Tag Archives: Colleen Cambridge

Fiction in the City of Lights: The Parisian Chapter and In the Spirit of French Murder

5 May

The Parisian Chapter
by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Parisian Chapter is the new novel by Janet Skeslien Charles which includes characters from her previous novel, The Paris Library, but even having not read that I was still able to jump right in (though if you enjoy it as much as I did you will likely want to read that one as well). In 1995, Lily and her roommate and childhood bff Mary Louise have been living in Paris for five years, but when Mary Louise decides to move out she needs to find a job to pay her half of the rent; she finds that at the American Library in Paris along with a quirky found family and a discovery about Odile, who worked there during WWII and was Lily’s inspiration for her coming to France. Although Lily is the core of the story, there are varying points of view from the novel’s endearing cast of characters.

In the Spirit of French Murder
by Colleen Cambridge
Tabitha Knight is back for her fourth in the An American in Paris Mystery Series in the new novel, In the Spirit of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge. Although it is not essential to read the previous books this one follows only a few weeks after the third book in the series so I would recommend reading that one before hand. Tabitha is helping her Grandfather and his companion throw a special dinner party at the new restaurant that they are opening, but a warning from a Fortune Teller sets in motion danger for her grandfather and his friends. Cambridge has created a wonderful cast of characters beyond Tabitha that cozy readers will also adore including of course her best friend Julia Child based on the real life cook and TV personality, who lived in post-war Paris. Child is featured less in this novel than some of the previous ones in the series, but is always a fun addition. Those who like a little romance with their mysteries will enjoy the love triangle between Tabitha and a detective who she has chemistry with, but who resents her meddling and a French veterinarian she has recently started dating. The Hoboken Library’s Mystery Book Discussion read the first in the series last year and felt that teen mystery fans as well as adults might enjoy the story. If you would like to join the group, or one of the other book discussion groups at our library, you can check out our calendar of events for upcoming dates.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Parisian Capers: A Fashionably French Murder & Love (and Trouble) in Paris

30 Apr

A Fashionably French Murder
by Colleen Cambridge
A Fashionably French Murder is the third in the charming American in Paris series. The series focuses on Tabitha Knight who grew up in America, but is now staying with her French Grandfather and his companion in Paris. Tabitha tries to help out by cooking for the two gentleman, but is only slowly gaining skills from her famous ex-pat best friend, Julia Child. The novels bring in interesting details from history and about Julia Child and other notable Parisians lives as well featuring interesting mysteries. In this story Tabitha is helping translate for a mother of a bride at a haute couture salon where the rising star designer is murdered. Could the infamous Dior be involved? I enjoyed learning more about the history of French fashion such as the fact that the models at the designer’s studios were referred to mannequins. Although I was originally interested in the series because of Julia Child hook, Tabitha and the other original characters are so engaging that I enjoy the series even when she is taking more of a background role such as in this story. You can read my previous blog posts about books one and two. Book one in the series for today, 4/30/25, is part of Hoopla’s Bonus Borrows, which means you can borrow it without using one of your Hoopla checkouts for April until midnight!

Love (and Trouble) in Paris
Love (and Trouble) in Paris is a fun French Rom-Com from 2022 that will appeal to Francophile fans of Sex and the City. Thirty-six year old chronically (and comedically) clumsy Julie, played by Maud Baecker, is tired of fielding questions from her family about when she will be getting married. On a cab ride home from her sister’s wedding she hears a message from her dream guy declaring his love, unfortunately it isn’t her phone but that of another woman left in the cab. That doesn’t stop Julie from trying to hook up with her ideal Mr Right played by François Vincentelli. Meanwhile Nicolas, Paul Deby, has moved in with Julie, who believes he is one of the candidates from a website designed to match straight women with gay male roommates, but secretly Nicolas is straight and beginning to develop a crush on Julie. Added to this over the top chaos are Julie’s two bffs: Ava, an overwhelmed mother, and Manon, the queen of hook ups. Manon is played by Isabelle Vitari and Ava is Nadia Roz, who also played a mom in Louis XXVIII. If you enjoyed Emily in Paris, you may enjoy seeing this French take on romantic comedy set in the City of Love. The first two episodes have me hooked and I look forward to binging the rest when I have some time.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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