The First Faux Pas

Lora Weaver follows romance from New York to Montreal and expects to find a touch of Paris in North America—cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés, fabulous shopping, and a little joie de vivre. Not dangerous liaisons.

But, when she takes a job at a PI agency owned by a French brother and sister team, her life takes on more twists and turns than a Cirque du Soleil show.

Her latest brush with danger kicks off the case of Piedro “Puddles” Bellinni—a deadbeat dad whose disappearance is linked to a dying girl, a socialite about to inherit a fortune, and a would-be thug whose ego ends up nearly as dented as his car. Amid stalkings, shootouts, and kidnappings, Lora must also survive an unexpected houseguest—a flirty old friend of her live-in boyfriend Adam.
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2.5 stars - which means not bad but could be better

Sometimes you want to read crime/mysteries but you don't want anything gritty. Katy Leen's 'The First Faux Pas' (originally published in 2011) featuring former social worker turned budding PI Lora Weaver is a light and upbeat series that might hit that spot.

Lora is a New Yorker who followed her boyfriend to return to his hometown Montreal (and her mother's country). Unable to speak French so she can work as a social worker, Lora ends up employed by effortlessly cool siblings and PIs Camille and Laurent Caron.

In this first mystery, Lora is hired by a woman to track down her estranged husband so he can walk their daughter down the aisle at her upcoming wedding. But is this all there is to it?

On the home front boyfriend Adam's college friend (and all round pain in the arse) Tina seeks refuge at their place after splitting from her husband.

You can see where Leen is going with this series. She wants these to be fun capers. On her website she describes them as 'blanc' (French for white) mysteries i.e. the opposite of noir. While this book is that, unfortunately it's missing extra depth and the tone to become a caper.

While Leen is excellent at action (love a good first chapter that shows vs long-winded inner monologue), her plotting dragged around the 60-70% mark. I wanted her to move the story along and build tension.

Sadly for me the weakest bit was Lora's relationship with her boyfriend Adam. I don't mind a character that has a partner vs the usual 'will they won't they' endless drama of two colleagues in the field for something different.

Instead one of the first things we learn about Adam is him letting Tina steamroll him and he did nothing about it!

Hell the whole Tina subplot was annoying, I was glad Leen ended up sidelining her, though when she returns she's just part of what made the story drag. I'd have rather this character be introduced in later books once we've established Lora and Adam's relationship better. Give them spark and a dynamic. He's just plonked there to be a boyfriend but not given anything to do apart from be the topic of snide 'anglophone' remarks by Laurent.

I realise the focus is on her work, but what made them be together that Lora uprooted her life to move to another country for him, and thus ended her career (because of the language issue)? There was more frisson between her and Laurent. Leen needs to either write Lora as single to play up that tension or leave out the weird sparks with Laurent. I really hope this doesn't become a lover triangle like the Stephanie Plum series. I would much rather see more of spark with Adam and play that off with her in her new job as a budding PI and how that impacts on them (without resorting to cliches).

Lora certainly has a lot to learn as a PI. She blunders her way into scenarios without back up (such as with bearded man or opening the box delivered late at night, come on even a rank nobody knows not to do that!). I do hope future novels show her learning from those mistakes. This is what got old about the Stephanie Plum series - the same old love triangle nonsense (pick one or pick none!) and constantly stumbling into danger and making stupid mistakes.

Overall this series is one I will continue to read to see if the problems I had with this first one are ironed out more. They make a good palate cleanser after more gritter novels (no judgment I like both types).

Thank you to Katy Leen Inc. and Netgalley.