Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
A Deadly Ãclair is the debut of the A French Bistro Mystery series set in the Napa Valley of California featuring Chef and Innkeeper Mimi Rousseau. Having had to move back home after the unexpected death of her husband revealed that they were in serious debt, Mimi has opened a French Bistro and adjoining Bed and Breakfast with the financial backing of wealthy businessman Bryan Baker.
Anxious and yet excited to be hosting the wedding of TV personality Angelica Edmonton, Bryan's niece, Mimi has her hands full with underlying tension amongst the family members. When Bryan is found dead with one of Mimi's eclairs stuffed in his mouth along with a few precious gemstones, she is devastated to lose her mentor. Bryan's will reveals that all of the debt associated with Mimi and her business is to be forgiven and she quickly becomes a prime suspect. Determined to clear her name and save the Bistro and B&B, Mimi sets out with the help of best friend Jorianne, to investigate.
A fast paced storyline with likeable characters including Mimi's restaurant staff Chef C and the mysterious Stefan, and love interest Nash Hawke, local wine salesman. Many twists and turns will have you guessing whodunit until the end.
Anxious and yet excited to be hosting the wedding of TV personality Angelica Edmonton, Bryan's niece, Mimi has her hands full with underlying tension amongst the family members. When Bryan is found dead with one of Mimi's eclairs stuffed in his mouth along with a few precious gemstones, she is devastated to lose her mentor. Bryan's will reveals that all of the debt associated with Mimi and her business is to be forgiven and she quickly becomes a prime suspect. Determined to clear her name and save the Bistro and B&B, Mimi sets out with the help of best friend Jorianne, to investigate.
A fast paced storyline with likeable characters including Mimi's restaurant staff Chef C and the mysterious Stefan, and love interest Nash Hawke, local wine salesman. Many twists and turns will have you guessing whodunit until the end.
Setting, characterization and plot all come together beautifully in A Deadly Ãclair, book #1 in Daryl Wood Gerber's entertaining new French Bistro series. The stage is superbly set for future stories as the cast of characters is introduced and fleshed out, but not in an overwhelming way. Supporting characters, some a little quirky, add richness and depth. Through the fictional setting of Nouvelle Vie, as well as the bistro and inn, the sights and smells of Napa Valley felt so very real.
A Deadly Ãclair has a delightful traditional cozy feel. As you would expect from a bistro series, food plays an important part, but descriptions don't slow the pace down â they only make me hungry! Several appealing recipes are included at the end, introduced by little notes from Mimi and Chef C that make them more personal. They don't appear to be all that difficult and I plan on trying one or two.
I enjoyed Ms. Gerber's writing style and all the twists & turns involving the suspects. Readers will be easily drawn to Mimi. It was fun to follow her logical and methodical questioning of the suspects as background info was gradually revealed, and it was refreshing to come across a protagonist who didn't put herself in dangerous situations. She also employed one of my favorite techniques â listing suspects and motives on a blackboard â which helped me keep things straight. And the chemistry between Mimi and Nash added just the right touch of romance, with lots of room for development.
A Deadly Ãclair is a clean, enjoyable read. Mimi, as well as her family and friends, are strong, appealing characters, and I look forward to seeing them grow through the series. The only negative for me is the surprising mention of the political leanings of a couple of secondary characters toward the end of the story, something that I want the books I read to be free of.
Recommended.
I was provided a free copy of this book through The Review Crew and Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
A Deadly Ãclair has a delightful traditional cozy feel. As you would expect from a bistro series, food plays an important part, but descriptions don't slow the pace down â they only make me hungry! Several appealing recipes are included at the end, introduced by little notes from Mimi and Chef C that make them more personal. They don't appear to be all that difficult and I plan on trying one or two.
I enjoyed Ms. Gerber's writing style and all the twists & turns involving the suspects. Readers will be easily drawn to Mimi. It was fun to follow her logical and methodical questioning of the suspects as background info was gradually revealed, and it was refreshing to come across a protagonist who didn't put herself in dangerous situations. She also employed one of my favorite techniques â listing suspects and motives on a blackboard â which helped me keep things straight. And the chemistry between Mimi and Nash added just the right touch of romance, with lots of room for development.
A Deadly Ãclair is a clean, enjoyable read. Mimi, as well as her family and friends, are strong, appealing characters, and I look forward to seeing them grow through the series. The only negative for me is the surprising mention of the political leanings of a couple of secondary characters toward the end of the story, something that I want the books I read to be free of.
Recommended.
I was provided a free copy of this book through The Review Crew and Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
A Deadly Ãclair is the debut of the A French Bistro Mystery series set in the Napa Valley of California featuring Chef and Innkeeper Mimi Rousseau. Having had to move back home after the unexpected death of her husband revealed that they were in serious debt, Mimi has opened a French Bistro and adjoining Bed and Breakfast with the financial backing of wealthy businessman Bryan Baker.
Anxious and yet excited to be hosting the wedding of TV personality Angelica Edmonton, Bryan's niece, Mimi has her hands full with underlying tension amongst the family members. When Bryan is found dead with one of Mimi's eclairs stuffed in his mouth along with a few precious gemstones, she is devastated to lose her mentor. Bryan's will reveals that all of the debt associated with Mimi and her business is to be forgiven and she quickly becomes a prime suspect. Determined to clear her name and save the Bistro and B&B, Mimi sets out with the help of best friend Jorianne, to investigate.
A fast paced storyline with likeable characters including Mimi's restaurant staff Chef C and the mysterious Stefan, and love interest Nash Hawke, local wine salesman. Many twists and turns will have you guessing whodunit until the end.
Anxious and yet excited to be hosting the wedding of TV personality Angelica Edmonton, Bryan's niece, Mimi has her hands full with underlying tension amongst the family members. When Bryan is found dead with one of Mimi's eclairs stuffed in his mouth along with a few precious gemstones, she is devastated to lose her mentor. Bryan's will reveals that all of the debt associated with Mimi and her business is to be forgiven and she quickly becomes a prime suspect. Determined to clear her name and save the Bistro and B&B, Mimi sets out with the help of best friend Jorianne, to investigate.
A fast paced storyline with likeable characters including Mimi's restaurant staff Chef C and the mysterious Stefan, and love interest Nash Hawke, local wine salesman. Many twists and turns will have you guessing whodunit until the end.
