Julia Child, family-by-choice, famous-persons, local-law-enforcement, poisons, amateur-sleuth, post-WW2, ex-pat, pet-dog, friendship, relatives, relationships, culinary, murder, investigation, cultural-differences, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, Paris, suspense, suspicion, tunnel, historical-places-events, thriller*****

I loved the first book and I love this one, too. The murders and investigations are well done and have lots of distractions and twists as well as wonderful atmospheric descriptions of the Paris catacombs.
Tabitha Knight is from Detroit, Michigan, has French grandparents, is living with French relatives and has been taken under the wing of Julia Child, the energetic and excitable American who is just now finding her niche in the world of cooking as the French do.
No recipe section at the end, but there are so many hints and tips that are so well added that I could smell the deliciousness.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely read any others as they come along!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books, Kensington cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
#AnAmericanInParisBk2 Available 23 Apr 2024

American ex-pat Tabitha Knight and her friend and neighbor chef-in-training Julia Child are back in postwar France when a celebration goes awry when someone murders a chef with cyanide-laced wine.

This is a great follow up to Mastering the art of French Murder. Tabitha continues to be likable even if her presence is sometimes overshadowed by Julia’s larger than life personality. She’s a stronger force here than in book 1. The setting comes alive and the mystery is satisfying. Inspector Mervaille is back and enigmatic as ever. Julia isn’t the only one shipping those two.

If you’re not a foodie or a history fan, some of the descriptions and explanations might bore you. A little less food and catacombs would help the pacing. But I’m ready for book 3.

Colleen Cambridge is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.

I love this series. The thought of Julia Child playing detective, even if only a little bit, to help her good friend Tabitha (Tabs as Julia would say) to solve the murders she stumbles across, is a hoot. The writer’s words make it easy to hear Julia especially as she discusses food and cooking. The story was full of friendships, family, food, and good wine. In fact, the wine was a character in and of it’s self. In between the fictional story, the author weaved episodes of historical moments. A wonderful read that shouldn’t be missed.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

1950 Paris. Who is killing chefs with poisoned wine. Attending the Demonstration Hall with Julia Child, Tabitha Knight, is one of many witnesses to the first murder, that of chef Beauchene. She decides to investigate.
Overall an enjoyable cozy mystery though it does get a bit slow with all the description of the foods.
n ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars
Thank you to Kensington Press for a copy of book 2 in this series!

Please do not look at 3.5 stars and pass over this book. I really enjoy the characters in this series and the descriptions of food are to die for. Tabitha's personality reminds me of the Veronica Speedwell character who I also enjoy immensely. The addition of the catacombs to this story was also fun as I would love to see them myself some day! The mystery is solid and it comes together really well. My only qualm about this one is it dragged in the middle a bit.

But overall this is a fun cozy series!

This follow-up to Mastering the Art of French Murder is just as entertaining as the first book. The setting is Paris post World War II where Julia Child is attending the Cordon Bleu cooking school. Julia and her fictional best friend Tabitha investigate poisonings which hit a little close to home.

Just loved this book! Such a great murder mystery. I love all of the details in the background about Paris and Julia Childs' enthusiasm over her cooking experiences. Look forward to the next one!

This series began with last year’s Mastering the Art of French Murder. This second title is every bit as delightful.

Here is an historical mystery set in post WWII Paris. It features a fictional protagonist, Tabitha, and a friend of hers. That friend is the larger than life Julia Child. Together the two become involved in murderous situations.

This time, chefs should beware what they drink. Not too far into the novel, two have died after imbibing what should have been very special vintages. Tabitha and Julia are on the case even if the police inspector (and possible romantic interest for Tabitha) does not want their help.

What I like best in this book (and in the first one) is the evocation of Paris. When Tabitha and Julia visit a market it is easy to visualize the food and want to start cooking. And speaking of which, every time Julia is around food, and that is often, the book is so much fun.

Highly recommended to those who are foodies, those who love Paris and those who like historical mysteries. I hope there will be a third book soon

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This second installment of An American in Paris cozy mystery series is just as enjoyable and fast-paced as the previous novel. Loveable and realistic characters, with Julia Child and her cooking described as if you're sitting there learning along with the MC. Set during post-WWII, the author nails not only the time period but the atmosphere of Paris as well. The mystery is well-written too. Loved it. Recommended, especially if you devoured the first in the series.

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In the second An American in Paris Mystery, American Tabitha Knight is enjoying her new life in post-WWII Paris. Her friend and neighbor, Julia Child, is studying at the Cordon Bleu cooking school, and Tabitha is benefiting from delectable dinners at the house of Julia and her husband, not to mention demonstrations open to the public by the school's master chefs.

But when one of the chefs dies from a poisoned bottle of valuable vintage wine, Tabitha is tempted to get involved in the subsequent investigation, as she did in the previous book in the series. And when she feels her "monsieurs," her beloved grandfather and his male partner, are threatened by subsequent poisonings, she knows she has to take action. Never mind that Inspector Merveille insists she stay out of danger. Tabitha has skills that she feels will help her get out of tough situations.

Wine is at the center of the mystery--how did the poison get into the corked and sealed bottle, where did the bottle come from, who had the motive and opportunity to poison? Part of the pleasure I derived from the book is from the author's wonderful descriptions of 1950s Paris, and especially the underground catacombs, which Tabitha was able to access with the local mushroom grower/seller. The information about how the Germans took over the locals' wine collections for their own purposes during the occupation is also fascinating.

This is a fun series for those who enjoy a high-stakes historical mystery with no graphic violence, along with an irresistible Paris setting . . . and Julia Child!

My thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

This is a wonderful story. I enjoyed the backdrop, the characters, and their relationships and activities.
Everything about the lives of the guests and locals of the Meredith Hotel and surrounding town are just
delightful. The story does take a bit of time to get going, but it was just a nice diversion from my usual
fare. My thanks to Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley for a download copy of this book for
review purposes.

3.75 stars

This second in a series features Julia Child in her early Paris days as neighbor to the main character Tabitha. As is the way of cozy mysteries, Tabitha is both insatiably curious and prone to stumbling over dead bodies. She is American but fluent in French thanks to her Parisian mother, and lives with her grandfather and his partner.

She is not a cook, and is grateful that Julia is her neighbor and often either cooks for or with her. The Julia details are charming, with attention paid to Julia's personality and history.

The mystery: someone is sending poisoned bottles of wine around. So far 3 people have died, and Tabitha was either present for all three deaths or discovered the body. She tries desperately hard to insert herself into the investigation but the handsome police inspector isn't sympathetic.

Great fun, nice background of Paris after World War II. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Life in Paris continues to enchant American expat,Tabitha, despite nearly being killed in the previous title in the series. She loves living with Grandpere and Oncle Rafe, shopping daily with neighbor Julia Childs at the market and exploring post-war Paris. She has a job tutoring Embassy children in French and a new Renault courtesy of Grandpere.
Julia has invited Tabi to attend a cooking demonstration at the Cordon Bleu but the demonstration goes awry when the famed chef takes a sip of a rare vintage wine and drops dead. Soon after she attends a dinner party with food prepared by yet another famous chef . It's deja vu when the chef sips a rare wine and drops dead. Handsome police detective Merveille isn't surprised to find that Tabi was witness to both deaths and warns her not to involve herself in the investigation. The body count rises and Tabi knows there's a connection and she's determined to find it. Her detective work takes her into the Paris catacombs and puts her and her beloved Grandpere and Oncle Rafe in grave danger.
Cambridge puts the reader in the heart of Paris with all it's glorious sights. Trips to the market and the stall vendors are lots of fun and the meals Julia prepares are mouthwatering. There's also lots of history about the Nazi occupation of the City of Lights. Mystery and foodie fans alike will enjoy this latest in the series. Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC.

This book is the second in a series but worked fine as a standalone. I really liked the setting - post WWII Paris, and the inclusion of Julia Child as a character, just learning the French cuisine she became famous for. I also liked the historical detail about how the French defied the German occupation (the hiding of rare wines) and the signs of the war's aftermath everywhere. The MC is a likable character and the mystery itself was pretty intriguing.
Overall, I would recommend this to cozy mystery readers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A MURDER MOST FRENCH is the second book in the American Mysteries by Colleen Cambridge. I was very happy to spend a bit more time in Paris with Tabitha Knight and her friend, Julia Child when I received an advanced reader's e-copy. It was an afternoon of mystery, fun, and fabulous descriptions of French food as I reconnected with these book friends.

Tabitha and Julia are at a cooking demonstration when Tab takes charge of a bottle of wine delivered to the chef. This makes her a material witness in the first murder. Yes, there is more than one in this steadily-moving plot. The handsome police detective is back, a new American is also in Paris---he is interested in Tabitha---and the mushroom vender. They all blend together to bring out the stories in this wonderful historical novel.

Colleen Cambridge gives the readers glimpses of a colorful Parisian market with vendors who support each other, the art of growing mushrooms in the underground Catacombs, (I loved this part as my daughter was just there and sent great photos.), the history of French wines and how they fared in the war years, and touches on the Natzi Occupation. I enjoy these bits of history that add so much to the book's Parisian atmosphere.

I can't wait for book three in this engaging cozy mystery series. Thank you to #NetGalley #KensintonCozies #ColleenCambridge for the ARC that I requested. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#AMurderMostFrech #NetGalley

I loved this fun mystery, set in post-war Paris, and I hope that this series continues on in many more installments! Tabitha Knight, an American living in Paris with her grandfather, is an admirable protagonist. Her curiosity, logical/mechanical abilities, and what she learned as a child from her policeman father have trained her well for a role as an accidental sleuth. Her friendship with budding chef Julia Child adds an element of amusement and levity to this series—together Tabi and Julia are great fun to read about. The descriptions of food and wine are magnificently over the top and I look forward to more of them in the next book from Colleen Cambridge. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Really enjoyed this second mystery in the "American in Paris" series, which features amateur sleuth Tabitha Knight, and her friend, Julia Child. Tabitha is a young American woman that hails from Detroit where she was a "Rosie the Riveter". Her mother was French, and her father was a detective. Tabitha moves to Paris to stay with her grandfather and his companion, "Oncle Rafe".
The mystery begins when Julia Child invites her neighbor and friend, Tabitha, to attend a cooking and wine demonstration at Le Cordon Bleu. Tabitha gets separated from Julia looking for the bathroom, and ends up intercepting a delivery for the chef from a young street boy. After watching a chef of a once well known restaurant, called the Mason de Verre make a fantastic meal of sole, he opens the gift basket (delivered by Tabitha) and finds a rare French wine - a 1893 Volnay Clos tea Rougette. The chef tastes the wine and much to everyone's horror, drops dead - foaming at the mouth. Tabitha once again begins to investigate on her own, much to the chagrin of Inspector Mervaille. When a second chef dies at a party (that both Julia and Tabitha attend) it is apparent that something sinister is afoot. With vandalism in their favorite market, and a bottle of wine delivered to her Grandfather's house, Tabitha takes the investigation into her own hands - of course, with dangerous results. An entertaining fun read, with all the great elements of a cozy mystery.

_A Murder Most French_ is the second book in a series by Colleen Cambridge that features an American in Paris, Tabitha, living with her grandfather and his partner. Much of the book (and the series) focuses on Tabitha straddling two worlds-- the United States where she was raised and France, her mother's homeland. Fortunately for Tabitha, her neighbor is another ex-pat, Julia Child. When Tabitha and Julia attend a class at Le Cordon Bleu and witness the chef's murder, they get pulled into a series of crimes that includes vandalism at the local market, assaults, and even more murders. Cambridge's historical research firmly sets the novel in Paris in the late 1940s, from the bitter recollections of Nazi occupation to the proud memories of French Resistance. And foodies will adore the vivid descriptions of Julia Child's sumptuous meals as well as her final advice to her friends: Bon Appetit!

Tabitha Knight is an American living in Paris with her grandfather a few years after the end of World War Two. Julia Child, her neighbor and friend, is enrolled in the Cordon Bleu cooking school and happy to help Tabi with marketing and recipes. Tabi accompanies Julia to a demonstration at the school and is horrified when the chef drops dead after sampling a rare vintage wine. Soon Tabi witnesses a second similar death and she becomes involved in solving the crime, especially after her beloved grandfather is threatened.

This is the second in a series but can be read independently. The portrayal of Julia Child is a delight, the descriptions of her food are mouthwatering, and postwar Paris is fascinating. Light entertainment at its best.

A MURDER MOST FRENCH is the second book in the American in Paris Mysteries by Colleen Cambridge. This mouthwatering historical culinary mystery is a tantalizing feast for the senses and the mind! Set during post WWII Paris, fictional protagonist Tabitha Knight is best friends with Julia Child. When a chef at the world-famous Cordon bleu cooking school drops dead after imbibing a rare wine in front of Tabitha and Julia, they get pulled into the investigation. I love how the author weaves in history from occupied France and how it affected the citizens of Paris. She also takes the reader on a dizzying array of jaunts throughout the City of Lights, from the catacombs, to a mushroom farm, to the market stalls in search of the best ingredients. Along the way, the reader is treated to memorable characters (and I hope we get to find out more backstory, especially with Tabitha’s Grand-père and Oncle Rafe!) that brings the book to life. The mystery itself is solid and had good pacing. Again, I was fascinated by how the German occupation connected to the crime, adding a layer of intrigue as the clues dropped. With a chilling reveal, all the threads came together in a highly satisfying manner, and a craving for one of Julia’s amazing culinary creations!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.