Mastering the Art of French Murder - A Review

 Review

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER by Colleen Cambridge
The First American in Paris Mystery

 

At loose ends in Detroit Tabitha Knight accepts her grandfather's invitation to stay with him and Oncle Rafe in Paris. This former Rosie the Riveter is skilled with a screwdriver, but less adept with a spatula. Wanting to please her messieurs, Tabs is keen to improve her nonexistent cooking skills. Fortunately, her new friend, Julia, the larger than life American across the street, has happily agreed to help her. The pair soon become embroiled in a murder when a body is found in Julia Child's building...and her knife is discovered to be the murder weapon.

 

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER totally captivated me. I loved everything about it from the distinctive characters to the finely crafted mystery. Colleen Cambridge has exquisitely captured the feeling of a Paris recently freed from occupation. A certain resoluteness, determination, and joy suffuses the work along with the ambiance that is uniquely Parisian. 

Tabitha Knight is a delightful protagonist. She's clever and caring, yet has her own foibles. It's wonderful to have Julia Child as a major character. Her lively and outgoing personality radiates from the page and I can see and hear her as she gets involved in murder, though cooking, and friendship, remain her priorities. Tabitha's grandpère and Oncle Rafe are an absolute delight, as are their pets, Oscar Wilde and Madame X. Inspecteur Merveille personifies the phrase "still waters run deep" and I know we'll get to know him more intimately as the series progresses; at least, if Julia and I have interpreted the writing on the wall correctly.

This crisply written mystery is well executed with suspense, thrills, and clever detection on the part of several of the characters. I was captivated from start to finish. MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER is simply post-war Paris perfection.