Mastering the Art of French Murder

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“Mastering the Art of French Murder” by Colleen Cambridge is a captivating mystery set in post-WWII Paris. The story revolves around Tabitha Knight, a young American who is staying with her French grandfather. Through her friendship with Julia Child, Tabitha discovers the joys of cooking and explores the vibrant city of Paris.

The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Tabitha and Julia stumble upon a murder in Julia's building. Tabitha recognizes the victim as someone she had met the previous night at a party. To her shock, a note in her handwriting was found in the victim's pocket. Determined to clear her name and find the actual killer, Tabitha embarks on a thrilling journey through the streets of Paris.

So, let's talk about “Mastering the Art of French Murder” by Colleen Cambridge. May I just say that cover is on point! It caught my eye right away. So, onto the review. This book was an absolute delight! I mean, you've got Julia Child doing what she does best - cooking - and then you throw in a friend who solves mysteries. How cool is that? Plus, there are these two adorable Monsieurs and a dog named Oscar Wilde. And it's all set in Paris after World War II! As if that wasn't enough, there's even a connection to Detroit with mentions of Faygo and Boblo Island (I used to go there all the time as a kid). I loved every minute of it!

The writing in this book is fantastic. The pace is fast, keeping you hooked from start to finish. And the mystery itself? So engaging! I couldn't wait to find out whodunit. Honestly, I'm counting down the days for the second book in the series, “A Murder Most French”!

In a nutshell, “Mastering the Art of French Murder” is a delightful read that combines cooking, mystery-solving, and the magic of post-war Paris in the most captivating way. The author really nailed it with this one. Can't recommend it enough!

ARC Via NetGalley

A light froth of a murder mystery set in Paris and launching what will obviously be a series with Tabitha, a fictional young American woman living with her great-uncle and her grandfather and neighbors (and fellow sleuth) with Julia Child. A fun conceit, giving the author time to explore the City of Lights, culinary treats, and oh, the occasional murder. Fine set of secondary characters although the plot itself was long on coincidence and short on clues that would actually lead to detecting who was behind the murders. If you're in the mood for a 1950's cozy with an interesting concept that doesn't tax your brain cells but offers an intriguing romp, this book's for you.

I loved the premise, and the cover is gorgeous. The writing comes across as modern rather than evoking the time period. The amateur-detective main character explained everything and stated the obvious repeatedly. I don't know if her naiveté was meant to be a charming personality quirk, but the fact that she'd worked as a riveter in a bomber plant during the war made her lack of little grey cells perplexing. I was left with no sense of her having attained mastery. Unfortunately, like Julia's mayonnaise problem, this just didn't come together. It was such a great idea for a mystery.

Read for book club Feb pic. Charming and unique. Paris, 1949, the city is rebuilding. The Child’s are there and Julia’s (fictional) American friend, Tabitha, is on the case of a dead body found in the building. I loved the small details about daily life in a Paris apartment: the outdoor ice box, the dog with a bigger wardrobe than my own, the gossip at the market. The mystery was interesting and surprising! What dragged for me was the repetition. So many scenes gone over multiple times as Tabitha relays them to this character and then that character and if I heard Faygo soda Rock and Rye one more time it could have become a drinking game. Writing needs to be a bit tighter, a little less repetitive.

I might read the second one, if Julia has more to do in the story than make mayonnaise.