I certainly enjoyed the whole aspect of this book! Sadie, after losing her best friend in a hit-and-run accident while riding her bike, decided to change her life and live it. She quit her job, sold her furniture and everything, and moved to France to buy a French bicycling company.
She begins to feel the pressure of this decision when her friends and ex-boss from Chicago come to try out her 9-day tour.
At first, the beginning begins with a slow start when her ex-boss drags his feet because he is working from the hotel by using the wifi when Sadie vows that he will enjoy this trip. However, it soon becomes evident to her that he only came to try to convince her to return to work for him because she was talented at accounting. However, more quickly things start taking a turn for the unexpected Dom, her ex-boss, is found dead and the detective suspects foul play. As Sadie tries to continue the tour another murder happens and the detective joins the group to keep an eye on them. To save her new business Sadie must help find out who is murdering people on her tour and who is vandalizing her business and if they are connected!
This was an amazing installment in a new cozy mystery series and it is really exciting! I liked that it varied and was original from many of the cozy mystery series I have read before this; the story was engaging and kept me on my toes! I am very enthusiastic about the next installment! I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the exciting opportunity to read and review this one!

A delightful cozy mystery that transports readers to the beautiful French countryside. The writing is atmospheric and the mystery itself is well paced and engaging. I really liked Sadie and found her to be relatable and resourceful.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fun and fluffy frolic in France.

Just what a vacation needed- a fun and yummy cozy mystery. Set amongst a bicycle tour, this book stands apart for two things: the scenery and the French food. Especially croissants!

Claire created three dimensional, sympathetic characters, and a great story line. And, extra bonus recipes to boot!

All in all a great mystery. #netgalley

Sadie Greene just made a decision to purchase a cycling shop in the charming French village of Sans-Souci-sur-Mer, Oui Cycle. Leaving a mundane office job in Chicago, everyone who knows her is shocked. With her new company, she has planned a 9 day trip for cyclists to see the country, in the first installment of a new cozy series, Cyclist’s Guide Mysteries, A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants . Her former boss is traveling to France with his family to go on this tour, as well as a critic, who insists on coming for free. Her boss is murdered during the tour, Sophie feels it’s her duty to friends, Dom’s family, and justice to find which member of the tour is the culprit.

Claire has created some fun characters, and Sophie is a fun an likeable one. She does a good job of developing those characters which makes for a good story where readers want the protagonist, Sophie, to win. The supporting characters are also good, some likeable and some definitely not likeable. Readers will have suspicions as to who the murderer is, and will weigh the clues in their minds to figure it out before Sophie does, but most will find that it is a surprise in the end. Claire weaves a good tale that flows, and also makes readers to visit France. The setting makes for a nice backdrop to a light murder mystery.

All told, this is a cut cozy, and fun to read. The series is one that cycle enthusiasts will find enticing, and cozy aficionados will like it too. It is well-written, interesting, and organized.

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

Thanks to Goodreads and Kensington Cozies for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

While reading the description, I couldn’t tell which way this novel was going to go, but I took a chance and thankfully it was an entertaining read! Sadie Greene, the main character, was intelligent and likeable. The premise sounded fun – sensible Sadie ditches her accountant job and does something unpredictable: she buys a French bicycling tour company, moves to France and leads tours of cyclists – it turns out to be sort of like herding cats who like to eat croissants.

I love mysteries and couldn’t resist this cozy mystery set in southern France. Sadie is an experienced cyclist, but she is new to being a tour guide. The descriptions of the charming small villages, the stunning views, the ancient chapels, as well as the delectable meals made me feel like I was right there on the tour. And I didn’t even have to fly to France or sit on a bicycle seat. Plus the delicious food descriptions – enjoyable without the extra calories!

But there is trouble in paradise – first Sadie is harassed by a vandal who seems to be sabotaging her property and the tour, and then one of her tour group members is found dead. It’s obvious to Sadie this was no accident. It was challenging to try and solve the murder along with her (and a hunky French policeman). There were several potential suspects from among the quirky cycling group, plus a second murder before the mystery is solved.

I’m glad this is the beginning of a cyclist’s guide mystery series – can’t wait to return to France and take another vicarious tour with Sadie in the second installment.

After Sadie lost her best friend Gemma in a car accident, Sadie leaves her actuarial job and moves to Southern France to fulfill their dream of opening a cycling tour company. While on the tour, a murder occurs, which brings the handsome policeman, Laurant, into the picture. The cast of characters on the tour were all interesting and unique, but the setting and the descriptions of the villages really enhanced the story. I enjoyed the mystery and look forward to more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

While I loved the French setting and the heroine I wasn't a huge fan of the mystery itself. However I did enjoy the book enough to read more by this author as well as any more books in the series.

This book is ok. It felt lack luster to me. I couldn’t get into the scenery or the characters. It felt like it was going by too fast. The mystery felt frustrating as there aren’t really any clues. #ACyclist’sGuidetoCrime&Croissants #NetGalley

Just the book for a relaxing summer read. Mystery, travelogue and a bit of romance all come together in a fast paced novel that makes me want to book a ticket to fly to France and visit the locations in the book.

There was so much to love about this first in series!
The unique setting, the picturesque French village, Sans-Souci-sur-Mer, adds charm to this well-planned mystery featuring Sadie Greene and her one of a kind business, Oui Cycle. The author does a great job showcasing the French culture, lifestyle, and culinary delicacies of France while drawing the reader into the story, eager to unravel the motives behind the crimes and identify the culprit. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Ann Claire takes readers on a scenic cycling tour through the French countryside in A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime & Croissants.

In the wake of her best friend’s death, Sadie Greene’s grief nearly overwhelmed her. But when she got the chance to turn their shared dream of running a cycling business into a reality, she took it—even if it meant quitting her job in finance and moving halfway around the world to France.

As the new owner of Oui Cycle, Sadie hopes to honor Gemma’s memory and help others find their passion for cycling. But just as she begins to settle into life as an expat, someone vandalizes and threatens Oui Cycle. Then, during a cycling tour that includes her former boss from Chicago and his family, as well as a hard-to-impress travel writer, tragedy strikes. One of her cyclists dies, and the gendarmes believe it may have been murder. To save her fledgling business and the rest of her cyclists, Sadie must figure out who’s targeting her tour—before anyone else winds up dead.

Claire’s sun-soaked southern France setting is almost another character in A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime & Croissants, and readers will enjoy her in-depth descriptions of picturesque villages and droolworthy French cuisine. It’s enough to make anyone want to travel to Sadie’s new (tragically fictional) home of Sans-Souci-sur-Mer—despite the seemingly high risk of murder.

Sadie is a dynamic, multifaceted main character. Prior to Gemma’s death, she was content with her risk-averse, if boring, job. Losing Gemma—and Sadie’s guilt over not accompanying her on her ill-fated final bike ride—forces Sadie out of her comfort zone, all the way to France. When the book begins, Sadie is trying hard to become the best version of herself while also coming to terms with her grief. Claire punctuates the story with Sadie’s diary entries, which are addressed directly to Gemma. The intimate and raw messages give the mystery more emotional depth, and it’s all the stronger for it. There’s plenty of humor, too, especially from international cyclists Manfred, Philomena and Constance as they offer much-needed comic relief and support for Sadie.

A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime & Croissants is a fun, fast-paced ride through France, and readers will be left eager for a return trip to Sans-Souci-sur-Mer.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Sadie Green is the new owner of Oui Cycle. She purchased the French bicycling tour business unseen after leaving her job in the Chicago suburbs behind to follow a dream she had with her best friend Gemma Gooding. A year ago Gemma was riding her bike when she was killed in a hit-and-run.  The driver never came forward but Gemma's last words to Sadie were encouraging her to take the day off to go cycling with her. "You'll never get this day back. Remember to live." An ad she saw on her phone had her making an offer for Oui Cycle and it was accepted. Now she is living her life in the beautiful village of Sans-Souci-sur-Mer.

Sadie is excited that her former boss, Dom Appleton, and his family have arrived in France. She has planned a nine-day tour filled with picnics, wine tasting, views of the sea and hilltop villages, and plenty of croissants as they cycle miles each day to enjoy it all. Dom can't seem to get his mind off his business but Sadie won't let his vacation be bogged down with work. But when Dom takes a detour and ends up dead the guilt Sadie feels is immense. When she finds out his death was no accident and was a cold-blooded murder she starts investigating on her own.

Sadie is cycling through the clues as the bike tour continues. Could someone in her group be a murderer? Will they come after her next?

_____

I appreciated Ms. Claire's detailed descriptions of Sans-Souci-sur-Mer and everywhere the cycling tour took her characters. Her words created imagery that made it easy to imagine the world around them and the people they met. I felt like a butterfly on Sadie's shoulder taking in all the the splendor. The biking journey is broken down into 3 stages, by the sea, across the plains, and to the mountains. It really reads like a virtual vacay with a side of murder.

I enjoyed the way the characters are introduced and how they develop throughout the story. Sadie Green is a wonderful protagonist. She is enjoying her new life and feels free. Sadie has educated herself about the local history, the flora and fauna that make up the landscapes they tour making her a great tour host.  She deals with the loss of her friend every day by keeping a journal telling Gem about each day of the tour and what is happening in her life. She has good instincts and with different theories. She is joined on the tour by her former boss Dom, his wife Judith, their son Lance, Lance's girlfriend Laci, travel reviewer Nigel Fox, twin sisters, Philomena and Constance, and Manfred, a self-described digital nomad. Her co-guide Nadiya assists her in all aspects of the tours and Jordi travels with the company van to deliver luggage to each stop and he maintains the bikes. We also meet Bea and Bernard the former owners of Oui Cycle who are willing to help Sadie in any way that they can. Detective Jacques Laurent is easy on the eyes and has an interesting way of investigating.

The mysteries were very well-plotted blending all the biking elements with the murder/s. The author drops clues nicely for Sadie and us armchair sleuths. I was wavering in a couple of different directions. Let me just say Ms. Claire served up some nice red herrings. I had such a good time pulling clues together while I escaped away to the French countryside. Most of the clues fell into place for me before all was revealed but I was surprised about the depth of the crimes.

Unlike Dom, I love croissants and craved them from the first time they were mentioned and well beyond the last. All the foods mentioned made me wish I was there to take a big bite.

A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants is a charming cozy mystery that takes readers on a marvelous journey with captivated characters and a top-notch mystery to solve. I am excited to take another cycling tour with the "best little bike tour company in Sans-Souci".

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This is a very promising debut in the new Cyclist's Guide mystery series. There's a lot to look forward to.

While this book should appeal especially to those who might want to travel to the south of France, other mystery readers should enjoy it as well. After a slightly slow start, the book quickly picks up and a bike tour led by an American ex-pat soon faces vandalism to her business and other crimes, such as ahem.

Besides a clever plot that had me continually changing my view as to whodunit, I started to love the cast of likely recurring characters, such as Jacques Laurent, the policeman.

This was a fun mystery with a lot of biking and French travel information. Highly recommended to mystery fans!!

A CYCLIST'S GUIDE TO CRIME & CROISSANTS by Ann Claire is exactly what the cover portends – a light, relaxing vacation via bicycle in rural southern France. Well, almost... there is vandalism, threats, and multiple deaths so the police (Jacques Laurent) are involved and readers will definitely be puzzled by the who-dun-it. Sadie Greene is the new proprietor of Oui, Cycle! (cute name, right?). And she sets off on the anniversary of her best friend’s death along with friends from home, two Scottish sisters, a German tourist, an unpleasant travel critic, and her new "family" of employees. They get into quite a few scrapes and sample many croissants along the way. The mystery is intriguing and enjoyable, but one change I would suggest for the final version is to include a map to guide readers on this fun adventure. I was a little surprised when Sadie desperately throws money at every obstacle (changes in schedule, extra accommodations needed, van rentals), but it signifies her new willingness to take risks and grow the business. Look for future stories in the Cyclist's Guide Mysteries series featuring Sadie and Laurent. Even Ellery Adams praises A CYCLIST'S GUIDE TO CRIME & CROISSANTS: "A delightful blend of mystery, travel, and joie de vivre!"

A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime & Croissants by Ann Claire is the first book in the new cozy A Cyclist’s Guide Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each book of the series will contain it’s own fully solved mystery so one could read this as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course there will be some character development that carries over onto the rest of the series for those that want to continue.

Sadie Greene had always considered herself the safe and sensible type having settled into a nine to five office job in her home city of Chicago. That is until one day Sadie’s world is turned upside down losing someone close to her. Sadie’s sense of adventure kicks in knowing that any day could be one’s last so she tosses her safe life aside and invests in a bicycle touring company in southern France and doesn’t look back.

Now nine months later Sadie has her cycling business up and running somewhat well when she gets word from back home in Chicago that some friends want to come tour with her. Sadie knows that no matter how meticulously she plans her tours plans can and will often change while out with a tour but what Sadie never expected to happen was a murder occur along their route. With suspicions flying Sadie vows to do what she can to figure out just went wrong and who in their small group could be a murderer.

I often enjoy a good humorous and fun cozy mystery so of course A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime & Croissants by Ann Claire caught my eye on that fact alone. However, this new series also came with the added bonus of some fun virtual traveling which is also top of my list of likes in my reading. Who wouldn’t want to tour around France with a quirky group of suspects and solve a murder? This opener was a solid read that fell in at three and a half stars for me with a lot of time spent with the touring and getting to know the series that I just wanted a bit more time with the mystery too but hopefully that all comes together in the next in the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

LOVED THIS! This was the delightful, fun, delicious, and honestly so informative cozy that I needed to kick of summer. I would hop on a plane instantly to join this cycling tour if I could (yes even after such a horrible mystery). Sadie is my new favorite MC sleuth and her business is so unique and what a lovely life she is now leading. This book is full of gorgeous settings, cute villages, breathtaking views that had my traveling senses tingling. I also LOVED all the tour guide info, that was so interesting to me even though I wasn't actually on the tour. The characters were all quirky and many of them SO charming. I was SHOCKED by so many of the twists and especially the ending.

I CANNOT wait for more of this series!

A French cycling tour takes an unexpected turn in this new cozy mystery series from @annclaireauthor.

Come for the awesome travel itinerary, stay for the handsome French detective and the trouble that just keeps multiplying for this tour group. 🇫🇷🥐🚲

Special thanks to @kensingtonbooks for the ARC.

Delicious croissants, the beautiful French countryside, and murder - what's not to love?!? A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants is a fast-paced cozy mystery, and author Ann Claire did a fabulous job of keeping this reader on the edge of her seat! I hope there's a sequel!!! A+++

Sadie, an American ditched her job after her best friend was killed, and bought a cycling travel company in France, a dream the two of them had. But her company has been plagued with vandalism and graffiti, and her latest group has some difficult clients. She never dreamed, though, a murder would be the next stop on their trip...

Not only do you get a good mystery but some wonderful descriptions of food and the scenery of France. I enjoyed the characters and didn't guess who was the culprit. I look forward to another ride with Sadie with the next murder which is sure to be coming soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I adored Ann Claire’s previous series, starting with Dead and Gondola. I was so excited to receive this story by her! It was everything I love about a cozy mystery but the setting in southern France upped the ante. Cozy mystery readers 100% need to grab this but I think it could appeal to a wide range of readers looking for a unique setting in a story. Yes, this story contains a murder but it also has exciting new adventures, moments of deep grief and friends that are like family. Out on Tuesday, May 21!


Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Kensington Books for my #gifted copy! Thank you Netgalley for my e-arc!