By Liz, delighted to welcome Colleen Cambridge to the blog! She’s talking about her latest An American in Paris Mystery – and giving away a copy of the first book, Mastering the Art of French Murder! Take it away Colleen!
The second book in my An American in Paris Mystery series, A Murder Most French, came out on April 23, and I’m really excited for it to be out in the world.
The An American in Paris Mysteries are set in postwar Paris. My protagonist, Tabitha Knight, is a former Rosie the Riveter who moves to Paris to live with her grandfather and his partner. She’s a little lost now that the war is over and women aren’t “needed” to do “mens’ work.” So she goes for a change of scenery to the most beautiful and iconic city in the world (at least, in her opinion).
She is half French and speaks the language fluently, and when she meets up with another American expat whose name happens to be…Julia Child…Tabitha and Julia become fast friends. Julia is teaching Tabitha how to cook, and Tabitha is helping Julia with her French.
In this second installment, the two women are at a cooking demonstration class and a famous chef opens a bottle of rare French wine, tastes it, and drops dead almost immediately.
Since Tabitha has experience in solving murders (see the first book, Mastering the Art of French Murder), she of course gets involved again. After all, she was a witness to the actual death!
When I researched this book, I found out so many interesting things about how the French hid and protected their wine during the German Occupation. Wine is such an integral part of the French nationality that they took it very personally that Hitler and his Nazis wanted not only to take as much wine as possible—in order to humiliate the French—but also to destroy it. They forced the French to sell wine to them at low costs—or even took it outright. Hitler wasn’t a fan of wine, so he didn’t even want it for himself. He just wanted to destroy it because it was so important to the French.
The backdrop for this book, A Murder Most French, is about how creative and bold the French vintners were in trying to protect their wine. It’s fascinating the things that they did, the lengths to which they went in order to save their bottles of wine. Lots of that information is sprinkled throughout the book, as well as some cooking hints from Julia herself, and, of course, a good murder mystery to solve.
I hope you’ll check out the book! I’m giving away a copy of Mastering the Art of French Murder, the first book in the series, to a commenter below. This contest is open to US shipping addresses only, and the contest closes on April 30th at midnight Eastern time.
To enter, please comment below to answer the question: Have you been to Paris? If so, what did you love about it…and would you go back?
About Colleen:
Colleen Cambridge the pen name of a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She’s written in many genres over the years, but is currently finding her bliss writing historical set mysteries anchored by famous and interesting female celebrities (Agatha Christie and Julia Child). You can learn more about her over 50 novels at her website: colleencambridge.com
The Wickeds 
I’m not entering as I already have a signed copy of the first book, Mastering the Art of French Murder. I have never been to Paris but it is on my bucket list! I’m excited to read the second book because the first was exceptional! In fact, I’ve reread it two times while waiting for the second in the series. And I typically never reread any author’s books with the exception of Agatha Christie.
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I have never been to Paris, I’m sad to say! My sister and her husband went years ago, and I remember she was very impressed with the food.
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No, I haven’t been to Paris. It is on my wish list of places to visit!
adriennechasteensnow at gmail dot com
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Welcome, Colleen, and congratulations on the new book! I’m not sure how I missed the first in this delightful series but I’ll remedy that ASAP. What a great premise.
Fun note: last week on the day before Malice Domestic two other foodie-author friends and I paid a visit to the Julia Child’s kitchen exhibit at the Smithsonian. It was wonderful and fascinating and fun.
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Oh, and I’ve been to Paris several times, but not for years. Time for a revisit!
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The closest I’ve been to Paris is Paris, Texas. 🙂 I do think it would be wonderful to be able to travel abroad and visit such fabulous destinations as Paris, France.
Both books in the An American in Paris Mystery series are on my TBR list. They sound amazing and can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review them both. Love the way you worked true history into the stories making them more realistic. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “Mastering the Art of French Murder” enabling me to start the series off with the first book.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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I have never been to Paris! It’s on my list to visit in the future! I heard the food is incredible.
Thanks so much for the chance!
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My mom and I went to Paris on a study abroad. What isn’t there to love about Paris, the food, art, history, and culture. Cannot wait to go back again.
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Yes, I’ve been to Paris. I liked the many of the historic sites, the Louvre, and walking along the Seine.
As long as you make the effort to speak their language, you can get along with them. I didn’t like the traffic in the circle around the Arc d’triomphe.
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I have been to Paris, but I was only a toddler at the time, so I don’t remember it. I would love to go back. I think the Louvre would be my favorite. Marlene
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Congratulations on your latest! As a lover of wine, you know this book is on my TBR.
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I haven’t been to Paris but I love reading books that take place in Paris. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
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Visiting Paris is unforgettable. The culture, history, cafes and culinary delights are incomparable. Congratulations on your captivating novel!
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Congratulations Colleen! I would love to visit Paris and explore Le Marais. The food and the historical sights interest me greatly.
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I went to Paris many years ago on a tour. I remember visiting the Louvre and Eiffel Tower.
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I have been to Paris several times. My husband took me there to celebrate a Honeymoon once as well. I love just walking and visiting the museums. We are going to wait till next year to go back to France but this time we want to head out to Brittany, France. We have never had a bad experience in France and we also love taking the train from France to London.
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congratulations on the book. I have never been to Paris and it isn’t really a city that calls me. But if given a free trip would certainly love to go
fruitcrmble AT comcast DOT net
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Welcome to the Wickeds, Colleen, and best of luck with Murder Most French. I have been to Paris several times, the first time in 1975 and the most recent last September. As you can probably tell, my husband and I love the city and have so many happy memories.
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Congratulations, Colleen! I’ve never been to Paris. Who knows if I’ll ever get the chance to go?
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Never been to Paris but maybe I could go through this book
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I haven’t been to Paris. Some family was there last summer and loved it, however. I love how you are incorporating history into this series. (No need to enter me in the giveaway since I’ve already read both books.)
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No, I have never been to Paris. I studied the French Language for four years in high school and loved it! It’s too bad I couldn’t make a career out of it!
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I’ve never been to Paris, but I enjoy reading about it. I would really love to go to Paris one day.
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Welcome, Coleen! Your blog today was so interesting. I am fascinated with WWII and its aftermath. There are so many stories that I am glad to read, especially if they are cozy and historical. You must have done so much research when writing your books, and we, the readers, benefit from all your efforts. I have been to Paris once many years ago, and I would love to go back. What I love most are the patisseries and outdoor cafés. Your blog really made me want to read your books, starting with Mastering the Art of French Murder! Thank you so much for the opportunity to meet you online, and to know about your intriguing mysteries. May you imagine many more mystery plots to keep us entertained for hours. JOY! Luis at ole dot travel
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I’ve never ben to Paris but hope to visit someday.
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I went to Paris way back in the early ’80’s on a high school sponsored trip. I think what sticks with me the most is how contrasting it was at the time. Two pictures I took at the time come to mind. In one, I caught a shot of three punk rockish guys walking down a charming side street. In another, there was a group of children singing outside for money outside of a museum. I definitely wasn’t at The Jersey Shore anymore! I would most definitely go back if I ever had the chance! Congratulations on the book!
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I spent a week in Paris about 8 years ago & loved everything. I think my favorite day was when we walked through the Jardin du Luxembourg including an exhibit of photos in the Orangerie. Then we walked past the Sorbonne to the Musée de Cluny where we spent a lot of time in the Unicorn Tapestry room.
Don’t enter me in the drawing, you remember signing my book at the Mysterious Bookshop!
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No, I haven’t been to Paris. Quite honestly, I’m not particularly interested because I don’t speak French. What little I can manage, such as a menu, my pronunciation is so bad, I would be snubbed. No thanks.
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I went with my niece and sister several years ago to visit a friend and co-worker of hers and stay with her family at their house in the London area for a week. It was fabulous. We visited all of the places we could in a week. It was my birthday and so we took the Chunnel to Paris for an overnight. It was fast and furious. We got see a lot but did not get to go up in the Eiffel Tower or into the Louvre, but we saw all of those places. Maybe someday we will go back. As they said in “Casablanca,” “We will always have Paris.”
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Well, it posted before I was through. My father went to France and Germany near the end of WWII. He brought back many photos. I would love to go and spend more time, but probably won’t be able to due to my age. Glad that I got to see what I saw and that was great birthday present from my family. I love the movie “American in Paris” and any other movie set there.
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I have never been to Paris. It is on my wish list with England. I enjoy reading books set in Paris. Thank you so much for the opportunity. God bless you.
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