Author: Colleen Cambridge
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: Kensington Books
Book Release Date: 2025
Pages: 273
Source: Personal Collection
Synopsis: American expat Tabitha Knight has found a new life in postwar Paris, along with a delightful friend in aspiring chef Julia Child. Yet there are perils in peacetime too, as a killer infiltrates one of the city’s most famous fashion houses.
If there’s one art the French have mastered as well as fine cuisine, it’s haute couture. Tabitha and Julia are already accustomed to sampling the delights of the former. Now fashion is returning to the forefront in Paris, as the somber hues of wartime are replaced by vibrant colors and ultra-feminine silhouettes, influenced by Christian Dior’s “New Look.”
Tabitha and Julia join a friend for a private showing at an exclusive fashion atelier, Maison Lannet. The event goes well, but when Tabitha returns later that evening to search for a lost glove, she finds the lights still on—and the couturier dead, strangled by a length of lace. The shop manager suspects that a jealous rival—perhaps Dior himself—committed the crime. Tabitha dismisses that idea, but when another body is found, it’s apparent that someone is targeting employees of Maison Lannet.
Meanwhile, Tabitha’s Grand-père and Oncle Rafe are in the midst of their own design-related fracas, as they squabble over how to decorate their new restaurant. And there are strange break-ins at a nearby shoe store—but are the crimes related? It’s up to Tabitha to don her investigative hat and find answers before someone commits another fatal fashion faux pas.
My Review: A Fashionably French Murder is the third installment in An American in Paris Mystery series. One day, Tabitha and Julia have joined a friend for a private fashion showing of popular fashion designer, Rose-Marie Lannet. After the private showing, Tabitha realized that she forgot her glove. She returned to the shop only to find the fashion designer was dead. Rose-Marie Lannet’s manager believed that the killer was her fashion rival, Christian Dior. Tabitha decides to investigate the case to see if Christian Dior was Rose-Marie Lannet’s true killer.
I have to admit that Tabitha’s character has really grown on me. She has become more adept at solving mysteries. She is not as reckless as she used to be in the previous series. Instead, she uses her keen observation skills and is able to use logic to find the killer. Therefore, I liked that she was still a very spunky character, but she was not as impulsive. I liked how she is slowly gaining the respect of a male detective and that he is slowly letting her become his partner in solving the crime. Therefore, Tabitha has greatly improved, and I gradually learned to love her character.
Overall, this book is about friendship, cooking, and family. I like the return of all the characters, and it felt as if I was revisiting old friends. I especially loved Tabitha’s relationship with her Julia, and it is clear that they have a very deep friendship. I also loved the setting of post-WWII Paris! I also liked the hint of romance that was sprinkled throughout the novel. Thus, this was a very cozy murder mystery and was a lighthearted novel! I am eager to read the next installment, In the Spirit of French Murder! I recommend this book for fans of Rhys Bowen, Anna Lee Huber, and Ashley Weaver!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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