MASTERING the ART of FRENCH MURDER: An American in Paris Mystery by Colleen Cambridge

Mastering the Art of French Murder: An American in Paris Mystery by Colleen Cambridge, published in 2023 by Kensington Books, is a work of fiction. The novel centers around Tabitha Knight, an expatriate that moves from Detroit, Michigan, to Paris, France, shortly after WWII. She lives with her Grand-père and Oncle Rafe across the street from her new best friend and confidante, Julia Child, before her future career as a world-renowned French chef.

Julia's sister Dorothy or Dort, as she is known, lives upstairs from her and often invites the members of an American theater troupe she works with over for drinks after an evening's performance. While attending one of these gatherings, Tabitha meets a young woman named Thérèse, who works in the coat check room at the theater. By the end of the evening, the woman turns up dead, and except for the murderer, Tabitha is the last person to see her alive. 

When the murder weapon turns out to be one of Julia's best chef's knives, and Tabitha's address...written on a piece of paper by Tabitha herself... somehow finds its way into the victim's pocket, it doesn't look good for this new American in Paris. Tabitha soon finds her life in danger when she puts her amateur detective skills to work, much to the chagrin of the local police...Inspecteur Merveille, to be exact. 

Cambridge's Mastering the Art of French Murder has all the elements needed for a good solid mystery. Murder, mayhem, and international intrigue abound. However, some characters needed to be fleshed out more...two prime examples are Inspecteur Merveille and Oncle Rafe. Is there a possible relationship brewing beneath the surface between Tabitha and Merveille? Exactly, who is Oncle Rafe, and what is in his past that is often hinted at but never spoken of? 

Too much time and attention were also devoted to Julia's disastrous attempts at making mayonnaise. When Julia makes an excited phone call to Tabitha to come over to her apartment to sample the frothy concoction, as it turns out, it seems overplayed. It leaves the reader with the impression that the Julia Child character is a highly-strung, somewhat silly woman, which the real Julia Child was not. It also adds nothing to the plot or the solution to what could be an excellent story, minus some of the minutiae that gets in the way at times.

My Personal Rating is ⭐⭐½

The FIFTH ASSASSIN by Brad Meltzer...

The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer was published in 2013 by Grand Central Publishing. It is the second book of the Culper Ring series, which picks up where book one, The Inner Circle, ends with the main character, archivist Beecher White inducted into the modern-day Culper Ring.  

It is essential to understand what the Culper Ring is before diving into any of the three books in Brad Meltzer's Culper Ring Series, so let me explain. The Culper Ring was a real, honest-to-goodness network of American spies operating during the American War of Independence. The Ring was organized in 1778 and was used to provide General George Washington with information on British troupe movements.¹ Meltzer's Culper Ring Series assumes that the spy ring still exists. However, the plot twist is that two separate factions within the organization are working in opposition. 

This installment begins with an unknown assassin in Washington, D.C., attempting to recreate the assassination plots successfully achieved by four of the most infamous killers in U.S. history, John Wilkes Booth, Charles Guiteau, Leon Czolgosz, and Lee Harvey Oswald. Throughout history, everyone believed the four killers were lone gunmen. However, Beecher White is not convinced. Through his investigation, he discovers that the four assassins may have worked together over the past hundred years. 

It's up to Beecher and the Culper Ring to find answers to the Who, What, Why, and How questions that remain unresolved before the copycat assassin finds its mark...the current President of the United States. Can it be done, but more importantly...can it be done before the assassin succeeds? 

This is an absorbing tale with more than one unexpected turn of events. I enjoyed this novel very much, but since many of the characters and subplots are continuations from the first book, I recommend reading the books in sequential order. I think you'll be glad you did.

My Personal Rating... ⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE LIE: When DNA Reveals the Family Secret by Heather Dawn Gray

The Lie: When DNA Reveals the Family Secret by Heather Dawn Gray, published in 2019 by hdg Publishing. The story centers around Jahana, a college professor and Muslim woman living in Canada, married to Barid, and mother of two young daughters on a quest to discover the truth about her heritage when a small tube of saliva upends her life forever. 

Noosha never volunteered or answered questions about her people. After her death, Jahana's curiosity about her Maman and her family intensified, and her lack of knowledge only compounded the grief she felt over the loss of her mother.

To support his wife, Barid buys a DNA testing kit for Jahana, hoping it will help ease her sadness by finding long-lost relatives from the maternal side of her family and answering the mystery surrounding her beloved Maman. No good deed goes unpunished, though; when the results come in, Jahana is shocked that the test reveals that she is not...a 'descendent of Muhammed,' as she always believed based on the childhood teachings from both her parents. Instead, Jahana discovers that she is an Ashkenazi Jew. 

DNA is passed from both parents to the child. That's an undisputed fact. So which parent did Jahana inherit her Jewish ethnicity from...mother, father, or both? The revelation that she's not Arabic, as she grew up believing, is devastating news to Jahana and potentially dangerous. She must keep this information secret from those closest to her as she attempts to get to the bottom of what promises to be one of the greatest scandals in her family history. 

Where does Jahana begin? Her father would be the most logical starting point, but he's made it clear that he does not want Jahana to take the DNA test in the first place. As a matter of fact, he is adamantly opposed to it. The question is, why? Does Baba already know the secret? If not, what will he say when he finds out, and if he does know...  then why was Jahana never told? Suppose Jahana's paternal cousin Mishal would also be willing to take a DNA test. Would the results of her test complicate matters further? 

And to make matters worse, Jahana's husband, Barid, is a strict Muslim with pointed antisemitic views. What impact will Jahana's discovery have on their marriage and the lives of their children? Barid bought the DNA test as an anniversary gift for his wife. Not exactly romantic, but now that she's taken it, will this be their last anniversary as a married couple because of the results? 

How does Jahana get the answers to all the questions swirling around in her head without revealing the secret that carries a threat that could likely unravel her entire way of life?   

The Lie: When DNA Reveals the Family Secret is a tense and thought-provoking work of fiction that opens up a line of questioning that anyone that has ever taken or is contemplating taking a DNA test must ask themselves, starting with...can you accept the outcome that may alter everything that you once thought you knew about yourself and your family? Or will you turn your back on the results as though they don't exist? You'll need to read the book to find out how Jahana answered these questions.

My Personal Rating is ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DROWNING by T.J. Newman

Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T. J. Newman, published in 2023 by Simon & Schuster. This work of fiction is an aviation disaster thriller that is not for the faint of heart.

When Flight 1421's engine explodes shortly after takeoff with 99 souls aboard, the pilot has no choice but to ditch the Airbus into the Pacific Ocean near the island of Molokai. Those passengers that did not perish upon impact are left with a take-it-or-leave-it decision to make... evacuate the plane and run the risk of falling victim to the burning jet fuel on the water's surface, or follow the advice and insistence of Will Kent, an engineer by trade and fellow passenger to stay aboard the aircraft. The only problem with that plan is that there is a limited amount of oxygen onboard the ditched jet, it's slowly filling with water, and there's a genuine threat that looms over their heads of drowning when the plane sinks and or breaks apart as it descends further down into the sea. 

Twelve passengers and crewmembers opt to remain on the plane, Kit Callahan, the pilot who takes command; the flight crew, Kaholo, Jasmine, Bernadette, and Molly; passengers Ryan, widowed in the crash; Andy, the resident jackass; an elderly couple, Ira and Ruth; Will and his 11-year-old daughter Shannon (two of the main protagonists in the story), and Maia a young girl close in age to Shannon traveling alone.  

Chris Kent is Will's estranged wife and Shannon's mother. She also owns and manages an ocean salvage operation company. While working on a government salvage job on a neighboring island, Chris learns of the crashed jet where her daughter and soon-to-be ex-husband are passengers and rushes to the scene, crew, and equipment in tow. She is ultimately recruited (at her insistence) by the Navy in the rescue efforts of the Airbus. 

As the wrecked plane teeters on the edge of a cliff 200 feet below the water's surface and is already close to where no one can come to its aid, can Chris devise a method to get the passengers off the jet? Can Will and the other plane passengers find a way to keep the fuselage watertight, at least long enough for rescuers to help them evacuate the sinking plane safely?   

Interwoven throughout the novel is a subplot concerning the damaged relationship between Will and Chris, the loss of their eldest daughter Annie, and the overprotection of their youngest, Shannon. Can they put the past behind them, or is it too late?

Some parts of Newman's Drowning are challenging due to their intensity. Also, some technical descriptions concerning the rescue efforts are hard to follow. If you fear the water, flying, or both, this book is not for you. However, if you are looking for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the one.

My Personal Rating is ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

 

The SENTENCE is DEATH: a Novel by Anthony Horowitz...

The Sentence is Death: a Novel by Anthony Horowitz was published in 2019 by Harper Publishing. It is a classic yet modern-day whodunit with two main characters that couldn't be more different. Horowitz has again done a great job inserting himself into the second book of the Hawthorne and Horowitz Series as both narrator and one of the two protagonists in the story. This well-crafted novel has two storylines at work. 

The main plot centers on investigating the murder of a high-priced divorce attorney, Richard Pryce, in his home. A bottle of wine is used as a murder weapon. The catch...Richard doesn't drink, so where did the bottle come from, and why was this the weapon of choice? 

The subplot focuses on the slightly contentious relationship between the two men for whom the series is named. 

The storylines intersect when the police struggle to solve the case and call Daniel Hawthorne, a former detective and now a private investigator, to assist. Hawthorne, in turn, calls on Anthony Horowitz to follow him around, take notes, keep his mouth shut, and at the end of the day...write a book about him and the case he's currently working on...even though their first joint venture has yet to be published. Unfortunately, Hawthorne isn't very forthcoming with many, or any details for that matter, about his personal life to provide Horowitz with any background color to enhance the story. In addition, the two men aren't particularly fond of each other, or Horowitz, like most people, isn't that fond of Hawthorne. However, Anthony is interested in the case and again agrees to partner with Daniel on this latest venture. 

The book has all of the bells, whistles, and red herrings necessary to keep the story moving forward, one of which I could have done without. You must read the book to discover which one and whether you agree. You will definitely form an opinion. How does it all play out in the end? Again, you must read the book. But, overall, I think you will be satisfied.

My Personal Rating is ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The CHESTER CREEK MURDERS by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

The Chester Creek Murders by Nathan Dylan Goodwin was independently published in 2021 and is the first book in the Venator Cold Case Series, with the story centering on the murders of three young women whose bodies were dumped in Chester Creek. 

Detective Clayton Tyler is a police officer assigned to review and solve cold cases for the local police department. The file he chose to start with is the Chester Creek Murders. The problem? The murders were committed around 40 years ago, and no new clues or information has been revealed since the original investigation. 

With justice long overdue, Detective Tyler contacts Venator, a Utah-based company specializing in cutting-edge genetic genealogy investigations. Can this small team of investigators, using their expertise in forensic genealogy assisted by 21st-century technology, analyze the DNA evidence and find the identity of the person responsible for the three murders?

Goodwin’s novel explores the lives of the three victims to determine whether there is a shared connection between them and or the killer. It also delves into the personal lives of the Venator investigators and Detective Tyler and what drives them, adding a human element to the characters and keeping the story from becoming overly science-driven and dry. 

Genealogy-buffs will appreciate and recognize the research techniques and types of records searched for by the Venator team, making this book an excellent reference manual for their own research pursuits. 

So if you enjoy a good mystery and have a passion for genealogy, this book is for you.

My Personal Rating is: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

MIDNIGHT in the GARDEN of GOOD and EVIL by John Berendt

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, published in 1994 by Random House, is a nonfiction, true crime novel set in the Deep South.

Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia. It has a charming Southern ambiance and a vibrant history. It has many cultural attractions, historical landmarks, and works of art in various architectural styles. In addition, it has a large St. Patrick's Day parade, a famous river port, a renowned art college, and a beach nearby. Savannah is also a quirky city where you might find a man walking an invisible dog and a drag queen becoming a key witness for the defense in a high-profile murder trial. So it's no surprise that The Hostess City of the South is as much a character in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as any human being involved in the novel. 

The book chronicles John Berendt's experiences while living in Savannah and the real-life events surrounding the 1981 murder of 21-year-old Danny Hansford, a profane young man with an explosive temper, and the trial that followed.

Jim Williams was a historic preservationist and antiques dealer, partially responsible for renovating historic downtown Savannah in the 1950s. He also renovated his home, Mercer House, once owned by the late composer Johnny Mercer, making it one of the grandest homes in Savannah. After finishing the restoration, Williams threw a glamorous Christmas party that soon became one of Savannah's most sought-after annual events. At the time of the story, John Berendt, who wrote a monthly column for Esquire Magazine, was there to write an article about Williams' Christmas party. 

While interviewing Williams for his article, Berendt meets part-time employee Danny Hansford during his tour of Mercer House. He is shocked that Hansford has such unlimited access to the home. Williams explains that he has a medical condition, which requires always having someone nearby in case he should blackout as his justification for Hansford's access to the house. So, as a trusted employee, why did Jim Williams kill Danny Hansford? Was it blackmail, self-defense, or a well-planned murder? The answer is in the pages of the book.

John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a true-life story that reads like a combination travelogue and murder mystery with a bit of history thrown in for good measure. The book is replete with eccentric, slightly off-center, and downright odd fellow characters. Berendt's novel became a New York Times Best Seller after its publication in 1994 and stayed there for four years. If you have yet to read it, it's worth reading, and if you have read it... it's worth reading again.

My Personal Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐