Scan barcode
A review by thesubwayreader
Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a solid start to a new cozy mystery series. Tabitha Knight was a Rosie the Riveter. She's good with her hands and with fixing things, but is a disaster in the kitchen. After the war ended, she was at a loose end, so she moved to Paris to stay with her Grand-pere and "uncle." I love that Julia Child is her neighbor, and so are the messieurs! When a woman is found dead in the cellar of Julia's building, you know that Tabitha is going to get involved.
A couple of things... First, if you don't like fictional accounts of actual people, then this story might not be for you. (I had Meryl Streep's Julia in my head while I was reading this. I also casted Anna Maxwell Martin as Tabitha... probably because of The Bletchley Circle.) Second thing, it's helpful if you know a little bit of French - not very much, but it will definitely help.
I thought the mystery part was pretty good. It wasn't difficult to figure out, but mostly satisfying. I found Tabitha blaming her "inner sprite" for her less than sensible decisions really annoying. She's nearly 30 - she can say that she wants to investigate something because she's curious instead of blaming this sprite. All in all, I'll definitey read the next in the series... The messieurs are adorable, Inspector Merveille has potential, and I want to check in on how Tabitha is getting on with her cooking lessons from Julia.
A couple of things... First, if you don't like fictional accounts of actual people, then this story might not be for you. (I had Meryl Streep's Julia in my head while I was reading this. I also casted Anna Maxwell Martin as Tabitha... probably because of The Bletchley Circle.) Second thing, it's helpful if you know a little bit of French - not very much, but it will definitely help.
I thought the mystery part was pretty good. It wasn't difficult to figure out, but mostly satisfying. I found Tabitha blaming her "inner sprite" for her less than sensible decisions really annoying. She's nearly 30 - she can say that she wants to investigate something because she's curious instead of blaming this sprite. All in all, I'll definitey read the next in the series... The messieurs are adorable, Inspector Merveille has potential, and I want to check in on how Tabitha is getting on with her cooking lessons from Julia.