Barbara’s rating: 3.7 out of 5 Stars
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery #8
Publication Date: 6/24/25
Period: Victorian – Paris
Number of Pages: 304

George and Frances Hazelton are back in Paris to enjoy their interrupted honeymoon and to refresh themselves after solving a murder in Deauville. Goodness, a lot is going on in Paris – the Exposition that we thoroughly explored in the last book, and the Olympics that we learn a bit about in this book. So many people – so many potential victims. 😊

As Frances and George enjoy their time together, Frances is approached by a frenemy, Alicia Stoke-Whitey, who seeks Frances’s assistance in investigating Carlson Deaver, who is trying to court her daughter. At the same time, George is approached by Inspector Daniel Cadieux, from the Sûreté, to assist them in following up on new leads in an old murder case. Are the cases related – you bet! 😊 The new clue is to the year-old murder of Isabelle Deaver, wife of Carlson Deaver – and the person who provided the clue is none other than the famous actress, Sarah Bernhardt.

The mystery is excellently done with twists, turns, and red herrings galore. While we are all down a rabbit hole with several clues, another murder happens. Can that one be related to the first murder? More suspects, more clues, and Frances and George have to unravel it all – and they do it with a surprising ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the supporting characters in the book, especially the close friends and family of George and Frances. Frances’s mother was particularly enjoyable in this book and quite different from previous books. What I did not enjoy was the amount of infidelity in the book. It almost seemed as if every male character was unfaithful. It got to the point where I read a new male character’s name and started looking for where it would be mentioned that he was unfaithful. It was too much! I was waiting for George to be accused of being unfaithful. I didn’t enjoy all the infidelity, and hope it isn’t a trend. One unfaithful character (male or female) is enough for any book.

If you enjoy an excellent mystery with a set of clues that twist and turn, then set it all upside down, you will enjoy this book.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery #7
Publication Date: 6/25/24
Period: Victorian – (Paris)
Number of Pages: 300

This was yet another fun, entertaining, and exciting mystery from this author. This time, we got to visit Paris during the Exposition and it was so much fun to picture all of the excitement of the time and the marvelous things that were displayed. Oh – and while we were there, we got to solve a couple of murders.

Frances was just mentioning to George that their lives were getting a bit ho-hum when they received a missive from George’s Aunt Julia requesting him to come to Paris and investigate the death of Paul Ducasse – a renowned French artist. Though she is very secretive about her reasons, they want to help if they can – and – well – Paris.

If they thought there was little information in the missive they received, that was nothing compared to the tight-lipped Aunt Julia they met when they arrived. Julia had totally changed her mind and wanted them to leave it alone, yet she seemed nervous and out of sorts. Had she seen, heard, or learned something that made her fearful?

Almost as soon as they arrived, Aunt Julia was murdered. Surely the two murders were connected, but how and why? It seems anyone who might be a suspect had an alibi for one murder or the other. Should they back away and let Inspector Cadieux of the Sûreté investigate? Surely, they could help from the background!

Lady Julia Hazelton had been estranged from her family in England for many years. It wasn’t that there had been a disagreement, it was that Julia had secrets – deep secrets – that she wanted to keep from them. Only a couple of her relatives knew her secrets and they had kept them for her. Was her murder because of some of her secrets? There are many suspects, but none of them fit both murders. What connects them?

Oh! What tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive. This was a delightful, entertaining mystery with more suspects than you could imagine – but not so many motives. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Frances and George flit all over Paris looking for suspects and motives while unraveling clues and getting in the way of Inspector Cadieux.

If you enjoy a light and entertaining mystery with lovely characters that invite you into their lives and make you love them, then you’ll enjoy this book. I surely did! However, Aunt Julia’s death made me really sad because of the daughter she left behind and I wish there had been another way to accomplish the same plot line.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own