A Murder Most French - A Review

 Review

A MURDER MOST FRENCH by Colleen Cambridge
The Second American in Paris Mystery

Tabitha Knight is a horrible cook, but with her good friend and neighbor Julia Child teaching her, she’s slowly improving. To further Tabitha’s culinary knowledge Julia insists she accompanies her to her school where the Chef Beauchȇne is giving a demonstration. The demonstration turns disastrous, however, when the chef opens a rare bottle of wine, sips, and keels over dead. When a second chef is killed in the same manner the following day, right in front of Tabitha and Julia again, the pair can’t help but be intrigued. Who would want to kill these chefs? And why? Does it have anything to do with the vandalism at the markets? 

Tabitha makes such a great protagonist. She's smart, ingenious, and capable. She's also devoted to her friends and family. I love the relationships found in this series, Julia and her husband (and I love that this relationship mirrors their real life one), Julia and Tabs, Grandpère and Oncle Rafe, Tabitha and her messieurs, and Tabitha and Merveille. I can't wait to see what develops.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and how excited both Tabitha and Julia were at the possibility of solving another murder. Although I had a good inkling on who the killer was, I didn't know the motive. I loved seeing how everything all came together.

One of my favorite things about the American in Paris Mystery series is how Julia Child joyously describes food and cooking. Her enthusiasm is catchy and makes me feel happy. I still picture the dancing chicken breasts!

A MURDER MOST FRENCH is a scrumptious postwar mystery that will have you wanting to cook, but maybe passing on any rare wine.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge. This book is the second in the American in Paris Mystery series. 

Tabitha Knight is a horrible cook, but with her good friend and neighbor Julia Child teaching her, she’s slowly improving. To further Tabitha’s culinary knowledge Julia insists she accompanies her to her school where the Chef Beauchȇne is giving a demonstration. The demonstration turns disastrous, however, when the chef opens a rare bottle of wine, sips, and keels over dead. When a second chef is killed in the same manner the following day, right in front of Tabitha and Julia again, the pair can’t help but be intrigued. Who would want to kill these chefs? And why? Does it have anything to do with the vandalism at the markets?

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.