After loving Mastering the French Art of Murder last year, I eagerly anticipated this follow-up, and it did not disappoint! This delightful series is set in post-WWII Paris and features Tabitha, an American living in France who is learning to cook from her friend, Julia Child, a student at Le Cordon Bleu. Tabitha also finds herself doing some amateur sleuthing along the way.

I love Cambridge's writing style, and this is a well-paced and well-plotted mystery that is fun to read. The series has a beautiful setting, and the historical elements are fascinating. Through Tabitha's experiences, we see post-war Paris through the eyes of a newcomer. In this book, we explore the catacombs, visit the markets and cooking demonstrations, learn about valuable wines, and discover more about what happened during the occupation.

One of the things that makes a mystery series for me is the characters and how they become more multi-faceted as the books go on. This series has some that were wonderful and quirky right out of the gate but are even more delightful in this story, especially Julia Child. Cambridge has captured her energy and spirit so well that she steals every scene she is in. She provides cooking tips, and the food she whips up is mouthwatering! Tabitha is a likable sleuth, inquisitive, bright, and resourceful. She lives with her French grandfather and his companion "Oncle" Rafe, two very charming gentlemen, and then there's the intriguing Inspector Merveille. I love the dynamic among this core group and cannot wait to read more of the adventures that await them!

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the free book!

Julia Child was a delight to watch as she brought her love of cooking into the homes of her fans. Colleen Cambridge brings all of Julia’s enthusiasm and cooking skills as she encourages Tabitha Knight to investigate a murder. When she brings Tabitha to a cooking demonstration at the Cordon Bleu the chef is presented with a bottle of wine containing poison. The following day they attend a wine tasting where a second chef is poisoned after receiving a bottle of vintage wine. Tabitha almost lost her life when she was involved in a past murder investigation and she is warned to leave this case to the police by Inspector Merveille. She has an internal imp, however, that sees no harm in just looking into it. Her father was a police inspector and she grew up reading Agatha Christie so she is drawn to the investigation. The bottles were both wrapped in the same distinctive paper and tied with the same ribbon. When her grand-pere and Uncle Rafe receive a similar bottle, she is determined to find the killer.

The murdered chefs were partners in a restaurant before the war. When the Germans arrived one of the chefs settled in London while the other stayed behind and hid their collection of vintage wines. The wine was believed to have been found and destroyed by the Germans, but now it is being used to kill the people connected to the restaurant. Grand-pere and Rafe were frequent patrons of the restaurant, but was the bottle meant for them or is Tabitha getting too close to the murderer? As Tabitha and Julia search the market stalls for the freshest ingredients, they are also drawn into another mystery. Someone has been vandalizing the stalls and one of the vendors is found attacked in the catacombs under the market. There is a connection between the two cases and Tabitha must find that connection before harm comes to her family or she becomes the next victim. Cambridge’s scenes of Tabitha and Julia in the kitchen will have your mouth watering and their strolls through the markets brings Paris alive. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this book for my review.

A Murder Most French is book 2 of An American in Paris series. I listened to book 1 Mastering the Art of French Cooking. If you enjoy audiobooks, I would recommend this series as I enjoyed the audiobook slightly more than reading it myself. You don't need to read book 1 to enjoy book 2.

Tabitha is still trying to figure out what she wants to do but for now she is enjoying her time in Paris and trying to learn to cook with Julia Child as her teacher. She's not learning from Julia's cooking show or cookbook. No, Tabitha lives across from Julia Child!

The descriptions in this book are so very vivid. Tabitha is extremely observant so it makes sense that the descriptions would be detailed. And it isn't just the people she encounters but the city and definitely the food. Don't read this book when you are hungry. I so wanted to make a mushroom cream sauce after reading about it in the book (I settled for making myself an Asian-style mushroom soup which was very tasty and less fattening!)

I know some books feel weighed down when there is a lot of description but that's not the case with this book. It fully immerses the reader in the story. You will feel like you are there in the Paris market or the kitchen with Julia and Tabitha.

I love having Julia as a character. As far as we know the real Julia Child did not get involved in any murder mysteries. She lived in Paris following the war and attended cooking classes at Le Cordon Bleu. She a lively character and Cambridge captures her spirit well. It is one of the big reasons I loved listening to the audiobook of the first book - the narrator did a perfect imitation of Julia.

I like the other characters as well. Tabitha is a resourceful young woman and while she is definitely privileged she is not snobby. She is grateful to be living with her grandfather in Paris and being allowed to discover what she wants in life instead of just being married off to the first eligible bachelor who shows interest.

The mystery is interesting and we get to learn a little about France - farming Paris mushrooms, the catacombs, and of course, wine!

If you love cozy mysteries and French food, then you need to read this book!

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/04/a-murder-most-french-by-colleen.html

Another fine mystery involving Tabitha Knight and Julia Child. Famous chefs are being poisoned by rare vintage wines and Tab and Julia are on the case. The trail takes them to the catacombs of Paris, to an underground series of tunnels leading to one of the famous restaurants- now closed, but moving them closer to the truth. Delightful characters and Julia Child's food as always is exceptional. l.ove the characters and cannot wait for the next in the series.

I so adore this series! The heroine, Tabitha, is an American in Paris after WWII. Helpfully, she speaks fluent French since her mother is French, and now she is living with her grandfather and his close friend. And to her (and our) great good fortune, she lives across the street from Julia Child. This is the Julia who is just studying French cuisine and experimenting with cooking whatever fresh goodies she can find in the local marketplace. Julia’s exuberant personality comes through in every scene. It is not Julia Child who is the amateur detective in the novel, but Tabitha who is brought into the murder mystery through her friendship with Julia. As Tabitha investigates the clues that come her way, she keeps encountering the handsome police detective. I sense we’re witnessing a low-burn romance between them that will develop over the series. And I hope this will be a long-lasting series with many entries.

The series has everything! The mystery was well done. I didn’t figure it out although there were clues that were present. The ambiance of post-War Paris as the population is recovering, but still bitter over the Nazi occupation is interesting. The side characters are distinct and remain people I want to see more of. The heroine is smart and not quite TSTL as happens in some mystery series where the amateur detective is a woman. She has her own skills that she uses to get herself out of jams. I thoroughly enjoyed this and would give it more than five stars if I could.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

J'adore this series!
American Tabitha Knight has been living in Paris with her grandfather and his partner for less than a year. She has become friends with her neighbor, Julia Child, who is learning to cook French cuisine by taking classes at the Cordon Bleu cooking school. As part of Julia's effort to teach Tabitha how to cook more than a simple roasted chicken for her household, the two attend an afternoon demonstration by a master chef; but when he drops dead after sampling a bottle of wine, Tabitha finds herself involved in her second murder investigation in a matter of weeks. She can't help but pursue leads that take her around Paris and into the catacombs, much to the dismay of police inspector Merveille. While I usually try to figure out who the murderer is ahead of the reveal, these "American in Paris" mysteries are such a joy to read, with interesting characters, historical tidbits, Tabitha traipsing around 1950's Paris, and Julie Child's culinary tips, that I find myself just enjoying the "tour" and trying to savor every moment of the book before I reach the end.

I enjoyed this but liked the previous one better. We need some romance. Liked the facts about hiding the wine from the Germans and coke's foray into the market. Loved the catacombs. Overall good mystery with a focus on relationships.

A Series of Poisonings..
The second of the An American in Paris series of mysteries and ex-pat Tabitha Knight together with chef in training Julia Child find themselves grappling with a series of bizarre wine poisonings. The deaths are shocking and quick and it is not long before cyanide is discovered lacing the wine bottles - but things are about to get personal. Another hugely enjoyable instalment to this entertaining and well written series with a pair of likeable and credible protagonists, a well imagined and atmospheric setting, a deftly drawn cast of supporting characters and a solid mystery at its very heart.

In post WW2 Paris, a young Julia Child is studying the culinary arts at Le Condon Bleu cooking school and has invited her American friend Tabitha Knight to a demonstration by the renowned Chef, Richard Beauchêne at the school. Tabitha is staying with her elderly grandfather and his partner and has to prepare their evening meal but since she knows little about cooking, Julia has taken her under her wing and is teaching her some simple (but delicious) recipes.

Just before the start of the demonstration, a gift of bottle of wine was delivered to Chef Beauchêne, a fine old wine that has surely been hidden away somewhere during the occupation. The Chef can’t resist opening it and tasting it on the spot. Unfortunately, it will be the last thing he ever tastes as he collapses and dies almost immediately.

Tabitha and Julia are convinced that Chef Beauchêne has been poisoned by the wine, as is their old friend Inspector Merveille of the Sûrete. Knowing Tabitha from a previous murder case, Merveille warns her not to get involved in the investigation, but of course that was never going to happen. She can’t help being curious and intrepid even as it will lead her into danger. She also likes to find excuses to visit the handsome Merveille at the police station, although is disappointed to discover a photo of his fiancée on his desk.

The sights and sounds of Paris are a wonderful backdrop to this murder mystery. Tabitha and Julia’s daily visits to the nearby market are full of colour as they select the fresh food on offer, while sharing local gossip with the stall holders. When Julia asks the mushroom seller for champignons for her evening meal, he leads her into the Paris catacombs to pick them and she is fascinated to learn how the underground chambers were used during the war, both by the Parisians and the Nazis. With a cast of wonderful characters and mouth-watering descriptions of Julia’s recipes that she whips up in her tiny kitchen, this is an excellent addition to this delightfully entertaining series.

Who managed to put arsenic in a sealed wine bottle? And why was it sent to the chef? And then to another chef? And now to Tabbie! This is a delightful second installment in a series which features Julia Child (more this installment than in the first). Tabs, as Julia calls Tabitha, is an American who is living with her uncle and his companion and taking cooking lessons. And solving murders This is a classic cozy with a twist. For one thing, it's got great post-War Paris vibes and it's got Julia. Police Inspector Merveille might become a romantic interest (that would make Julia happy) but we're going to have to wait for that to develop. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good cozy read.

A Murder Most French is the second book in a mystery series that follows an American in Paris who is best friends with Julia Childs after WWII. Tabitha is half French and is living in Paris with her grandfather and uncle. She is caught up in another murder mystery in this book.

I liked this book but didn’t love it. I love all of the characters. I thought the plot and mystery were interesting as well. Paris as the back drop for this story is also interesting. I loved the descriptions of the city.

While I usually love food in a mystery, this one was just too focused on food for me. It described food and how it was cooked a lot. I feel like it took away from the mystery. I just felt like some of the other background stuff got in the way of the mystery itself.

If you don’t mind a lot of food talk and other background stuff, you’ll probably like this book more than I did. However, I still liked it and though it was interesting.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Kensington Books for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Kensington Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Culinary Mystery
Gore Factor: Low (sure there are dead bodies but their deaths are not described in gruesome detail)
Representation: Gay side characters, Historical icons

*A MURDER MOST FRENCH* is my first book by Colleen Cambridge, and it reads as a stand-alone if you haven't picked up the first in the series. However, after reading this one, I want to go back and read *MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER*.

Julia Child is amazing as a fictionalized character—I love how she describes cooking and her joie de vivre! Give me all the food and shopping in the local Parisian market!

But she isn't the main sleuth—Tabitha is an American in Paris, taking care of her grandfather and "uncle"—meaning his partner. Tabitha breaks the mold for the time-period in many ways, but is logically formed as a woman during the post-WWII era. I also loved the cop and his grumpy attitude.

There is a bit of sexual innuendo, but the language was pretty clean. (I'm thinking there was one f-bomb and a few other swears—I noticed a reader commented about the language in the first book in the series, but I can't tell you from personal experience how much swearing is in that one.) This book doesn't have sex on the page or have fade-to-black scenes; it's truly a mystery.

I would recommend this book—I wasn't really sure who the killer was. Maybe you'll figure out whodunit.

Happy reading!

I had originally intended to read this book first, which was due to be published soon, but I thought I'd read the first in the series and then this second. While I am glad I did, it isn't, at this point in the series, necessary to have read the first. Ms. Cambridge does a good job in introducing the characters and obliquely explaining relationships and their past adventure together so that the reader will not get lost. In this book, we learn a bit more about Oncle's background prior to and during the war, enough to intrigue us and set him up to be pivotal in future books. His and Grandepere's relationship is still largely veiled, but it's clear they are an established couple whose long relationship does not seem to bother anyone in 1950 Paris, although it may upset puritanical modern readers. After exploring food and cooking in the first book, Ms. Cambridge turns to the other great love of the French in this second--wine. Interestingly, after having just finished this book, I was having dinner with a man who had just finished reading a nonfiction book about France and the wine industry in WWII, and we began comparing notes about how the fictional book represented the war and French winemakers. It appears that again, Ms. Cambridge has done her homework, as specific things she mentions were well documented during and after the war and recounted in the nonfiction history. Two good books point to a promising series, and I recommend this title, too.

I love this fun series that uses Julia Child as a secondary character in post-WWII Paris! Tabitha, Julia's neighbor, witnesses another murder, this time at Le Cordon Bleu during a cooking demonstration. There is lots of descriptive passages of food and Julia's cooking so be sure to read it after you eat or while you eat! Tabitha's grandfather and his partner are here once again, helping solve the murder as well as the handsome French detective. Cambridge does a great job setting the scene, making you feel like you're on the streets of Paris. So many red herrings in the book, which kept it moving along to the reveal. Overall, a solid, fun, and delectable cozy mystery for the mystery fan!

Tabitha attends a cooking demonstration at the Cordon Bleu cooking school where her friend Julia Child is studying, but before the demonstration begins, one of the master chefs drops dead after drinking from a glass of wine. When additional poisonings occur in short order, Tabitha and Julia investigate – not only to save lives, but to save a few valuable vintage wines with a history that goes back to the Great War.

This is the second book in this series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. I know the friendship between Tabitha and Julia is fictional, but it’s fun watching them interact. It’s easy to imagine real-life Julia getting so excited about cooking and what she’s learned, and I can almost hear her in my head as she explains cooking to Tabitha – not just the how, but the why.

Since there was more than one murder victim, the first part of the story was spent trying to figure out what the victims had in common. Once a tenuous connection was made, the search for suspects and motives began. There were so many possibilities, with a few red herrings thrown in for good measure, I gave up trying to figure it out until things became almost obvious near the end of the book. I probably should not have been surprised by the killer’s identity or the motive, but I was.

Ms. Cambridge is becoming one of my favorite cozy authors and I’ve enjoyed the historical bits I’ve learned from these books and from her Phyllida Bright series as well. I look forward to returning to Paris for another visit with Tabitha, her grand-pere and Oncle – and of course, more cooking lessons from Julia as well.

Colleen Cambridge in her historical fiction cozy mystery takes the reader back to the aftermath of World War II with her protagonist Tabitha Knight. Tabitha may be an aspiring cook (chef would be overstating her skill) for her grandfather and his partner with Julia Child as her best friend. An American in Paris, she speaks fluent French which will help with both her missions in the book.

With the primary setting in the Cordon Bleu cooking school and local high end restaurants, murder ensues as rare vintage wine becomes the vehicle of death. The first death occurs in a very public demonstration at the cooking school when the chef pours himself a glass of the expensive wine and immediately falls over dead. He will not be the last to drink a lethal taste of vintage wine followed immediately by death. Tabitha’s curiosity leads her on a chase through the markets, the catacombs, and the city of Paris. Her search for the murderer as she stumbles upon clues appears to be as bumbling as her cooking skills – until it is not.

Those who have watched Julia Child’s presentations will recognize her personality, and the author’s note at the end will give good information about her research to create this reality. This is a light read for those who remember Julia Child fondly and for those who like a cozy mystery set in a historical setting. I read and advance reading copy of the book. It hits the shelves on April 23 and is available for pre-order.

A murder investigation set in Paris at the famous cooking school. Who would do such a thing? It's up to this friend of a student to investigate.

A MURDER MOST FRENCH
Colleen Cambridge

How do you commit murder the French way? I found out recently when I read A MURDER MOST FRENCH by Colleen Cambridge.

A notorious chef collapses in front of his students and dies after taking a drink out of a supreme bottle of French wine. Luckily, Tabitha is there with her friend Julia learning to cook a new dish and they offer to help solve the mystery of the chef’s untimely death.

It’s French, it’s a murder mystery. It’s everything I thought it would be. Let’s talk about A MURDER MOST FRENCH by Colleen Cambridge

For those of you who fell in love with Julia Child in some sort or fashion rather for her life as a spy for the OSS or for her adventures in cooking and bringing French cuisine to American kitchens, this is such an interesting way to explore how the dynamics could have been if she had been involved in a murder mystery.

A classic murder mystery with a French twist. It is set in Paris, and the murder occurs at an observational cooking class at the Cordon Bleu cooking school. Assuredly, the right combination of characteristics for me right now. I’m obsessed with all things French and always love a good murder mystery.

A MURDER MOST FRENCH comes out on April 23, 2024. Be sure to grab your copy!

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books | Kensington for the advanced copy!

A MURDER MOST FRENCH…⭐⭐⭐⭐

I adore this fictional cozy series set in the time Julia Childs lived in Paris. It is so well done and Julia is a hoot. She’s the perfect sidekick for Tabitha. The gourmand influences just make it an even tastier mystery! Do not miss out on this series. It is so well written and filled with red herrings and distractions that you can get blind sided by the reveal at the end.

I loved the first book in this series, Mastering the Art of French Murder, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the latest installment. I listened to the first one as an audio book, but there wasn't an audio book option for the ARC. I still loved A Murder Most French! Tabitha and Julia Child are on the case again in post-World War II Paris, learning to cook French cuisine and stumbling upon murders that Tabitha can't help but get caught up in. This time around, the murders center around Le Cordon Bleu, the cooking school where Julia is taking classes. Le inspecteur is on the case and wants Tabitha to butt out and stay safe. I really enjoyed the slow buildup of friendship (and possibly more?) between le inspecteur and Tabitha. This was a quick, fun read, and although I did figure out whodunnit kind of early, it was still a great book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.