American Scarlett Parker and her
British cousin, London milliner Vivian Tremont, travel to
Paris so Viv can teach a week-long hat-making class and Scarlett
can help locate Viv’s estranged husband, William Graham.
They were married for only two weeks, and the last Viv heard,
William is an insurance investigator now living in Paris.
Scarlett locates William, a charmer who works with priceless
works of art, the latest being a long-lost Renoir. Scarlett
is determined that Viv meet with William to ask for an annulment,
but almost immediately after that meeting, William is kidnapped,
and Viv and Scarlett are stranded on a dark street in Paris.
Scarlett calls their business manager, Harrison Wentworth,
who comes to their aid. He agrees to help locate Viv’s
missing husband, and the Renoir painting that is once again
missing.
I loved this book from the first page to the last. Scarlett’s
narrative sparkles with wit, charm and delightful humor. The
author’s characterizations are sensitive and revealing,
and not limited to the main characters. For instance, Suzette
Leclaire owns the apartment complex where Scarlett and Viv
stay, and is so caring and beautifully rendered that she is
someone I would love to meet. Paris itself comes alive under
Ms. McKinlay’s descriptions. Having visited there many
times, I can say she has painted a vivid picture of the City
of Light. I could almost smell the boulangeries and feel myself
once again walking down the streets of Paris. The sexual tension
between Harrison and Scarlett, who has sworn off men for a
year, was a delight. I can’t wait to see where the next
release leads them.
Assault and Beret is an exciting mystery, replete
with intriguing surprises that kept me hooked from the first
to the last page…definitely an outstanding, sumptuous
read.
Reviews of other titles in this series
Cloche
and Dagger #1
Death
of a Mad Hatter #2
At
The Drop Of A Hat #3
Reviewer's Note: In addition to being the author
of the Hat Shop Mysteries, Jenn McKinlay also writes the Cupcake
Bakery Mysteries and the Library Lover’s Mysteries. |