Mastering the Art of French Murder

An American in Paris Mystery, Book 1

By: Colleen Cambridge

Narrated by: Polly Lee

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Marie Benedict, Nita Prose, and of course, Julia Child, will adore this magnifique new mystery set in Paris and starring Julia Child's (fictional) best friend, confidant, and fellow American. From the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall, this delightful new book provides a fresh perspective on the iconic chef's years in post-WWII Paris.

"Enchanting . . . Cambridge captures Child's distinct voice and energy so perfectly. Expect to leave this vacation hoping for a return trip."—Publishers Weekly

As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn't just the City of Light; it's the city of history, romance, stunning architecture . . . and food. Thanks to her neighbor and friend Julia Child, another ex-pat who's fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpere and Oncle Rafe.

Between tutoring Americans in French, visiting the market, and eagerly sampling the results of Julia's studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha's sojourn is proving thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia's building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim as a woman she'd met only the night before, at a party given by Julia's sister, Dort. The murder weapon found nearby is recognizable too—a knife from Julia's kitchen.

Tabitha is eager to help the investigation, but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha's handwriting, was found in the dead woman's pocket. Is this murder a case of international intrigue, or something far more personal? From the shadows of the Tour Eiffel at midnight, to the tiny third-floor Child kitchen, to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates through the city hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison . . . or worse.

"Certain to appeal to a broad readership, especially fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Rhys Bowen, and Cambridge's own Phyllida Bright series."—First Clue, STARRED REVIEW

©2023 Colleen Gleason (P)2023 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Magnificent!

Voice acting at its finest. I loved the story, which was made even better by the narrator’s ability to create each and every character. Fun to listen to and imagine Paris, full of cats, sunlight, and the amazing aroma of Julia’s cooking!

Characters are wonderfully read

This was a fun book. I loved the voices that the narrator was able to do. Julia Child came alive and she was a hoot! Fun story and overall fun read.

Fun story; distracting (irritating) narrator

I enjoyed this mystery! Characters are interesting, quirky, and fun (Even though more than once Tabotha proved to be a moron.) I did find it somewhat predictable, but a few plot elements surprised. I will continue in the series, but not with this narrator.

A word on the narrator: Polly Lee. I suppose the bottom line is that a native American English speaker ought to narrate books featuring American dialects. Lee's strange over enunciation and in some cases bizarre pronunciations took away from the book. No American English speaker I know says "inneresting" or "figger" on a regular basis.
There were a few times, also, when Lee apparently forgot to use that clunky accent and slipped right into her native British. And while her French accent was impressive at first, a misunderstanding of French accents and elisiom marred the effect. Lee repeatedly mispronounced the murdered woman's name throughout the book not to mention certain Parisian landmarks (like the Champs de Mars).

Very enjoyable

Really enjoyed the relationships of the main character especially with Julia child. These relationships elevated the book above the usual cosy mystery

A Good Story, A So-So Narrator

Even though I prefer Colleen Cambridge's Phyllida Bright as a protagonist, this was an intriguing story that was still fun to experience. Plenty of twists and turns for any whodunit fan. The narrator wasn't my favorite. It seemed like she couldn't quite decide what kind of character to make of the protagonist (including what kind of accent she should have) or whether she wanted to read dramatically or comically. Still, it was a solid listen!

Nicely done!

I’m such a big Julia Child fan and a murder mystery person that having both in the same story was fabulous!

Fun light mystery

Fun and entertaining and loved the connection to Julia Child.
Endearing main characters and fast paced plot.

Mastering a book review!

If you enjoyed the recent tv offerings of Julia Child’s escapades, and you enjoy murder and French accents and food (that covers everyone right?) you’ll love this book. It’s rather cozy and I will look for others by this author with the Tabitha character. Bon appetit!

Fun and light

Fun idea! A Julia-Child-flavored mystery. The narrator tackled the accents pretty well. The story is engaging and might be a surprise for those who don’t often devour cozy mysteries.

The Art of French Murder

Excellent read! Enjoyed every minute/page. The reader not only did an outstanding job, the story was well written and kept me thinking and surprised me. Definitely will add this to my book clubs must read list!