What could be better than Crush Week in Napa? Well a sweet treat festival and crush week topped off with a nice French bistro and a highly suspect cast of characters. Mimi Rousseau, former executive Chef and now owner/operator of Bistro Rousseau and Maison Rousseau. The event is taking place on the grounds of the Maison with Chef Camille's sister in charge, at least until she is found dead in the Chef's kitchen. Was it a jealous sister, a jealous role model, a jealous husband, the jealous former event owner? Things are heating up for Mimi's kitchen as her staff try to hold down the fort while Mimi searches for a way to keep her mourning Chef from being suspect #1 when there is a whole menu of people to choose from. In addition to Mimi's fierce loyalty to her friends, the sweet sparks that are happening between her and Nash, there are amazing recipes at the end of the book that I cannot wait to make and share or make and eat while reading my next great cozy.

A Soufflé of Suspicion is the second novel in the French Bistro series. Chef Camille who is the talent behind the great food at Bistro Rousseau, is working with her sister Renee, who is in charge of the Sweet Treats Festival. Renee is driving everyone crazy, including her sister, and turns up dead – murdered. Of course Camille is a suspect, and Mimi must find the murderer before Camille goes to jail and the festival is ruined.

Gerber is a great storyteller, and the setting for this series is charming. The food described is mouthwatering, and the recipes included are French; there are actually 14 recipes, all for dishes readers will want to prepare to eat while reading the novel. The characters are well-developed – Mimi Rousseau is delightful, and Camille is a believable (a bit difficult, but likeable) chef. Gerber presents her characters so that they seem like real people. The Bistro is definitely a restaurant that most readers would like to visit. This novel is fun, and will keep readers on the edge as the suspense builds and the murderer is unmasked at the end.

This is an excellent series, and readers will definitely anticipate the subsequent novels.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this novel.

A Soufflé of Suspicion
By Daryl Wood Gerber

It’s Crush Week in wine country and there are plenty of tourists in town to visit the local vineyards and enjoy the festivities around the annual grape pressing. To add to the hectic atmosphere, restaurateur Mimi Rousseau, owner of both Bistro and Maison Rousseau, is hosting a Sweet Treats Festival at her Maison Rousseau location with all kinds of delicacies featured from local chefs and bakers. The festival organizer Renee is the sister of Mimi’s Bistro chef Camille. Renee, however, is upsetting a lot of the participants and townspeople with her controlling way of running the festival.

Then Renee turns up dead in Camille’s home kitchen. There are plenty of suspects to go around, and Mimi is on a campaign to solve the murder of Renee before Camille is arrested.

This is a light read, with a cast of appealing characters, lots of local atmosphere and a nice long list of possible killers to try to sort through and figure out whodunit. Curl up with a cookie and a cup of coffee and enjoy a day in wine country.

Mimi helps her chef Camille when Camille’s sister Renee is found murdered in Camille’s home. This second book in a French Bistro Myster Series is a bit more engaging than the first book. There are a large number of characters to track through the story. The culprit was one of Mimi’s main suspects but there was a tangled road getting to the why of why Renee was murdered.
I would recommend this cozy mystery.

This was a fun summer read. I'm enjoying the characters in this series quite a bit. I'm one for character-driven series and books. If the characters aren't interesting, it doesn't matter how good the plot is, you lose me. Thankfully this series has some great characters. I really enjoy Mimi, Jo, Heather, and the rest of the gang. They're tons of fun.

I love the setting in this series too. The inn that is made to look like Monet's house at Giverny and the gardens designed like Monet's garden. Fabulous. The focus of this book with the Sweet Treats Festival was fabulous. Don't get me wrong, I love the bistro and all its nuances, but having another setting helped keep the story moving along.

I did not figure out the villain until it was revealed which is a plus. In fact, the villain in this one was a complete surprise to me. Well, maybe not a complete surprise as Mimi did speculate about them, but I didn't really see it being this person until it was revealed.

All in all it was a fun read with some great recipes. :) I look forward to #3 in the series!

We’re back at Bistro Rousseau for some scrumptious French treats served up with a generous side of murder mystery.

Mimi seems to have recovered quite well from her first taste of crime solving. She helped uncover the culprit behind the murder of her friend and benefactor, and now seems very willing to put her deductive skills to the test again when Chef C’s sister is murdered.

The mystery is very well-plotted. There are a variety of credible witnesses each with different and believable motives. As events unfold and there are a few attacks against Mimi, each suspect again appears culpable. The clues are nicely laid out, along with the red herrings, throughout the story. It’s not impossible to guess the culprit but it’s still challenging to pick out just which one will turn out to the the guilty party.

Another positive in this area is that a couple of the suspects are actually quite likable! There were a couple I really hoped would be innocent and a couple others I wouldn’t have minded seeing outed.

Interestingly, as much as I ended up liking some of these well-developed suspects I still have a hard time really liking Mimi. She takes this sleuthing business far too seriously, especially as someone who’s supposed to have her hands full running a restaurant and an inn! The protagonist should of course be heavily involved in the mystery solving but I’m sure it doesn’t have to involve belittling the sheriff who is also supposed to be a friend!

Before leaving the office, I called Tyson, but he wasn’t in. Where was he? With Jo? Were they hashing out their future? Was she digging in her heels about children and freedom and whatnot? Or was Tyson doing his job and trying to find Renee’s killer?

Although Mimi is overly pushy when it comes to trying to get Tyson to conduct his investigation to her liking, the sweet but firm Tyson from Book 1 was temporarily replaced by Mr. Bad Cop at the start of the book. He was practically calling poor Chef C a murderer at her sister’s crime scene!

I also wish Mimi was more relatable. She just seems to be a tad too perfect some times and takes herself far too seriously. Loosen up a little Mimi!

The romance appears to be more of the obligatory cozy mystery add on rather than the genuine deal. I think it could even be left out… and I love romance in a cozy! Or maybe I’d just like to see more of Nash. Some juicy character development on him would go a long way in making the romance seem more genuine.

As a bit of a secondary story, we also explore Renee’s character. Was she a savvy business woman, a cunning blackmailer, a married man’s temptress or genuinely a loving person seeking to help others. I really enjoyed how the motives of potential suspects played to the greater picture of also figuring out what kind of person Renee was.

While I would wish for less food descriptions and more character development, this cozy mystery is very strong on plot, I think. There are clever hints interspersed throughout the story’s unfolding and a good tension is built up as the big reveal approaches.

Overall I give this story 3.5/ 5 French roast espresso shots.

A Soufflé of Suspicion is the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series! It stars Mimi Rousseau, a chef who owns her own bistro and inn in Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley.

In the series’ latest installment, Mimi’s head chef, Chef Camille, sister Renee is planning a Sweet Treats Festival in Nouvelle Vie during Crush Week. While planning, Renee steps on a lot of toes, including her sister’s. So, when Renee winds up dead in the chef’s kitchen, Chef Camille is the prime suspect, so Mimi starts digging into Renee’s death, hoping to clear her employee’s name.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, so I wasn’t surprised when I loved the latest addition. I actually think I might’ve liked this one more than the first.

Everything about this series was just perfect. The diverse cast of characters really makes this series come alive, along with the beautifully described setting and delicious food choices. I definitely got hungry a few times while reading haha.

The mystery itself was just… excellent. Very fast-paced and kept me on my toes. There was always a new twist at every corner. Never a dull moment. I loved that.

Overall, I love this series, and the second installment was better than the first. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I need it ASAP!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

The works of Daryl Wood Gerber (as well as her books written under the name of Avery Aames) have been on my radar to read for a very long time. A Soufflé of Suspicion is my first foray into her writing. Even though this is the second book in the series, there was enough back story and character introduction so that I had no difficulty getting right into the story.

The main character, Mimi is a likeable and relatable character. She has baggage, like the rest of us:

“Perhaps my deceased husband’s duplicity about our finances was the reason I questioned a man’s undying love. I mean, c’mon, Derrick had lied to me for years about how flush he was. How could he do that if he’d cherished me?”

I loved the following excerpt – definitely set me up for the mystery…

“A shiver ran down my spine. I was not superstitious by nature. Fantasies and folk tales didn’t suck me in, but I had to admit, a black cat crossing my path unnerved me. Black cats signified imminent danger, didn’t they?”

Without giving anything away, I enjoyed the way the story and ensuing death was presented and the subsequent sleuthing. I was kept in the dark (though I certainly had my suspicions) until the end, which as I have said numerous times before – just the way I like my mysteries. Many of the towns residents had enough depth that I can see a future of many more stories from this town and its residents. Bummer, since it will surely mean more deaths, but I have faith that Mimi can handle it ☺

The book was faced paced, with numerous other things happening around town to certainly distract us from the murder investigation like the Napa Valley crush week. With the addition of the Sweet Treats Festival, Mimi was certainly stretching herself, but she seemed to handle all of it well.

I was also taken with the menu’s that were developed – definitely left me wanting some of their great menu offerings:

“For the next hour, I threw together the weekly special menu: brochette d’agneau à la Grecque, which was lamb brochettes with sweet peppers, zucchini, and onions with a Greek citrus sauce of fresh rosemary, orange, lime, and grapefruit juice; pâtés aux fruits de mer, which included bay scallops, prawns, snow peas, and wild mushrooms over egg linguini with a garlic vermouth sauce; porc à l’orange, a sautéed pork tenderloin medallion with an orange sauce; ….”

I quite enjoyed the reference within the story with respect to another one of my favourite cozy mystery writers – Kate Carlisle – loved that Mimi enjoyed this author as well ☺ :

“The Bookery was a charming bed-and-breakfast that held literary events. In my spare time, I loved to read, and I enjoyed attending book fairs and meeting authors. I’d visited The Bookery at least a dozen times. One of my favorite mystery authors, Kate Carlisle, who’d written a series set in San Francisco as well as the wine country, had appeared at a book event there a few months ago.”

One more positive aspect that I enjoyed was the cover art. It captured my interest from the get go. And let us not forget the myriad of secondary characters (which I hope we see more of in future books). They as well had sufficient breadth and depth to peak my interest.

Now that I have had a taste of Ms. Gerber’s writing, I will most certainly read the first book in this series. And when the chance presents itself, I may well pick up other series written by her as well.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Having fallen in love with the first book in the series it was a yes to reading this second book. I love that I get to have a French flair with foods and such through this book but what is the best part? The mystery! Mimi has one that hits close to the whisk in this mystery and it was twisting and turning with clues on each page.

One way to travel to a location that you haven't been is through the pages of a book. This book was a great travel to Napa Valley and one that hit the spot for some hot day reading.

The characters in A Soufflé of Suspicion were well developed. This book was filled with twists and turns as well as suspense. It wasn’t easy to sift out the killer in this food mystery. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me this advanced readers copy for review.

A Souffle of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series. Mimi, owner of a bistro, is gearing up for crush week at the neighboring wineries and a sweets festival held on the grounds of the inn. When the festival organizer who is also her chef's sister is found murdered, Mimi jumps in to clear her chef's name. The mystery moves along quickly, and the characters all work well together. I had read the first book, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one. I am already looking forward to the next book.

Princess Fuzzypants here: It is a good thing that all the foodie cozies we read do not come with real calories. Momma and I would be as big as houses if they did. My goodness some are absolutely drool-worthy. To compound the calorie count and temptation, this book revolves around a Sweet Festival where we could scarf to our tummy’s delight.
Mimi has lent the grounds to the organizer of the event, Chef C’s sister Renee. Renee is a powerhouse who left her husband and out maneuvered the original owner of the rights to make her dreams come true. Sadly, those dreams are cut short by death by food mixer. The two people mentioned are clearly prime candidates for the villain but it is not nearly as obvious as that. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, some pretty blatant and some well hidden.. Mimi feels for Camille’s sake and her own, she needs to figure out who is responsible. It could mean a matter of her own health and safety.
It’s a good story with plenty of red herrings but my favourite part has to be Scooter and Scoundrel- two kitties who have just become the parents of a litter of kittens. Both have been free wheeling and independent but have decided to give Mimi a break and officially adopt her. It is quite sweet how to they take over almost without her being aware. Silly human to assume she is in charge.
This is a light and easy read with characters who are amiable. I can see spending more time with them in future books.
I give this four purrs and two paws up.

This was the first book I've read in the French Bistro series and it was enjoyable. I've read a number of cozy mysteries and this contained a lot of the factors I enjoy in this genre, most notably the mouthwatering descriptions of food! I also liked the small town community vibe, the intriguing mystery, and the charming characters. A fun, light read that will definitely appeal to culinary cozy fans!

Book 2 in the series.

I didn't like this book as well as I liked the first book in the series. But it was still nice to spend time with Mimi and her friends. I would like to see Mimi fleshed out a bit more though, and some more time spent on the actual mystery, rather than just guesswork at the end.

That said, it was still an enjoyable, fast, read. I look forward to seeing more of Mimi's growth and adventures.

I’m really enjoying this series set in California’s Napa Valley. I know nothing about wine or French food, but that doesn’t keep me from loving the characters and the setting.

Mimi is a delightful protagonist – she’s smart, engaging, creative, warm, and enterprising. Not to mention, she’s got an inner Nancy Drew that surfaces with each new murder that crosses her path. She also has a great support network of friends, family and employees (who double as friends) – and you’ll be just as invested in them as you are in Mimi.

There’s a lot going on in A Souffle of Suspicion – just enough that you feel the tension of everything Mimi has to juggle but not so much that it’s overwhelming or distracting. And, after all, between the restaurant, the inn, and the festival, there are plenty of opportunities for Mimi to interact with lots of different people and, in turn, get all the gossip and clues she needs to solve the murder! And the desserts at the festival? YUM. I wanted all of them. Not a fan of French cuisine, though, so I appreciated that most of the recipes are included in the back of the book rather than having to stop the story for a cooking lesson.

Things are heating up on the romantic front, as well. Both main couples – Tyson & Jo and Mimi & Nash – see some major progress in their respective relationships. Again, though, this is sort-of tucked discreetly into the fabric of the story and isn’t too distracting for people who would rather have more mystery than smooches.

Bottom Line: Delicious food, engaging characters, and a well-constructed plot join with the gorgeous setting to make this book a delightful read from start to finish. Readers will enjoy tagging along with Mimi as she runs the restaurant (including stepping in for her chef for the majority of the book), navigates a busy festival on her inn’s property, and solves the latest murder in her quaint town. A great pick for foodies, wine connoisseurs and wanna-be sleuths alike!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

When chef Camille's annoying sister is found dead in the kitchen, everyone expects Mimi to solve the case. She has a way of asking questions and is soon finding clues and plenty suspects. She is working hard to solve the case so she can save her business, the festival and of course,the reputation of her staff. This is the 2nd book in the series and it is filled with mouthwatering recipes.
This book will appeal to all cozy mystery fans.

I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book offered by the publisher and NetGalley

Mimi loves Napa Valley. Her family had produced wine there for years. This October the Sweet Treat Festival isn being hosted on her property. She's hoping that it will increase the popularity of her restaurant and inn by drawing in more visitors. The festival is off too a wonderful start until murder makes an appearance. Renee who's in charge is dead and her sister, Chef C, is a suspect. Mimi knows that Camille isn't guilty which means she needs to do some investigating. What happens next pulled me into a world of suspense. Mimi is a great character. She cares for people but she won't shy away from confrontation. I like that she's a strong woman. Her romance with Nash has a special charm that warms my heart. Here are two adults working to find happiness. The story is well-crafted and has plenty of people who had reason to kill the victim. I didn't know until the very end who did the deed. Daryl Wood Gerber has a pleasant writing style that always entertains me. I can't put down her books. The recipes at the end are a nice touch as is the description of the foods at the restaurant. Her goldfish and the cats lighten the story. The French Bistro mystery series is a favorite. I can't wait for more of Mimi and her friends.

I am a huge fan of the author's Cookbook Nook Cozy Mystery series and I really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I was excited to get my hands on this book and see what adventures the characters were going to get themselves into this time! I was again pleasantly surprised by the mystery in this book, there were so many twists and turns in the story and I had a hard time nailing down the murderer because there were so many different suspects. I found the read at a nice pace and once it got towards the end it read super fast and I didn't want to put it down. I liked seeing the continued character development in this story and look forward to see what the future holds for them. All-in-all, another smashing hit for Daryl Wood Gerber....keep them coming!

Good food coupled with a good mystery makes for a great read! And you get recipes! The characters in this series are wonderfully drawn and the story itself is believable. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Mimi’s head chef’s sister is murdered and in order to save her from being accused, Mimi decides to find the killer. There are plenty of people who were upset with the victim for one reason or another, but which was angry enough to kill?

I really enjoyed this chance to go back to Napa Valley with Mimi and her pals, and get to know them and their connections to each other a little more. The characters are what I like the most about this series. Mimi’s staff and friends are all there to provide support when she needs it, and after two books they are starting to feel like old friends to me as well. The mystery had just enough misguidance to make me second guess my suspicions and keep on reading to find out who really did it. I hope there will be many more volumes to come!

This is book #2 in the French Bistro Series, but you can start right in with this book without feeling lost at all.