May 2nd's Friday Post

Welcome to the first Friday of May.  Time to end the week with a Friday Post.  I'll be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

My teasers for the first three this week will be coming from A Killing Way by J.R. Sanders.

This is the fourth in a series about a PI in 1930's Hollywood.  Here's how the book begins:

Hollywood's always been a place where art imitates life and, more often than not, the other way around. The shooting of Ty Jones by Leo Rust was a primo example of the latter.

Yes, that shooting does play a large part of the mystery.  How it does will make sense when you read the book.

But for now, let's jump to page 56.  There, we find the follow exchange between Nate Ross, the main character, and a police detective:

"But I thought I'd better talk to Rust himself and see if I believed any of that. That's all I came here for."
Queenan nodded, chewing on all of this. "Okay. But you should have tipped me the minute Chipman's name came up. That's a definite connection to my case."
"Maybe so. But I figured if I put him and Rust together in this thing, I could possibly hand you two for one."
That got me the dog eye. "That's what you planned to do, was it?"

I enjoyed this one.  My full review will be up on Tuesday, so I hope you'll come back for it.

Meanwhile, let's wind down with the Book Blogger Hop.  This week's question is:

What's your typical process for writing a book review, from reading the book to publishing the review on your blog?

I typically don't take notes while I'm reading.  But I try to write the review within a couple of days of finishing the book so everything is still fresh in my mind.  I then sit down and write the review.  The next day, I read through it again trying to clarify anything that needs it and catch any errors.  (Yes, I do look for them.)  Then I'll schedule it to run on my blog.

But this is why I am trying to finish books at least a week before I intend them to run.  That way the review part isn't rushed.

That's it for me.  Have a great weekend!

Book Review: #Throwback for Murder by Sarah E. Burr (Trending Topic Mysteries #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong case for characters we love to spend time with

Cons: A couple of minor things

The Bottom Line:

A face from the past

Leads to murder in present

Trending: This book is fun

Coco Won’t Want to Post This Throwback

One of the best examples of taking the cozy mystery into the modern era is Sarah E. Burr’s Trending Topic Mysteries. I was thrilled when I saw the fourth in the series, #Throwback for Murder was coming out. And it was another winner. 

The series features Coco Cline, a lifestyle influences who has a large platform and a certain amount of fame for her work. She also works with clients to help them utilize the internet to help their businesses. She’s living in her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware. And it’s been a quiet nine months in town since the last murder, something Coco and her friends have all been enjoying. 

All that is about to change on this particular June Saturday. The town is hosting a community festival for the grand opening of the new government services center. Coco is working part of the day since she works part time in public relations for the police. So she’s on hand when she gets an emergency text from one of her best friends, Charlotte. When Coco arrives at the booth where Charlotte is selling coffee, she finds that Charlotte is facing off against her ex. Her abusive ex that she moved to Central Shores to escape. Coco finally convinces him to leave, but a few minutes later, he’s back having some kind of medical emergency. When he dies, the police think it looks suspicious, but all the evidence points to Charlotte. Can Coco find evidence to clear her friend?

Charlotte is just one of the friends in Coco’s life. It was great to see them again, and the circle even expanded a little. It really is a pleasure to see how much they care for each other and how they work together to face the problems presented to them here. We don’t really see much of Coco’s family in this book, but that’s a minor complaint. I also liked seeing how the various friendships are growing as life happens for all of them. 

The story is very strong. It starts quickly, and the pacing was perfect, with plenty of new developments to keep the reader entertained. That includes several subplots that work well to show of the characters and their relationships. One of those subplots didn’t really reach a conclusion, but I’m sure we will learn more about it in future books. The conclusion of the mystery was logical, but I did have a minor niggle with it. 

Part of the book finds Coco using social media to try to gain more information. As always, you don’t need to be fluent in all the apps to follow what she is doing or learning. I did get a reminder of just how others view certain platforms. It is amazing to me how different various users’ experiences can be. 

There’s some humor as well, mainly from how Coco and her friends interact with each other. Jasper in particular is just as over the top as always. I wouldn’t mind if he matured a bit, andh we are seeing signs of that. Either way, he is good for a laugh. 

All told, #Throwback for Murder is another fun mystery for Coco and company. The series’ fans will be glad they picked it up. If you are looking for a contemporary cozy, this is the book for you. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

To see what else is popular, be sure to follow the rest of the Trending Topic Mysteries.

April 2025's Reading Summary

 That time of the month again.  Here's my reading summary for April.  Due to a busy last week, I didn't get the index updated this month.  

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).  The links will take you to my full review.

 

People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman (Leaphorn and Chee #4) – 5

It seems an odd assignment. Jim Chee is asked by a rich man’s wife to locate an old box her husband cherished. Only she doesn’t know what is in it. And she doesn’t want him to involve the local police. She’s even hiring him off the books. The more Chee begins poking around, the more questions he gets. And every person who tells him to stop just makes him more curious. What will he uncover?

Knowing that Jim Chee becomes the other main character in this series, I was happy to finally get to meet him. The set up has several different elements, and even knowing they’d come together, it seemed like a bit too much. But by the end I was impressed with just how it all connected. There was one character that was a bit of a page hog, but overall, I thought the cast was good and I wish I thought a couple of them were coming back. I also enjoyed how Navajo culture played into the story. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Jim Chee again soon. 

 

Ranch Dressing by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #15) – 5

Samantha Kidd’s father-in-law is interested in buying a dude ranch in New Jersey, so Samantha joins him and her husband on a trip to meet the current owner and check it out in depth.  She is so out of her element that she must borrow jeans for the trip, but she is doing her best to be supportive and stay in the background.  Their first night there, Samantha finds the owner dead in the barn.  Can she get the rest of the staff to warm up to her enough to solve the crime?

This book really builds on the growth we’ve seen in Samantha over the last couple of books, which I appreciated.  You could jump in here without any spoilers, but you won’t appreciate the character arc as much.  I also appreciated that this allowed Samantha’s relationship with her husband to really shine.  Meanwhile, the new characters were entertaining.  The mystery kept me confused until we reached the logical climax.  I laughed as always as I was reading.  Trixie Belden fans will enjoy an Easter egg in this book.  Now that I’ve caught up on this enjoyable series, I can’t wait for the next book to come out.  If you aren’t caught up yet, now’s the time to fix that.  You’ll enjoy the time spent doing so.

 

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles by Elizabeth Crowens (Babs Norman #1) – 2

The year in 1940, and Babs Norman and Guy Brandt have set up a detective agency. But it is struggling to bring in any money, which is why Babs has just been evicted from her apartment. But the potential for positive cash flow comes when they learn that Hollywood isn’t going to the dogs since their dogs are disappearing. Basil Rathbone’s dog has been kidnapped as has the dog that plays Asta in the Thin Man movies. Since a new Thin Man movie is supposed to start production soon, the studio is desperate to get their canine star back. Can Babs and Guy figure out what is going on?

The draw for this book is old Hollywood, and it is fun spending time with the stars. They are an active part of the plot and at times outnumber the fictional characters. Sadly, the plot is uneven with too much time spent on the antics of the stars. While it does reach a satisfactory conclusion, the plotting is clunky with elements introduced roughly. And there’s a subplot that feels forced and isn’t really resolved. While most of the book felt right historically, I did find a blatant historical error early on. The writing kept us at arm’s length, making the characters thin. This is a book to read for the old stars. If you want a good mystery, you’ll have to look elsewhere. 

 

Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien (Noodle Shop Mysteries #5) – 5

Lana Lee has decided to expand her family’s restaurant into catering, and their first gig is for family friend Donna Feng. But the party ends when Donna’s nanny is found floating in the pool. While the police look at Donna, Lana finds evidence that it might actually tie to Donna’s past. But how could that tie in to this murder?

Donna and her past were plot points for the first book in this series, so if you haven’t read that book, know there are spoilers here. I was actually happy to see this come up again with enough background to refresh my memory. There are some good clues, although I’m not sure the villain’s actions at the end made perfect sense. Still, I was hooked on the suspenseful climax. Many of the regulars took a backseat, which was good in the case of Lana’s family. But we got some great new characters, one of which I hope pops up again. This series is getting stronger as it goes along. Fans who are behind will enjoy this entry. 

 

Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal (Myrtle Beach Mysteries #3) – 4

Book store owner Clark Thomas is surprised when a woman comes in with an invitation to join her father for dinner.  Even more surprising is that the man is John Allen Howard, famed Hollywood composure.  The night of the dinner party turns out to be the night the remnants of a hurricane are passing through town.  During the chaos, someone kills the host.  It seems the rest of the guests all had motive.  Can Clark figure out who did it?

The plot employs a few mystery cliches, and I did roll my eyes a couple of times at them. I also spotted a key clue early on.  Overall, the mystery is good, however, with an ending that did surprise me.  We don’t see quite as much of the supporting players as we might, but I did appreciate the updates on them.  That also includes a little forward progress on Clark’s wife’s murder, an ongoing story.  I did spot a couple of timeline issues, but they were more annoying than anything else.  We meet the suspects at one time, but it wasn’t long before I was able to keep them all straight.  As always, I enjoyed the vacation setting of the series.  Those who enjoyed the first two books will be glad they picked this one up.

 

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (Secret Staircase Mysteries #4) – 5

Tempest Raj and the rest of the team are working on turning a house into a new library in Hidden Creek, this one focused on classic mysteries. While the library isn’t ready to open yet, they are participating in the Summer Stroll program that kicks off in a few days. Their contribution will be an escape room and an interactive mystery play that Tempest wrote with her best friend, Ivy. Naturally, Tempest is there for a dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong with one of the actors turning up dead after a scripted power outage. However, by the time they call the police, the body is gone. Is he really dead? If so, who moved the body?

The case is even more impossible than I was able to work into my teaser, and I had fun watching Tempest lead us to the logical solution. The pacing might have lagged a bit in the middle, but that might be me. It was fantastic to spend time with all the regulars again, and I’m curious where some of the relationships will go from here. The suspects were good, too. We get a delicious sounding recipe for Blackberry Crumble Cobbler and more references to classic mysteries. I really need to find a time to read some of them. This book will work well as an intro/standalone if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series yet. But you’ll want to go back to read them after the fun you’ll have here. Fans will be glad they picked up this book. 

 

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman (Mrs. Pollifax #1) – 5

Seeking to give her life meaning, widowed Mrs. Pollifax applies to be a spy with the CIA. She's sent on a simple currier assignment for Carstairs, but things go wrong and she is kidnapped. Can she use her wits to escape? The story is highly improbable, but I absolutely fell in love. The final third still make me turn pages quickly even though I remember all the twists from the first time it kept me up all night to finish.

 

Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry (Seven Ponds Mysteries #1) – 2

Amber has never met her grandma Jade, but when she breaks up with her boyfriend, she winds up heading to Jade’s retirement community. Amber is thrilled to be welcomed with open arms, but the night she arrives, a man in the community dies. The police suspect it was murder, and the man’s family begins telling anyone who will listen that Jade is responsible. Can Amber lean on her PI training and figure out what really happened?

I enjoyed a previous series from this author, but this one didn’t really work for me. I was put off by a negative attitude toward Christianity we get early on. I get it that this is a personal issue, but it did make me read more critically. The characters are thin and more caricature to drive the comedy. The plot is more events than mystery driven, although Amber does make some good deductions along the way. Still, there was an aspect of the plot that I didn’t enjoy. The book does provide some laughs, but over all, it didn’t work for me. This will probably be my only visit with these characters. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (An American in Paris Mystery #3) – 4

Tabitha Knight, who grew up learning both French and English, is making some money tutoring various people in French. She’s now landed a job as a translator for a diplomat’s wife who is looking to buy an haute couture dress for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Their first stop is Maison Lannet, where they are treated to a fabulous fashion show. But when Tabitha realizes she left her gloves behind, she finds the designer dead. Can she figure out what happened?

It was nice to be back in 1950 Paris, once again seeing what life was like for people trying to rebuild their lives after the war. Yes, Julia Child has a strong presence in this book again, so there is lots of talk about French cuisine. So expect your mouth to water. The pacing of the mystery was a bit uneven, thanks in part to a couple of subplots, but I appreciated some of the twists we got along the way. The characters are fun as always, and I am curious to see where one storyline will go in the next book. All told, anyone interested in Julia Child or life in Paris in 1950 will be glad they picked up this book. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg (Sharpe and Walker #3) – 3

West Hollywood has been rocked by a series of arsons in one night. The arsonist hit multiple apartment buildings by setting fire to a car in a car port. Just as Sharpe and Waler are beginning to piece some key clues together, a major fire impacts the city. Will this new fire distract them? Or will they be able to solve it as well?

There is a strong secondary plot as well that includes some major spoilers for the first book in the series. I didn’t like that storyline because it slowed things down with flashbacks and introduced some politics that hit wrong, especially after events in the last couple of months. On the other hand, I enjoyed the main storyline and all the great twists along the way. The characters are good but flat, and the male teenage humor doesn’t help them. There are some other laughs and great banter. I also enjoyed some scenes that were set close to me. Fans will enjoy this book, but I do wish it were stronger. 

Book Review: Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg (Sharpe and Walker #3)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: The main story is fun

Cons: The sub-plot slows things down and the characters are flat

The Bottom Line:

Serial arson

The main storyline is fun

But has weaknesses

Searching the Smoke for the Truth

I’ve followed Lee Goldberg’s career from his days writing tie-ins to his new books following characters in the LA Sheriff’s Department. Along the way, his books have started to slip from the list of things I always enjoy. They aren’t bad, they just as good as they used to be. Hidden in Smoke, this third in his Sharpe and Walker series, is a perfect example. 

If you are new to this series, Walter Sharpe is a brilliant arson investigator working for the LA Sheriff’s Department. Andrew Walker is his partner, a former US Marshall who has taken the job for something safer so he will be around for his family. Not that it always turns out that way. Still, Walker is beginning to pick up the skill needed for his new job even if he misses the more action-oriented parts of his old job. 

When this book opens, West Hollywood has been rocked by a series of arsons in one night. The arsonist hit multiple apartment buildings by setting fire to a car in a car port. Just as the partners are beginning to piece some key clues together, a major fire impacts the city. Will this new fire distract them? Or will they be able to solve it as well?

There is actually a very strong second storyline that includes some major spoilers for the first book. Since it is introduced first, those spoilers start almost from the first page. 

And, it’s actually with this second storyline that I want to start. There are some tie ins with the main storyline, but on the whole, it really could have been its own story. It adds little to the overall mystery and the flashback portions to tell this part of the story just slow things down. I was very bothered by aspects of this story since it involved targeting a medical company CEO. Maybe it’s just bad timing with the headlining murder that’s been in the news in the last few months, but it felt more political than the fun mystery/thriller I was looking forward to when I picked up this book. It’s obvious that Lee Goldberg wanted to write a caper, but it felt forced into this book.

On the other hand, the main mystery was fantastic with plenty of twists and turns to keep me engaged. I was surprised by several things along the way, but they all made sense to me as they happened. 

The characters are a mixed bag. They are real enough to make us care about the outcome, but they feel a bit flat overall. The teenage boy humor we get at times certainly doesn’t help. This also really hurts the second storyline I was talking about earlier. They are some of the flattest characters. 

On the other hand, there are some fun laughs and great banter between the characters. 

Fans of Lee’s other current series will be interested to note that Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone show up part way through. There are some supporting characters between the two series as well. If you haven’t read Eve’s books, you won’t miss too much, but a few references will fly over your head. 

Since I live in LA County, I enjoy all the references to places I know as I’m reading this book. I especially enjoy a few scenes that take place close to me. I was smiling as I followed the action, picturing exactly what I was talking about. 

As you can see, Hidden in Smoke was a mixed bag. Fans of Lee’s books will enjoy it, but I do wish it were stronger overall. 

Movie Review: Viva Las Vegas

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Light, fun romantic comedy musical

Cons: None worth dwelling on

The Bottom Line:

Romance, comedy

Wrapped up in fun songs in this

Charming musical

Flirty Fun in Vegas

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I look to entertainment mostly for an escape.  I want have fun.  Yes, I do enjoy some more serious books and movies, but it’s always a pleasure to find something that is just looking to be light entertainment.  That’s exactly what Viva Las Vegas is trying to be, and it succeeds in spades.

The movie tells the story of race car driver Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley).  He’s planning to enter a race leaving from Las Vegas, and he’s there earning the money to buy an engine to go into his new car.  His chief competitor, Count Elmo Mancini (Cesare Danova) is there as well, and the two are talking when they meet Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret).  Rusty gets them to help with her car, but then vanishes before either man can get so much as her name.  The two set out to find her, but by the time they do, Lucky’s money is gone.  Forced to take a job as a waiter doesn’t prove to be too bad because it gives him time to woo Rusty.  Or will Elmo win her heart instead?  Will Lucky have an engine for his car in time for the big race?

Let’s be honest, you can probably guess at least some of what happens along the way just based on my teaser.  This isn’t a terribly original movie if you are familiar with romantic comedies.  But you know what?  That’s okay.  This is a fun movie with character you want to root for.  Yes, even Elmo.  Oh, you don’t want to root for him to win a race or win the girl, but he is still a likable foil and not a true villain.

It also helps that Elvis and Ann-Margret have chemistry.  The film sizzles when they are on screen together.  Again, you are rooting for the two of them to get together.  As is often the case with a romantic comedy, the film brushes a few issues under the rug in the rush to the ending, but that’s okay.  What is here works.

And part of that is the acting.  The entire cast is obviously having fun together, and it pulls us into the story they are telling.

With Elvis and Ann-Margret as the leads, I’m sure it’s no surprise that this is a musical.  In addition to the famous title track, we get a variety of songs throughout.  There are no true show stoppers with tons of choreography, but that’s okay because the songs are fun.  There are a few done as part of shows, but there are also songs that the characters sing in “real life.”  As much as I do find the title track fun, my favorite song by far was “The Lady Loves Me.”  It is such fun, you can’t help but laugh as Lucky and Rusty sing back and forth to each other.

This movie came out in 1964, and it is a throwback to a simpler, more innocent time.  There is very little if any innuendo (I can’t remember any off hand).  The romance is extremely chaste.  And yet, we are rooting for the characters and having a great time.  It’s also the time when someone can be in the pool in one shot and have perfectly styled hair and basically dry clothes in the next, which takes place thirty seconds later.  That may be unintentional humor, but it is still fun none-the-less.

I completely enjoyed watching Viva Las Vegas because it has lost none of its charm.  Next time you are in the mood for a light romantic comedy, I definitely recommend you track this one down.

Candy Review: Hershey's Kisses - Butterbeer

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious taste of butterbeer

Cons: Appear to be a seasonal item

The Bottom Line:

A seasonal kiss

Enjoy butterbeer flavor

These will be a hit

Enjoy a Bite of Butterbeer

Back in March when I was wandering through Target’s Easter aisles, I found a new flavor of Hershey’s Kisses – Butterbeer.  Naturally, I had to grab them.  They were every bit as good as I expected.

Unlike a traditional Hershey’s kiss, these aren’t chocolate based.  Maybe there is some white chocolate in them, although it didn’t stand out in a quick scan of the ingredients.  Instead, they have a butterscotch flavor.  A very strong butterscotch flavor.  It’s so strong that you can smell them as soon as the bag is opened.  I’ve had a mostly empty bag in my pantry for a few weeks waiting for me to write this review, and every time I open the door, I smell them.  That’s not a problem, just be prepared.

Anyway, they taste just like you’d expect.  Lots of butterscotch flavor with a hint of cream.  The candies themselves are tan.  If you bite into one, you’ll find that there is a white center to them.

And they are delicious!  I took this package to a family gathering, and everyone who tried them loved them.  It’s hard to eat just one, which is always the sign of a good Hershey’s Kiss, right?

As you are probably expecting with the Butterbeer flavor, these are Harry Potter themed.  The name is on the packaging, and the wrappers have various Harry Potter things, like books, glasses, and steins of butterbeer to name a few.

My only question is why are these seasonal?  I think they’ve be popular any time of year.  And I really don’t think of Harry Potter around Easter.

I suspect these were Target exclusive since I didn’t see them anywhere else I was looking.

I realize my timeliness stinks since, if these were an Easter item, they aren’t in the stores any more.  Hopefully, they’ll be back in future years.  If so, you’ll be happy you snagged some Butterbeer Hershey’s Kisses.

April 26th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Tracker – Yes, it was a little weird, but not nearly as bad as the show can be.  I enjoyed this one overall.  Tracking back through the night before proved to be fun.  I’m not sure I bought what the friend was selling there at the end as to how she got away.  I’m not sure why, but I just didn’t trust her.  Or maybe it has to do with the fact that we still had time left in the episode.  I’m probably just being too suspicious.

Suits LA – Of all the people from the original I wanted to see again, Hardman wasn’t on the list.  I get why he was there, however, and it was a good use of him.  I’m sad that was Harvey’s last episode since he was the best character on the show.  And his dynamic with Ted was also the best.  I wonder if this means we aren’t going to see Eddie’s death in the flashbacks.  I sure hope that’s the case.  Honestly, I wish we’d just drop them.  They didn’t add much to the story.

Poppa’s House – A better episode than most.  I think it’s because they went serious in the middle instead of quite as insane as they often go.  I just wished they’d pulled back Dyrrl a little.  He was just a bit over the top for me.

Night Court – I preferred the A story to the B story, but even the B story was fun.  Several good moments and some serious messages mixed in well.  I’d forgotten Abby was an alcoholic, however.

Movie Review: Get Him Back for Christmas

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Charming, sweet Christmas movie

Cons: Predictable; the lip-syncing is obvious

The Bottom Line:

Writing a new song

Will friends move to next level

Charming Christmas film

Does Music Have the Power to Restore Relationships?

Having watched some previous movies that husband and wife Carlos and Alexa PenaVega have done together, I decided to give Get Him Back for Christmas.  I’m glad I did since it proved to be completely charming.

Bella Harlan (Alexa PenaVega) has gotten her big break when she met mega popstar Sage Majors (Alan Powell).  Their two duets have swiftly climbed the charts, and the fact that they are dating has captured the nation.  However, it all comes crashing down on Bella before Christmas when Sage announces that he wants a break for the holidays.  It only gets worse when the press reports that the two have broken up.

So Bella does the only thing she can think of – she heads home to her small town in Texas.  It’s there that she reconnects with her old song writing partner, Jack Grayton (Carlos PenaVega).  The two secretly had feelings for each other when they were teens.  But Bella is intent on getting Sage back and asks Jack to help her write a song to help her do that.  Will they rediscover their feelings?

If you go into this movie and aren’t shocked by the developments along the way, you haven’t been paying attention to these made for TV Christmas movies.  But, as I always say, it’s more about the execution than the predictability.  In this case, I was having plenty of fun, so I don’t care that much that I knew where the story was going.  There were some nice subplots I wasn’t expecting along the way, and some real depth to the characters that helped bring me in.

Since this is set in Texas, this is now the second Christmas movie I’ve watched that didn’t include snow.  I’m a bit surprised, but not that upset since snow doesn’t feature into my Christmases either.

I will say that the singing was a bit weak.  Not the actual vocals, but the lip-syncing they did during the filming.  It looks fake.  But maybe that’s just me.

One thing I especially appreciated was the third act.  Again, the characters had been established, so the third act complications felt real, and I appreciated how the characters behaved.  I respected them for the choices they made.

There were some elements of the movie I wasn’t expecting, like the prominent place The Salvation Army had in the movie, or the roll that Mario Lopez played in the movie (as himself).  There’s also Jack’s younger brother.  I found their relationship very sweet.

The acting is good.  Alexa and Carlos carry the movie, but the rest of the cast are fine in their parts as well.

Ultimately, Get Him Back for Christmas is a sweet and charming Christmas movie.  If that is what you are looking for, you’ll be rewarded.

Book Review: A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (An American in Paris Mystery #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Interesting look at life in post-war Paris with a good mystery and fun characters

Cons: Pacing at times

The Bottom Line:

Fashion and murder

Return to post war Paris

With fun mystery

Tabitha Must Find a Well Dressed Killer

I’ve always enjoyed getting to meet real people via the pages of historical fiction, and Colleen Cambridge has found success with that in two mystery series. A Fashionably French Murder is the third in her An American in Paris series which features Julia Child. 

The main character is Tabitha Knight, who moved to Paris in 1949 to live with her grandfather. She just happens to be neighbors with Julia Child, and the two have become good friends. It’s now February of 1950, and the two are about to become entangled in another murder. 

Tabitha, who grew up learning both French and English, is making some money tutoring various people in French. She’s now landed a job as a translator for a diplomat’s wife who is looking to buy an haute couture dress for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Their first stop is Maison Lannet, where they are treated to a fabulous fashion show. But when Tabitha realizes she left her gloves behind, she finds the designer dead. Can she figure out what happened?

Once again, we are plunged into post-World War II life in Paris. The war’s after effects are still playing a part in daily life. I appreciate that perspective on things because it isn’t something I think about too much. Yes, I find the war years fascinating, but I don’t think about how that horrible experience impacted people as they tried to rebuild their lives. 

Just because this book takes place in the fashion industry doesn’t mean we don’t have as much talk about French cuisine as in the first two books. Would you expect any less with Julia Child as a supporting character? Prepare for your mouth to water as you read. 

My observation from the previous books holds true again here. I find it weird that the French characters, who are supposedly speaking French, occasionally have a French word or expression in the middle of their dialogue. And yet it works to give them a French accent in my head as I’m reading. 

The mystery itself has some good twists to it, but I did find the pacing a little uneven in the middle. It never stayed that way for too long, and it helped that we had some subplots to distract Tabitha, and us, from the main mysteries. But I definitely liked the solution to this mystery. 

And the characters are entertaining as well. Several threads from the previous book continued here, and I’m especially interested to see what is going to happen next with one of them. 

Tabitha and Julia continue to be good guides to life in 1950 Paris. If that interests you, you’ll be glad you picked up A Fashionably French Murder. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Ornament Review: Sally and Pigpen - 2024 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Two lesser produced Peanuts characters

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Sally and Pigpen

Dancing onto Christmas tree

In this mini set

Two More Peanuts Characters Get the Mini Treatment

Over the years, Hallmark has released various sets of Peanuts characters around themes.  Usually, they include Lucy, Linus, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy in those sets.  So when I spotted a two ornament collection of Sally and Pigpen in 2024, I snagged it.

This is a collection of two miniature ornaments.  It’s just as you’d expect from the name.  Sally is dancing, so she’s got one leg up.  While Pigpen doesn’t have his big cloud of dust around him, we can see smudges of dirt on his face and on the bass he’s playing.

I must admit, I didn’t realize until I was home with the set that these are both themed around A Charlie Brown Christmas.  These are the characters as they appear in the big dance scenes that are interrupting the pageant practice.  This makes me wonder if I should have paid more attention and we’ve gotten more miniature ornaments featuring other characters from the special in the past.  Either way, that was a fun bonus for ornaments I was already planning to get.

You see, I love Peanuts, and it is nice to have a variety of the characters.  I get that the most popular characters are going to be the ones that sell the most, but I appreciate that these lesser done characters get their day every so often.

As I said earlier, these are mini ornaments.  Pigpen is a little taller just because his bass is so much bigger than he is, but the characters themselves are about an inch tall.  As long as you know that when you buy the pair, you’ll be fine.

This probably means you don’t want to set the ornaments out to be displayed anyway.  But if you wanted to, you’ll find that Sally doesn’t stand on her own at all.  You can balance Pigpen, but he isn’t very stable, so he’ll probably fall over the first time someone walks by.

Fortunately, both ornaments hang straight, so you’ll be fine when you go to hang these on your tree.

The Sally and Pigpen set was fun to get.  If you are a Peanuts fan looking for some lesser produced characters, you’ll be glad you picked it up.