A MURDER MOST FRENCH is the second book in the American Mysteries by Colleen Cambridge. I was very happy to spend a bit more time in Paris with Tabitha Knight and her friend, Julia Child when I received an advanced reader's e-copy. It was an afternoon of mystery, fun, and fabulous descriptions of French food as I reconnected with these book friends.

Tabitha and Julia are at a cooking demonstration when Tab takes charge of a bottle of wine delivered to the chef. This makes her a material witness in the first murder. Yes, there is more than one in this steadily-moving plot. The handsome police detective is back, a new American is also in Paris---he is interested in Tabitha---and the mushroom vender. They all blend together to bring out the stories in this wonderful historical novel.

Colleen Cambridge gives the readers glimpses of a colorful Parisian market with vendors who support each other, the art of growing mushrooms in the underground Catacombs, (I loved this part as my daughter was just there and sent great photos.), the history of French wines and how they fared in the war years, and touches on the Natzi Occupation. I enjoy these bits of history that add so much to the book's Parisian atmosphere.

I can't wait for book three in this engaging cozy mystery series. Thank you to #NetGalley #KensintonCozies #ColleenCambridge for the ARC that I requested. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#AMurderMostFrech #NetGalley

I loved this fun mystery, set in post-war Paris, and I hope that this series continues on in many more installments! Tabitha Knight, an American living in Paris with her grandfather, is an admirable protagonist. Her curiosity, logical/mechanical abilities, and what she learned as a child from her policeman father have trained her well for a role as an accidental sleuth. Her friendship with budding chef Julia Child adds an element of amusement and levity to this series—together Tabi and Julia are great fun to read about. The descriptions of food and wine are magnificently over the top and I look forward to more of them in the next book from Colleen Cambridge. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Really enjoyed this second mystery in the "American in Paris" series, which features amateur sleuth Tabitha Knight, and her friend, Julia Child. Tabitha is a young American woman that hails from Detroit where she was a "Rosie the Riveter". Her mother was French, and her father was a detective. Tabitha moves to Paris to stay with her grandfather and his companion, "Oncle Rafe".
The mystery begins when Julia Child invites her neighbor and friend, Tabitha, to attend a cooking and wine demonstration at Le Cordon Bleu. Tabitha gets separated from Julia looking for the bathroom, and ends up intercepting a delivery for the chef from a young street boy. After watching a chef of a once well known restaurant, called the Mason de Verre make a fantastic meal of sole, he opens the gift basket (delivered by Tabitha) and finds a rare French wine - a 1893 Volnay Clos tea Rougette. The chef tastes the wine and much to everyone's horror, drops dead - foaming at the mouth. Tabitha once again begins to investigate on her own, much to the chagrin of Inspector Mervaille. When a second chef dies at a party (that both Julia and Tabitha attend) it is apparent that something sinister is afoot. With vandalism in their favorite market, and a bottle of wine delivered to her Grandfather's house, Tabitha takes the investigation into her own hands - of course, with dangerous results. An entertaining fun read, with all the great elements of a cozy mystery.

_A Murder Most French_ is the second book in a series by Colleen Cambridge that features an American in Paris, Tabitha, living with her grandfather and his partner. Much of the book (and the series) focuses on Tabitha straddling two worlds-- the United States where she was raised and France, her mother's homeland. Fortunately for Tabitha, her neighbor is another ex-pat, Julia Child. When Tabitha and Julia attend a class at Le Cordon Bleu and witness the chef's murder, they get pulled into a series of crimes that includes vandalism at the local market, assaults, and even more murders. Cambridge's historical research firmly sets the novel in Paris in the late 1940s, from the bitter recollections of Nazi occupation to the proud memories of French Resistance. And foodies will adore the vivid descriptions of Julia Child's sumptuous meals as well as her final advice to her friends: Bon Appetit!

Tabitha Knight is an American living in Paris with her grandfather a few years after the end of World War Two. Julia Child, her neighbor and friend, is enrolled in the Cordon Bleu cooking school and happy to help Tabi with marketing and recipes. Tabi accompanies Julia to a demonstration at the school and is horrified when the chef drops dead after sampling a rare vintage wine. Soon Tabi witnesses a second similar death and she becomes involved in solving the crime, especially after her beloved grandfather is threatened.

This is the second in a series but can be read independently. The portrayal of Julia Child is a delight, the descriptions of her food are mouthwatering, and postwar Paris is fascinating. Light entertainment at its best.

A MURDER MOST FRENCH is the second book in the American in Paris Mysteries by Colleen Cambridge. This mouthwatering historical culinary mystery is a tantalizing feast for the senses and the mind! Set during post WWII Paris, fictional protagonist Tabitha Knight is best friends with Julia Child. When a chef at the world-famous Cordon bleu cooking school drops dead after imbibing a rare wine in front of Tabitha and Julia, they get pulled into the investigation. I love how the author weaves in history from occupied France and how it affected the citizens of Paris. She also takes the reader on a dizzying array of jaunts throughout the City of Lights, from the catacombs, to a mushroom farm, to the market stalls in search of the best ingredients. Along the way, the reader is treated to memorable characters (and I hope we get to find out more backstory, especially with Tabitha’s Grand-père and Oncle Rafe!) that brings the book to life. The mystery itself is solid and had good pacing. Again, I was fascinated by how the German occupation connected to the crime, adding a layer of intrigue as the clues dropped. With a chilling reveal, all the threads came together in a highly satisfying manner, and a craving for one of Julia’s amazing culinary creations!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I somehow missed the first installment in this delightful series (Mastering the Art of French Murder).

In the second of Colleen Cambridge's series, A Murder Most French, Tabitha Knight is still in post-war Paris, still trying to learn to cook from her friend Julia Child, and once again stumbling into a crime scene.

The weapon this time is poisoned wine, and Tabitha is on hand to witness the deaths of the first two victims, prominent chefs.

This was a fun, breezy read (yes, I finished it all in one sitting), yet the author deftly conveyed important facts about French culture and the trauma of the Nazi Occupation.


I received a review copy from NetGalley.

A Murder Most French is the second of the American in Paris mysteries and is, like its predecessor, a charming and interesting mystery packed full of information and food. And wine. Lots and lots of wine.

In this volume Tabitha and her friend Julia Child are present for not one but two murders, both involving poisoned bottles of wine. What ensues is a good tale chock full of twists and turns. There's also some very interesting historical information and more about the Paris catacombs that I ever knew I wanted to know. I am now in love with the idea of this city beneath the city!

The writing is focused and fun. Tabitha is an engaging narrator and the tale moves quickly. A very enjoyable read that I finished on a rainy January night.

Oh, and Colleen Cambridge, if you ever read this: I would love a book about the adventures and relationship of Grand-Pere and Oncle Rafe! Just sayin'.....

What a delight to step back into post-war France and the adventures of Tabitha and her flamboyant, soon to be famous friend, Julia Child. I felt like I was in Paris and wishing I could taste the amazing flavors Cambridge describes. The mystery itself was good, and I appreciated that we as readers had all of the pieces so we could figure out who was the murderer. In fact, I did a bit before Tabitha did, but not too early that I was disappointed in her reasoning abilities. I definitely want to read the next in the series.
Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.

Mid century Paris, an ex-pat mystery solver, opulent food and wine, charming relatives, Le Cordon Bleu murder and the wonderful Julia Child make for a mystery i loved! Tabitha, an ex-pat American taking care of her charming grandfather and uncle and the outgoing Julia Child, team up to solve a mystery of the murder of two of the most famous chefs in Paris.

The mystery and characters are perfect and I felt myself drawn into a Paris that is both beautiful and recovering from World War II Tabitha and Julia find themselves meeting several interesting people who may or may not be the killer. A joy to read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Although this is book two of the series, a new reader can easily become immersed in this novel which features fictitious Tabitha Knight, who becomes a close friend of the real-life Julia Child in Paris during the post-World War II years when Child attended the Cordon Bleu cooking school. As in the previous novel, circumstances pull Tabbie and Julia into investigating a murder; in this instance, while giving a cooking demonstration both attend at the Cordon Bleu, a noted chef dies after drinking poisoned vintage wine he’s just received as a gift. The only witness to see the boy who delivered the wine, Tabbie is closely questioned by police inspector Merveille, who was involved in their previous investigation and who, Julia teases, is attracted to Tabbie. Between accompanying her friend to the market, sampling her famous meals, and keeping house for her grandfather and his good friend, Tabbie continues, despite discouragement from Merveille, to track down clues—a mission that becomes even more important when another famous chef is poisoned in the same manner and her own family is threatened. Could the poisoned wine have come from a stash hidden from the Germans, who confiscated all the best wine they could find during the Occupation? Could the estranged wife of one of the chefs been driven to murder to prevent his return to Paris and the reopening of his successful pre-war restaurant? Along with the thrill of chasing clues, readers are treated to talk of Julia’s mouth-watering recipes, discussions of the unique French mushrooms grown in the Catacombs and vivid descriptions of Parisian markets, all brimming with post-war Paris atmosphere. Magnifique!

Set in Paris, 4 years after the end of the war, Tabitha Knight is friends with renowned cooking writer and celebrity cook Julia Childs as she is training at Le Cordon Blue cookery School. Tabitha attends a cookery demonstration at the famous school with Julia and becomes embroiled in a murder, the duo attend a wine tasting and there is another murder. Both victims were superb chefs before the war, and both have died by poisoned vintage wine
Julia Childs is a real person,
Tabitha is a fictional character although the way there relationship is depicted you can’t help but wonder if in fact they are both real. This book takes a real life and well known character and uses their life to frame a fictional murder mystery. Tabitha is searching for meaning to her life and she seems to find it in investigating murders to the chagrin of Police Inspector Merveille. Whist Julia is very happily married, Tabitha is contentedly single and despite others attempts to find her a future husband intends to remain so in the near future, however there is just something g about the Inspector .
What is written about Julia Childs is true, what happens to her fortunately is not, there is a lot of detailed research which has gone into this tale, which I’m relieved about, as personally I dislike books that lack detail and accuracy. The Parisian catacombs, the German occupation and how they subdued the proud French, button mushrooms and more importantly to a foodie like me some delicious passages about Cordon Bleu food.
I thoroughly recommend this book and I want to read more

I loved the first book in this series, Mastering the Art of French Murder and was excited to get my hands on the latest installment. Readers will find themselves in the postwar Paris of Julia Child and her American friend Tabitha. The two women once again find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery when a Chef at Le Cordon Bleu is poisoned. Their search for the truth sends them all over Paris and leads them to explore the dark secrets of the Catacombs.
I had a hard time putting this cozy mystery down and I am looking forward to finding out what is next for Tabitha and Julia. Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Tabitha Knight is back in an atmospheric tale of Paris, wine and Julia Child's cooking.
Tabitha becomes embroiled in another mystery involving wine.
Rare vintage poisoned wine!
In this story, Paris seems to be the main character with the catacombs as part of the mystery, and sthe stresses of the aftermath of World War Two.
Tabitha, along with the
handsome mysterious Inspector, try to discover who is sending out the poisoned wine.
Add Julia's ebulliant personality and marvelous cooking tips, and you have a literary feast!

With a return to post WWII Paris, A Murder Most French upholds the standard set by the first book. The atmosphere is well developed, and we get to see interesting pockets and corners of Paris throughout the story. The characters are engaging, ang the mystery itself is solid. This is an excellent library selection, particularly for Large Print collections.

I really enjoyed new-to-me author, Colleen Coble's "Mastering the Art of French Murder" which I read earlier this year, so I am very happy that I got an advance copy of the next installment of "The American in Paris" series, "A Murder Most French". What a great concept - Post-WWII Paris & French chef Julia Child in a murder mystery series!!! A great city & a great woman both - how FUN! I am quite happy to report that the sequel lives up to the first, as we follow the chef's Yank friend, Tabitha and her two delightful "messieurs'" on another investigation into poisoned potables. Love all the references to the monuments of the City of Lights itself. Highly recommend to all cozy mystery fans. My most sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC, my pleasure to review :)

I really enjoyed this book. The main character, Tabitha, an expat American is best friends with Julia Child in post-war Paris. I loved their friendship, the descriptions of food and the mystery. I will now have to get the first book in the series. Wonderful!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My fav 2023 mystery debut now boasts a delicious sequel, returning us to post-WWII Paris, where Julia Child is studying at Le Cordon Bleu, while her young American friend Tabitha learns to cook with her and solves murders in her spare time.

We travel to iconic sights across Paree, including the bustling markets where Julia picks fresh ingredients daily, and underground to the spooky Catacombs, following the murder of poisoned chefs. And what about that priceless French wine stolen by the Germans during the war? Does some remain hidden in Paris and could it be linked to the murders?

Best of all, are the lively snapshots of Julia in her tiny kitchen:

"Watching Julia cook a meal was like watching a single person play every instrument in a jazz quintet . . . and in perfect time. She swept from task to task with hardly a pause: stirring, poking, peeking, flipping, measuring, pouring, chopping, sprinkling, sniffing and, of course . . . tasting. 'Ye gods,' she moaned as she sampled the sauce for the sole fillets. 'This is going to be one of the best things you’ve ever tasted, I promise. It’s just so . . . so . . . voluptuous.'"

Readers, I promise this culinary mystery will also make you scoop up book #1 ("Mastering the Art of French Murder") and wait as breathlessly for #3 as I am. Bon appetite!

Thanks to Colleen Cambridge, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Tabitha Knight and her across-the-street neighbor, Julia Child unwittingly witness two murders of chefs in two days, both by poisoned bottles of rare wine. in post-WWII Paris who would desecrate such rare bottles. With help from family, friends, and the merchants at the local market, the crime is solved.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kensington books for the opportunity to read A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge, the second in the series "set in midcentury Paris and starring Julia Child’s fictional best friend, this magnifique reimagining of the iconic chef’s years at Le Cordon Bleu blends a delicious murder mystery with a unique culinary twist." Such a fun story filled with Parisian sights and history. More pkease!