Reviews

Coq Au Vin by Charlotte Carter

janecrich's review against another edition

2.0

i feel like she forgot she was writing a mystery halfway thru then in the last 50 pgs remembered and quickly wrote a conclusion

rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition

5.0

Another wild and fantastic ride with Nan, this time around my favorite city ever - Paris.  I absolutely loved reading about all the places she ran around the city, so many familiar areas and it sounds like some are the same even now as they were in the 90s. I could completely picture her walking down the streets and eating the delicious food.  The writing is just as sassy and lyrical and wonderful as ever and so easily to get engrossed in the story. Nan is the same stubborn and inquisitive character as the first book and has seemingly no problem just jumping to a problem head (and heart) first, even when it requires getting in with some dangerous people. I love how she loves with her whole heart and can get swept away so easily. She's also smart and getting savvier as the series goes on. I was completely stumped during this story and though I wanted her to find Viv, I also just wanted answers and enjoyed her Paris exploits. A dramatic ending that left my head reeling and my heart aching for Nan. I can't wait to read more of her adventures!

Thanks to the publishers for a review copy!

roxanez's review

mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

annarella's review against another edition

5.0

This novel is brilliant and I'm very happy i discovered this series and this author. Jazz, solid mystery, great characters, and a lot of humour.
It's a book that kept me hooked and guessing, I loved it and want to read the other books in this series.
The author is a talented storyteller and the atmosphere made me wish I was in Paris.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

liv_withbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

gemie's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There are things I like about Rhode Island Red and Coq au Vin, the first two of a trilogy featuring Nanette Hayes. Nanette is determined, she’s vibrant, she never gives up, she’s sassy, and she’s unique in the history of mystery heroines (as far as I know).

However, what I don’t like is that the story lines seems overly preposterous - I mean, if you think about it, most mystery plots are fairly unrealistic. I find it hard to believe that Nanette falls for guys over the course of one night or that she has all these crazy, dangerous things happen to her spontaneously. 

Maybe I’m just being cranky, but the stories didn’t grab me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, and Miscarriage

halebugs's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

randisworld's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I thought that in many ways this was better than the 1st book in the series. I would pick this one up before Rhode Island Red for sure. They mystery wasn’t constructed in the best way but the characters are very vivid and once again this book is filled with culture and wonderful language. I would give the mystery itself a 2 but loved the culture and characters so I ended on a 3. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content and Violence

rebeccasreadingrambles's review

5.0

Another wild and fantastic ride with Nan, this time around my favorite city ever - Paris.  I absolutely loved reading about all the places she ran around the city, so many familiar areas and it sounds like some are the same even now as they were in the 90s. I could completely picture her walking down the streets and eating the delicious food.  The writing is just as sassy and lyrical and wonderful as ever and so easily to get engrossed in the story. Nan is the same stubborn and inquisitive character as the first book and has seemingly no problem just jumping to a problem head (and heart) first, even when it requires getting in with some dangerous people. I love how she loves with her whole heart and can get swept away so easily. She's also smart and getting savvier as the series goes on. I was completely stumped during this story and though I wanted her to find Viv, I also just wanted answers and enjoyed her Paris exploits. A dramatic ending that left my head reeling and my heart aching for Nan. I can't wait to read more of her adventures!

Thanks to the publishers for a review copy!