The setting is Paris 1949. Julia Child is the star of this historical fiction which is also a cozy sort of mystery. Normally I like a gritter mystery novel but this was a pleasant beach-read kinda book. There are scenes in the Parisian markets, Le Cordon Bleu and Julia's tiny kitchen at Montmartre.

Julia becomes friends with Tabitha, another American living in Paris. The murder mystery is fairly tame and the plot predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this novel. This will be published April 25, 2023 by Kensington Books. Genre: Historical Fiction and Mystery.

What is this about?
Tabitha Knight is living in Paris with her grandfather, tutoring Americans in French and taking cooking lessons from Julia Child. No really, Julia Child. And into all this comes a murder, and Tabitha is in the middle of it all.

What else is this about?
It’s a charming cosy set in my favourite city, and in a time I wanted to learn more about. It’s also an equally charming introduction to Tabitha.

Blurb
Set in the City of Light and starring Julia Child’s (fictional) best friend, confidant, and fellow American, this Magnifique new historical mystery series from the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall combines a fresh perspective on the iconic chef’s years in post-WWII Paris with a delicious mystery and a unique culinary twist. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Marie Benedict, and of course, Julia Child alike!

As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, who recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn’t just the City of Light; it’s the city of history, romance, stunning architecture . . . and food. Thanks to her neighbour and friend Julia Child, another ex-pat who’s fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and Oncle Rafe.

Between tutoring Americans in French, visiting the market, and eagerly sampling the results of Julia’s studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha’s sojourn is proving thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia’s building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim as a woman she’d met only the night before, at a party given by Julia’s sister, Dort. The murder weapon found nearby is recognizable too—a knife from Julia’s kitchen.

Tabitha is eager to help the investigation but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha’s handwriting, was found in the dead woman’s pocket. Is this murder a case of international intrigue, or something far more personal? From the shadows of the Tour Eiffel at midnight to the tiny third-floor Child kitchen to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates through the city hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison . . . or worse.
The first thing that comes to mind when I was drafting this review, was that Mastering the Art of French Murder was an intimate story in a way: what do I mean by that? Colleen Cambridge made me feel like I could be sitting in the living room listen to Tabitha discuss the case with her grandfather, or accompanying Tabitha and Julia Child as they perused the fresh food market in Paris, and discussing why Child’s mayonnaise just isn’t working out.

It enfolds you into Tabitha’s life as she becomes determined to learn how to roast a chicken under Julia’s tutelage, or applies that determination to figure out who killed Therese, with one of Julia’s knives no less. And how is Julia’s knife the murder weapon? The victim was a guest at a party Julia’s sister, Dort, held at Julia’s apartment. The cherry on top is that Tabitha rode down the elevator with Therese before she was murdered.

Tabitha, to me, has a mature voice, despite her age — an old soul if you will. Sure, there are some moments when she is distinctly young, but in a post-war world, I think her mature voice makes sense. Egged on by Julia, she begins to investigate what happened to Therese, and gets into danger herself as she gets too close to the truth.

Her friendship with Julia is filled with warmth and affection, and I adored how Julia managed to get under her skin (in a good way) and convince and help her on her investigation. Along the way she meets Inspector Merveille, who doesn’t believe she is as innocent as she protests she is.

Aside from the mystery, which turns out to be nothing like what I expected, Tabitha is our insight into Post-war Paris, to a city just recovering from the war. Cambridge has a deft touch in beinging the city and the characters to life, and coupled with her intimate tone to her writing, it made me who is missing Paris tremendously, thrilled.

If for no other reason, you should read this book especially if you’re in the mood to be hungry! What fun to plan a mystery with Julia Child cooking! You will love the idea of including cooking and food! The book was fun to read, the mystery interesting but not gory with clues that led the reader in the right direction. A light mystery even with the murders.

So embark on the new genre of culinary mystery! Travel to post WWII Paris and meet Julia and her neighbor Tabitha, a Detroit visitor who get’s involved in solving a murder set in a theatre. You’ll wander the markets in Paris, find romance, view the architecture, and enjoy Tabitha’s grandfather! You may pick up some cooking skills, see Paris, learn French, and fall in love with this author. A glorious vacation, intriguing mystery—all in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advance review copy!

This was a somewhat entertaining story but not the best I've read. I did enjoy the interaction with Julia Child but felt it was a bit forced at times and, honestly, didn't add a lot to the heart of the story which introduced a new female amateur sleuth with the requisite curmudgeonly male police inspector who would come to enjoy her involvement though loathe to admit that. I did enjoy the interventions of her "roommates" and how they drew on their WWII experience to help her solve the mystery so perhaps a sequel will build on all of this. It was Interesting to read about Paris in the post war years and the undercurrent about both Childs' involvement with spying (or not) added something to the story but not enough to make it worthwhile for me.

Entertaining, fun and with just the right amount of mystery! I am a big fan of Julia Child so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Though not based on real events I felt like it was such a plausible story and that Julia’s character and personality were such accurately depicted. I also liked that it was set during Julia’s time in Paris, which is always a favorite setting of mine in books.

The amount of twists and turns in the story were perfect and the mystery of whodunnit definitely kept me guessing until the very end. This is a light and cozy read, perfect for any mystery reader. I definitely recommend it!

Mastering the Art of French Murder, written by Colleen Cambridge, is a completely new author to me. I stumbled upon the book through NetGalley and appreciated the connection with Julia's Child's famous book. Plus, the cover is simply superb, so I had to give it a chance. Set in 1950s Paris, the book focuses on Julia's best friend who discovers a dead body and tries to protect Julia's sister from being arrested. Between the lovely descriptions of the city and the gorgeous details of all the food Julia's cooking, the book easily immersed me in its proverbial sauce. I enjoyed the character dynamics, and traveling back 75 years to a more admirable time (the way people acted and lived, not necessarily the missing things we have gained since then) kept me excited and nostalgic. The writing is accessible and filled with wonderful expressions and ambiance. I will definitely read the next book.

Loved this book and have already begun recommending! Delightful characters, interesting setting, and a plausible crime. Great cover art too!

This was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed the historical aspect to it. I absolutely fell in love with Tabitha’s Grand-pére and Oncle Rafe! They were so sweet and fun and just a little mysterious. I wanted to know more about their past. Hopefully the next book will tell us a little bit more bout them.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

Loved this mystery that transported me to France. I could smell the smells and almost taste the food by the author's delectable descriptions. Loved the characters and the story I sure hope this will be a series. Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

I was intrigued by the premise of this story as I was a fan of Julia Child, her show, and the resurgence of interest in her with the book and subsequent movie Julie and Julia, and the portrayal of Paul and Julia Child by Stanley Tucci and Meryl Streep.

So on saying that, when there were the scenes with direct involvement of Julia, as a secondary character of the book, I heard Julia Child's voice in my head (or Meryl playing Julia) and that added a bit of extra dimension. It is a cute device in the book, but initially the first bit of it focused a lot on the fictional main character, Tabitha Knight, and her conversations and interactions with Julia.

This is set in the real world scenario of Julia and Paul living in Paris, and Julia learning the art of French cooking at the Cordon Bleu. Tabitha is a fictional friend, who is also an American ex-pat with French background, who is living nearby, living with her grandpere and honorary oncle. She casually teaches French to other Americans. Julia is perfecting her french cooking, and is stymied by misbehaving mayonnaise, whereas Tabitha is stymied by cooking in general and Julia and her frequently go to market together to get fresh goods, inspiration, and catch up on local gossip.

Julia's sister Dort, works at a local American theatre and often brings friends home to the apartment she shares with Paul and Julia, leading to late night socials. Tabitha was at one the night before the story starts. When she and Julia return from the market, they come upon a hysterical maid in Julia's building, after the maid discovers a body in the cellar. When Tabitha and Julia go to investigate while the police are called, Tabitha realizes that she recognizes the victim... it was one of the guests from the gathering at Julia's apartment last night, a guest and co-worker of Dort's, and one of the last people seen with her was Tabitha, as they left together. To add to the mystery... and the pool of suspects, the murder weapon found near her is one of Julia's chef's knives, and found on her is a note written by Tabitha.

This started out slow, leading up to the murder, but then picked up pretty quickly with the murder. The French police, lead by the rather taciturn Inspector Merveille, follow the various leads. But Tabitha, encouraged by her friend Julia, and her rather nosy family, also takes a turn at investigating especially when she finds some items and clues missed by the police. But she finds herself drawn into the mystery and a focus of danger herself as she uncovers a far deeper and wider reaching conspiracy.

This is a murder mystery set in the world of Julia Child, so there is effervescent French flair and a love of cuisine, but also it was the post WWII era, when Paris was recovering from their period of German occupation and rule, the beginning of the cold war with Russia, the progression of communism, and the world of McCarthyism. All of that is rolled into this storyline, and it made for an interesting mix of real-world and fiction, that I found quite enjoyable.

4 stars out if 5.

Setting a mystery in post-war Paris almost always attracts readers and no doubt historical mystery-fans will enjoy this book as well. When a young woman is killed with one of Julia Child's chef's knives, Julia's friend, Tabitha Knight, decides to investigate. Of course there are many - maybe too many - references to Julia Child's magic in the kitchen, contrasted with Tabitha's failures, which will have some readers look for the corresponding recipes (not included in the book). The mystery itself is intricate enough to keep reader's interests but frequent mystery readers will probably spot the culprit before Tabitha. Recommend to fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Julia Child.

This one is a lovely cozy mystery that will be a series. It takes place in Paris in 1949 and has a lot of fun characters along a lot of mouthwatering food descriptions. It's a real shame this one didn't come with the food!

Set in the City of Light and starring Julia Child’s (fictional) best friend, confidant, and fellow American, this magnifique new historical mystery series from the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall combines a fresh perspective on the iconic chef’s years in post-WWII Paris with a delicious mystery and a unique culinary twist. This is definitely a first rate new series! Great combo of history, mystery and cooking. The era is portrayed amazingly well and this author pays attention to detail. I can’t wait for the next in this new series. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

A delightful mystery! The setting—Paris in 1949–is fabulous, and the reader experiences it in marvelous detail through the American protagonist, Tabitha. She attempts to solve the murder of a recent acquaintance, whose body is discovered in the basement of her friend Julia Child. The presence of Child, and the discussions of food that permeate almost every scene, is a wonderful element. No book set in Paris would be complete without descriptions of delicious food, and Child’s cooking here rounds out the story beautifully. The elements of the murder (and associated crimes) is just complex enough to engage the reader thoroughly, and I enjoyed this book immensely. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC!

This is a really fun, almost cozy, mystery. Historical fiction with Julia Child as a supporting character. The main character is delightful and fun to spend time with. If you like lighter mysteries, this is for you.

it's 1949 and Tabitha Knight is in post-war Paris, She becomes involved in the shady side of Parisian life as

spies and murder come to the forefront of the City of Light, There are many suspects, clues, and red herrings

galore. There is also time to take in the wonderful atmosphere, the sights, and, of course, her friend Julias

amazing cooking!!! This is a wise book full of humour, and suspense. A great read.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington, and Colleen Cambridge for the e-galley copy of this excellent book.

I have long been a fan of murder mysteries in the Agatha Christie-vein, as well as a lover of cooking and fine foods. This romping good bit of historical fiction will appeal to foodies and mysteryphiles alike in equal measure.

If you're fortunate enough to be both, this is absolutely the book for you.

Tabitha Knight, our protagonist is friend’s with Julia Child in 1950’s Paris. After someone is found murdered in Julia’s apartment building, the ladies set about to solve the murder. If you like an Agatha Christie-ish cozy mystery, this will hit the spot. And of course, with Julia Child as one of the main characters you get the added bonus of glorious food descriptions. I think this is going to be the first in a series. I certainly hope so.

The description of the book made me think it was right up my alley - Paris, food, mystery - yes!! However, I found the writing style to be a bit juvenile and while I enjoyed the characterization of Julia Child very much, Tabitha was beyond annoying.

Picture it: Paris 1949. The city is still recovering from the devastation of WWII. Julia Child and her husband Paul have recently moved to Paris due to his job with the diplomatic service. Once in Paris, Julia experiences the delights of French cuisine for the first time, and the rest is history. Shopping for ingredients for her latest culinary masterpiece at a local market, Julia encounters fellow American Tabitha Knight. Tabitha is half-French, so after the war, without many prospects at home in Detroit, she moves to France to stay with her grandfather. The two American ex-pats strike up a friendship and Julia attempts to help Tabitha with her cooking skills and her love life. Sharing a flat with Julia and Paul is Julia's sister Dort. Dort works in the theatre and often brings back her pals for long boozy evenings. One night, Tabitha leaves one of these parties at the same time as a young woman she just met, Thérèse. Tabitha only lives across the street, so she bids Thérèse farewell and leaves her to wait for a taxi. The next morning, Thérèse is found murdered in the stairwell of Julia's building. Even worse, the murder weapon turns out to be Julia's favorite chef's knife. This means that someone who attended the party that night must be the killer.

Handsome Inspector Merveille doesn't believe that Tabitha is telling him all she knows about the mysterious Thérèse, especially after a handwritten note containing Tabitha's name and address is found in the murdered woman's pocket. Tabitha's father is a policeman back in Detroit, and she grew up listening to his stories of crime investigation. She's also an avid reader of mystery novels, so it doesn't take much persuading from Julia to convince her to do some investigating on her own. Julia sometimes helps out in the sleuthing (and she definitely wants to hear all about it), but she spends most of the novel cooking up delicious concoctions that keep everyone occupied as Tabitha goes about Paris looking for clues. Julia also has her own mystery to solve: why does her mayonnaise only work on certain days? It's a puzzle . . .

The book is a wonderful love letter to the sights, sounds and smells of Paris. Even though it's a large city, Tabitha and Julia live in a small neighborhood where everyone knows everyone, and the gossip is gentle. Julia is forever gathering ingredients for delicious meals she makes whirling around in her kitchen like a tornado. The story is very cozy, featuring grandfather and his partner "Uncle Rafe" and their spoiled pets, Oscar Wilde the dog and Madame X the aloof black cat. I also enjoyed the plucky Tabitha, complete with her trusty Swiss army knife, who fearlessly takes on danger in pursuit of the truth.