MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER (An American in Paris Book #1) by Colleen Cambridge is the entertaining first book in this new historical mystery series set in Paris post WWII featuring a young American transplant in Paris who is the best friend of Julia Child. After reading and loving Ms. Cambridge’s historical mystery series set at Mallowan Hall with Agatha Christie as the best friend of the protagonist, I was excited to try this new protagonist and series.

Tabitha Knight grew up in Detroit, but her Grandmere was French and Tabitha grew up bilingual. With the passing of her Grandmere, she travels to post WWII Paris to stay with her Grandpere and Oncle Rafe.. She is tutoring French to Americans in Paris after the war and has become friends with Julia Child. When returning from the market, Tabitha and Julia learn of a murdered girl in the cellar of Julia’s apartment building. Tabitha recognizes the victim from a party the night before and the murder weapon discovered by Inspector Merveille is one of Julia’s expensive chef knives from her kitchen.

The suspects are all from the English-speaking theater troupe Julia’s sister, Dort works for that were at the late-night party, Tabitha is determined to clear her friend’s names even with the Inspector telling her to stay out of the investigation. With some aide from her Grandpere and Oncle, Tabitha hopes to find the real killer before any of her friends are jailed or even worse.

This is an exciting amateur sleuth mystery set in an interesting time and location. Tabitha is a resourceful and brave protagonist, who also gets herself into a few dangerous situations due to her excessive curiosity. The friendship with Julia Child is a perfect setup for fun dialogue as Julia tries to teach Tabitha how to cook and shop at the local market so she can prepare dinners for her Grandpere and Oncle. I look forward to discovering more about these gentlemen, because there is definitely more than what has been yet revealed about their lives prior to Tabitha coming to live with them. The plot has plenty of red herrings and twists that kept me reading through all of Tabitha’s adventures and discoveries, but it does start out a bit slow. All plot threads come together and are satisfactorily revealed at the conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and learning more about all these characters.

I recommend this historical mystery with memorable characters and 1950’s Paris.

What happens when you and Julia Child discover a body in a basement? Tabitha has been befriended by Julia in Paris after arriving from Detroit to stay with her grandfather. While trying to figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life, she stumbles upon a murder and starts to investigate. This read was so fun. The mystery along with the snippets into Julia learning how to cook were delightful. Highly recommended.

A fabulous first in series! Fans of Julia Child and historical cozy mysteries will absolutely love this book! A clever mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end die for (hahah) setting! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more by this author.

Colleen Cambridge's MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER would be a perfect read for those who like cozy mysteries and gourmet food. This story would make for a fun day poolside partly because it introduces a side character who is none other than Julia Child.

Several steps up from "fan fiction" this tale serves a plate of mystery with a side of a fun look into Julia coming into her own concocting recipes.

Tabitha, who is our main character and Julia's friend, discovers a dead body at one of Julia's sister's famous parties. She gets roped into becoming an amateur sleuth to nab the killer.

I really enjoyed 29-year-old Tabitha. There was a nice hint of romance between her and another character. I hope a sequel happens and our girl gets her guy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-copy of MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER to review.

I rate MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER four out of five stars.

Recipe for a fantastic new series!

I can’t tell you the last time I was so excited and enthused about a new Cozy Mystery series. Colleen Cambridge has the winning recipe for a best seller in Mastering the Art of French Murder!

Imagine being in Paris after WWII when Julia Child is learning how to master the art of French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu. Wouldn’t you love to be in the kitchen with her? Ex-pat Tabitha Knight is the lucky American living with her French grandfather across the street from Miss Julia herself, learning to cook in the new chef’s tiny kitchen. But murder hits too close to home when a beautiful young French-woman is murdered at Julia’s sister’s party, and with the chef’s own knife!

Tabitha is worried sick that new friends Julia, Paul (Julia’s husband) or Dort (Julia’s sister) will be accused of the murder, so she decides to investigate. It had to be one of the handsome young men at the party - all members of an American Theatre group working on a play based on an Agatha Christie novel.

Tabitha proves herself to be quite the amateur sleuth when she finds several clues the police themselves miss, but it also leads her to nearly getting her own goose cooked….twice.

The author, Colleen Cambridge, has cooked up an exciting new series that kept me immersed in the story, enthralled by the plot, the characters, and the cooking until the very end. While a fictional story, it was a fun peek into the private lives of Julia and her beloved husband Paul during a pivotal time in her life.

It was also exciting to peek into the city of a Paris recovering from the war, yet also a city rife with spies. And the cooking! I admit I’m not much of a cook at all, but reading along as Tabitha learns at the knees of the Grand Dame of Cooking makes me want to learn as well.

The author has a fresh and exciting voice for Cozies, and keeping the reader engaged in the story from beginning to end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I’m more than happy to share my thoughts and enthusiasm for this new series.

This author is amazing! Great story, good mystery, and part historical fiction. All my favorite things rolled into one. Highly recommend!!!

As I was reading this mystery, I kept thinking that the heroine wasn't that sharp and that the writing was a bit clunky. Now, several weeks later, what I remember most of all if the fun of the mystery and especially the post-war Parisian setting. Great literature it's not, but recommended for cozy mystery fans looking for a fun read.

In the winter of 1949, American Tabitha Knight has recently arrived in Paris for an extended visit with her wealthy grandfather and "uncle." With a French mother, Tabitha is fluent in French and makes money tutoring American women and children in the language. And having ended her four-year engagement and left her wartime job as a riveter in an airplane factory, she is eager to make new friends and learn how to better prepare meals for her elderly "monsieurs," now that their cook is no longer available.

In the latter pursuit, Tabitha is fortunate to become the good friend of a young Julia Child. Julia, who lives nearby with her husband, Paul, and attends the famed Cordon Bleu cooking school, frequently hosts get-togethers organized by her sister Dort (Dorothy), who works in the business office of an American theatre company. One day, a murder victim is discovered in Julia's building, and Tabitha recognizes her as someone she met briefly at the previous night's party, to which Dort had invited her. As Tabitha has become friendly with some of the theatre company, she wants to help investigate, even though Inspector Merveille has clearly not asked for her help.

One of the many things that make this book well worth reading is the lovely descriptions of a Paris that has emerged from the days of rationing to return to its former glory. Tabitha is a delightfully rendered character, although too willing to put herself in dangerous situations. Julia, as a supporting character, is equally charming--and then there's the food! And the wonderful "monsieurs" add humor and class to the story. It's a clever mystery with a satisfying resolution, and I'm hoping this book might turn into a series.

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

3.5 stars - couldn't decide between 3 or 4

Mastering the Art of French Murder had all the components of something that I usually like - a "cozy" murder, interesting setting (Paris!), historical characters thrown into a fictional setting (Julia Child!), and even cooking.

We follow the protagonist, American Tabitha Knight, as she lives in post-WWII France with her grandfather and Oncle Rafe after leaving her job as a riveter in the US after the war ends. She is slowly learning to cook from her neighbor, Julia Child, while enjoying her life in France and her friendship with Julia's niece, Dort, who works at an American Theater. However, after a party at Julia's house one night, one of the guests is found murdered, and Tabitha is drawn in to the intrigues of post-war Paris and the people who attended the party. She meets Inspector Merveille, a young Frenchman who is investigating the murder, and who has suspicions of Tabitha since she had some connections to the murdered woman.

So why only 3 stars? Well, the book is slow. The things Tabitha discovers are not very helpful in discovering who the murderer is. So unfortunately, I found myself struggling to stay engaged in this book. I am guessing this will be the first of many books in a series, and because the writer has some talent, for sure, I am hopeful that in future books we will get a better plot and I would consider reading the next installment.

This is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

What a fun book--mixing a lot of Julia Child with a bit more of Agatha Christie--and some cooking lessons. Colleen Cambridge has out done the traditional cozy murder mystery with a great blend of historical fiction. Mastering the Art of French Murder is a great escape read. Highly recommended.

What a delightful spin on the Christie method of mystery writing. The author supposes Julie Child is a neighbor who gives a party on the night a murder occurs. It’s a fun idea that takes full advantage of Julia’s time in France. The fact that she is working on her masterful tome and Paris being Paris the food descriptions are devine. I loved every facet of this otherwise simple mystery.

What a fun whodunit read!
A murder happened in Julia Child's building and left them all wondering who the murderer was. Julia's friend and neighbor, Tabitha was great at problem solving and Julia knew she could solve this murder. While Tabitha is putting the pieces together and Julia is creating delicious meals they solve this murder just in time.

Truly a cozy mystery, complete with Julia Child and set in Paris. A quick read with a new character, Tabitha Knight. . When a body is found in Julia's building, Tabitha, or Tab, is quick to start investigating on her own. Then a second murder at the theater where Julia's sister works. Is this coincidence or is there a connection? Random murders or something more serious? Read and find out along with Tabs.

“I suppose if one could count having a father for an investigator and reading mystery novels as the groundwork for real-life detection experience, I was as prepared as anyone.”

I would probably classify this book as a ‘cozy mystery.’

There is a double murder to solve and a killer at large, but it’s within the context of a light-hearted friendship between Tabitha (our protagonist) and Julia Child (the not-yet-famous chef). Hence the play on words with the title.

Tellingly, the first line of the book is: “Julia Child had a mayonnaise problem.”

This is a work of fiction even though Julia Child is a character. The author takes artistic liberties with Child. Basing this book in Paris while Child, an American, is studying culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu, befriends a neighbor— Tabitha— who is also an American, and a terrible cook.

In between Tabitha’s Nancy Drew escapades, she is learning how to cook from Julia so she can prepare meals for her grandfather and uncle (who is not actually her uncle) at their house where she is living for awhile post-WWII.

And, of course, Julia is working on making mayonnaise.

Not to spoil it but…. “we celebrate the solving of two mysteries this week: The Murder With the Chef’s Knife and The Problem of the Bad Mayonnaise!”

It’s a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Tabitha even makes remarks as she sets out to investigate on her own that if things ‘were like a Nancy Drew story’ then coincidences would actually be clues, etc.

And Julia says, “‘Just like an Agatha Christie novel— all the questions answered at the end, and the villain is caught, and everyone else is happy—’”

So, in case you were wondering, they DO solve the mystery. I had my suspicions and the killer wasn’t out of left field but it was still a nice mystery and I second guessed myself a few times.

I am not a pet-person so all the comments about their pets and cats got a little old, but apparently:

“Cats seemed to be just as much an integral part of Paris as her food and lights.”

And I just googled it to confirm: There are 13.5 million cats in France— the second (to Germany) highest number in all of Europe.

I guess Cambridge did her research!

Another thing that annoyed me was all the times we were told they laughed at something funny. Sometimes I prefer to decide for myself if the characters laughed. I can usually tell when something funny is written. But this is a nit-picky thing.

I thought it was interesting that the author indicates that she wanted to write about a female who had had ‘a man’s job’ during the war (a.k.a Rosie the Riveter) but then were at a loss when all the men came home and worked their jobs again.

Tabitha is one such woman.

“I’d always been a bit of a tomboy, to the dismay of my very ladylike French mother and grandmother.”

No longer needed to rivet on planes, she has taken a leave in Paris. Using her ‘detective skills’ gives her a bit of purpose… and a reason to wear trousers, which is illegal in Paris unless riding a bike.

I also learned about coca-colonization which began during the time period this book is set in. The French did not like the expansion of Coke in their country as they associated it with the Communist party and feared it was a distribution system for spies.

Which reminds me… have any of you tried Faygo pop? (It makes a cameo in the book. Shout out to Detroit… or should I say De-twa…)

In conclusion, this is not a hard-hitting intense thriller. But it’s a cozy, clean mystery with a twinge of historical fiction and has it’s own suspense at the climax of the book.

I would recommend this book to readers looking something lighter but still with a decent plot.

And to readers who would like to learn how to cook a chicken and make mayonnaise.



[Content Advisory- clean book- no swearing or sexual content]

**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

My thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for allowing me to review this arc of this utterly delightfully charming book.

Tabitha Knight travels from America to stay with her grandfather and connect with her friend Julia Child, her husband Paul, an embassy employee, and Julia s sister Dort. While there Tabitha gets involved with murder when she discovers a body in a cellar that was a guest of a party she attended given by Julia s sister. This leads to a much deeper situation and more bodies. I loved how Julia was one of the "detectives". I cannot wait to read more of these.

I loved the combination of mystery and historical fiction in this book. I also loved the setting being in Paris and that Julia Childs was her fictional neighbor. Throw in a murder, and you have my kind of book.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington books for the advanced copy of this book. This is my first from this author, but I will definitely be reading her next novel.

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge is a delightful cozy mystery. As you might gather, the novel is set in the city of lights just after WWII, when Julia and Paul Child find themselves working and cooking in Paris. I worried about such a larger than life character like Julia Child being difficult to capture in a mystery, but the author does a great job of weaving her in and out of the story without it feeling forced or like too much of a celebrity taking up unnecessary space. I loved the heroine, Tabitha's tenacity and drive. She was a really well-rounded character and following her on the mystery of the dead woman in the alley behind Julia's house felt like I was tagging along with my bestie on an amazing adventure. I am excited to see what's next for Tabitha and her crew in the next installment of An American in Paris. My only request? More Paris!

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for this early review copy. The premise of this one was what drew me to it initially . I love Julia Child so was excited to see her represented here.

Having the setting be paris was so fun, and even more special because we will be visiting in January, can't wait to see some of the places mentioned.

The mystery element was okay, I liked our main character and her detective skills were fine. I maybe could gave done with a little more options, maybe a few red herrings?

Over all I liked this one and would read more from the author

The first in a new series, Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge, is a wonderful blend of history, reality, and imagination. As soon as I saw the plot includes Julia Child, I knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed---the intriguing storyline, good pacing, engaging characters, and gorgeous setting combine to make a great read. Ms. Cambridge uses historical fact and setting, along with some characters who were real people---like Julia, Paul, and Dort---blended with her created characters like Tabitha, our erstwhile, amateur detective. I enjoyed everything about this book.
Tabitha and Julia live across the courtyard from each other, Julia with her husband and sister---Tabitha with her French Oncle and Grandfather. When a body turns up in Julia's building, Tabitha jumps in to try and solve the crime in protection of Julia and her sister, Dorothy--- much to the French police detective's annoyance. As the suspense rises, so does the danger .
The food descriptions are heavenly, as is the location and time period. I can hardly wait for the next installment in this creative mystery series.
#MasteringtheArtofFrenchMurder #NetGalley #Kensington #ColleenCambridge
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books with Colleen Cambridge for granting me the ARC e-book I requested. All opinions and thoughts are my own.