Mixing food, Paris, and murder? Sign me up! This book was really enjoyable and I was so excited to receive a copy. I loved the twists and getting immersed in the Parisian life.

I’m going to state this upfront: I only agreed to read and review this book because it was Julia Childs historical fiction. I had low expectations for it. But I ended up devouring the novel and wanting more (thank god Cambridge is making this a series). Mastering the Art of French Murder actually focuses on Childs’s (fictional) close friend and neighbor, Tabitha. After a late night party at Childs’s house, Tabitha finds herself embroiled in the murder of another party guest. In order to clear her name, she starts investigating on her own and stumbles into a mystery that gets more and more confusing. This is a great mystery for all cozy mystery lovers and Childs fans.

This is a quick read and cozy mystery set post WWII - I was drawn to it for the connection to Paris, Julia Child and a spunky young woman turned investigator. I found it to be a fun read - light on the mystery but with likeable characters.

Tabitha moves to Paris, living with her grandfather and uncle, after she is no longer needed in the American wartime factories. Friends with Julia Child, Tabitha becomes embroiled in a murder after attending a party with Julia’s sister, Dort. The murdered woman works in a theater company with the party attendees. Tabitha worries her and Julia are suspects, so she starts to investigate on her own. A good first book in a new series. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

As someone who enjoyed Nancy Drew as a kid I do believe this is a great mystery. Some aspects were in fact predictable, but I overall enjoyed this book.

Watching Tabitha put the pieces of the puzzle together while almost getting killed twice was nerve wrenching. The struggles that Julia Child had with mastering the art of mayonnaise making was a hoot.

Highly recommend this book.

Mastering the Art of French Murder is the first book in a new series by Colleen Cambridge. The novel is set in post WWII Paris, where Julia Child’s fictional best friend, Tabitha, is living with her Grandfather and “Oncle” Rafe. Fans of Julia and France will be happy to see that details about both were well researched and Cambridge depicts them in loving detail. Tabitha worked in a factory during war time in Michigan and feels at odds with returning to a world where women are expected to wear dresses and simply get married, so takes the opportunity to temporarily relocate to Paris and works as an English tutor, while trying to decide what her next chapter in life will be. She also struggles in the kitchen and looks to her friend for cooking tips, which allows for some fun, light hearted moments amongst a mystery committed with Julia’s own chef knife. I enjoyed Tabitha and her interactions with her family and friends, but the mystery itself is also a clever one that draws from historic details. I’m hoping there will be many more in the charming American in Paris Mystery Series. I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher and Netgalley so I could give an honest review.

A quick read and cozy mystery, Mastering the Art of French Murder: An American in Paris Mystery by Colleen Cambridge is set after World War II, when people are starting to appreciate the better things again but coffee is still rationed and intrigue still lurks in the shadows. The American protagonist Tabitha recently moved to Paris after a Rosie the Riveter commitment to the war effort and a broken romance gave her cause and confidence for an enhanced outlook that makes for an entertaining read. Julia Child, husband Paul, and sister Dort are her neighbors and friends.

When I finished the book, I found myself wishing for more scenes featuring the lively Julia and less focus on the mundane Tabitha. The book came to life whenever Julia's vibrant energy was present. Hopefully, the next installment will have more Julia and delve deeper into the backgrounds of Tabitha's grandfather and Rafe, as there must be more to their stories.

The concept of Russian spies in France was intriguing, and the suggestion that the Child’s, particularly Paul, might be spies compelled me to pay closer attention. However, since this speculation was never confirmed, I appreciate that Colleen Cambridge did not jump to any definitive conclusions.

Whether or not I will continue reading the series, I am undecided. While I adore Julia, I could do without as much focus on Tabitha.

An interesting mystery set during post WWII when Julia Child and her husband were in Paris and she was taking lessons at the Cordon Bleu cooking school. Julia’s sister lives with them and is working at a theatre. Tabitha Knight, an American living with her grandfather is a neighbor to the Childs and sets our to clear both her name and Julia’s when a woman who they both barely knew (a guest of Julia’s sister for an evening party) is murdered using one of Julia’s kitchen knives and has a note from Tabitha in her pocket.

Paris, cooking, and a mystery, say no more. Really enjoyed this book, highly recommend, will be re-reading again soon at a slower pace so I can enjoy it again.

I so enjoy a good cozy mystery and was delighted when I came across one set in 1950s Paris featuring Julia Childs, and a murder mystery. The first in a new series Mastering the Art of French Murder follows American Tabatha as she leaves behind her factory work during WWII and steps into the post-war world of Paris. Of course, murder, mayhem, and some delicious food ensues.

Always intrigued by the 1950s and life during that time, this book truly set the stage for Paris and the daily functions of life at the start of the Cold War. I liked the imagining of how Julie’s home and the start of her career was. Her friendship with Tabatha was such a positive one and each really was looking out for the other.

Speaking of Tabitha, her sleuthing adventures were entertaining, and I’m curious to see what she will get up to next. Certainly a fun start to a new series and one I will continue as stories are added.

This is the first in a new cozy mystery series that takes place in Paris in the 1950s. Tabitha comes to Paris to live with her Grandfather and becomes involved in a murder case. Her neighbor and friend is Julia Child, who is of course, trying to teach Tabitha to cook. A fun story, with interesting characters, I’ll look forward to the next one.

I loved this book!! The mystery, the who-done-it had me on the edge of my seat until the end. I highly recommend this book!!!

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER, a historical mystery by Colleen Cambridge, is a LibraryReads selection for April and the first book in a new series subtitled An American in Paris. Cambridge has written numerous other mystery stories and this one's twist is that budding chef Julia Child is neighbor and friend to the protagonist, Tabitha Knight. The story takes place in post-WWII Paris and a young woman is found dead after a late night party at Julia Child's residence. Tabitha (recently arrived from Detroit) sets out to solve the murder and keep blame from falling on Julia and/or her family. Unfortunately, Tabitha seems rather naïve and impulsively reckless, leading to some unnecessarily dangerous situations. For me, the time period and the descriptions of the city itself (with scenes near the Eiffel Tower and in Montmartre) were stronger aspects than the puzzle of the murder; the party guest list in effect limited suspects to a narrow, sometimes hard to distinguish, list. However, the series has potential and fans of historical mysteries (and, as others have noted, of authors like Jacqueline Winspear and Rhys Bowen) are likely to enjoy MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER.

Do you enjoy cooking? Do you have a favorite chef?

I love cooking, but I haven’t watched cooking shows that much. I love reading and learning about Julia Child, but I’ll admit, I’ve never seen her classic show!

Tabitha Knight has recently moved to Paris to stay with her French Grandpere. She has become friends with Julia Child who lives across the street from her. After a woman is discovered dead in the basement of Child’s building, killed with one of her knives, Tabitha is using all of her skills to solve the crime before her friend is put into jail.

I loved the description of France and the delicious food. I was ready to fly to Paris when I was reading this. I loved the 1950’s setting and the characters. Julia Child was larger than life and had a great repartee with Tabitha. Tabitha was the narrator of the novel and she was originally from Detroit. I loved the Detroit references that were in the novel. I also loved Grandpère and Oncle Rafe. There were hints of a great backstory for the two of them in World War II and I am hoping we learn more about it in future novels. Their dog and cat were cute as well. The mystery was cozy and kept me guessing. I am ready for book 2!

In 1949, Tabitha Knight travels from Detroit to visit her grandfather in Paris. There she makes friends with Julia Child, who is studying French cooking; she also teaches Tabitha to cook. After a party at the Child apartment, a visitor is discovered dead, and Tabitha goes on a quest to find the killer - leading her to a small theater in Paris and adventures through the city.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction, am an avid mystery reader, am a Francophile, and interested in Julia Child and foodie fiction.

Mastering the Art of French Murder far exceeded any expectations I had as a reader. It is a delightful book, my favorite read so far this year. It is refreshingly unique -- a historical mystery that is fast paced and lively, with a strong female protagonist, and Julia Child as a lively and engaging character.

The details about Paris post-war, French life, and especially cooking and French food are all amazing! I will admit that I found myself constantly craving French food as I read details about the cooking -- especially Julia Child's attempts to discover how to make the most perfect herbed mayonnaise.

The mystery is exciting, with several viable suspects. Tabitha is a bold and intelligent amateur sleuth, and I enjoyed her sleuthing in the theater world especially.

I absolutely cannot recommend Mastering the Art of French Murder highly enough. It is a delight for fans of historical fiction, mysteries, Paris, Julia Child, or foodie fiction. Five enthusiastic stars!

If you like cozy mysteries, then this book is for you. A cute novel about an American in Paris who is caught in the middle of a murder mystery. Tabitha befriends Julia Child while in Paris. In between their cooking lessons they stumble upon a murder victim, and realize they must know the killer. I like the references to French words and culture. As a Michigander I also loved the references to Detroit, where Tabitha is from. Overall a cute, quick read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the p remise new and intriguing of a young woman coming to Paris to study cooking and finding herself a neighbor of Julia Child . Julia helps coach her cooking while l e our heroine also solves a murder. The author captured Julia so well, I could hear her speaking A delightful read which I highly recommend @

It’s 1949 in post-war Paris and the City of Light is coming back to life again. A young Julia Child has recently arrived with her husband Paul who was working at the US Embassy. To keep herself busy she has enrolled at the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school and is working on perfecting the classic French dishes that she will later publish in her iconic cookbook. Across the street lives her fictional neighbour, Tabitha who has also recently arrived from America to live with her French grandfather and his partner, who she calls Oncle Rafe. Tabitha worked in an aircraft factory during the war but after the war found herself out of a job. Raised by her French grandmother, she is paying her way by tutoring French to Americans living in Paris. Since Tabitha is a terrible cook, Julia has taken her under her wing and is teaching her how to shop (and pick up local gossip) at the markets and to cook simple dishes, much to her grandfather and Oncle Rafe’s delight.

Julia’s sister Dort is currently visiting and working at a theatre that puts on plays in English and often invites the cast and crew back to Julia’s to party after a show. When a body of a young woman is found one morning in the cellar of Julia’s building, Tabitha recognises her as one of Dort’s guests from the night before. Although neither she nor Julia knew the woman, Inspector Merveille of the police judiciare discovers she was stabbed by a knife from Julia’s kitchen. In order to protect Julia from being accused of her murder, Tabitha must take on the role of amateur sleuth. Meanwhile, Julia has her own mystery to solve – that of why her mayonnaise recipe doesn’t always work.

This is a delightful and enchanting murder mystery full of charm and wit. The sights and sounds of springtime in Paris make a wonderfully atmospheric setting for the mystery and the characters are all lively with interesting personalities. Grandfather and Oncle Rafe were both members of the French resistance and have clearly had interesting lives, with many useful contacts. Although Julia is not involved in investigating the murder, her cooking journey and friendship with Tabitha makes a wonderful backdrop to the mystery and it’s hard not to smile at Tabitha’s cooking disasters and relish the wonderful delights being created in Julia’s tiny kitchen (as well as her many disastrous experiments with mayonnaise). Tabitha is resourceful and plucky, ready to take on anything, even at the risk of being harmed. The mystery is a good one and after a slow build up becomes very suspenseful as the reason behind the murder emerges. Inspector Merveille is clever but enigmatic, a mystery to be investigated further in the future perhaps, as this happily appears to be the first of a new series.

1949 Paris. Tabitha Knight, 29, has come to Paris to live with her grandfather Maurice Saint-Leger and his friend Rafael Fautrier. There she meets Julia Child. One evening she is invited to a party at their home but the next morning one of the guests is discovered dead. Inspector Etienne Merveille investigates but as Tabitha is also one of the suspects she decides to start asking questions. But what could be the possible motive.
An entertaining and well-written cozy mystery with its likeable cast of characters. A good start to this series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.