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Death in Paris
Series#1
BY Emilia Bernhard
Crooked Lane Books
October 9, 2018/ ISBN 978-1683317685
Mystery / Cozy / Amateur Sleuths
Reviewed
by Linda Morelli
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American
Rachel Levis, now an expat living in Paris, learns that her
past boyfriend, French financier Edgar Bowen, has drowned in
a bowl of vichyssoise. An unusual death, certainly, and Rachel
is later suspicious when she learns there was a glass of rosé
wine on his table. Edgar hated rosé and Rachel is certain
that he was not alone when he died. Determined to discover if
his death was natural, or motivated by his wealth, she enlists
her good friend Magda, with whom Rachel has solved many fictional
mysteries in the past.
When Rachel is requested to attend the reading of Edgar’s
will, she learns she is to catalog Edgar’s extensive and
rare library. Also attending the reading are Edgar’s son
David, who naturally inherits his father’s money and home,
an ex-wife, Edgar’s new girlfriend and his young assistant.
While working in the library, Rachel has the perfect opportunity
to find clues to Edgar’s death as she speaks to Fulke,
Edgar’s butler, and runs into the other characters. She
shares these clues with Magda as they discuss the possible suspects.
Soon they realize that fictional murders are not quite as dangerous
as a real one, especially when their suspects begin to die one
by one. Could Rachel and Magda be next?
I thoroughly enjoyed the slowly unraveling mystery behind Edgar
Bowen’s death, and the deep friendship between Rachel
and Magda, becoming involved bit by bit as they grow convinced
that Edgar was indeed murdered. Rachel’s husband, though
not that prevalent in the story, is a charmer who sticks to
his guns, yet helps Rachel and Magda when and where he can.
The book spends much time with Rachel and Magda discussing the
various clues and, in so doing, drew me in and kept me hooked.
A great first release by an outstanding and talented new author.
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