Review: "Mastering the Art of French Murder," Colleen Cambridge

One of Julia Child’s prized kitchen knives used as a murder weapon? If you find that idea to be beyond delightful, this is the book for you.

Colleen Cambridge had already captured my interest with her two fun cozies featuring Phyllida Bright, chief housekeeper to Agatha Christie.

Now she brings readers Tabitha Knight, who has come to Paris after spending World War II helping to build bomber planes—a real life “Rosie the Riveter.”

Tabs, as Julia calls her, is living across the street from the fledgllng chef, on the Rue de l'Université. Paul Child works for the U.S. State Department, while Julia is studying at the Cordon Bleu. The Childs have whimsically dubbed their flat the “Rue de Loo.”

Dort, Julia’s sister, has also landed in Paris. She’s working at the American Club Theater, and her actor pals often overtake the Rue de Loo for late-night soirées.

As Tabs and Julia return home from the street market, laden down with fresh produce, chicken and eggs, they hear a blood-curdling scream. The Childs’ maid has discovered a body in the basement of their building.

It turns out to be another employee of the theater, a woman who’d been at the previous evening’s party. The police interview Tabitha. They’re wondering why her contact information was in the victim’s pocket.

Tabs, calling on all the skills she learned by reading the Nancy Drew mysteries, starts snooping. She soon realizes that the murderer must be someone involved with the theater—and that her own life is in peril.

I’m not an expert on Julia Child, but I did watch the wonderful series on HBO Max last year and also read her book My Life in France. I felt her depiction in Mastering the Art of French Murder is solid. For example, a subplot involves Julia’s attempt to achieve a perfect mayonnaise. She makes dozens of batches to achieve her goal.

Tabs is an interesting character. She was raised by her French mother and grandmother in the states. Now she’s living with her eccentric Grandpère and his partner, whom she calls Oncle Rafe. Though they now rarely leave their elegant townhouse, the men did fight for the Resistance, and their savvy and connections prove useful to Tabitha’s investigations.

Meanwhile, despite her French DNA, she can’t cook. No matter. The inexhaustible Julia is at the ready with some exquisite gourmet comfort food to take the edge off the stress suffered by amateur gumshoes. Salmon soufflé, anyone?