3.75/5

Is there a such thing as a cute, murder mystery? If so, that’s where this book would fall. I’m not sure fiction stories that contain real life characters are my thing, which was partially what kept me from enjoying it more. I loved the characters, but I wanted the mystery to be a little more dark.

What worked for me:
•Set in post war Paris
•Extremely lovable side characters (Grand-père & Oncle Rafe felt like reading a hug)
•Pacing kept me interested

What didn’t work for me:
•Tabitha’s very naive, almost childish commentary
•Her friend being Julia Child. The story could have been the exact same with any character who happened to cook well with a husband working at the embassy

Read if you like: The Christie Affair, post war Paris historical fiction, Only Murders in the Building

Tabitha was a “Rosie the Riveter” in Detroit during the war. With the war over and society forcing her out of the factory she’s looking for something missing in her life. Enter her chance to move to Paris and live with her French grandfather & his partner. She befriends their neighbor, a pre-fame Julia Child. After a party at Julia’s house a guest is found dead in the building. Tabitha, The Childs, and everyone at the party are suspects. Tabitha takes it upon herself to do some sleuthing, giving the frustrated police what she finds along the way. Will Tabitha solve the murder before she or someone she cares about is next?

Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington for providing me this ARC for review.

In Mastering the Art of French Murder, author Colleen Cambridge does for Julia Child what she's done for Agatha Christie in her other historical mystery series featuring Christie's housekeeper, Phyllida Bright. As in the Phyllida Bright series, Julia doesn't take center stage in the investigation. She is there to provide Tabitha with a sounding board, a little encouragement, and plenty of cooking tips. For someone like me who is familiar with Child through her television series The French Chef and the movie Julie & Julia, this book brought a smile to my face.

Young Tabitha Knight shows the dilemma many women faced at the end of World War II. She thrived as one of the many Rosie the Riveters, but when the war ended, her job disappeared, and it's almost impossible to find an alternative that feels just as important and just as fulfilling. Although Tabitha is a dab hand with a Swiss Army knife, I did find her to be annoying. Always pushing. Always snooping. Always taking just one more risk. There were times I wished she'd stay in the kitchen with Julia, and that's not normal because I don't like to cook.

The mystery surrounding the young woman's death is an excellent one, and Julia Child's cameos kept me from paying as much attention to it as I should have. All in all, Mastering the Art of French Murder is a good start to a new series and should appeal to readers who are interested in solving an intriguing mystery vividly set in a Paris still recovering from World War II.

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER by Colleen Cambridge and narrated by Polly Lee is the first of the charming American in Paris Mystery Series.

This story brings us Tabitha Knight in 1949 Paris, the close friend of Julia Child, who incidentally is having a mayonnaise crisis. Tabitha is enjoying her expat status with extended family and especially with Julia, until one day a body is discovered in Julia's cellar with her favorite chef's knife imbedded. Try as she might (she doesn't), Tabitha is drawn into the mystery, making sure neither she or her friend is implicated.

This is a winsome tale, bringing in the ebullient Julia Child, with just a dash of her irreverence to keep the ever prim Tabitha in a bit of color. The mystery that threatens Tabitha's reboot is one that felt both clever and cozy.

I was able to enjoy both the digital and audio versions, and I loved this combination. The audio is delightful, with a bit of the distinctive Julia voice, while keeping all the other characters clear and the French smooth! I really liked having the digital copy to follow or read specifically when the end became full of details that I didn't want to miss.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to read and listen and share my thoughts! This cozy mystery will be available on April 25. If you enjoyed the author's Phyllida Bright stories, this will be right up your alley!

This was an interesting premise and read for me, and overall I found it a fast and enjoyable read. Individually, I loved all the components of this from the food and the city descriptions to the characters. The mystery was good, but it felt a bit too rushed at the end; she just suddenly realised clues? It just seemed too easy at the end. But, it was fun and I'm looking forward to book 2.

I really like the other series that this author writes [in fact, it is one of my current favorites] and so I was really looking forward to reading this new series that features Julia Child as the good friend of the main character, Tabitha.

Sigh.

This just didn't work for me. At all. While there were moments that I liked [Faygo Pop and Boblo Island anyone?? OMG. Such memories of all my time in Livonia, a suburb of Detroit], but overall, no. Just no. Tabitha is not a very likeable MC and she has so many TSTL moments [she needs to shut that little imp in her head down right away] that I was totally surprised that she was still alive at the end [and that is not hyperbole]. The was a ton of crass language that really surprised me [though NOT from Julia Child. She was the only one who DIDN'T swear; well she would, but it was be "Julia said a vulgar word", not the actual word. Everyone else used very crass language]. It was off-putting [I am not a prude, I don't mind language, but this felt off and gratuitous, which I DO mind] The whole mystery and reveal was...meh. There wasn't anything to really keep my interest and I kept finding myself doing other things instead of listening to the book. I was really disappointed all while being relieved that the book was over. I highly doubt that I will read book 2 should there be one.

In regards to the audiobook that I received as an ARC:
1. For the love of all things holy, unless you can do a perfect mimic of Julia Child, DO NOT TRY AND DO HER VOICE. Please. She is seriously rolling over in her grave and if she was still alive, she would be singularly unimpressed. Wow. That was just awful.
2. IF a book is set in France and half of the characters are FRENCH, then one should be able to do a French accent and not make everyone sound like they were from Midwest America. IF you cannot do a French accent, then DO NOT DO VOICES. Please. Pretty sure that anyone who is French and listens to this will be offended. I am NOT French and I was offended. It was just awful.
3. I will say she did male voices well, but again, they were all French and well, see #2. Sigh.

I did not love this book and thought that some of it came from this awful audiobook - it did not. It still wasn't a great book, even when just read, but I cannot, at all, recommend this audiobook. It was just an awful listening experience for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Kensington Books for providing the ARCS in exchange for an honest review

This was a great little mystery and a delight to have Julia Child as one of the characters! I enjoyed the characters, storyline and location.

Julia's friend Tabitha works to uncover the mystery of who murdered a party guest after leaving Julia's apartment one night. Preferably before the murderer strikes again.

There were plenty of twists and turns in the story that were woven together beautifully. I truly look forward to the next installment in this series!

Thank you to Colleen Cambridge, Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

I received a copy from NetGalley for review.

I was immediately sucked into this story. For as much as I hated being in Paris in real life, I really enjoyed reading this post WW2 story about a murder mystery that involves the theatre, Julia Child, and spies! I had no idea who the killer was until about 60-70% of the way into the book (although I suspected a couple of people) and was pleasantly surprised in the end. I laughed at some point when Tabitha was in the theatre near the end and hearing noises. I know that it was needed to move the plot along, but I while taking notes I definitely added "white women curiosity will get you into trouble every time" and it definitely did this time.

My only gripes with the book were some of the longer chapters and that in the middle of the book Tabitha stopped interacting with the suspects almost completely to follow random clues. It all worked out in the end, but I wish those had been rectified sooner.

A delicious cozy set in 1950s Paris, the City of Lights, with lovely historical details that truly set the scene. Delightful morsels of food and intrigue and a charming heroine, Tabitha, half-American, half-French, who is best friends with Julia Child (before fame and television). Tabs more than matches Julia's quirky manners (who is experimenting with French cooking), and the plot has great twists. Tabitha shows gutsy courage outside of the kitchen to identify the killer's devious plans. Highly recommended!

Tabs has left Detroit behind for Paris and she's having a good time. She's- best of all- become friends with Julia Child and even though she's not doing well with cooking, she's eating (the food descriptions are wonderful). And then she finds the body of a young woman who attended a party thrown by Julia's sister Dort. One of Julia's knives is the murder weapon! Well, since she's convinced that neither Dort nor Julia was the villain, she embarks on an ambitious effort to clear their names and find the real murderer. It's very much classic cozy but it's transplanted to Paris in the 1950s (sigh). Know that Julia is pretty much a bit player (as is Dort) but that didn't matter. There are some good twists, a few red herrings, and it's a hoot in spots. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good start to a new series.

What a delightful book if you are a fan of historical fiction (Paris after WWII and food rations have been eliminated), mysteries and thrillers and Julia Child. Tabitha, a recent ex-pat from Detroit, is living with her French grandfather and is a neighbor of Julia Child. One morning returning from the market, Tabitha and Julia answer the cries of Julie’s day maid who has discovered the dead body of a young woman. The victim was someone Tabitha had just met last night at a party of Julia’s sister, Dort. Worse, the weapon was a knife from Julia’s kitchen. Tabitha decides to follow up some clues after Dory asks her to help out as a coat check person in the theatre where the victim had worked. The author was able to present Julia in such a style of her cookbooks or cooking shows. One will be able to bake a fabulous roast chicken at the very least after reading this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC; the review is my honest opinion.

I was captivated by this delicious book from page one. It's 1949 and, after her satisfying work building airplanes in Detroit during WWII, Tabitha Knight feels at loose ends. She breaks up with her fiance and goes to Paris for a change of pace, moving in with her grandpere and honorary uncle across the street from Julia Child, who is trying to teach Tabitha to cook. When the dead body of a woman is found in Julia's building, everyone in their circle is a suspect in the eyes of Inspector Merveille, and Tabitha is convinced she must do some of her own investigating to clear herself and her friends. The descriptions of Paris make you feel like you are walking the streets yourself, the characters are delightful, and the plot is fast-paced with enough clues -and red herrings- for you to think you've figured it out, but then you have to change your mind a few times before you get to the end. On top of all that, I felt like I could head into the kitchen and make a Julia Child-worthy omelet from wonderful descriptions of Julia teaching Tabitha. I'm delighted that this is the start of a new series; I'll definitely be looking out for book 2!

3.5 stars for this first in a new mystery series. I loved several things about this book: post WWII Paris during the Marshall Plan influence/early Cold War era, Julia Childs as a supporting character (how fun is that?), fabulous descriptions of Paris neighborhoods that made me want to go back and visit (I am sure due for another European vacation!). I'm the first to admit that I'm not a "cozy" fan, and the mystery itself and setting really had more depth than a typical cozy. I even like a Nancy Drew-like amateur detective. However, it did have a lot of the typical cozy content that often drives me nuts (ex. no one in their right mind would suddenly wonder about their friend's mayonnaise recipe amidst trying to escape a murderer... comments like those just make the MC seem silly and goose-brained and detract from the story IMHO). I also wish the author had included some recipes at the end of the book for an added Julia Childs flourish... what is a fabulous homemade mayo recipe? How about that seafood dish that made my mouth water? What is the trick to flipping the perfect French omelet?

Thank you to Kensington books and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

*3.5 stars rounded up. This is a unique cozy mystery set in Paris shortly after the end of WWII. Tabitha Knight, a young American woman from the suburbs of Detroit, has come to Paris to live with her grandfather and his partner after her job at the Willow Run bomber plant has ended. She is teaching French to other Americans living in Paris and has become great friends with a woman named Julia Child who lives across the street with her husband Paul and sister Dorothy.

The morning after a party at the Child's apartment, a woman's dead body is found in the building's basement. Tabitha recognizes her as one of the young people who were part of a theater group who had attended the party the night before. In fact, she may have been the last to see the woman alive as they came down in the elevator together that night. The last, other than the murderer, that is.

Being at loose ends and a life-long mystery reader, Tabitha can't help trying to involve herself in the investigation. Interesting characters and plenty of plot twists make this cozy mystery a quick read that keeps the reader guessing. And then there's Julia's delicious-sounding dishes to drool over! Who wouldn't want to have a friend like her?

I really enjoyed the references to the Detroit area mixed into the story: Boblo Island; Faygo pop (Which way did he go? Which way did he go? He went for Fay...go!); and of course, Vernor's. I am happy to see this appears to be the start of a new series that I'll definitely look forward to reading.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc to read via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

"Coca-cola just doesn't do it for me, you know, having been raised on Faygo."

Same. I picked myself up a little treat for some weekend reading, and was pleasantly surprised to see my beloved Faygo mentioned in this book 😂 Though, Red Pop is my favorite.

Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for this #arc - out April 25.

Synopsis: As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight is on her own journey of discovery. Thanks to her neighbor 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? Tabitha must navigate through the city hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison . . . or worse.

My thoughts:
I loved Tabitha, Grandpère and Oncle Rafe, loved the mystery, and the setting. And I loved the mentions of Michigan, Faygo, and Vernors ❤️ I'd definitely recommend this to #cozymysteryreaders

But, honestly, Julia Child's inclusion in the book felt a bit forced. I think she easily could have been swapped for any generic sidekick and the mystery would have remained the same. Her presence did give the book a very clever title, though 😊

This historical cozy mystery is the first in the An American in Paris Series by Colleen Cambridge. The author includes a note at the beginning of the story stating that Paul and Julia Child and her sister Dorothy (aka Dort) were real people living in Paris; the story is complete fiction. But isn't it great to imagine what Julia Child was like in Paris in the 1950s? What adventures did she have when she wasn't attending Le Cordon Bleu?

Cambridge has written a complex cast of characters and given each their own personality, thus making it easier to relate to them. Julia is portrayed much as she was in the movie Julie and Julia, bigger than life with a burning passion for making French cuisine. Tabitha is a woman in her mid-20s who is trying to figure out who she is after the war's end and her beloved grandmother's passing. Grand-Pere and Oncle Rafe are such mischievous gentlemen with interesting backgrounds.

If I can give one fault to the book, it is the mix of French and English. I understand the book is set in Paris, so the characters mostly speak French. But is it necessary to drop French phrases repeatedly? I found myself stumbling over them a little from time to time as I do not speak the language.

Another fault with the book was that I guessed who the culprit was halfway through the book. I didn't know the motivation until the end, and even with the one given, I feel like more could have been done. Maybe what I see as loose ends were left open, so Cambridge had a way to move the series forward?

A third fault with the book is the distinct lack of recipes at the end! How can you have a book talk about food so much and not share any recipes? Though there is a scene that involved Julia instructing Tabitha on the proper way to roast a chicken.

Are you a fan of cozy mysteries? What about reading books with fictionalized versions of real people? Do you feel like Nancy Drew helped create the person you are now? What about Agatha Christie? Or Julia Child? Then you should give Mastering the Art of French Murder a read!

Mastering the Art of French Murder is the first book in a new mystery series. Set in post-Second world war Paris, with a glamorous cast of characters, the historical ambiance is ideal for a moment of pure escapism. I’m glad I was able to read the novel while listening to the audiobook version, because the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. Julia Child is not a household name in France, ironically, but I knew who she was because I had seen the 2009 film Julie & Julia, and I could really picture Julia Child’s voice and mannerisms as portrayed by Meryl Streep.

I thought this first plot was interesting, but it suffered from long-winded descriptive parts. The narrator’s soothing voice and interpretation really kept me engaged, otherwise, I might have clocked out sooner rather than later. I did enjoy the author’s attention to details and delicate writing, but it would be more compelling to have a more upbeat pace in the upcoming installments.

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge is a fun cozy mystery. Attending Le Cordon Bleu and helping her friend Tabitha solve murders is something I can imagine Julia Childs actually doing during her time in France. I enjoyed this book and would love to read a sequel.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this mystery - about the only thing that bothered me was the propensity of our aspiring sleuth, Tabitha Knight, to dive headlong into dangerous, life threatening situations. Mastering the Art of French Murder checks all the boxes for a perfect cozy mystery - Amateur sleuth, relatively clean and violence free (some of the murders were graphic in nature though, and romance strongly hinted at although there were no spicy sex scenes), Julie Child's cooking a recipes featured prominently in the storyline, there were pets in the novel, and instead of a small town, the mystery was set in the City of Light - Paris.
The author, Colleen Cambridge includes some historical background in the story, giving us a glimpse of life in Paris in the 1950's after the rationing was done, and the Germans exiled. We learn a bit about how there was a strong Communist party in France, and some anti-American sentiment brewing. Paul Child was actually sent to Paris to be a part of the American embassy's efforts to support the Marshall plan. Our heroine, Tabitha Knight, is from Detroit Michigan, and worked as a Rosie the Riveter during WWII. She is not your typical young American woman, and loves her French grandfather and her Uncle. I will definitely continue this series!

This one started out strong. I love the idea of working with Julia Child in Paris but I found Tabitha a little annoying, especially with her need to slowly spell out details of the murder. This got tedious about halfway through and only picked up towards the end, where the ending fortunately saved it for me. Julia Child is a welcome addition but she feels added in just to give the reader something to look forward to; the sections with her, while informative, seem forced and don’t really fit in the story. The writing was easy to follow but was repetitive and overly descriptive in some places. Not sure if I will continue with the series.

A murder mystery set in the late 1940’s post World War II Paris, Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge is the definition of cozy. Tabitha Knight is a woman looking for her place in life. She was once a typical young woman of her times, then War came. She became a Rosie-the-Riveter, then the war ended and, like others at a time of cultural change, didn’t know where she belonged. She finds herself in Paris through familial connections and becomes neighbors and the best of friends to Julia Child. Yes, she is friends with the Julia Child. And yes, there is food, lots of deliciously described food. Oh, the butter had me salivating.

The relationship between Tabitha and Julia is a well-developed friendship in that each has what the other lacks. Julia is vibrant while Tabitha is of a calmer nature. They are also each other’s biggest cheerleader. It is a beautiful relationship, as is the relationship Tabitha has with her grandfather and honorary uncle, her messieurs. Did I mention that many of the terms are in french? I had to dig into my 5th grade French lessons to remember how to pronounce certain phrases. They are peppered throughout the novel so as not to be too overwhelming.

Now, for the mystery, it was not overly complicated. However, it was evident that the plot was influenced by Agatha Christie right up until the very end. References are made to Christie’s books and characters. There was even a reference to Christie’s book And Then There Were None, which is referred to as Ten Little Indians. (Typing that out makes me feel dirty, but not nearly as dirty if I used the real name of the book. That is something for another time.)

All in all, if you are looking for an easy read and like Agatha Christie novels, I would encourage you to give this story a try.

3.5/5