This book is the 7th book in a series, but despite not having read the previous books I was still able to read and enjoy this without feeling like I’d missed out on too much. I enjoyed the relationship between Flora and Jack and I gather that the suspense between them has been gathering for a while. Readers of the previous books will probably be very happy with the Flora and Jack outcome. The settings in Paris and the countryside sounded gorgeous, the Count’s family sounded horrible and Jack’s mother was just weird- I felt like she was lucky Jack did anything to help her at all. Flora sort of discovered what happened to her parents and I assume that this had been set up from previous books. At the beginning of this story it seemed like Flora’s parents story was going to play a 50:50 role with Jack’s mum, but I felt like they were barely mentioned - maybe that will be for a future book. I only gave 4 stars for this because I just felt like there was something missing from making the story absolutely awesome, but I’m not sure what it was.

Flora and Jack travel to France to help his mother, who believes someone is trying to kill her. Flora has a secondary motive - to unravel the mystery of her parents' death. The mystery of Jack's mother was well-plotted, although none of the characters involved really came to life for me. The resolution for Flora's parents felt a bit anti-climactic but it's nice to have that chapter closed for Flora. Flora and Jack's developing relationship was lovely to watch. The 7th in a series but I think it can be read as a standalone since none of the regularly recurring characters have a role, so no need to know their back stories. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Book shop owner Flora Steel and her crime writer boyfriend Jack are back again for a new adventure, this time in France at the request of Jack's mum.

I love this series and can't believe we're onto book 7 already. The storylines are always entertaining, plus I love the setting. Flora can often irritate me however the other characters, especially Jack, make up for that.

Excellent series that I recommend.

I am very thankful for this ARC. That being said, I was a bit disappointed with the pacing and flow of the story. I was not enamored by the plot or characters like I was hoping to be. I felt at times that the plot was a bit weak. I was hoping to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

Another great book in this series. A truly creepy family full of secrets you just wouldn't want anything to do with. The mystery was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing which it was going to go. Even though there was a relatively small pool of suspects I still wasn't sure until the end who had done it and couldn't put it down until I found out the answer. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The latest in the very good Flora Steele series by Merryn Allingham is my favorite so far. Bookshop owner Flora and her crime writer boyfriend Jack are summoned to France by Jack’s estranged mother, who is convinced her life is being threatened. Flora has personal business of her own in France, and the resulting mystery and family drama is well-plotted and keeps you turning the pages. Flora and Jack have some pivotal moments that fans of the series will enjoy, and there’s a hint of what might come next. Thoroughly enjoyable. I would recommend reading the earlier books in the series, partly because they are very good and partly to help set this one up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.