, but I’m there for it all. 🙂
This sounds so good! I love it when fine wine and cooking is incorporated into a story, as I’m an avid fan. Plus, the time period is interesting to me, too. I’ll have to look into this series!
I yeah, fine cuisine and history are a heady combo.
You definitely have me curious about this series and I like books that have a lot of food descriptions in them. And the blend of cozy mystery and historical elements sounds so well done. Definitely want to give this series a try!
I think you’d be a good match for these, too. 🙂
“featuring Agatha Christie as a character”
Oooo!!! Cool!!!
That’s her other series, but this one has fun, foodie Julia Child. 🙂
Oooh…this sounds very good. I love that she is at odds with the detective immediately. That’s always such a fun dynamic!
Great review, Sophia!
These are the best, Angie! Haha, yes, this pair rub each other wrong from the start, but I appreciate that she does share with him and the other police when she comes across evidence or witness information that will help.