A Fashionably French Murder

Starred review from February 1, 2025

It's 1950 in Paris, and Tabitha Knight is once again finding dead bodies. In Cambridge's third "An American in Paris Mystery" (following A Murder Most French), Tabitha discovers the body of an up-and-coming haute-couture designer who has been strangled with a piece of lace. The next day, she finds another body (this one stabbed with scissors) inside the same fashion house. Tabitha gives in to her curious nature and investigates the murders, especially when it starts to appear that Christian Dior, or an employee of his fashion house, may be behind it all. Inspector Merveille is also investigating, and he's not enthusiastic (or surprised) that Tabitha is involved in the case. Meanwhile, Julia Child, Tabitha's friend and neighbor, gives her tips about life, love, and cooking. Readers will be enchanted by Cambridge's amazing descriptions of Julia Child's food, Parisian caf�s, and the gorgeous fashions in this pleasurable mystery set in postwar Paris. VERDICT One needn't have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this installment, but don't be surprised if readers want to go back and see what they missed. Come for the historical Parisian setting and mystery, stay for the food and wine.--Sarah Sullivan

Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2025
In her third American in Paris adventure, set in 1950, Julia Child's friend Tabitha Knight finds her sixth and seventh bodies. As soon as Tabitha realizes she's left one of her gloves behind in Maison Lannet, the lower-budget fashion studio Christian Dior's prot�g� Rose-Marie Lannet has established, seasoned fans will know what to expect when she and Julia return: the corpse of Madame Lannet, strangled with a piece of designer lace. When the s�ret� inspector in charge of the investigation is called home by a family emergency and replaced by the familiar Inspecteur �tienne Merveille, everything seems as comfy as can be, at least until Tabitha stumbles on the body of Gabrielle Pineau, Madame Lannet's vendeuse and amoreuse, stabbed to death with a pair of scissors. In the meantime, Tabitha lands the first case she's actually asked to take on: There's been a burglary at the shoe boutique Godot & Block, whose owner suspects his employee Mathilde Pillon's boyfriend, and Mathilde's sister begs Tabitha to clear his name. Once a very cursory investigation reveals a much more likely suspect, rival shoemaker Philippe Wathelet, the only mysteries that remain are whether and how Cambridge intends to tie the two cases together, what connection they can possibly have to the collaborationists who fed the occupying Nazis information during the war, and what Tabitha will do about the sudden romantic attraction she feels toward Inspecteur Merveille. Forget the forgettable plot and savor the loving descriptions of French cuisine and couture.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.