The cover of this book drew me right in. It led me to think that this would be an enjoyable read and indeed it was. There was also the title as I always think it is fun to visit Paris (even fictionally).

This book is the seventh in a long running series that began with 2018’s A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder. Those who are familiar with this historical traditional mystery series will be delighted to meet up with old friends while new readers can start here and then perhaps go back to book number one.

This time Frances and George are traveling to see the 1900 Exhibition. They are also there to visit George’s Aunt Julia. Of course, their trip will not be straightforward or peaceful.

Julia tells Frances and George that an artist that she loved was killed. Something happens to Julia as well (no spoiler so no more).

George and Frances are left with much to investigate and many suspects. This makes for detection and fun for the reader.

Those who enjoy historical mysteries such as those by Anna Lee Huber will want to take a look at this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 25 June 2024

4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.

Great addition to this fun series. I love how George and Frances work together on the investigation and their high regard for one another. Super satisfying mystery in a great new setting for the series. Newcomers to the series should read these in order to get the most out of the relationship between George and Frances.

A delightful addition to the series, taking readers on a charming journey to Paris during the 1900 World Exposition. The story is a blend of historical intrigue with a sophisticated Victorian setting. The descriptions of Paris are fascinating and richly detailed. The plot is well paced with plenty of suspects and twists to keep the reader guessing.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dianne Freeman continues to embroil the Countess of Harleigh, now Mrs. Frances Hazleton, in murder and mayhem in An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder. Her husband's Aunt Julia has asked him to come to Paris to look into the death of her lover, artist Paul Ducasse. Then Julia is murdered. All while the Pairs Exposition is showcasing France. George Hazleton and his wife discover clues and the unexpected child of Julia who has been living in the country. Whodunit? Fellow artists? Other lovers? Ducasse's wife? Wonderfully zestful historical cozy.

This was fun and a good summer read for me, I love the balance of genre in it and the characters also. I am glad I picked it up.

Frances and George are settling into married when George receives a letter from his eccentric aunt that she needs his help and asks him to come to Paris. When George and Frances arrive, Aunt Julia says that she believes that a friend did not die accidently drowning but that he was murdered. When she changes her mind about pursuing an investigation, things get dangerous for George & Frances especially after Aunt Julia is also murdered.

The twists and turns revolving around the newest characters and their relationships, are not just entertaining but enthralling.
Great addition to this series.

I love this series and this one is my favorite so far. Frances and George travel to Paris so we get a glimpse of life at the turn of the century as well as immersing ourselves in the art scene at the time, all of which makes for a fantastic setting. The mystery was the main focus, though, and that was well-paced with just enough clues to keep us guessing until the end (although it was easy, I thought, to figure out who the guilty party was). I can’t wait for more in this series.

A great addition to this series! I loved the setting incorporation of the art world at the time period. I would have loved even more inclusion of the World’s Fair though!

This was a fun, fast-paced read. The main characters were as fun and charming as always, and the new characters were all a fun addition. The only thing is that I missed having more interaction between George and Francis.

Overall, an enjoyable historical, cozy mystery! Can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book perfectly shows what I love most about the Countess of Harleigh series- Freeman slowly and surely expands Frances’ world (and George’s) with every book, and while Frances is fascinating all on her own, I love getting to know her friends and family. (Even if they unfortunately perish…) I find that cosy mysteries can often get a tad repetitive when you are sticking with the same group of people in the same place, and Freeman knows exactly when to expand and how. While I wouldn’t have guessed we would be heading to Paris, it worked out very well!

An Art Lover’s Guide also has one of my favourite mystery structures- a mystery within a mystery! Not only are we trying to find out who killed Julia, we are also trying to figure out who killed her friend and fellow artist, Paul Ducasse. It is a complicated but interesting web to sort through, and it makes for the best kind of mystery reading! (While I like Poirot and Sherlock, I enjoy the “boots on the ground, looking for clues” style of detectives.)

I also very much appreciate Frances and George’s relationship developing throughout the book. This romance/ relationship is definitely in the background, but that does not make it any less sweet or fun. Instead of it being a separate thread in the story, it’s more of a lens or layer that makes the whole story all the more interesting.

If you haven’t read the other books in this series, you can absolutely pick this book up and follow along with no issues! However, the series is incredibly entertaining and will keep you reading, so I would highly recommend that you read the others if you are interested.

This is a summer must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery!

I loved this book. This series is a favorite of mine and the author did a wonderful job adding in new characters to make a fresh story for readers. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. Well done!!

In this fun Victorian turn of the century historical fiction mystery, readers reunite with Frances Wynn Hazelton, the American Countess of Harleigh, and her husband George at the Paris Exposition. In Paris for a late honeymoon, a trip to the Exposition, and a visit to George’s Aunt Julia who has a case for him, Frances and George do not expect a collapsed footbridge and Julia’s sudden, seemingly unprovoked, murder. As they dig into Julia’s murder and the suspicious death of artist Paul Ducasse, Frances and George’s investigation brings them deep into Julia’s secrets and across Paris, often in conflict with the local police. As Julia’s secrets become more complicated and Frances and George become more involved in the case, readers will discover what, exactly, happened and which of the many potential suspects really committed at least one murder. Frances and George have a fun and realistic relationship, while their characterization is complex and clever. Frances may technically be a dollar princess of the Gilded Age, but she is clever and independent and just as capable as her husband who works for the Home Office. Bringing the intensity and glamor of twentieth century Paris to life, readers will find themselves solving the two cases alongside Frances and George.

Frances and her husband, George, visit Paris to attend the Paris Exposition and investigate the suspicious death of artist Paul Ducasse at the request of George's Aunt Julia. When Julia is stabbed to death during a bridge collapse at the event, George and Frances dig into Julia's life and the secrets of her artist circle to solve the case. As they uncover suspects and inherit Julia's estate, they must navigate the dangers posed by a killer determined to keep the past hidden.

Frances and George finally have the chance to go on their honeymoon, so of course, things don’t go as planned. George’s Aunt Julia has something she wishes to discuss, but hesitates when they arrive. Before Frances and George can convince her to confide in them, she is murdered at the Paris Exposition. From there, they are off to solve a crime, that is very personal.

This was a fun addition to the series. There were a few times when I expected more emotion since George’s aunt did die, but the series has never been overly emotional in my opinion. The clues are sprinkled into the narrative in a satisfying way, and kept me guessing to the end.

Overall, it was a fun cozy mystery. Fans of the series, and readers of cozy historical mysteries, will enjoy this.

Dianne Freeman’s An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder lived up to my expectations! I have enjoyed Ms. Freeman’s books, and this one was no exception. It kept me interested from the beginning. I loved the plot twists which kept me guessing until the end! I enjoyed the characters overall but did, at times, wish for a bit more from them. I loved the setting of the Paris Exposition and its world of art as well! Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have really enjoyed this series, though the last book I found I didn't like as much as some of the previous installments. This book however was back up to the standards I hoped for from this series. The characters are funny and their development is ongoing and makes them interesting as well. This book took the main characters to Paris, and the change of scene was both fun and exiting. As with all the other books in this series the mystery was interesting and there were enough misdirects that it wasn't overly obvious who the culprit was. I would continue to recommend this series and hope that there are many more to come.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A touch short on humor and settling for my taste, but this is a decent and very well-paced historical mystery.

I loved that last installment in this series so I was a touch disappointed to find this one to be a bit more pedestrian in terms of quality, but the mystery itself is fine and the story moves well.

I really thought the Paris setting for this would be a big plus, but most of the action seems like it could be taking place pretty much anywhere. And I’m not sure we needed a plot where our protagonists are spending half of the book mulling over the fact that they are, essentially, accidentally acquiring a child.

In all, not the best offering from this series but satisfying enough, and I have no doubt that Freeman (who is generally excellent at what she does) will bounce back with the next installment.

I LOVE this series! And it just keeps getting better! An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder has got more twists and turns than past books. It kept me on my seat until the very end. The characters and story are so well developed it’s easy to become completely immersed.

I enjoyed this latest addition to the Countess of Harleigh historical cozy series. Intriguing mystery, interesting setting—a very satisfying read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoy this series. I like the relationship between the two MCs. It was fun to visit Paris and have a story based there. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for on honest review.

Well, this was SO FUN! What an unexpected little delight of a mystery book. There was intrigue and suspense plus absolutely loveable characters.

I loved getting to know George and Frances! They were delightful from the start. This series just got put on my radar, and while this is book seven in the series, I was able to integrate in well and I loved it so much I want to go and start from the very beginning. There is so much in these pages to enjoy. From the 1900 Paris setting to the integration of art and real historical events, it was such a unique mystery to read.

I feel like this is one that lovers of many genres could enjoy. There is a beautiful historic setting, a very twisty mystery, and the witty banter and character dialogue of a lighter read. The mystery element does in fact take center stage though and I will say it had me on my toes. I was INVESTED!

A delightful addition to the series, I enjoyed reading this and found the plot to be very fun. I also enjoyed reading (loosely) about the Paris Exposition. A fun addition to an already wonderful cozy mystery series.