A Fashionably French Murder: An American in Paris Mystery

American expat Tabitha Knight and her neighbor, Julia Child, return to sleuthing in Cambridge’s delicious third cozy featuring the food-loving gumshoes (after Murder Most French). In 1950s Paris, Julia recommends Tabitha as a translator for a wealthy American acquaintance who’s shopping for his daughter’s couture wedding dress. After all three leave a private showing at Madame Lannet’s atelier, Tabitha realizes she’s left a glove behind. When she returns to the shop a few hours later, she finds the designer dead. As Tabitha digs into the matter, Lannet’s manager implies that Christian Dior might be killing his competitors. Initially, Tabitha writes it off as a crackpot bit of industry gossip; when someone else is murdered, however, she starts to take the idea seriously. Buttressing Tabitha’s investigation are witty culinary tips from Julia (including pointers for making crepes “as delicate as a man’s ego”), vivid historical tidbits about postwar Paris, and elegant descriptions of couture gowns. Shrewd, fair-play clues and vibrant characters who continue to evolve as the series progresses are a bonus. This is terrific fun for foodies and Francophiles alike. Agent: Maura Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc. (May)