A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge finds Tabi (Tabitha) living in Paris with her grandfather and his friend and across the street from Julia Child, early in her career. They depended on Julia for their meals, either directly or with something she had taught Tabi. They were fast friends and so when Tabi got caught up in a murder, there was Julia by her side. Her grandfather and Oncle Rafe were busy with plans to reopen their favorite restaurant, which had been a casualty of the war. Tabi worked as a translator for anyone who cared to hire her and so she ended up at Maison Lannet with a woman who was looking for a dress to wear to her daughter’s wedding. While looking for one of the mannequins (models), Tabi came upon the dead body of the madame herself, Lannet. Police were called. Her friend, Merville, was not the inspector to answer the call. She was disappointed. She noticed several clues that the inspector didn’t seem to consider important.

This is a lovely book. These people lead charmed lives; their home is wonderful, and it is Paris, after all. Tabitha is a good character, very American, and the addition of Julia just adds the perfect touch. The two older men argue as only long-time “friends” can and that is amusing, but what is really entertaining is Tabi and Merville investigating. There is another murder and the whole thing gets very complicated and tied up with haute couture. As mentioned, the setting is divine and the mystery a good one. Characters are entertaining and plentiful, as well as colorful. A very entertaining cozy mystery.

I was invited to read A Fashionably French Murder by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #ColleenCambridge #AFashionablyFrenchMurder

Tabitha Knight is an American expat living in post-World War II Paris with her grandfather and his companion. When she isn't tutoring English, she is allowing Julia Child to teach her to cook--and discovering dead bodies. When she and Julia visit a fashion atelier, she inadvertently leaves her glove behind. Returning to find it, she also discovers a the recently deceased designer.

This is the third in a series, but the first I've read. The premise is a good one; I'm not sure how much of a presence Julia Child has in the previous two books, but in this one, she doesn't really seem like a necessary character (not a bad one--she just doesn't add much to the story). I loved the setting, which explores the unresolved issues pertaining to World War II (those who actively participated in the Resistance vs. those who were less resistant and preserved their own safety). The fashion house aspect added an additional layer of interest. #AFashionablyFrenchMurder #NetGalley

This is the third book in the An American in Paris series. Tabitha Knight continues to enjoy her new life in Paris. She lives with her French grandfather and his friend. Julia Child and her husband Paul are their neighbors. Julia is always on hand to help Tabitha cook and sleuth too.

I love this series. I love how each mystery delves into a different area of French Culture. Colleen Cambridge does fantastic research to bring post WWII Paris to life. Tabitha learns about the world of haute couture and the Dior siblings. I gave this one 5 stars. If you haven’t started this series yet, don’t hesitate to start it now. The only thing I didn’t like was the introduction of a new love interest setting up a love triangle for future installments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Colleen Cambridge has become one of my favorite cozy authors, particularly in the historical area, with her books having historical women in supporting roles (Julia Child, as portrayed in this book and series, is a delightful addition). I thought this one did a really nice job incorporating the sentiments of people living in post-war Paris and the complications of living alongside those who you suspected may have been collaborators. The mystery is fascinating, and Tabitha is a perfect blend of pluck and cleverness.

As Julia Child once said, “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” Her best (fictional) friend, Tabitha Knight, seems to have followed Child’s advice. Unfortunately for the denizens of post-World War II Paris – but fortunate for the reader – she’s discovered that she’s passionate about investigating murders – and the city seems to be encouraging her in that passion by dropping corpses at her feet.

The story begins when Julia and Tabitha, attend a private showing at an up-and-coming new haute couture fashion house. The luxury of Maison Lannet’s location and creations are a complete antithesis to the austerity and rationing of the late war, and Tabitha is a bit entranced by it all – as is the client who brought her to the atelier to serve as translator for all the meticulous and precise terminology of the highly regulated business of providing ultra-exclusive fashion to the fashionably wealthy.

It’s only after the showing that Tabitha does what she seems to do – well, not so much best as often. She finds a dead body. She returns to the atelier after the show to find her missing glove – it’s a miserable winter – and finds the corpse of Maison Lannet’s premiere designer instead. And gets shoved into the side of a desk as the murderer makes his escape.

And that’s only the FIRST body that Tabitha literally trips over, much to the consternation of police Inspecteur Étienne Merveille. He’s dealt with Tab’s penchant for getting involved in murder investigations twice already (Mastering the Art of French Murder and A Murder Most French), and would really rather not deal with her blend of exasperating but effective nosiness ever again.

Or at least that’s what his generally impassive expression has led Tabitha to believe. Even though she’d rather not. Believe she’s not helpful and that he’s not interested in her help, that is. After all, he’s engaged.

But the case won’t leave her alone – and neither will her budding reputation as someone who is more reliable and less corrupt than ‘les flics’ – the police – are reputed. Most of officialdom is still tarred with the brush of collaboration with the hated Nazi occupation even six years after liberation – especially the police. The abuses were legion, the Parisian memory is long, and the past isn’t nearly far enough passed for those who suffered under it to have gotten over it.

Tabitha’s every turn seems to wind this case tighter around her, as it leads from the fashionable ateliers of the post-war fashion industry into the lingering darkness of that past and the still open questions around collaboration versus survival that simmer behind every door – including the door of the maison where Tabitha lives with her elderly ‘messieurs’ – her grand-père and her Oncle Rafe, whose wartime activities and life-long relationship uneasily straddle that very same strand of barbed wire.

As, seemingly, frighteningly and sometimes desperately, does the whole of the City of Light that she has come to love.

Escape Rating A-: This third entry in the series isn’t as light and frothy as the first – and it’s all the more compelling for it. Part of that lesser application of froth is that Julia Child’s presence is reduced in this one – not in the negative sense, but very much and appropriately in the cooking sense, where the flavor of her presence is more intense and concentrated but in fewer scenes. She simmers a lot in this one, but doesn’t bubble over quite as much or as often as she has in the previous books.

Which is totally appropriate, because just as Tabitha’s cooking skills – originally quite execrable – have improved under Julia’s tutelage, her investigative skills have come along nicely as well, and we’ve gotten to know her and her ‘messieurs’ better. She’s grown as a character, and is now more than capable of carrying the story even if her messieurs are still more than willing to enjoy Julia’s cooking whenever it’s on offer. And who can blame them?

While Tabitha’s investigations still rely on her literally tripping over corpses, it’s a pleasant change from some other amateur detective series that she is not intimately involved with any of the victims or those in their immediate circles before they drop. Also, Paris has a big enough population that it’s not quite so outre that there are as many murder victims as Tabs seems to find. (In other words, this is not Cabot Cove or Midsomer County – and it’s quite possible to believe that people will ALWAYS come to Paris in spite of the murder rate!)

As much as I enjoy this series, this entry is considerably darker than the first two – and not precisely as a result of Tabitha’s predilection for tripping over corpses. Not that that helps. But in this case it’s all about motivation for the murders rather than the actual gore.

While the setting for this entry in the series is draped in the lush fabrics and ultra-feminine silhouettes of Christian Dior’s signature ‘New Look’ for the post war era, the elitist, snobby, wasteful underpinnings of haute couture make a stark contrast to the austerity of the occupation – as Dior intended – and to the still roiling grief that embraces the city even in recovery. It’s not exactly the sense of Nero fiddling while Rome burned, but more that Nero is fiddling while the ashes still smolder. Or something like that. It feels really wrong even though it’s also really true.

But the darkness at the heart of this story is tied up and chained by the lingering pain of the occupation, caught up in the hard questions about who merely paid as much lip service and even actual service to the Nazis and their puppet French government as they had to in order to survive – versus who was a true collaborateur who willingly climbed into bed with the Nazis, literally or figuratively – for profit or power or both.

That her beloved grand-père was one who cooperated enough to stay alive AND to earn money to funnel to the Resistance, while Oncle Rafe was an active member of that Resistance, brings the tension uncomfortably close to home.

It’s not a question about whether the right people were punished, because it’s clear that that wasn’t always the case. But rather, that there is still a taste for more punishment because it is certain that there are plenty of people who have so far managed to avoid reaping what they gleefully sowed.

Which leads back to what made this story darker than the previous books in the series, because the occupation was dark. That darkness still lingers, there are still rats hiding in it and in this entry in the series it turns out to be Tabitha Knight’s calling to pin at least one of those rats in the light.

The story does end on an upbeat note. Good does triumph in this case, evil does get its just desserts, and it looks like Tabitha’s messieurs are well on the way to re-opening their restaurant so that they no longer have to rely on Tabitha’s still somewhat questionable cooking or Julia Child’s expansive culinary charity. Tabitha’s love life seems to be on the uptick as well – much to the delight of her friends and family so they have something to gossip about.

How much those developments will be part of future books in the series, I can’t wait to find out!

A Fashionably French Murder is the third in the charming American in Paris series. The series focuses on Tabitha Knight who grew up in America, but is now staying with her French Grandfather and his companion in Paris. Tabitha tries to help out by cooking for the two gentleman, but is only slowly gaining skills from her famous ex-pat best friend, Julia Child. The novels bring in interesting details from history and about Julia Child and other notable Parisians lives as well featuring interesting mysteries.

In this story Tabitha is helping translate for a mother of a bride at a haute couture salon where the rising star designer is murdered. Could the infamous Dior be involved? I enjoyed learning more about the history of French fashion such as the fact that the models at the designer's studios were referred to mannequins. Although I was originally interested in the series because of Julia Child hook, Tabitha and the other original characters are so engaging that I enjoy the series even when she is taking more of a background role such as in this story.

From crepes to cassoulet, Julia Child could do it all. Tabitha Knight was not much of a cook, but since moving to Paris she has developed a close friendship with Child, much to the delight of her Grand-Pere and Oncle Rafe. What Tabitha does seem to be good at is finding dead bodies. As the daughter of a police detective she can not help getting involved with the investigations. Julia is happy to share what she has learned at Le Cordon Bleu in exchange for updates on Tabitha’s activities. After attending a fashion showing to translate for an American friend of Julia she returns to Madison Lannet to retrieve a glove that she left behind. There she finds Madame Lannet strangled with a piece of lace. The murderer is still in the building, but escapes through a door to a back alley. Tabitha has developed a reputation as an amateur investigator and she is approached by a friend to find the person who broke into a shoe store and destroyed a number of orders. It is a store that shares a number of clients with Maison Lannet and backs onto the same alley. Tabitha begins to wonder if the incidents are connected. Her investigation is further complicated by the death of Lannet’s assistant.

Tabitha’s activities have put her in danger in the past and she is once again warned by Inspector Mervielle to not get involved. She has found herself attracted to the inspector in the past. While Julia encourages her to consult with the inspector whenever possible, she is put off by the picture of his fiancee on his desk. Another man has also come into her life. A stray cat that once saved her has been injured. When she captures it and takes it to Jean Luc, the veterinarian recommended by Julia, he has heard of her exploits and takes an interest in her. Tabitha’s investigation takes her to the House of Dior and back to the German occupation of Paris. The war is still fresh in the minds of the people and some actions can not be forgiven. From the aromatic concoctions in Julia’s kitchen to the salons of haute couture, Colleen Cambridge’s mystery is an absolute delight. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this book.

Tabitha and Julia join a friend for a private showing at an exclusive fashion house. When Tabitha returns later to look for a lost glove, she finds a body. When another body is found, it becomes apparent that someone is targeting the employees of the fashion house. Tabitha – and Julia, of course – launch an investigation to discover what is going on… and why.

I know it’s unrealistic for Julia and Tabitha to know so many people of import in Paris, for them to have enough time to investigate, and for them to *actually conduct an investigation, but I like this series anyhow. They work well together, and with their connections, are able to talk to people who otherwise wouldn’t give them the time of day. In addition, they have a wonderful support network to rely on when necessary.

There were several murders in this book, and it was fairly obvious that they were related in some way, but figuring out how was a puzzle. There were more than a few suspects, but it seemed that many of them were added to the list simply because they were in competition with the victims. The mystery was well done, and I couldn’t decide who the killer was until just before it was revealed in the book.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, whenever it is available :)

This story is set in post-war Paris, which is a nice change from the other series I have read by this author although I did miss the first two books in this series. Tabitha is an interesting character especially as the real Julia Child is her friend. This is a nice touch and bring in lots of cooking into the story as well as the high fashion from the murder investigation at the atelier. This historical cozy mystery while clever and fun is also serious for a cozy as it touches on the atrocities of the War and the collaboration of some French with the Germans. We also have Christian Dior and his sister Catherine popping up among the secondary characters for added interest. A very enjoyable read all round and I would recommend it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This third book in the American in Paris series is absolutely delightful. I love the sleuth, Tabitha Knight, an American living in postwar Paris with her grandfather and her "oncle," but what I most love is the fact that Julia Child is Tab's sidekick. Tab can't cook to save her life and her lessons and attempts at cooking are a highlight.

This book is set in the world of haute couture, which I know little to nothing about so I learned plenty about that and about World War 2 collaborators.

A fun read. I highly recommend this series to my cozy loving friends and family.

I adore this series, and this installment was one of my most anticipated reads of the month. It did not disappoint! This charming series gets better with each new book. And in this one, we even get iconic fashion designer Christian Dior as a suspect in a suspicious death.

Set in post-war Paris, ex-pat American Tabitha lives with her grandfather and his partner, Oncle Rafe. Their near neighbor and friend is Julia Child, who lives in Paris with her diplomat husband Paul and studies cuisine Le Cordon Bleu. All the characters are well-developed and intriguing. Tabitha is fantastic, smart, kind, and resourceful, and I enjoy experiencing Paris and the investigation through her eyes. Her character continues to grow, and she has become more confident in her new home and as an investigator. Her relationships with her family and friends are endearing. And, then, there is my favorite character, Julia Child, who I absolutely love in this. The author captures her energy and joie de vivre so well that she truly comes alive on the page, complete with mouth-watering descriptions of her food.

The plot was layered and compelling. I particularly love how the series highlights various aspects of Parisian history and culture, and this installment explores the fashion industry. The setting is atmospheric, and the historical details transport you to 1950s Paris, complete with a visit to Dior's studio. The mystery was intriguing and filled with red herrings that kept me guessing. We also catch glimpses of potential romance for Tabitha and an exciting undertaking for her grandfather and Oncle Rafe. The way all of this was woven together created an entertaining story, and I enjoyed every minute of it! If you are interested in historical mysteries, this is a series you should check out.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the gifted ARC!

American ex-pat Tabitha Knight is now well settled into her new life in post-war Paris. Happily ensconced in her own apartment in her French grandfather’s house, she is enjoying giving English lessons, visiting the markets and cafés and making new friends. Her new best friend Julia Child (yes, that Julia Child, currently attending cooking school in Paris) has been teaching her to cook so she can prepare delicious meals for her grandfather and his partner, Rafe, to thank them for their hospitality.

The daughter of a detective, Tabitha is getting a bit of a reputation for coming across murder victims and then helping the police find their killers, so no one is surprised when she finds another body in this third episode of this series. This time she is visiting an exclusive haute couture atelier, Maison Lannet, as a translator for a client. Going back later to look for a dropped glove, she found the body of the couturier, Rose-Marie Lannet, lying on the floor, strangled to death by a piece of lace.

Colleen Cambridge’s novel takes us into the intriguing and competitive world of 1950’s Parisian fashion. Haute couture is making a comeback after the war, with fabulous new fabrics and designs leading to the rise of the New Look fashion movement, with Christian Dior at the helm. Through her network of friends, Tabitha meets the mannequins who model the exclusive gowns and hears many of the secrets of the fashion world and those who work in it including Rose-Marie Lannet.

Although Tabitha’s favourite (handsome but engaged) detective, Étienne Merveille tries to discourage her from doing any sleuthing in this case, she can’t help asking questions, especially of people who are unlikely to open up to the police. The mystery is a good one, with a plot that becomes more complicated before it resolves and is peopled by delightful characters from Tabitha’s household and friends. Julia’s cooking adventures and her loving descriptions of her recipes, as well as Tabitha’s descriptions of her attempts to cook them, add another entertaining dimension to this charming historical cozy mystery.

I think I may have not enjoyed this quite as much as many of its reviewers because I have not read the first two books. It may well be that getting to know the main characters is important and I just jumped in and hoped for the best.

I still enjoyed the time I spent in post WW2 Paris as the city recovered from the damages of the war and fashion houses such as Christian Dior were flourishing once again. Julia Child featured well. She is famous for introducing French cuisine to America, but this book takes place at an earlier time when she is just beginning to learn it herself.

Most of the story surrounds Julia's friend Tabitha, language tutor and self-styled sleuth. When two murders take place in a fashion house, she begins an investigation and manages to contribute a lot towards solving the case.

The author is obviously much enamored with the city of Paris and she provides a lot of interesting history about its history, its food and its people. This particular book spends quite a few pages discussing how the Parisians were affected by the German presence in their City during the war. It was well balanced and made for good reading.

So I did enjoy it but probably should have read those first two book first!

I eagerly look forward to each book in this series, since reading the first one, and am never disappointed! If you enjoy historical mysteries with strong plots and multifaceted characters, I highly recommend these books. You don't have to start with the first one, but as with most series, you'll appreciate each one more if you do.
Set in 1950, Tabitha Knight moved from the U.S. to post-war Paris less than a year ago and lives with her "messieurs", her grandfather and his partner across the street from Julia Child. Tabitha seems to have a knack for finding dead bodies, and for putting clues together to figure out who killed them. A Fashionably French Murder starts with Tabitha accompanying Julia and a friend to one of Paris's newest fashion houses, Maison Lannet. After they leave, Tabitha discovers that she must have dropped a glove back at the atelier, so she goes back to look for it... only to find Madame Lannet's still-warm body, strangled with a piece of lace, and Tabitha once again finds herself drawn into a murder investigation. The characters in this series are absolutely wonderful, and reading the parts where Julia helps Tabitha become a better cook always inspire me (I will likely be making crepes soon, putting Julia's tips to Tabitha to use!). The mystery(ies) are always complex and tie in post-war French history, such as Christian Dior's "New Look" and the resurgence of Paris as the fashion capital in this book. We learn more about each of the characters and their own histories in each story, and it was nice to see Tabitha grow up a bit in this one (and get a second love interest).

Paris has gorgeous fashion, fabulous food....and murder

Tabitha Knight, raised in the US by her (French) mother and grandmother and (American) policeman father, arrived in Paris less than a year ago to live with her Grand-Père and his partner Oncle Rafe (her "messieurs"). After a decidedly mundane existence in Michigan that had briefly offered opportunities to expand her life there during the war. Tabitha is ready for more than was being offered there once the war (and the jobs and independence for women along with it) ended. Her neighbor and friend in Paris is a young-ish Julia Child (who is doing her best to teach Tabitha how to cook), and she is loving her new life in the post-war city. She does seem to stumble upon dead bodies, though...more than a half-dozen so far....and has found that her lifelong love of mystery novels and her knowledge of her father's work has inclined her to poke about into the crimes, much to the consternation of the brooding but attractive Inspecteur Merveille. Tabitha is helping an American friend of Julia's whose French isn't what it could be to navigate an haute couture atélier as she searches for a dress for an upcoming wedding, and sure enough finds the designer Madame Lannet dead just moments after their group had left the building. That won't be the last body she discovers either, and Inspecteur Merveille reluctantly accepts the information that Tabitha is uncovering about the crimes. Who would want a designer whose solo enterprise is just staring out dead? Is it the man who financed her business? Does it have roots in the days when Paris was occupied by the Germans and more than a few Parisians chose or were forced to collaborate? Is it the work of one killer, or more? As Tabitha grapples with these questions, she is also juggling her messieurs tangling over décor for their new business enterprise, tending to the the alley cat who saved her life during a previous investigation, and finding the perfect haircut.
This is the third installment in the American in Paris mysteries featuring the fictional Tabitha Knight and her partner-in-investigation Julia Child, known of course for her cookbooks and cooking shows but also the wife of an embassy official with ties to intelligence work. The tone is light and breezy, a cozy mystery heavy on the humor and charm. Tabitha is a woman ahead of her time looking to live life on her own terms but whose lack of a romantic partner as well as her shortcomings in the kitchen are only too well known in her circle of acquaintances and are a topic of considerable attention. A new possible romantic partner appears in this book, the young veterinarian who tends to Monsieur Le Chat de Gouttière (Mr. Alley Cat), although things may be heating up with l'Inspecteur as well. The messieurs are a fun pair, as is of course the exuberant Julia from whose kitchen miraculous foods appear (sans recipes, I'm sorry to say). Add in the glamour of Parisian fashion when Christian Dior's New Look was the talk of the town, and you have the makings of an enjoyable light read. Those who have read the two earlier entries will certainly want to find out what Tabitha gets into next, and fans of Janet Evanovich, Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver may want to give this book/series a spin as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me access to a copy of A Fashionably French Murder in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy Cambridge's books, and this series never disappoints. Fun and funny, endearing and entertaining, each installment is a must-read for me. This particular adventure takes place around the world of haute couture in postwar Paris.

Tabitha Knight, an American expat living with her grandfather and his partner in Paris, finds herself involved (once again) in the mysterious deaths (which she discovers, once again) of the founder of a new fashion atelier and her shop manager. Meanwhile, she's also drawn into a break-in at an upscale shoe shop near the crime scene through a friend who works there. Are these crimes related or totally different plots?

This is a fun outing as we learn a little behind-the-scenes info centered around the Paris fashion houses. There's also a makeover for Tabitha, a surprising development and seemingly about-face in Inspector Merveille's demeanor and of course, the cute/funny interactions between Tabitha and her friend Julia Child as she is reluctantly drawn in to try her hand at some new recipes.

There are a few things that I especially like about this series. I'm definitely a character-driven reader, and the cast (both main and supporting) are so lovely to spend time with and so well-drawn. The plots are both entertaining and interesting in their subject matter. The Paris locations are both descriptive and evocative while also being a bit mysterious and imaginative at the same time.

It's always a fun time to spend a little while with Tabitha and friends, and I'm always anxiously anticipating their next escapade.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing / Kensington for providing the free early arc of A Fashionably French Murder for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Another delightful book in this series. I loooooved a look into the couture fashion industry in this book. From the descriptions of the stunning designs (so well done) to meeting and getting to know the mannequins who got to wear them. I love how the characters in this series jump off the page and they quickly become like a family for Tabitha. And of course Julia Child is her fabulous, exuberant self, making the most mouth watering dishes. Who knew reading about making crepes would be so fascinating. The story also focuses quite a bit on the aftermath of WWII and confronting the fact that so many French collaborated with the Germans (and the many degrees and opinions on that). It is not something I have read extensively about and I so appreciated reading about people's feelings and how passionate the French about the resistance. This is a heavy and important topic and I love how it was incorporated and not shied away from in this cozy. I was shocked by the man turn of events and completely smitten with a certain alley cat.

I adore this series and already cannot wait for more!

Who uses lace to strangle someone? Could it have been Christian Dior? This delightful addition to the series (also fun as a standalone) is set in post War Paris, a city where old issues linger, Tabitha, our intrepid American who is working as a translator and learning cooking from Julia Child, found the body of the couturier and now she's determined to find the villain. I like the atmospherics, not just of Paris but also of Julia's cooking and Tabitha's family. There's a hint of romantic tension, a few red herrings, and a nicely complex answer. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

The dynamic duo of Tabitha Knight and her bestie, Julia Child, are back in this entertaining third instalment of the “American in Paris”;mystery series. Tabs continues to enjoy her expat life, making money by tutoring diplomats’ children, and gradually improving her cooking skills under Julia's tutelage. She also continues to stumble upon bodies, this time pulling her into the haute mode ateliers of post-war Paris.

That setting works really well here. Bringing Dior into the storyline allows Colleen Cambridge to delve into the stories of the Resistance in Paris and Catherine Dior's heroic work within that movement. Cambridge does an excellent job in this novel of conveying the post-war tensions in Paris between those who resisted and those who did not. Processing those tensions through the eyes of a young American adds an interesting perspective and one that some young adult readers might appreciate.

The brooding but dashing Inspector Merveille is back, as are Tabitha's beloved housemates. This is my favourite of the series so far, as it lets Tabitha grow up a little. 4 stars.

We return to post-war Paris, this time, to solve a murder at a fashion house. While Paris was under German occupation, the city’s title of fashion capital of the world was almost seized by London and New York. Now, thanks to some recognizable names, Parisian haute couture is reclaiming its former glory. But when a young designer is found dead and her partner accuses Christian Dior of being the killer, Tabitha can’t quite shake her interest in the case. She does her best to keep out of it, focusing instead on helping the injured alley cat who saved her life in book one and a shoemaker whose store has been robbed, but she isn’t able to stay away for long.

Meanwhile, Grandpère and Oncle Rafe are at each other's throats about the restaurant they are renovating, Julia is busy as ever at Le Cordon Bleu, and we get to see Merveille as more than just a police detective.

As the story concludes, the investigation takes a turn for the emotionally-raw and grounded. Though I missed the pure excitement of the other installments’ finales, I appreciated the description of overwhelming devastation and righteous fury that survivors of the German occupation experienced. Readers who appreciate an emphasis on the historical will doubtless enjoy this book, for its reflection on the lingering tension in Paris and its incredible attention-to-detail (the gowns described in Dior’s fashion show are the real dresses that the real Dior made for the 1950 spring/summer season). Four stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy! Reviews of all three books in the series are available at femmagezine.com/blog/reviewing-the-art-of-french-murder.