I enjoy the cozy mystery genre however find many being published are of poor quality and do not have a captivating story. This was a refreshing read with a suspenseful 'whodunit' plot. I was drawn to this mystery based on the setting in Paris and enjoyed the French landscape, food and repertoire. I look forward to the second book in this series (and can't wait to find out what book was selected by Rachel)!

Thank you, Thistle Publishing and NetGalley!

This was my first cosy mystery set in Paris.
I think that I now understand roughly what makes a mystery, a cosy one. There wasn't a lot of suspense, heart stopping moments, but there was time to explore the setting of Paris,. There were lots of detais about the characters movements and experiences, incorporating the decadence of Paris and all it has to offer.
The story was good, but there wasn't a gob smacking moment that I do like.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thistle publishers and Emilia Bernhard for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The book was not too bad. I liked that there were several details in the story that helped put certain things in perspective, especially regarding the way the investigation was proceeding and why. I liked how realistic the book was in terms of that fact that it is not really easy to be detectives in real life, without the benefit of police resources.

The main characters were not fleshed out as well as I would have liked. Some of the premises of the book were not entirely believable. It got a bit lengthy toward the latter half. The end in particular was rather rushed, like the book had to finish so a directive by the police was directly disobeyed, because 'she was cold and he wouldn't hurt her'.

A real light cozy mystery for sure! It was cute and entertaining. I enjoyed the characters and storyline. It was an easy beach read. I recommend both this author and novel for those seeking a light hearted cozy mystery!

Man does faceplant into his soup and a former lover thinks it’s murder. She and her best friend, both Americans in Paris, do the Miss Marple thing. No one believes them, of course.
The author interrupts many scenes to talk about the restaurant or café the characters are in. I like the local color when they’re out and about in the different neighborhoods, but eventually it becomes too much, especially the descriptions of the food.
I don’t know if I’m supposed to hate the husband, but I do. There’s a scene where he orders her to stop snooping, and he comes off as such a jerk. There’s an attempt at redemption, but even then he behaves like an ash rather than a loving partner.
I did like the introspection that there’s more to a person than just their crime.
I accidentally, jokingly, guessed the killer. But it truly annoyed me that she went in to face the killer instead of waiting for the police as promised. That dropped her likeability score a few notches, and worst of all perpetuated one of the worst clichés in the genre. The story would have been much better served if she’d waited outside and the killer had tried to escape, forcing her to follow him.
I liked it, but I could tell it was a debut.

When American Rachael Levis learns that her ex-boyfriend has died face down in a bowl of soup, she is surprised that a bottle of rosé was on the table as well. Edgar detested rosé. It’s been years since she was with him and she is happily married to another man but Edgar had been her first mature relationship when Racheal first moved to Paris. It seems that he had not forgotten her either, putting her in his will and requesting that she catalog his huge library. With a legitimate reason to snoop around, Rachael and her best friend Magda take it upon themselves to discover who murdered Edgar Bowen. This is an entertaining read with a fun amateur sleuth duo and no shortage of Parisian atmosphere!

Title: Death In Paris

Author: Emilia Bernhard

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Paris, Debut, Series

Plot: Rachel Levis, an American, first came to Paris in her early twenties looking to become a writer and find herself. Now she's in her forties, happily married and a poet. She found herself with the help of her older boyfriend Edgar Bowen so many years ago. So when she finds out that Edgar died mysteriously, having drowned in his soup at dinner one evening with a suspicious bottle of rose` on the table, Rachel feels that she owes it to Edgar to solve his murder. All she has to go on is the feeling that something isn't right because Edgar hated rose` wine with a passion.

With her best friend Magda by her side (also an American who came to Paris young and never left), Rachel begins to investigate and poke around for clues. The two friends meticulously debate their suspect pool and go over their few puzzle pieces repeatedly, always looking for new clues. But when their suspect pool starts to die off in more mysterious ways, they wonder just what have they gotten themselves into and if it's worth it to continue along their line of inquiry - possibly risking death themselves.

Likes/Dislikes: Ever since I read French Women Don't Get Fat, I've been wanting more Paris-centric books in my life and this tasty little treat came in with perfect timing since I'm suffering from a post-Phryne Fisher murder mystery slump. And it was such a nice treat too. Very Paris without being overwhelming (I could've gone with a bit more Paris but it was enough to satisfy me and very different from my usual visits to the sparkling city in 1920 or so), and a lovely little murder mystery that kept me guessing right to the end. I didn't guess the culprit mainly because I figured it was too obviously to actually be the correct answer. I would've liked a bit more food descriptions thrown in but I know it wasn't a foodie book, and I could've done with a chapter or two less of Rachel and Magda going over their clues and suspects. It got a bit mind-numbing there for a bit and they kept going in the same circles but in the end it all wrapped up nicely. I'm intrigued to see if Rachel's husband gets involved in future mysteries, despite his reluctance. He seems humorous. Now to very impatiently wait a whole year for the sequel.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level and content (it's a murder mystery. Clean and not graphic but a murder mystery all the same.)

Date Review Written: August 10th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

An enjoyable read.

This is the first in a new series of books, and a great start to the series! This had a good opening, a short first scene which grabbed my interest straightaway.

This is a mystery with a Paris backdrop. The setting in Paris was very appealing. I liked that it took you e.g. dining in Paris, or mentioned a character going to an ice cream parlour- and on checking the establishment names, they were real places. I really liked that.

This was an enjoyable read. It was fun to try to sort out the clues and keep asking is he responsible/is she responsible. There were many twists and turns and my idea of 'whodunnit' changed many times.

A light and easy read. I notice in the book blurb it says they're light mysteries-this was exactly that.
Easy, gentle, steady paced read. Not the best ever but quite pleasant, and well presented.

I read a pre-publication copy of this book kindly provided by the publisher and Netgalley.

I found this book to be very slow paced and just not that engaging.
The book leads with the death with no build up of why he would have been killed; thus I was not invested in the whodunit.
The Paris setting was vividly described but from an outsider's perspective not a native.
Overall, I would take a pass on reading any further books involving these characters.

If you are a fan of Paris, you will love this book. Much of the book is almost a tour of Paris with side notes about the traditions and scenes of Paris. Many scenes made me hungry with the lucious descriptions of food. The mystery is intense too. The premise of the detecting seems rather far fetched as the "detective" becomes convinced the dead man was murdered because there was rosé on the table where he died by drowning in his soup. She was sure that since he never drank rosé, something wasn't right. And so the mystery begins with lots of twists, turns, and suspects. It is an entertaining read, if a slow start.

Some books require serious commitment before you really get into them. Some require a bit of a warmup. And some start off like being dropped into someone’s cozy living-room with a cup of joe and a cookie. “Death in Paris” is definitely a coffee and cookie book!

In this utterly charming, well-paced novel, two American ex-pats in Paris find themselves suddenly entangled in a murder investigation when Rachel’s former lover ends up face first in his soup bowl. The only clue: a bottle of wine that the dead man was unlikely to have chosen to drink. When Rachel attends the reading of the will, she is presented with an entire set of possible suspects. She and her friend, Magda, decide to follow their hunches to the thrilling conclusion.

There are so many things I love about this book: the characters are well defined and thought out. The pace of the narrative feels like a comfortably brisk walk in a rainy park smelling of wet leaves (what? I for one rather enjoy rambles like that). The events have an internal logic, something that is not a given, even in crime fiction. And there are no grammatical or spelling errors, and yes, that is so rare that it is worth mentioning. I realize that advance copies are just that and usually not yet finalized, but mistakes are distracting to me, occasionally to the point where I no longer want to finish the book.

Author Emilia Bernhard is an American living in the UK, something that accidentally spills over into the book. At one point, there is a scene describing the utter lack of decent options for a good cup of tea in Paris, something that the vast majority of my American acquaintances wouldn’t give a hoot about. Someone well familiar with the beloved British ritual of tea preparation, however, would.

All in all, I found this a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining, and suspenseful read which I do not hesitate to recommend to you, my dear readers. Hopefully, this will not be the last time we’ve heard from Ms. Bernhard.

“Death in Paris” is published by Thistle Publishing. I received a free copy in exchange for a review. As always, all opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.

Death in Paris by Emilia Bernhard is a charming international murder mystery.
French financier Edgar dies by drowning in a bowl of soup bottle of rose by his side. When his long ago former girlfriend American Rachel knows there is something fishy because Edgar hated rose.
Enlisting help of her best friend Magda she resolves to find out who really happened.
Apart from delightful setting, city of light I really liked the cast of characters. It was very interesting to read about their life abroad. Also their playful banter only adds to the charm. I enjoyed references to detective shows and their determination to find the truth despite their inexperience.
It has an old fashioned feel to it and is quite cleverly plotted.

Death in Paris by Emilia Bernhard is a captivating story. I don’t often read cozy mysteries because they may not have a lot of action. Death in Paris has plenty of action, suspense and thrills. Who will be found dead next or has all the motives to kill? I never guessed who the killer was, will you be able to guess? I found it difficult to believe this was a first book because of the flow of story, the character development and no loose ends. I hate loose ends and dull writing, Death in Paris has neither. Perhaps Emilia Bernhard has another book just waiting to be published, if so I‘m ready to read her next great book. My thanks to the author, the publisher and netgalley for making this book available to read and review.

This book definitely fits the mold of cozy mystery. While I enjoyed these two women, I found it a bit far fetched how they determined a murder had even been committed. But they sleuthed away anyway. I loved the description of Paris and the food and clothes. This was a somewhat fun read but there just wasn’t much mystery involved. I hope the next story involving these two characters has a more developed plot with a good mystery to solve. They have potential.

#DeathInParis #NetGalley

Very enjoyable read! The locale descriptions and use of French words and phrases (with translations) gave this mystery another dimension. Characters strong and believable. I read mysteries and can usually catch the villain early in the book, however, this one stumped me until the end. Meilleurs voeux a l'auter!

First in a new series…and please keep them coming! Death in Paris has been described as a cozy mystery and as a traditional mystery. But, at the start of the book, you’ll be wondering if there even is a mystery! Let me explain.

“Edgar Bowen died in his soup,” Rachel said to Magda as they sat in Rachel’s kitchen. Magda started to laugh at her friend’s news, until she realized that Rachel was shaken about the details of her former lover’s demise. Monsieur Bowen was a rich, cultured gentleman. Although no one in Paris suspected murder at all, Rachel did.

The two friends team up to solve the death, although the only thing they know about sleuthing has been gleaned from TV detective and police procedural shows. But, they are caring and perceptive, and soon they have plenty to solve.

Rachel and Magda are more sophisticated and refined than the usual cozy heroines, and they are long-time American expats living in a beautiful city, not a small village. Their world is one of charming cafes, elegant shops and department stores, and grand apartments. Yes, all marvelous to read about and I grew fond of the ladies and their friends.

The author writes in a calm and composed way, with plenty of wry and dry humor. Usually, I rush through a mystery because I am so eager to solve it, but the superbly crafted conversations and observations were a pleasure to savor and made for a satisfying read. French words and phrase are naturally placed in the conversations and lend charm to the story. There are quite a few lengthy conversations in the book, but this is a small price to pay for such a fresh and appealing story.

Readers you will smile at the ending when you find out “who did it.” Quite a nice touch.

The first book in the series takes place in the1st Arrondissement of Paris, where you will find the Louvre and Palais Royale. The plan seems to be that Rachel and Magda will visit each arrondissement in subsequent books. I’m glad there are twenty in Paris- many more good stories await! And there is one last question that Rachel didn’t answer at the end of the book- and I want to know more! Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for an ARC.

When rich financier Edgar Bowen is found drowned in a bowl of soup everyone assumes it was a heart attack. Everyone except BFFs Rachel and Magda who met as young expats in Paris decades ago and now find themselves in middle age, convinced they're in the midst of a murder mystery. The duo works their cunning and connections to spy on suspects: young David Bowen who's inherited his father's riches, Mathilde the ex-wife, Catherine the ex-girlfriend, Elisabeth the ingenue, etc. I'm not a mystery fan, but appreciate this as an entertaining expat story.

Edgar Bowen has drown in soup bowl. Was it an accident or murder? Rachel lived with Edgar twenty years ago and remembers him as a very nice man. She has been left a book of her choice after she catalogue's his collection. Magda, her friend and Rachel decide to do some detective work to find out who could have killed Edgar. They have several candidates as possible suspects. Now who could it be? You may find the person who did it was not even a suspect.

It's been awhile since I have read a cozy mystery because I find them to be all over the place in terms of quality. I took a chance on this one though because of the Paris setting and I'm glad I did. This turned out to be a really fun, lighthearted mystery with enjoyable characters.

American Rachel Levis has lived in Paris for years. Before she married her husband, Alan, she dated wealthy financier Edgar Bowen who has just died. Authorities have concluded he died by drowning in his soup but Rachel is convinced the bottle of rosé found on the dinner table is a clue proving his death was no accident. With the help of her best friend, Magda, Rachel starts compiling a list of suspects who might have benefited from Edgar's death.

By far the thing I enjoyed most about this book was the friendship between Rachel and Magda and their fun, playful banter. I loved the references of police detective movies and tv shows throughout the book as the two tried to solve this case with absolutely no prior experience. I'm not sure if this book is meant to be the start of a series or not but I would definitely like to see the duo try their luck at another case. I'm especially interested in getting some more backstory on Magda.

While the time period for this book is present day it also feels a bit like an old, fashioned whodunit. The plot itself involving a rich man and a cast of characters who might benefit from his death is not anything that hasn't been done before. However, I really enjoyed Rachel and Magda as they are so easy to relate to and you almost feel like you are solving the case with them. Overall, just an entertaining read and definitely one of the better cozy mysteries I have read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thistle Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for the eARC.
Rachel Levis, an American expat living in Paris, is shocked to read about the death of her former lover, financier Edgar Bowen. He died face down in his soup, a bottle of rose wine by his side. He hated rose, so who was with him? She shares her suspicions with Magda, her best friend and fellow American expat and the two of them decide to investigate. But as total amateurs, where do they start? Luckily, Edward's will states Rachel is to catalogue his extensive, priceless library after which she can choose any book she desires. This means she can work in his home and meet the people closest to him: his son Alan, his longtime butler, his young assistant, his girlfriend and his frosty ex-wife. So many possible suspects!
The luscious descriptions of Paris, the food, the fashions and people are so evocative, what a lovely treat...
Rachel and Magda's friendship is very realistic, they are close, love each other, but have the occasional snippy back and forth that made me smile. Rachel's husband is patiently in the background, but eventually even he gets involved.
A promising start to the series, I'm looking forward to no. 2!