Rating: 4/5
Frances and her husband, George, have two points of interest in Paris. One is an impromptu holiday to visit the Paris Exposition. The other is personal. George’s Aunt Julia has requested her nephew’s help in looking into the suspicious death of renowned artist Paul Ducasse. Though Julia is not entirely forthcoming about her reasons, she is clearly a woman mourning a lost love.
At the exposition, swarming with tourists, tragedy casts a pall on the festivities. A footbridge collapses. Julia is among the casualties. However, she was not just another fateful victim. Julia was stabbed to death amid the chaos. With an official investigation at a standstill, George and Frances realize that to solve the case they must dig into Julia’s life—as well as Paul’s—and question everything and everyone in Julia’s coterie of artists and secrets.
They have no shortage of suspects. There is Paul’s inscrutable widow, Gabrielle. Paul’s art dealer and manager, Lucien. Julia’s friend Martine, a sculptress with a jealous streak. And art jurist, Monsieur Beaufoy. The investigation takes a turn when it’s revealed that George has inherited control of Julia’s estate—and another of her secrets. While George investigates, Frances safeguards their new legacy, and is drawn further into danger by a killer determined to keep the past buried.
I received a free copy of An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder through Austenprose PR for a book tour. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
This was an enjoyable cozy historical fiction mystery. I’m a sucker for books set around art, I just love the descriptions around them. This one did not disappoint! Set around the 1900s and the Paris Exposition, there was no lack of culture or art. And being set around a murder, equally just as entertaining to read!
I went into this one not knowing what to expect. I knew it was part of a series, Book #7 in fact of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series, and while, this can easily be read as a standalone, I will admit especially at the beginning, the little snippets we’re given about past drama between our characters, I definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series! I need to hear the tea! Though I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to know the previous books to enjoy this one, I found this to be easily a fun cozy mystery to read without having read the predecessors.
The pacing flowed easily, a little slower initially as we’re still getting acquainted with our characters. But as we get sucked into the murder mystery and the details around it, I didn’t want to put it down. I especially enjoyed following Frances’ train of thought as she put together details that I never would have thought to connect the dots to.
If you’re looking for a cozy historical mystery set around the 1900s with Parisian vibes and filled with art, definitely consider picking this one up!
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