A Souffle of Suspicion: A French Bistro Mystery
4.6
24
5
1
Hardcover
USD
24.29
$24.29
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781683315865 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | CROOKED LANE BOOKS |
| Publication date: | 07/10/2018 |
| Series: | A French Bistro Mystery Series , #2 |
| Pages: | 336 |
| Sales rank: | 567,803 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d) |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
A Souffle of Suspicion: A French Bistro Mystery
4.7 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
33 reviews.
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A Souffle of Suspicion is the second book in the French Bistro Mystery series. I was excited to dive right into this book as I am a fan of Daryl Wood Gerber. This story revolves around Mimi Rousseau who owns the Bistro and the inn Maison Rousseau in Napa Valley. Crush Week is anticipated to bring in a lot of tourist business for the area and Mimi has agreed to host the Sweet Tooth Festival at the inn. Chef C, Mimi's chef at the inn, is happy when her sister Renee comes to town. Renee is a head strong woman who is in charge of the Sweet Tooth Festival. When she is found dead and Chef C is a prime suspect, Mimi jumps in to try to find the truth and the real killer. Mimi finds that there are many who had problems with Renee including her ex husband and the woman she bought the festival business from. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing right up until the end. The writing is superb, the characters well written and the food and recipes divine. I look forward to reading the next installment in this cozy mystery series!
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This is the 2nd Book in A French Bistro Mystery Series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. This is a fast-paced mystery with several twists and turns along the way. All your favorite characters from book one are back and few new characters being introduced. I really love how the main character, Mimi, is protective of the ones she cares about such as her Chef Camille. After the murder of Camile’s sister, Mimi takes her chef into her home and is determined to help find the killer. Mimi feels that if she can find the killer she will firstly clear Camille’s name of any wrongdoing and secondly help give Camille a little closure over her sister’s death. Author Daryl Wood Gerber is a wonderful storyteller. She has a way of describing the setting in such a way that you can see the flowers in the gardens and the delicious food that is being served in the restaurants. Speaking of food if you are a lover of French food several recipes of food mentioned in the book are included.
I would recommend this book to cozy mystery and culinary mystery lovers. I also recommend reading the first book as this is a really good series. I know I am looking forward to the next book.
*** I received an ARC of this book in hopes that I would supply a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have in no way been influenced. ***
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I enjoyed this second in the series. Renee, the sister of Chef C of Mimi's Bistro, takes over the Sweet Treat Festival being held on the grounds of the hotel. She doesn't seem to be making many friends. When she turns up dead in her sister's kitchen, Mimi is drawn into looking for answers to help Chef C.
The story moves along quickly in the beginning and had me turning the pages quickly. I loved the characters, they are likable, I love Mimi's mother, she is a big support without being a nag, she respects Mimi as an adult. The mystery was excellent, there were enough twists to keep me second guessing as to who did it. Clues were added at a nice pace. The setting sounds wonderful, easy to visualize and place that I would like to visit. I will continue on with this series.
*I was lucky enough to have received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
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Souffle of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second book in the Ms. Gerber's A French Bistro Mystery series and was definitely a hard book to put down.
Ms. Gerber's detailed description of Crush Week in Napa Valley and the Sweet Treats Festival being held at Mimi's inn made me feel like I was there among the crowds. The delicious food being served at her Bistro made me hungry while I was reading, so the recipes at the end of the book were welcome. All of the characters are likable; and I was glad to be back in this charming setting once again. The plot was quickly paced with several suspects, twists and turns to keep me engaged until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
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I liked returning to this little French Bistro in the California wine country. Mimi Rousseau continues to be a fascinating character, branching out both professionally and personally in the second book in the series. She takes a chance on kitchen help (who are like family) and in her personal life too—from cats to men. The first Sweet Treats Festival is being held on the grounds of Maison Rousseau. Running concurrently with Crush Week, it’s a chaotic tourist filled time for this small town in Napa Valley. The Festival is spearheaded by Chef C’s sister, a new direction for Renee’s life, as she bought the rights from another festival organizer. Renee’s death casts a pall over the festival only for a short while, as Mimi collects information to help clear any of her friends of wrongdoing. I really like the small town setting of Nouvelle Vie and how characters intertwine from both the past and present. There is a lot of good food mentioned as well, and many are detailed at the end of the book in a recipe list.
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Another great entry in the series! I really enjoyed this book. The characters are likeable, the setting fantastic and the mystery was well done and kept me guessing. There were lots of characters to keep track of, especially with the festival going on but it wasn't too difficult. This book was easy to read and fun. The recipes at the end of the book sounded good and there are gluten-free versions included. Looking forward to the next book!
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“A Soufflé of Suspicion” is the second book about Mimi Rousseau, a woman who owns her own bistro. Her life is disturbed again by a murder and while she herself is not the suspect this time, one of her employees and friends is, so Mimi is once more trying to solve a crime.
I liked that the author found a good reason to involve her protagonist in investigations a second time since I was a bit unsure about how she was going to do that after reading “A Deadly Éclair”. Because the series is tied to the bistro, the setting is limited and I am interested to see what will happen in the next few books, but Mimi’s involvement in the proceedings certainly made sense in this one. The case itself was intriguing; there were many possible theories and most of the people involved had a plausible motive and the opportunity. Therefore, it was not easy to get to the truth. I was trying to guess who the killer could be the whole time and I appreciated that you had to keep guessing until the end since the author had a lot of strong suspects. The false leads were convincing and every time the protagonist uncovered a new piece of evidence, she had to question herself and what she had previously believed to be the truth. I liked that, even more so because the conflict between believing in her friend and trying to be objective was nicely written.
While I enjoyed the book, there were some points that bothered me a bit. With the first book, I had criticised that Mimi sometimes got information too easily and that the sheriff did not play much of a role. That is sadly the case once again, even though I have to say that the sheriff seemed to be more important in this book, which I liked. It is also important to note that the witnesses do sometimes react angrily when she more or less accuses them of being guilty and not everyone is willing to tell her everything. Still, there were times when they just volunteered a lot of information. It’s a small point and easily overlooked, but nonetheless worth a mention. Because of these two points, I’d rate the book 3.5 stars.
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Delicious food, engaging characters, and a well-constructed plot join with the gorgeous setting to make this book a delightful read from start to finish. Readers will enjoy tagging along with Mimi as she runs the restaurant (including stepping in for her chef for the majority of the book), navigates a busy festival on her inn’s property, and solves the latest murder in her quaint town. A great pick for foodies, wine connoisseurs and wanna-be sleuths alike!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
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What a delightful cozy mystery. The second in the series does not disappoint. I enjoy figuring out the killer and then seeing if I’m right. It’s even more enjoyable when you can figure out the motive before the big reveal. I wasn’t sure up until the end. This book kept me entertained.
So, this installment isn’t too far in time from the first book. It’s Crush Week in Napa Valley. The bistro’s chief’s sister is killed and Mimi feels the need to figure it out so her chief, Camille, isn’t hauled away.
I hope the third book is in the works.
What I liked:
Recipes included at the end for easy lookup.
The characters have personality!
Lots of twists and turns.
Great description- you think you are there.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from Crooked Lanes Books via Netgalley and these are my own opinions. Thank-you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
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Mimi loves Napa Valley. Her family had produced wine there for years. This October the Sweet Treat Festival isn being hosted on her property. She's hoping that it will increase the popularity of her restaurant and inn by drawing in more visitors. The festival is off too a wonderful start until murder makes an appearance. Renee who's in charge is dead and her sister, Chef C, is a suspect. Mimi knows that Camille isn't guilty which means she needs to do some investigating. What happens next pulled me into a world of suspense. Mimi is a great character. She cares for people but she won't shy away from confrontation. I like that she's a strong woman. Her romance with Nash has a special charm that warms my heart. Here are two adults working to find happiness. The story is well-crafted and has plenty of people who had reason to kill the victim. I didn't know until the very end who did the deed. Daryl Wood Gerber has a pleasant writing style that always entertains me. I can't put down her books. The recipes at the end are a nice touch as is the description of the foods at the restaurant. Her goldfish and the cats lighten the story. The French Bistro mystery series is a favorite. I can't wait for more of Mimi and her friends.
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This is the 2nd Book in A French Bistro Mystery Series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. This is a fast-paced mystery with several twists and turns along the way. All your favorite characters from book one are back and few new characters being introduced. I really love how the main character, Mimi, is protective of the ones she cares about such as her Chef Camille. After the murder of Camile’s sister, Mimi takes her chef into her home and is determined to help find the killer. Mimi feels that if she can find the killer she will firstly clear Camille’s name of any wrongdoing and secondly help give Camille a little closure over her sister’s death. Author Daryl Wood Gerber is a wonderful storyteller. She has a way of describing the setting in such a way that you can see the flowers in the gardens and the delicious food that is being served in the restaurants. Speaking of food if you are a lover of French food several recipes of food mentioned in the book are included.
I would recommend this book to cozy mystery and culinary mystery lovers. I also recommend reading the first book as this is a really good series. I know I am looking forward to the next book.
*** I received an ARC of this book in hopes that I would supply a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have in no way been influenced. ***
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The setting of this second offering of the series caught my attention as the fictional town of Nouvelle Vie explodes with (more) tourists than usual for Crush Week in the beautiful Napa Valley of California. Protagonist Mimi Rousseau has dialed up the tannins with her participation in the Sweet Treats Festival in which the local cafe's, restaurants, and bakeries offer up their exclusive treats. Her own Bistro Rousseau boasts Chef C (Camille) and an array of accomplished personnel all catering to an exclusive French dining cuisine.
As the second in the series, Mimi is not wholly fleshed, although some backstory is offered to bring the reader up to speed. Her support characters provide a well-rounded venue, including pets, and a possible romantic interest (so soon, my dear?) for the recently widowed MC. Her mother is a local vintner and she has a strong and supportive network system.
Unfortunately, Renee, the sister of Chef C, is found murdered in her kitchen. Renee was organizing and managing the festival with an iron fist and Mimi becomes fully involved. The well-developed mystery proceeds through red herrings, misdirection, and plot twists offering up several suspects and the arguments for or against each possible person of interest.
In the meantime, aspects regarding the management of an exclusive restaurant run rampant, as well as menu suggestions replete with flowery French names. As Mimi struggles with the detailed services of the Bistro and the Festival, the reader gets a peek into the local European styled architectural castles boasting vast wine cellars and elite varietal wines as well as the Bistro's own to-die-for desserts.
I had a little problem with the limited fleshing of Mimi coming into the second of the series. Although she appears to be a strong and independent figure, she didn't feel three-dimensional to me.
Recommended for foodies and fans of cozy mysteries in a particularly beautiful and unique setting. So, for me, this is more of a locale-driven plot than that of character and it is easy to be swept up in the excitement of the exquisite wine and food industry.
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This was the second book in this series and I am lucky enough to have started with book 1. I'm lucky enough to be able to read this series in order which I don't often get. If you haven't read the first book in the series, it won't spoil anything if you do. There are only references to the previous book with no spoilers. Because I'm such a fan of this author (under both her pen names), I challenged myself to find one thing that I could critique. I think that the officer was a bit off putting to the reader. I believe the intent was that he was taking a personal issue out on Mimi and her being roped into the investigation. Mimi was as respectful of his position as she was in the first book but he responded much differently to her. Of course, it could also be that he was juggling two major events as well as a murder investigation. However, as I was reading it, it just seemed natural progression in character development. We learned a lot about characters that make up the main crew of the book that we hadn't learned before which I always enjoy. I truly appreciated how Mimi can genuinely come to like someone regardless of challenging aspects of their personalities. I also enjoy that she can be respectful of other people having different thoughts and opinions than hers without it becoming an issue. I think this is something that we need to see a lot more of in the literary world as it is something that has become so lacking in the real one.
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Whenever I read this series I get hungry...probably from all those great dishes that the bistro serves! And I love it when the recipes are included at the end of the book...not that I will prepare them, but because I like to drool over imaging the dishes coming to life in my kitchen! Maybe one day I will be brave enough to try one out on my family.
Food aside, this cozy series set in the Napa area has a lot going for it - food, wine, compelling characters, and even a few pets. And of course, solving the mystery of who is the killer. There was something about this cast of characters that I was able to sort of figure out the guilty party, but not because it was laid out for the reader to easily discover the identity of the guilty party.
I really enjoyed getting to know more about some of the characters - Chef Camille, Heather, Jo, Stephan, and even Allie. I think Allie could be a good fit for future books depending on what her character decides to do with her life.
There is also the continuing romance between Mimi and Nash. It takes a positive turn in this book but not for the lack of Nash's ex-wife trying to throw roadblocks in their way. There is even an introduction of an old friend of Mimi's. Will he be a potential roadblock for Nash? You'll have to read the book to find out.
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A very fun read. I enjoyed everything about this book.
The storyline/plot was interesting and kept me turning the pages while trying to figure out Who Dun It?
Daryl does a great job of leaving little tid bits and leading the reader on a ride while trying to figure it out.
There are some subtle clues early on that kind of get swept away causing the reader and the characters to look for answers elsewhere.
This book and series has some delightful characters.
I loved Mimi's character. I loved her name Mimi Rousseau so very french sounding. Mimi is one talented business woman owning the Bistro Cafe and the Maison Rousseau. Such charming places that almost come to life. I wanted to visit! MiMi spends
alot of time talking to herself and going over the clues and working things out in her head until finally she puts everything together
and figures out who really killed poor Renee. Everyone including this reader is a bit surprised at the out come and who the villain is.
As the story progressed there was no shortage of suspects.
But each are exonerated in due time as their alibi's are covered.
There really are alot of characters running around. But it was
difficult to keep track of what was going on.
If I was to choose a favorite among them it might be MiMi's mother. She was delightful and charming at ready and willing to lend a hand whether it was watching over Camille in the early hours after she discovers her sisters body. Or by bringing lots of diners to the Maison Rousseau for a dinner party.
As Souffle of Suspicion is part of the French Bistro Mystery
series there is lot of talk about food. There are some great sounding recipes at the end of the book.
Souffle of Suspicion is book 2 in the series and is written as a
stand alone. If you pic it up you'll enjoy it and quite possibly have a hard time putting it down. I did. This was a fun and fast 5 star read for me. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received a complimentary copy.
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a SWEET cozy! Daryl Wood Gerber has served up her readers a delectable mystery with fine characters and full-bodied story.
We arrive just in time for Crush Week and the brand new Sweet Treats Festival. Chef C’s sister, Renee is in charge of the festival and the chef is at Bistro Rousseau preparing meals and menus for all the tourists coming into town. Mimi is running between her bistro and her inn, where the festival is taking place trying her best to help out everywhere. That is until her chef arrives home to find Renee dead on her kitchen floor. Mimi can’t believe the police are actually looking at her chef as the prime suspect.
Chef Camille is taking some time off to mourn the loss of her sister and deal with the police, so Mimi steps in to manage the kitchen all the while trying to find the real killer. She realizes she is getting close to the truth when she seems to be the target of some unusual “accidents”. She needs to wrap things up quickly before something more than the grapes get crushed.
In this second book of the series, the author again sets a brisk pace. Readers are drawn into the story through two big events taking place. These events introduce us to some new characters like Chef Camille’s sister Renee and her husband Rusty. Renee tired quickly of Rusty’s new chicken farmer lifestyle and has purchased an event business. She has thrown herself into making the first event, the Sweet Treats Festival a huge success. The former business owner, Allie O’Malley, confronts Renee about their agreement and it doesn’t go well. Mimi considers them both suspects but she finds they are not the only ones that would have the motivation to bash the woman over the head.
I was very entertained following Mimi’s footsteps as she did her best to capture the killer. Especially because her footsteps went through the kitchen of the bistro and the grounds of the Sweet Treats Festival. We were treated to descriptions of the most scrumptious savory and sweet foods, my mouth was watering. I really appreciate the author for including several recipes at the end of the book.
This author is an amazing storyteller. She sets the scene, nurtures her characters and gives them dynamic dialogue, all while wrapping them in a masterful mystery. I have enjoyed every book she has written. I believe this new French Bistro Mystery is my new favorite. Like a perfect soufflé would impress your guests this story reached great heights to impress me and make it both a great and perfect escape.
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Things are hopping at Bistro and Maison Rousseau. Tourists have flocked to the Napa Valley for Crush Week and the first Sweet Treat festival is being hosted on the grounds of the hotel. Mimi is thrilled that both hotel and restaurant are booked solid for the week. Things take a deadly turn when Renee, the festival organizer and sister of Mimi’s head chef Camille, is found murdered in Camille’s kitchen. Who had a reason to murder the woman?
It was nice to return to the Napa Valley with Mimi as our host. The book starts out strongly. While I did feel the pace lagged a time or two, these were minor issues. The puzzle was very good with some clues coming into play late in the mystery that I had completely missed, yet they helped make the resolution completely believable. I did have trouble buying Mimi’s relationship with her friend and police chief Tyson, but the rest of the characters were great. The food left me drooling, so the recipes are the back are a welcome addition to this fun mystery.
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I really enjoy this series. I feel like I am transported to California wine country each time I sit down to read. Mimi is an example of a hard working and relatable protagonist. My mouth waters with the descriptions of all of her fabulous culinary creations! I can’t wait to see where Mimi’s adventures take her next.
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It’s crush week in Napa and Maison Rousseau is hopping as a week-long festival is held on the grounds. Mimi and her staff are working hard with the increased foot traffics c and when Chef C’s sister is murdered, Mimi has to step in to fill in in the kitchen while she also tries to price Chef C’s innocence.
The author’s writing will whisk you off to Napa and you can almost smell and taste the food and wine. The writing is fantastic and supporting characters served up compliment the strong and well developed protagonist. This is a must read book for your Summer reading list!
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It’s crush week in Napa and Maison Rousseau is hopping as a week-long festival is held on the grounds. Mimi and her staff are working hard with the increased foot traffics c and when Chef C’s sister is murdered, Mimi has to step in to fill in in the kitchen while she also tries to price Chef C’s innocence.
The author’s writing will whisk you off to Napa and you can almost smell and taste the food and wine. The writing is fantastic and supporting characters served up compliment the strong and well developed protagonist. This is a must read book for your Summer reading list!
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A Souffle of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second novel in A French Bistro Mystery series. Mimi Rousseau owns Bistro and Maison Rousseau in Napa Valley. It is Crush Week and the tourists are pouring into the valley. On top of that, Maison Rousseau is hosting the Sweet Treats Festival organized by Renee Wells, Chef Camille’s sister. There are many delectable delights available for the attendees to enjoy. Mimi is relaxing at home after a long day when she receives a frantic call from Chef Camille. Mimi rushes to her house where Renee is dead on the kitchen floor from a whack on the head from the countertop mixer. Chef Camille is devastated and, unfortunately, Sgt. Tyson Daly’s prime suspect. Renee had created quite a stir lately and there is no shortage of suspects to sift through. Mimi whisks into action to whip up the suspects and deliver the guilty party to the police on a silver platter.
A Souffle of Suspicion can be read alone. The author nicely summarizes A Deadly Éclair along with the background information on Mimi. I found A Souffle of Suspicion to be well-written and it has a nice steady pace. The author has a conversational writing style that is engaging. I was drawn into the story which I found easy to read. Mimi likes to read cozy mysteries, so the author worked in references to Krista Davis and Kate Carlisle which I found amusing (I also love their books). There are some great characters in A French Bistro Mystery series. Mimi is a strong, intelligent female who runs two businesses with the aid of Jo James at Maison Rousseau and her wonderful kitchen staff at Bistro Rousseau. There were some humorous moments throughout the story that had me chuckling. The mystery is appealing with several suspects, misdirection and good clues. The one downfall was I identified the killer before Chef Camille found Renee deceased on her kitchen floor (is anyone else curious if the mixer survived). There are many delectable dishes mentioned throughout the book and recipes are provided at the end. My rating for A Souffle of Suspicion is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). A Souffle of Suspicion is a charming cozy mystery that pairs nicely with a glass of wine and a comfortable chair.
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Author Daryl Wood Gerber always sets her stories in fun, interesting and alluring areas. This story is set in the quaint French Bistro Rousseau in beautiful Napa Valley. Bistro owner Mimi is swamped with extra business because not only is it Crush Week but there is a festival being held on her property. Everything seems to be going smoothly until the festival operator in found dead in her sister's house and the sister is the chef at the Bistro Rousseau.
This story is well written with plenty of suspects and interesting characters. It is the second book in A French Bistro Mystery series but could easily be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
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Author Daryl Wood Gerber always sets her stories in fun, interesting and alluring areas. This story is set in the quaint French Bistro Rousseau in beautiful Napa Valley. Bistro owner Mimi is swamped with extra business because not only is it Crush Week but there is a festival being held on her property. Everything seems to be going smoothly until the festival operator in found dead in her sister's house and the sister is the chef at the Bistro Rousseau.
This story is well written with plenty of suspects and interesting characters. It is the second book in A French Bistro Mystery series but could easily be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
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Napa Valley Crush Week, a Sweet Treats Festival, and murder are a great recipe for a fantastic book. Daryl Wood Gerber is back with her second book in the French Bistro Mystery series. The grounds of Mimi Rousseau's bistro and B&B are full with the Sweet Treats Festival. Business is good, but things get messy when the festival owner turns up dead.
As always, Daryl writes a very good book. Mimi and her friends and staff are fun and have deep characterization. The setting is fantastic, and I was finding myself longing for a French bistro to go get some of the yummy dishes they described. Luckily, the recipes for most of the dishes were included in the book (I see a very messy but wonderful smelling kitchen in my near future). The plot of the book is tight, and she had great red herrings throughout. I had an inkling of who the murderer might be early on, but she kept throwing new suspects and motives in as I kept reading, so I wasn't sure that I was on the right track until just before Mimi figured it out. That kind of twisty-turny plot is hard to find, and I loved every minute of it.
If you want a cozy mystery that will make you hungry, long for Napa, and keep you guessing until the very end, this is the book for you.
I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review.
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Warmth, humor, a few chills, a soupçon of intrigue, and plenty of charm
A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION by Daryl Wood Gerber
The Second French Bistro Mystery
Visitors are flocking to Bistro Rousseau. Not only is it Crush Week, when tourists descend on Nouvelle Vie as vineyards harvest their grapes and start to turn them into wine, but Maison Rousseau is the location for the Sweet Treats Festival. Chef C.'s sister, Renee, is the dynamo behind the event, running it like a well oiled machine. But not everyone is happy with Renee, including the woman who originally started the event and the husband she left. When Chef C. comes home to find Renee dead in her kitchen Mimi Rousseau knows she has to help solve another murder.
Sisterly love, spousal love and hate, budding romantic relationships as well as developing ones, relationships are at the heart of A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION. I love the balance shown between them all, and I'm especially enjoying the growing relationship between Mimi and Nash. I also enjoy Mimi's relationship with not only Cagney and Lacy, but Scooter and Scoundrel as well.
The mystery is an intriguing one. While most people seemed to like and respect Renee, there are some obvious suspects. Suspicious activity abounds, but is it related to the murder or something else entirely? I like how Mimi explores possibilities, while still keeping up with her business, and her romance. I also wonder how she still likes Willow!
Warmth, humor, a few chills, a soupçon of intrigue, and plenty of charm make for a great read. A SOUFFLE OF SUSPICION is a delectable entrée in the French Bistro Mystery series.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
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