by Sarah E. Burr

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

I’m no stranger to Colleen Cambridge’s enchanting storytelling, but this is my first time meeting her sleuth, Tabitha Knight. It can be a gamble picking up book two in a series without reading the first, but I am happy to report that the kindhearted, yet fierce Tabitha dazzled me right from page one, and by page two, she felt like an old friend. The warm, inviting way in which Cambridge writes her characters (and the settings they inhabit) has a mesmerizing effect on the reader.

We meet Tabitha in the most idyllic of scenes, venturing through a Parisian market, musing about one of my favorite things: food. Tabitha is soon derailed by her dear friend, the absolutely charming Julia Child. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Julia’s personality in this book. As a historical figure, and one I’ve seen portrayed in film and TV, I had this image in my head that she would be a stiff, reserved figure, but oh, how Cambridge’s Child bursts from the page with life. She’s the confidante we all want to help us with a mystery, ready and eager to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.

As with my past experiences with Cambridge’s writing, her mystery didn’t disappoint. Although we take a few chapters to get there, Tabitha is handed a bottle of exquisite wine to deliver to the esteemed Chef Beauchene at the famous Le Cordon Bleu school right before a cooking demonstration. As the avid mystery reader I am, I knew something was fishy, and it wasn’t the bouillabaisse. When Beauchene drinks the wine in front of a room full of eager cooking enthusiasts and plummets to the floor dead moments later, the mystery takes off, bringing the reader on a twisting journey full of excellently placed red herrings while showcasing the wonders of 1950s Paris with breathtaking style. Add in the charming characters we meet along the way—especially Tabitha’s grandfather and his partner—and you’re in for a fascinating ride.

I could write a whole post about the food descriptions Cambridge teases us with alone. Simply put, eat before you read this, or you will find yourself aching for the dishes Julia and Tabitha tackle together.

Although this is my first time visiting with Tabitha and Julia, I will most certainly be booking a return journey to 1950s Paris. A delightful read from start to finish, A Murder Most French is a must for historical mystery enthusiasts!

You can click here to purchase this book.

To enter to win a copy of A Murder Most French, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “french” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 11, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Sarah E. Burr is the award-winning author of the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. She is the co-host of It’s Bookish Time TV, a YouTube channel featuring live-streamed author interviews. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah reads everything from mystery to manga, plays video games, and enjoys walks with her dog, Eevee. Stay connected with Sarah via her newsletter: bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.