This 2nd in series is even better than the first! I loved the setting and characters. The author goes above and beyond with delectable recipes at the end! A must read for culinary cozy lovers. A well planned mystery with enough twists and turns that will have you guessing until the very end! I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this fun series!

This is the second in French Bistro mystery series. Mimi Rousseau is the owner of Bistro Rousseau and the Inn she started with her mentor Bryan. Mimi is still recovering from Bryan’s death (book #1). Chef Camille (chef C) is thrilled her sister Renee has come to town to run the Sweet Treats Festival and start her own festival business. Renee is racking up enemies as she conveniently left off the clause to let the original owner of the festival buy it back. Her husband who she just left is trying to get her back. She is lining up all sorts of new festivals and appears to be very driven to succeed. Not surprising it is Renee who ends up dead but she ends up in Chef Camille’s kitchen and the police think she did it (was Renee moving in on Camille’s younger boyfriend? That is what the police think). Well Mimi and all of her team (Jo, Stephan etc..) all work to clear Chef C and find the real killer. I have always wanted to visit Napa Valley and this series just makes me want to go there even more. Good series and I look forward to the next installment.

In Napa Valley it’s Crush Week! It’s the week when people from all over go to the local vineyards to crush grapes. Bistro and Maison Rousseau are expecting increased business so Mimi decides to host a Sweet Treats Festival during the same time. Not only will chefs and bakers be showing off their wares but there will also be bake offs. Chef Camille’s sister Renee is in charge of running the festival. Unfortunately, things don’t quite go as planned. Someone is murdered and with a host of possibilities as to why this person ends up dead and the number of suspects continually grows. Mimi goes into amateur detective mode to help the local authorities to figure out this whodunit.

A Soufflé of Suspicion is a fun, easy and enjoyable Cozy Mystery. The story will have you guessing all the way to the end as to whodunit and why. There are surprises throughout the entire book.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it for all of my Cozy Mystery friends. If you enjoy mysteries at all this is a good one. This is the first book I have read by author Daryl Wood Gerber and I plan on going back and reading more of her books.

I had been looking forward to this mystery and I wasn't disappointed in the least. Mimi is the kind of 'sleuth' who figures out who dunnit by listening and observing rather than by sticking her nose into everybody's business and lives. She has rented out space for a Food Festival to run at the same time as the local Crush event for the wineries. Lots of people having lots of fun, all very good for Mimi's businesses. Her boutique hotel and her Bistro are booked to capacity and all is going well until murder arrives - Renee is the new owner of the festival and she is also the sister of Chef C. (Camille) who reigns over Mimi's bistro kitchen. She is found dead in Camille's kitchen, bashed over the head with the large mixer. The police are looking at many people but Chef C. is at the top of the list. Given that she is the one who keeps things running smoothly in the kitchen and the kitchen is the core of Mimi's bistro (besides being a close friend) if Chef C. goes to jail for killing her sister, there would go the Bistro and Mimi's livleyhood.
While Renee seemed to be liked by many, Mimi did witness an altercation between her and the previous owner of the festival. When Allie didn't bother to have a lawyer look over the sale document, it turns out badly for Allie. There were harsh words and other nasty actions between them. Add her to the list along with Renee's husband and a few more...Mimi has a whole lot to juggle.
The main characters in the series are well developed and are people I would like to know. The setting is gorgeous and the food! So glad there are no calories involved in reading about the scrumptious menus she creates. As Mimi works through the hectic festival week, she also deals with her love life, Camille's love life, her Mother's love life and she gets adopted by two cats. One nice touch was a tip of the writer's cap to a fellow author, in this case, to Krista Davis. It's always fun to learn of other authors with series I might enjoy. Now to try and be patient until the next visit with Mimi.

Very entertaining second entry into a good cozy series (but you would be fine with this as a standalone) featuring Mimi, who is remaking her life after becoming a widow, in Napa Valley. This time around, she's trying to clear Chef Camille from the allegation that Camille murdered her sister Rene. Rene, of course, although new to town, had managed to irritate a LOT of people so there are a number of possible suspects. This is a gentle murder mystery with some good twists and... recipes (including gluten free versions.). Mimi is great and I'd love to visit the Mansion Rousseau in Nouvelle Vie (although I hope no one is murdered while I'm there!). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Recommend for cozy fans.

What a delightful cozy mystery. The second in the series does not disappoint. I enjoy figuring out the killer and then seeing if I’m right. It’s even more enjoyable when you can figure out the motive before the big reveal. I wasn’t sure up until the end. This book kept me entertained.

So, this installment isn’t too far in time from the first book. It’s Crush Week in Napa Valley. The bistro’s chief’s sister is killed and Mimi feels the need to figure it out so her chief, Camille, isn’t hauled away.

I hope the third book is in the works.

What I liked:
Recipes included at the end for easy lookup.
The characters have personality!
Lots of twists and turns.
Great description- you think you are there.

A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION by Daryl Wood Gerber
The Second French Bistro Mystery

Visitors are flocking to Bistro Rousseau. Not only is it Crush Week, when tourists descend on Nouvelle Vie as vineyards harvest their grapes and start to turn them into wine, but Maison Rousseau is the location for the Sweet Treats Festival. Chef C.'s sister, Renee, is the dynamo behind the event, running it like a well oiled machine. But not everyone is happy with Renee, including the woman who originally started the event and the husband she left. When Chef C. comes home to find Renee dead in her kitchen Mimi Rousseau knows she has to help solve another murder.

Sisterly love, spousal love and hate, budding romantic relationships as well as developing ones, relationships are at the heart of A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION. I love the balance shown between them all, and I'm especially enjoying the growing relationship between Mimi and Nash. I also enjoy Mimi's relationship with not only Cagney and Lacy, but Scooter and Scoundrel as well.

The mystery is an intriguing one. While most people seemed to like and respect Renee, there are some obvious suspects. Suspicious activity abounds, but is it related to the murder or something else entirely? I like how Mimi explores possibilities, while still keeping up with her business, and her romance. I also wonder how she still likes Willow!

Warmth, humor, a few chills, a soupçon of intrigue, and plenty of charm make for a great read. A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION is a delectable entrée in the French Bistro Mystery series.

Murder disrupts Crush Week in Nouvelle Vie and Mimi Rousseau must get to the bottom of it or lose her chef. When Chef C’s sister Renee is found dead in the chef’s home, there are several suspects including her ex-husband and the former festival organizer

A Souffle Of Suspicion is the second book in the French Bistro Mysteries series.

A Souffle Of Suspicion is a wonderful follow up to the first book, A Deadly Eclair. Mimi Rousseau owns the Maison Rousseau and Bistro Rousseau in the Napa Valley of California. Mimi has a very capable staff that allows her to do sleuthing. They include Chef Camille Chabot, sous-chef Stefan, Heather, bistro manager, Jo James, manager at Maison Rousseau. This dependable staff is very important to this story as Chef Chabot will become a primary suspect.

It is “crush time” in the Napa Valley and wine drinkers from all over are arriving to tour the wineries. At the same time, Mimi is sponsoring the Sweet Treats Festival on the property at the bistro. The festival is being organized by Renee, Chef Chabot’s sister. Renee is separated from her husband and has purchased the rights to this festival from Allie O’Malley.

Then Renee is found dead in Chef C’s kitchen at her home. Chef C becomes the primary suspect when it is reported that Renee was supposedly trying to take her sister’s boyfriend, Donovan Coleman, away from her. But as Mimi begins to try and clear Chef C, she soon learns that there seem to be other suspects. Renee and Allie were seen having a heated argument. Allie was claiming that the contract of sale for the festival would allow her to repurchase the rights, which she wants to do. Renee’s husband, Rusty, also comes under suspicion when it is reported that he was seen near Chef C’s house. Also, a local councilman, Parker Price, has also reportedly been seen in the area, too.

Gerber provides the reader with a well-plotted story with a wonderful cast of well-developed and believable characters. She also provides descriptions of the wonderful meals that are prepared at Bistro Rousseau. Recipes for most, if not all, are provided with the book.

I am looking forward to reading next book in this appetizing series.

Mimi Rousseau is still working to get her new French Bistro on the lips of the tourists and locals alike, so Maison Rousseau is hosting the Sweet Treats Festival during Crush Week. Her head chef Camille's sister Renée is the coordinator but things are not all good. Renée purchased the Festival rights from Allie O'Malley and now since the Festival seems to be on the verge of success, Allie is feeling cheated. The discovery of Renée murdered has many of the vendors wondering if Allie is the murderer or is it Camille or Renée's estranged husband. There are many possibilities since Renée was not everyone's favorite person.

Mimi feels the need to help find the guilty person since her friend Camille needs closure as well as clearance of guilt. The characters as just a well-developed and charming as in the first installment and once again I find myself wishing that the Bistro really did exist and I could go and taste all the delectable sounding dishes.

Great story!

A Souffle of Suspicion is the second book in the delightful French Bistro Mystery Series by Daryl Wood Gerber. I highly recommend the first in series for your enjoyment as the series is outstanding.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to review this wonderful book. My opinion is personal.

In this next in series the reader will find many mouth watering recipes. Recipes for Autumn Quiche, Beef Bourguignon, Brochette d'Agneau a la Grecque, Cameille's Special Sauce, Champignon Parmentier au Gratin, Cote de Porc, Creme de Porc, Creme Anglaise, Lobster Bisque, Porc a l'Orange, Poulet Dijonaise, Souffle a l'Orange, Souffle au Chocolat, Souffle Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies (gluten free and regular).. The Bistro and its recipes are delightful to read about. As one who knows Napa and Napa restaurants, I can attest this is very much like a lot of the food served in Napa's fine restaurants. The descriptions of the food is true to Napa cuisine.

The crush harvest is in full swing and crush time in Napa is celebration time. I have attended many crush activities in Napa and the author has done a authentic wonderful job of describing this fun and critical time to wine growers. Due to the influx of tourists the Bistro business is better then ever. Mimi has developed a sweet treat menu with the area's top chef's to entice the visitors and locals. It is proving to be very popular as everyone is enjoying the dessert menus of all the chef's.

When chef Camille's contentious sister is found dead in the kitchen (after she annoys many people,) all eyes are on Mimi to solve the case. She has proven to be a adept sleuth and soon is gathering clues and finds numerous suspects. She is working to solve the case and save her business, her festival and her reputation of her staff .

I loved this second in series ! This book is the definitive cozy mystery with a great sleuth, a wonderful location and authenticity to entice every reader including their taste buds. It is a delight to escape to Napa with Mimi and friends , read about the outstanding recipes at the Bistro and enjoy a great sleuth. Thank you to the author and publisher for continuing this great series.

I highly recommend this series for your reading enjoyment.

I like Mimi and her crew. Glad to see Mimi and Nash progressing. Still don't understand why Mimi is friends with Willow. This is a good mystery and a fun story. When Chef C's sister is murdered, Chef C becomes a suspect. Mimi will not let someone she cares about become a murder suspect. She just knows that Chef C is not capable of murdering her sister. There is someone skulking around her house. Is Mimi a target? Will she be able to help find the murderer before she becomes a victim?

This was the second book in this series and I am lucky enough to have started with book 1. I'm lucky enough to be able to read this series in order which I don't often get. If you haven't read the first book in the series, it won't spoil anything if you do. There are only references to the previous book with no spoilers. Because I'm such a fan of this author (under both her pen names), I challenged myself to find one thing that I could critique. I think that the officer was a bit off putting to the reader. I believe the intent was that he was taking a personal issue out on Mimi and her being roped into the investigation. Mimi was as respectful of his position as she was in the first book but he responded much differently to her. Of course, it could also be that he was juggling two major events as well as a murder investigation. However, as I was reading it, it just seemed natural progression in character development. We learned a lot about characters that make up the main crew of the book that we hadn't learned before which I always enjoy. I truly appreciated how Mimi can genuinely come to like someone regardless of challenging aspects of their personalities. I also enjoy that she can be respectful of other people having different thoughts and opinions than hers without it becoming an issue. I think this is something that we need to see a lot more of in the literary world as it is something that has become so lacking in the real one.

Once again, she leaves us with extraordinary recipes that I cannot wait to try. Recipes for Autumn Quiche, Beef Bourguignon, Brochette d'Agneau a la Grecque, Cameille's Special Sauce, Champignon Parmentier au Gratin, Cote de Porc, Creme de Porc, Creme Anglaise, Lobster Bisque, Porc a l'Orange, Poulet Dijonaise, Souffle a l'Orange, Souffle au Chocolat, Souffle Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies (gluten free and regular).

Overall, this was a book that was worthy of following up the first book in the series and I highly recommend it to fans of mysteries, cozies, and to foodies.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Daryl Wood Gerber for allowing me the opportunity to read this amazing story and share my thoughts and opinions with others.

A good mystery, enjoyable and fun to read.
I liked the cast of characters and the mystery was interesting. The book is well written and there's no plot hole or inconsistencies.
It was a bit slow at times and the final part was a bit rushed, sort of solution coming out of the blue.
I enjoyed it and hope to read another instalment soon.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Soufflé of Suspicion , the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series, by Daryl Wood Gerber is as delightful as the first! Though this is the second book, it can definitely be read as a stand alone, enough background information is given to follow without any trouble.
All of the main characters from the first book return for book two. And we meet a few new ones.
One of the tings that keeps bringing me back to this series, aside from the mysteries, is the food!
The way the author describes the food, sometimes I swear I think I can smell what she’s describing!
I read a lot of culinary cozys, but A French Bistro Mystery series is definitely becoming a fast favorite!

It’s crush week in Napa and Maison Rousseau is hopping as a week-long festival is held on the grounds. Mimi and her staff are working hard with the increased foot traffic and when Chef C’s sister is murdered, Mimi has to step in to fill in in the kitchen while she also tries to price Chef C’s innocence.

The author’s writing will whisk you off to Napa and you can almost smell and taste the food and wine. The writing is fantastic and supporting characters served up compliment the strong and well developed protagonist. This is a must read book for your Summer reading list!

Set in the lovely Napa Valley, in Bistro and Inn are in the tick of things with Crush Week. Then Chef C's sister is murdered and our protagonist sets out to investigate first to free her friend of suspicion and then it feels just to see it out to the end.

This series incorporates a lot of characters and a few subplots. There are plenty of suspects to investigate and most of the characters are likable.

In parts the book meandered and then at the end it raced to the climax. But all in all it was a nice book.

Napa Valley Crush Week and a Sweet Treats Festival on the grounds of Maison Rousseau is keeping Mimi Rousseau and her staff very busy. Business is up and things are looking good until festival organizer Renee turns up dead. Renee's sister is Chef C, the talented French chef who works for Mimi at her bistro and she is devastated by the murder. While Mimi has to cope with running the bistro without Chef C, she is determined to also find Renee's killer.

This was a delightfully enjoyable read and another fine entry in the French Bistro mystery series. Lots of yummy recipes are also included at the end of the book.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

A Soufflé of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second book in the cozy A French Bistro Mystery series. As the title and cover may indicate this series is one that is perfect for the foodies to dive into with all the delicious treats and eats hiding between the pages. And if the mouth watering food during the read isn’t quite enough to satisfy there are also recipes included at the end of the book for readers to try some of the foods out on their own.

Mimi Rousseau is our leading lady in the French Bistro series with the first book introducing her to readers as she had just lost her husband. Mimi’s dream had always been to open her own bistro and she had taken the tough route getting there by learning the ropes holding various jobs in the food industry. Once her husband had passed she had found herself in debt so she sold everything to clear the debt and then returned home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley where she found a backer to open her own bistro.

Now as Mimi has settled into her new life and things seem to be going well for her she’s decided to tackle the Sweet Treats Festival during Crush Week in Nouvelle Vie. But before Mimi knows it she finds herself smack dab in the middle of another murder investigation when Chef Camille’s sister Renee is found dead. Renee had been managing the festival and really wasn’t winning everyone over with her demanding ways so the list of suspects is a mile long but Mimi is determined to find the killer.

Having read the first book in this series and liking it well enough I was hoping to dive into this one and find myself loving it even more. However, this time around I just found this one to be missing a bit of that quirky spark that I love so much in stories like this. The story and characters are likable enough but it didn’t really jump out and grab me as much this time around either although the foodie in me enjoys hearing of Mimi’s creations and I do enjoy the lovely setting this series takes place in. So in the end I just found this one to be an OK addition to the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A Soufflé of Suspicion, the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber, pulled me in with its charming cover and then kept me turning pages until the very last word was read! The protagonist, Mimi Rousseau, owns both Bistro Rousseau and Maison Rousseau, the inn next to her bistro. All I can say is Mimi is extremely fortunate with her location, location, location! Set in Napa Valley, the author paints a gorgeous picture with words, describing views, tastes, and sounds, so that the reader will feel like they’ve been on vacation… except for the murder. When the Sweet Treats Festival organizer is murdered, Mimi finds herself pulled into helping solve the crime. The victim was Mimi’s chef’s sister and the festival is being held at Maison Rousseau. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, including the victim’s abandoned husband who runs a chicken farm. The twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist changed my mind.

In addition to great story-telling, I love the way Ms. Gerber develops her characters. Mimi is kindhearted, treating her employees like family. It is refreshing to see the caring interaction she has with each of them. I also greatly enjoyed how Mimi’s relationship is blossoming with Nash. She’s had some emotional hurdles to overcome in her past, but the author allows Mimi to grow like a real person would which makes her relatable. I look forward to reading more in this highly entertaining series!