| Title | : | An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #7) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1496745116 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781496745118 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published June 25, 2024 |
Frances and her husband, George, have two points of interest in Paris. One is an impromptu holiday to visit the Paris Exposition. The other is personal. George’s Aunt Julia has requested her nephew’s help in looking into the suspicious death of renowned artist Paul Ducasse. Though Julia is not entirely forthcoming about her reasons, she is clearly a woman mourning a lost love.
At the exposition, swarming with tourists, tragedy casts a pall on the festivities. A footbridge collapses. Julia is among the casualties. However, she was not just another fateful victim. Julia was stabbed to death amid the chaos. With an official investigation at a standstill, George and Frances realize that to solve the case they must dig into Julia’s life—as well as Paul’s—and question everything and everyone in Julia’s coterie of artists and secrets.
They have no shortage of suspects. There is Paul’s inscrutable widow, Gabrielle. Paul’s art dealer and manager, Lucien. Julia’s friend Martine, a sculptress with a jealous streak. And art jurist, Monsieur Beaufoy. The investigation takes a turn when it’s revealed that George has inherited control of Julia’s estate—and another of her secrets. While George investigates, Frances safeguards their new legacy, and is drawn further into danger by a killer determined to keep the past buried.
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #7) Reviews
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Another fun, and fast paced mystery!
As usual, I love spending time with Frances and George, and in this book they are detecting in my favourite city ever, Paris!
This was a solid, fast paced mystery that had me guessing the whole way through, but the usual thing I love about this series seemed to be missing a bit in this one. It felt like drinking a watered down version of my favourite beverage. I can taste the thing I like about it but it’s not full strength.
I think I can pin point it down to the lack of time that George and Frances spent together. Most of the investigating was done separately, and we only got a few cute scenes of them working together. Much of the action happened with them separately and their time spent together was recapping what they had learned and told to the reader as ‘I explained to George what I had uncovered’.
But I still give this four stars because it was twisty and engaging. I just missed the George and Frances magic.
Thanks again to Dab who’s buddy reading this series with me. I totally stole the word magic from her to describe what was missing here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington publishing for the early copy.
********************
Arc received! Wheeeee!
Dab we better be buddy reading this.
ARC still pending on NetGalley as of Feb 25. 😭 -
Happy Publication Day!
Frances and George did it again!
George's aunt Julia asked for his help in investigating a secret matter (surprise, surprise, it's a murder), so Frances and George head to Paris to solve their next case.
I love this series and these two. George is an adorable cinnamon roll and I always melt when he calls Frances "my love".
It was an entertaining read and I enjoyed buddy reading it with my favorite detective Kristina.
The mystery was very well done, which is the standard in this series. There was a lot going on and I didn't solve the puzzle until the end (I guessed some things right!).
This series keeps reminding me of playing Cluedo/Clue; the setting is fairly similar and so is the fun. The characters are never overly emotional, even if the victim is someone they knew very well. It's all about solving the puzzle. The dynamic between Frances and George is a very appreciated bonus.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date Jun 25 2024 -
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #7) by Dianne Freeman
Synopsis /
Frances and her husband, George, have two points of interest in Paris. One is an impromptu holiday to visit the Paris Exposition. The other is personal. George’s Aunt Julia has requested her nephew’s help in looking into the suspicious death of renowned artist Paul Ducasse. Though Julia is not entirely forthcoming about her reasons, she is clearly a woman mourning a lost love.
At the exposition, swarming with tourists, tragedy casts a pall on the festivities. A footbridge collapses. Julia is among the casualties. However, she was not just another fateful victim. Julia was stabbed to death amid the chaos. With an official investigation at a standstill, George and Frances realize that to solve the case they must dig into Julia’s life—as well as Paul’s—and question everything and everyone in Julia’s coterie of artists and secrets.
They have no shortage of suspects. There is Paul’s inscrutable widow, Gabrielle. Paul’s art dealer and manager, Lucien. Julia’s friend Martine, a sculptress with a jealous streak. And art jurist, Monsieur Beaufoy. The investigation takes a turn when it’s revealed that George has inherited control of Julia’s estate—and another of her secrets. While George investigates, Frances safeguards their new legacy, and is drawn further into danger by a killer determined to keep the past buried.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publisher Kensington Books, and author Dianne Freeman, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for June 25, 2024.
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder is the seventh book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Drawn to the title, I went back and scoured my 'have read' list to see whether I'd read any of this series previously, which revealed - Book #1,
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder - ✅.
Quickly refamiliarizing myself with the start of the series - American-born Frances Wynn, the Countess of Harleigh has just ended the mandated period of mourning for her late husband, Reggie. To gain some independence from her late husband's family, Frances decides to relocate herself and her young daughter, Rose, away from her late husband's family estate in the country, to a house in Belgravia.
Fast forward to July 1900, and we are into book #7 of the series, and there has obviously been a bit going on. For a start, our heroine is now Frances Hazelton. Interestingly, her new husband, George Hazelton, happened to be her neighbour in book #1, and one of only a very few who knew the full story about her late husband's death. Settling into married life as newly-weds the pair are living in their town-home in Belgravia with Frances' eight-year-old daughter, Rose.
George has received a letter from his aunt who lives in Paris. In the letter, George's Aunt Julia has hinted that she might need his assistance. She's looking into the death of an old friend, an artist by the name of Paul Ducasse. It would mean travelling to Paris. Frances hinted to George that while he is tied up doing business with his aunt, she meanwhile could explore the sights and sounds of the Paris Exposition. A world's fair, held in Paris, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next. Frances, for one, was keen to attend such a highly celebrated and hugely successful international exhibition. That settled, the Hazeltons are now Paris bound!
Arriving in Paris it seems that Aunt Julia has done an about face and has decided that she no longer needs George's assistance. When questioned why, Julia is quite secretive about her reasons and George is certain she's hiding something. Frances and George take Julia on an outing to spend the day at the Exposition, but it was this day that a bridge chose to collapse. There were many people who sustained serious injuries because of the collapse. Aunt Julia was also injured and died on scene.
Aunt Julia's injuries were not consistent with having been caused by the bridge collapse, and both George and Frances are concerned that someone had deliberately killed her and made her death appear as part of a freak accident. As both George and Frances start to investigate, they will need to work with Inspector Cadieux of the French Police to ultimately solve not one mystery, but two. Who killed George's Aunt and, whatever happened to Paul Ducasse?
I found this to be quite a complicated story, more so than the first book. There is a long list of suspects who might have wanted Ducasse dead (all those years before) and the same list of suspects could well be said to have reasons for wanting Julia dead as well. I had first thought to categorise this as a cosy, but really, it's a much more intricate and complex mystery, that has at times seemingly confusingly interrelated parts. I guess what I'm saying is - it's more of a historical mystery, and once I had decided that I could settle my thoughts into a more logical order.
This was an interesting and well plotted story that incorporated themes of art and the history of art in France, fraud, family ties, and, of course, murder. Our MCs are engaging, likeable characters and both play of each other to successfully solve this mystery. I enjoyed the inclusion of real events, like the Paris Exposition and the Paris art world theme was also particularly interesting.
I really must go back and read the titles I've missed.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to publisher, Kensington Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
#AnArtLoversGuidetoParisandMurder #NetGalley -
This is my first book in the highly regarded Countess of Harleigh Victorian histfic series, and while it works perfectly as a standalone, I now want to circle back and read the entire series! Set in France during the Paris Expedition, the story of murder in the art world grabbed my attention from the start. Recommended!
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Fran and George are happily married and settled into a routine in London. And that seems to be a problem! They never did get a honeymoon and haven't had a case in months. When George receives a mysterious letter from France, Fran decides a visit to Paris and the Exposition Universelle is just the thing to liven up their lives! George knows Fran well enough to know she has an ulterior motive but he insists she can not get involved in this mystery because it's private and personal. His Aunt Julia, a spinster artist residing in France, has asked George to look into the murder of her friend and fellow artist Paul Ducasse. When they arrive in France, George and Fran run into Alicia Stoke-Whitney and her newest "friend", art dealer Lucien Allard who invite the newlyweds to a celebration of Paul Ducasse's art and life. George is shocked to discover his Aunt Julia in one of the paintings, clearly in love with the artist. When he tries to ask Julia about it, she says it was long ago and refuses to even speak of his death or where/how to begin the investigation. Then later she changes her mind, becomes cagey after a break-in at her studio and refuses to acknowledge her prior belief that Paul Ducasse was murdered. Unfortunately, tragedy befalls Aunt Julia Hazleton at the Exposition when a pedestrian bridge collapses. George is obviously very upset but more so when the police suspect him of murdering his own aunt! George and Fran decide to launch an investigation of their own. Their search takes them to the country where they meet Julia's secret and discover more about her life. Certainly her death must have been related to Paul Ducasse's murder and now there are others who might be in danger. It's up to George and Fran to figure out the connection before anyone else gets killed.
This mystery was thrilling. I couldn't put it down! I guessed some of the secrets pretty quickly but know George didn't because he's a man and men were clueless about certain things and the social cues women give off when they're hiding a BIG secret (like a 9 months long secret). Also because he's a man, he misjudges the timing of the secret, relying only on the timeframe in which he was brought into the picture. It's HIGHLY unlikely the secret is that young. Fran gets it right of course. I liked the details about the art world in Paris (cue Moulin Rouge) and like Fran I was giddy with excitement to visit the Moulin de la Galette! I started squealing when I "saw" the windmill. I knew where they were in Montmatre and hoped they'd run into some absinthe drinking impressionists. (I loved
Luncheon of the Boating Party so much, I feel like I know the painter and his friends). So... no George, Renoir is not the OWNER but the PAINTER! I recognized the name of the restaurant right away. See George!
https://artsandculture.google.com/ass...
Now where on earth did Fran see this painting? Maybe the smaller version? Or on another trip to Paris? Details matter when you're writing about a real painting, no matter how minor the plot point. That was a bit of a downside to this novel. The historical details were imparted with knowledge from the characters and not seamlessly woven into the story. (Psst! Dianne Freeman- if you know nothing about France, ask a French teacher or European history teacher. I had both and know quite a LOT about France!) There also wasn't enough of the Exposition! The story sounds like it will be set there but there's not much there. I enjoyed the "moving sidewalk" scene though. That was weird but fun. The one major thing I did not enjoy about this story is that it lacked swoony George. There wasn't enough relationship and the couple don't spend a lot of time sleuthing together. They split up and then come together to recap what they learned. We follow Fran around and get George's side of the story later. I want more swoony couple scenes! There is one but it's off page.
Poor George gets a crash course in strong, independent females in this novel. He doesn't stand a chance LOL! Not only does Fran crash his investigation, Aunt Julia is even more independent and strong than Fran has been. While Fran is happy to have George take the burden off her shoulders sometimes, Julia didn't have that. She didn't WANT that! Like Fran, she wanted an equal partner who would see her and love her for her own sake. When that didn't happen, she was determined to be as independent and alone as possible. She accepted help on the farm and let someone run the parfumier but mostly she was secretive in order to remain independent. I totally understand why she would be that way. She didn't trust anyone and I'm not sure her family would have been as accepting as Fran thinks they would be. George and Fiona, yes, but the stuffy oldest brother? Well, he did give her her inheritance and let her do what she chose with it but she was already old by then so he probably never thought about what she was doing with her money or that she might have had a past.
Aunt Julia is my hero. She lived her life on her own terms and didn't let any adversity or setbacks get in the way of doing what she wanted. She didn't trust easily but was fiercely devoted to those she did trust. She must have been lovely and lively in her youth but in her late 30s, she's a bit more worn down and cautious. At least she got to meet Fran as an older adult and see how Fran is now. FRAN? MEEK? HA HA HA! At 17, yes she was but not anymore. Aunt Julia recognizes Fran is good for George because he is spoiled and has always gotten his own way. (George agrees! He loves Fran and wants to please her). Julia was not so lucky. Years ago she loved and trusted Paul Ducasse. The man sounds like a scoundrel. He broke her heart and she cautiously guarded it ever since. Paul was an aristo and spoiled. George is not the one always getting his own way! George is lovely but Paul was not. Paul was a narcissist and although those closest to him claim he didn't have any enemies, he clearly did. He had a lot actually. He made enemies out of just about everyone he interacted with, especially the women. In fact Aunt Julia seems like she would be the primary suspect! I know she's not the murderer, obviously. The murderer killed Julia because he or she thinks Julia could identify them.
George also gets a crash course in daughters! He's become a doting stepfather to little Rose but apparently she isn't fully integrated into his life yet. She's still little. Lissette, on the other hand, is a teenager and saints preserve us from teenage girls! Especially stubborn, independent, strong-willed teenage girls. Brace yourself George because I think Rose is going to be just like her mother! Fran is young enough to have more children too... better hope for boys! Rose would adore having Lissette live with her but that may not be a wise idea. Rose is already stubborn and independent at 8! She doesn't need to learn moody teenage behavior and teenage tricks for avoiding adult authority. Fran is a little more experienced, having been a teenage girl and a mother and chaperone to teen girls coming out to Society. Her sister was a real handful! Lottie was easy and Alicia's daughter wasn't bad either but Lily... hoo boy! She got what she wanted and she's happily settled now but good luck to her in about 14 years!
Even though Fran is experienced, she doesn't quite know how to deal with Lissette, a girl who is grieving. Lissette is sheltered and naïve in many ways. She's been to Paris and met the artists but she doesn't quite understand the social rules and why she needs to stay with George and Fran. I get why Lissette is reluctant to trust them but not why she hates Fran right away. She's so rude. Why on earth didn't Julia tell her about George? She had enough time to share the news Paul had been murdered so I think she would have had enough time to say "If anything happens to me, my nephew George will come and look into things and help you out. You can trust him." Lissette may be egged on by Christine. Christine is older and a little wiser but also stubborn and independent. She's more companion than governess, being close in age to Lisette. I think I know who she is and I suspect she's the murderer. She has every reason to hate Paul but I'm not sure why she'd kill Julia now unless it was to cover up Paul's murder. That must be it because she doesn't have good reason to hate Julia while Julia is alive. Julia has been good to Christine but on paper, Julia reveals her background as a nobleman's daughter by omitting Christine from her will. I would say if the will had been done long ago, it was oversight and not having awareness of the future but it was only done up two years ago when George last saw his aunt. Good thing Fran is paying attention because she's the one who figures out what I realized about Christine and what to do.
Lucien Allard was Paul Ducasse's friend and business partner. He's the one who arranged a tribute to Paul's life and did NOT invite Paul's friends, only wealthy Society people who will preview Paul's paintings with an eye to purchasing them later. He may be Alicia Stoke-Whitney's latest paramour which says a lot about his character! I don't trust him. He seems a little slimy to me. Allard is making money off his friend's death which is not right. I don't know if he's the murderer. He is the first new character introduced but then he's dropped from the story for a time so maybe not. I think the murderer is Gabrielle Ducasse! It's always the spouse. She seems ... like a piece of work. She's quick to cozy up to Lisette after Julia's death and to try to befriend the girl. She seems insincere but her reaction to the shock of learning more details about Paul's death seems genuine. She's up to something for sure and I think it's financially motivated. She seems like another Alicia to me. Gabrielle and Paul probably deserved each other. She's the only one of his women I don't feel bad for.
There's an outside chance Paul was murdered by one of his artist friends. Besides Julia, he shared a studio with Edouard Legrand and Matine. Edouard is a painter who has not seen much success. He seems jealous of Renoir and even Paul. He's temperamental (very Gallic) and always arguing with Matine. The two were spotted together near the spot at the Exposition where Julia died. Hmm? Edouard admired Julia very much but she wouldn't give him the time of day. Not as a lover and barely as a friend. She was too independent to rely on an impoverished, bohemian painter. At least Paul was only PLAYING at being bohemian and had family money. Edouard seems to be the real deal. He'd fit right in with the cast of characters in Moulin Rogue. Martine is moody. She's in love with Edouard who doesn't love her back. She was jealous of Julia and perhaps killed Julia out of jealousy. One last suspect is Beaufoy, an art jurist for the Salon. He once rejected Paul's work and Paul threatened Beaufoy. Beaufoy is charming enough to Fran and George but ruthless to those he doesn't care for. He claims he didn't kill Paul, that rejection was long ago and a matter of practicality and not personal. I'm not sure I like Beaufoy but I don't think he's the murderer.
Julia was lucky to have neighbors like Suzanne Dupont and Denis Vernier. Suzanne is a loving mother who allows her sons freedom to roam but also provides them with chores to keep them from being too wild. Denis runs the farm and they're willing to do anything to help their neighbors.
Inspector Cadieux seems very properly French. The French police are always portrayed as tough and suspicious of British travelers but the inspectors always seem to have a spark of a sense of humor and superiority over the British. Inspector Cadieux is tough but fair. He has to rule out George as a suspect as a matter of form. He doesn't know George. It doesn't seem like he really thinks George is a suspect though especially if Julia's death was a result of Ducasse being murdered. George and Fran weren't in the country when Ducasse was killed.
Fran and George's servants, Blakley and Bridget, are along for the trip. Blakley is oh so stuffy and proper but I think Bridget is about to quit. Poor Bridget! Fran can't keep her clothes clean or in one piece. Poor Bridget has to carry the bags, travel alone to the flat, unpack, dress/undress Fran, wash and mend Fran's clothes when they get ruined! I would quit for a much more calm woman who didn't go dashing about getting involved in murders!
I enjoyed this book very much but I want more of Fran and George sleuthing together and being swoony! -
Was the artist murdered? What were Julia’s secrets? The Paris art world and Paris World’s Fair become the setting for Frances and George’s latest case. Dianne Freeman does a bang up job at setting the historical scene, writing a good twisting mystery and providing a pair of delightful amateur sleuths.
An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder is the seventh in the Countess of Harleigh series of connected, but standalone historical cozy mysteries.
Set during the late Victorian period in July 1900, the pair are hoping to catch a break and get that honeymoon they missed due to the last murder dropping in their laps.
But alas, George and Frances are not surprised when George’s Aunt Julia contacts him to investigate artist Paul Ducasse’s death which she believed was murder. Then, when they get there, she has changed her mind. Not long after, her own death is staged to look like an accident when a bridge collapses. George and Frances find the timing too pat and realize soon enough that they must dig into the past for answers to these deaths.
I’ve only read one of the earlier books, but I was anticipating their sparkling dialogue and fun partnership which creates a light, entertaining tone, but also the amazing detail of the Victorian time period in backdrop, manners, social activities, historical events like the World’s Fair, period art styles and the dialogue, I mentioned earlier. All of that comes together with a murder mystery to form a deliciously layered story.
This was a twisting one and I had no idea who was behind it all. There were people in both Paul and Julia’s pasts right there in Paris who had motive. Oh, and a not so fun blast from Frances’ past when it comes to one of her late husband’s infidelities is one of the cast. More than one secret had to be teased into the light and the danger isn’t over with Julia’s death and, yes, though this is Paris and a new police detective, Inspector Cadieux isn’t any more desirous of amateurs like Frances mucking about in his case than the London police. I suspect that a few of the characters will make their regular appearance in the series now.
And, so, another delightful delve into the Countess of Harleigh series. I said when I read book five that I needed to go back and get it from the beginning. This time I mean to do it. Whether hardcore historical mystery fans or those who like the lighter side with cozies, this one sits somewhere in the middle and I can highly recommend the book and series.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley and finished copy via Kensington to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 7.7.24 for the Austenprose tour. -
An Art Lovers Guide To Paris and Murder is the seventh book in the A Countess Of Harleigh Mystery series by Dianne Freeman.
It’s July 1900, and Francis has suggested that since they didn’t have a honeymoon, they should travel to Paris and visit the World Exposition. George has just received a letter from his Aunt Julia asking him to come to Paris for a private conversation. Francis and George pack and head for Paris. When George learns from Aunt Julia that she was going to ask him to investigate the death of her ex-lover and an artist, Ducasse, his death has been ruled as an accidental drowning, but she feels it was murder. But Aunt Julia has changed her mind. Then, the next day, George witnessed what turned out to be the murder of Aunt Julia. Further enjoyment of the World Exposition will have to wait until Francis and George learn who killed Aunt Julia and determine if Ducasse died from accidental drowning or was murdered.
I love this series. The series is well-written, well-plotted, and historically accurate. The characters are well-developed, enjoyable, and are very believable. There were enough twists and turns that I kept guessing about the killer's identity until the end of the book.
I’m looking forward to the next book in this beautiful series. -
City of Light, mystery, and death!
Well this was a most enjoyable read! Paris of the 1900 with the Exposition Universelle and artists in Montmarre! How exciting! It just so happens that George Hazelton’s aunt Julie, who’s apparently been living in Paris for years, painting and making perfumes gets in touch with him. She wants to make provision for her daughter whom none of the family knew about.
Then George receives a letter from Julie thinking someone murdered her dead lover (of years ago).
George’s wife, the Countess Frances, has been wanting to visit Paris, taking their daughter Rose. A perfect opportunity until they’re all embroiled in murderous undertakings.
I really enjoyed the metaphorical walk around Paris of these times pursuing lines of inquiry that lead to deception and intrigue.
A Kensington Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. -
I love a good cozy mystery, and this one was especially good! It was fun, well written, and an absolute delight!
The story takes you to the Paris Exposition where Frances and her husband George are looking into a suspicious death. I loved the setting and felt as if I was right there with them. I loved the inclusion of art and art history in France!
Frances and George were perfect together and such fabulous characters. They made this book a standout for me.
The mystery was well plotted, and kept me guessing and turning the pages. Along with the clever mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful humor and wit, and the sweet romance between Frances and George.
If you like cozy mysteries, family secrets, excellently drawn characters, Parisian settings, and historical fiction, I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Dianne Freeman, Kensington Books, and Austenprose PR for a gifted copy! -
It is highly unusual for me to dislike a Dianne Freeman novel. I have been reading this series from the outset. However, this one didn’t work for me at all. The writing remains good as always but the plot and character development felt off. A close family member is killed so the story is tainted with grief (not very cosy) but the characters don’t respond to the losses in the way one would expect. The mystery trips itself up at the outset with an absence of trust getting them into more of a predicament than they started in. The resolution is predictable and unsatisfactory and the outlook for the next step in the characters’ journies implausible.
For the love of the series and the writing itself, it's a three out of five on the enjoyment scale but I will be cautious in picking up the next book. -
2 stars
To say this is not a 4 stars book it's an understatement. Boring, dragged, long..... -
Another gem from Dianne Freeman!
I don't know if I will ever tire of this series. This story felt like it was a winding road and I could never get a breath to figure out who the killer was - but I say that in a good way. No spoilers, but I was half-way right with my guess.
Already looking forward to what awaits Francis next!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own. -
I have read all the books in this series and I loved this one the best. I would give it more than 5 * if I could. As usual the characters were well written and the mystery flowed well. The twists and turns kept me guessing till the end with a few surprises along the way. The description of Paris and the Exposition made it a more delightful read than books set in London. You could feel the excitement. It can be read as a standalone but once you have read it, you will want to go back and do a catch up read. I now look forward to their next adventure and see where this storyline leads. I received this as an ARC and freely give my review.
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I really enjoyed this latest entry in the Contess of Harleigh historical mystery series. In this entry, Frances and her new husband George are off to Paris at the request of George's Aunt Julia, who suspects one of her friends -- an artist -- may have been murdered. Things don't go to plan and Frances and George are soon embroiled in another murder, as well as some family secrets.
I enjoyed the setting of this book, revolving around the Paris World's Fair and the artistic community. The primary mystery was interesting, as were some new characters I suspect we'll see more of in the future. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book in the series. -
I absolutely adore this series. Frances and George are finally taking their wedding trip to Paris, but it gets all turned around when George's secretive aunt, who had wanted him to investigate some mysterious matter, suddenly changes her mind - and is then murdered.
This was a great installment in this series. Hijinks and mystery, it's fun and funny and I loved it. Thanks to netgalley and the author for the e-ARC. -
“‘I may have been a bit hasty. Routine isn’t all that bad. In truth, as long as we’re together, and people aren’t trying to kill is, c’est la bonne vie.’”
This is such a great palate cleanser book! You know the kind you need when you are either coming off a book hangover or a string of books you weren’t that into? I spread this book out over a week and loved my time with the characters as they were solving the mystery. This isn’t exactly cozy mystery because there is some murder on the page, but it feels like a cozy mystery given the setting and characters. It gave me Devil in the White City vibes because of the world fair/Paris Exhibition setting.
This is the fourth in the series and while I could tell there were some mentions alluding back to previous books in the series, I don’t feel like anything was ruined for the prior books and those books weren’t required to be able to know what was going on with the characters in this one.
Reading:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
Cozy mysteries
The Devil in the White City
Paris settings
Art -
First of all, I wish I had known about this series earlier! I absolutely loved the characters. Frances is a favorite. I need to get the rest of the books as soon as possible.
(That being said, the author does a great job with character development and catching the reader up on previous important details. This is book 7.)
I love cozy historical mysteries and this book was so good. So many twists and turns and surprising events. As mentioned, Frances is such a great character. I loved her wit and charm. George too is great. Every character was written well and I adored Fiona. (As well as other characters I don’t want to say, just in case!)
The author does an expert job of planting seeds that had me turning pages fast and making my own assumptions. All the while, enjoying a very pleasant, cozy historical mystery. I hope the author will write more books in this series but I have more to enjoy by starting at the beginning of the series.
I received a copy from the publisher for tour purposes. -
Thank you to @austenprose @kensingtonbooks @diannefreemanwrites for my spot on the Virtual Book Tour for An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman! I appreciate this lovely copy of the book.
This was an enjoyable historical mystery set in Paris during the 1900 Paris Exposition. I haven’t read other books in the series, but I had no problem jumping in with the characters. Frances and George were likable and their mutual respect made them a great married and sleuthing team. I liked seeing different spots in Paris and getting a glimpse into the art world. The plot moves along well, full of secrets revealed and suspicious characters. I recommend this book if you are looking for a charming story that’s fun but not stressful to read! -
[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.
Great addition to this fun series. I love how George and Frances work together on the investigation and their high regard for one another. Super satisfying mystery in a great new setting for the series. Newcomers to the series should read these in order to get the most out of the relationship between George and Frances. -
Eighth in the series but I haven’t read any of the others and got caught up quickly enough. Frances is assertive but charming and George is just the best golden retriever, and they work well together. I loved the Paris setting and impressionist art scene details, although the Lisette character being unlikable for most of the book made it a little hard at times. A well-paced cozy mystery that hits all the beats and even made me want to go back and start the series from the beginning.
I received an arc from NetGalley -
I just love this series. Frances and George are just so adorable. This time they are off to France in response to a request from Aunt Julia to solve a murder. It is the time of the Paris exposition and some historical figures and accidents appear. I accidentally came upon this series and look forward to each book.
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rate: 3.5/5 stars
these books always feel like the cozy hallmark mystery movies you put on and drink hot cocoa during.
sadly though im also starting to feel that series fatigue lol - hoping the next book will shake that off for me. -
3.75 stars
Another romp and adventure in the Countess of Harleigh historical mystery series. Frances and her husband George head to Paris for the exposition and so George can investigate a suspicious death for his Aunt Julia. But she quickly changes her mind and they discover the victim was an old lover of Julia's - and the mother of her teenage daughter (a surprise to the family).
But before they can resolve the disagreement, Julia is also killed. Frances and George try to navigate the craziness of Paris during the exposition and the acquisition of a new family member. But Julia's daughter wants little to do with them and is rebellious to the extreme.
These mysteries are great fun. Some humor and banter among the lead characters is entertaining. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman is the seventh, yes seventh in the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries and my first foray into the adventures of Frances Wynn, the American born Countess of Harleigh and her husband George.
This couple's dynamic intrigued me and I was keen to get into it to see if American Victorian sensibilities would play out differently than I am accustomed to in the cozy's I have read to date and especially as this adventure takes part in Paris, during the Paris Exposition
There is no shortage of drama abound in this mystery! George's aunt has invited the couple to Paris due to a suspicious death of her friend, the artist Paul DuCasse, however, on a visit to the Exposition with Aunt Julia, a bridge collapses, injuring many and resulting in Aunt Julia being unalived by a pointy thing! So much chaos inflicted upon one couple in a jaunt to Paris!
Despite the drama, this is a really fun cozy to read. Fantastic dialogue, a great storyline and characters that are a delight to follow
Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books | Kensington and the author Dianne Freeman for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own -
Frances and George are a nice couple, but I would say I can stop here for now with their series. By now as detective stories they are not even particularly interesting and the story between the two of them is already "over." It was nice while it lasted.
Frances e George sono una bella coppia, ma direi che per ora posso fermarmi qui con la loro serie. Ormai come gialli non sono nemmeno particolarmente interessanti e la storia tra loro due é giá "conclusa". È stato bello finché e durata.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review. -
An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder is the 7th book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series by Dianne Freeman. You know which book of this historical mystery series I started with? If you've read any of my previous reviews, you'll know the answer to that question...this book! Luckily this installment stood alone perfectly, so I wasn't confused at all. I am extremely thankful that I previously bought the prior books and/or audiobooks, so now I have more awesome stories to catch up on!
Frances Hazelton (American-born, previously the Countess of Harleigh) and her new husband George Hazelton have traveled to France for two reasons. The first is an impromptu visit to the 1900 Paris Exposition. The other is more personal - George's Aunt Julia wants him to investigate the suspicious death of French artist Paul Ducasse. Though Julia isn't sharing her reasons, the Hazeltons believe she is mourning a man she loved. While visiting the Exposition, a horrible tragedy occurs. When a heavily trafficked footbridge collapses, Julia is one of those killed. But it turns out she didn't die as a result of the accident; rather, she was stabbed to death! Frances and George realize to solve the case they must delve into both Julia's and Paul's lives to see if the murders are related. There are more than enough suspects, including Paul's wife Gabrielle and Paul's manager and art dealer, Lucien. Julia's friend Martine, a sculptress with a jealous streak and art jurist Monsieur Beaufoy are also possible suspects. The investigation takes a whole new turn when George discovers he has inherited control of his Aunt's estate...and another of her secrets. George investigates while Frances guards their new secret. Will their own lives be in danger by a killer determined to bury their secrets?
This was one heck of a good mystery! Red herrings were flopping around all over the place! Just when you think you've solved one piece of the puzzle, you'll find out there's another piece missing. When Frances and George arrive at Aunt Julia's, she's reluctant to discuss Paul's death, but why? She asked them to come and investigate! They determine that she must have become scared; was she possibly threatened? And then she's murdered, and Frances and George figure they are probably onto something. When that something is revealed, however, you will no doubt be shocked, as I was! And there is where I won't discuss the story any further; I refuse to reveal any spoilers that will ruin the tale for anyone, as I hate when that happens to me! I will instead discuss our leads, Frances and George. I absolutely adored them both, and they were what I enjoyed most about the book. I really don't know much about their shared history, as I haven't read the previous books yet. I did gather that they started out as neighbors, and Frances was previously married to an awful (and now deceased) man. She and George have married very recently, and it's obvious they are very much in love. They often tease each other, always in a playful - and never mean - manner. They're both sweet and funny. George isn't threatened by a wife who is becoming a very good investigator. When he calls Frances "my love", I simply melt! I admire Frances for not being a shrinking violet; it's apparent she didn't have a sheltered early life. Aunt Julia was a interesting character; unfortunately we didn't really learn that until she was dead! The murder suspects were entertaining, and they kept me guessing. My favorite supporting character, however, was George's sister Fiona. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better. I'm really looking forward to the Hazeltons' next adventure...and reading about their six previous ones!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
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Frances and George Hazelton arrive in France after George's Aunt Julia requests their help. She thinks her friend, the famous Parisian artist Paul Ducasse has been murdered. Before she can give them any information, Aunt Julia is also murdered.
This book didn't work for me, which is depressing because I wasn't a fan of the last book in this series either.
Julia's murder felt like too much of a coincidence. I'm not going to hide this using spoiler tags since how, when, and where she was murdered is explained in the book summary. There was a bridge collapse, which was based on a real-life incident, and Julia's murderer took advantage of the chaos to stab her to death. It raises the question if the murderer was just skulking around waiting for Julia to be in a secluded spot so they could kill her despite George and Frances accompanying her, or did they somehow know the bridge was going to collapse and use it as a cover. The former seems more likely, but it still seemed ridiculous to me.
I also wasn't a fan of Julia herself. Like the previous book, I took issue with characters being overly secretive to the point where it was detrimental to their goals. Even if Julia and the other characters had reason to hide things, or feared for their life, it was still annoying because it felt like they were withholding information to drag out the story. To be frank, Aunt Julia reminds me of a real-life relative I have who's so guarded and secretive that they take offense when family members ask them how their day is going. I just pitied Julia so much because she truly didn't have to live the way that she did .
Because of Julia's secrets, it led to characters like Lisette and Christine . I didn't like these characters because, like Julia, they would just hide secrets and run off to do impulsive things. It was rationalized in the book that they didn't trust Frances and George because, aside from being teenagers, Julia was just murdered and they didn't know who to trust, but it still wasn't a good enough reason for me. What bothers me more is that they'll permanently be part of this series because George has legally become their guardian after Julia's death.
So what happened?
To be honest, the only thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the change of scenery and the suspects/red herrings, which included an art critic, fellow artists in the community, and the murder victim's handlers.
After this book, I have (sadly) disliked more books in this series than liked.
In order of best to worst, I'd have to list it like so:
Book 3: A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder - 5 stars
Book 2: A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder - 4 stars
Book 5: A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder - 3 stars
(This is where I start to have problems with the series...)
Book 1: A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder - 3 stars
Book 4: A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder - 2 stars
The bottom 2 are TIED for last place
Book 6: A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder - 2 stars
Book 7: An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder - 2 stars -
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 -
Another delightful, engaging mystery in the Countess of Harleigh series! In this book, the dynamic sleuthing team of Frances & George are off to Paris for the Exposition & to help George’s Aunt Julia. Fearing their lives have become a little mundane, they’re hoping the excitement of Paris will cure their doldrums. Soon their enjoyable trip turns into a convoluted murder investigation with not one but two victims. As the suspects mount, Frances and George must work together to solve the murders before another victim is claimed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this complicated mystery. There were a whole slew of suspects with different motivations. George’s Aunt Julia wanted him to come to Paris to investigate the murder of her lover and famous painter Paul Ducasse. But, when he arrives, his aunt seems to have changed her mind. While George’s investigating the murder, a freak accident occurs at the Paris Exhibition and Julia winds up dead. But, is it an accident or murder?
In addition, Julia left behind a teenage daughter Lissette, whose existence was kept secret from the family. She’s anything but cooperative, especially when she finds out George and Frances are her new guardians. As Julia’s heir, Lissette’s life is in danger too. Full of twists and turns, this mystery definitely kept me on my toes as I tried to piece together all the clues.
I loved the Paris setting and the art and history the author incorporated into the story. As with previous mysteries, there was the lovely humor, wit, and romance this adorable investigative couple always brings. I loved all the moments when George and Frances worked together, but would have loved even more interactions between them. I enjoyed seeing George’s sister Fiona and having her involved in the investigation. There’s also a French Inspector as well as some eccentric artists who provide some humorous situations.
All in all another fun whodunit in the series! Highly recommend to historical & cozy mystery fans. Already looking forward to the next book. While this is the seventh book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, however, I definitely recommend reading the previous books. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars! -
Take a trip down memory lane in the summer of July 1900 in Paris, France where the World Fair is thriving and people are coming to the city from all over the world to see the sights. Frances and her husband George, are a married duo of private investigators, that have been invited to Paris by George’s Aunt on important business. Aunt Julia’s long time friend, and past lover, Paul Ducasse is dead and she believes foul play.
But not long after they arrive does a tragedy befall Julia as well. Most likely for bringing the couple there in the first place to investigate what was supposed to look like an accident for Paul Ducasse. But the investigation must continue and the police don’t have much to go on, so Frances and George must pick up the reins and sift through all the possible suspects to figure it out.
But nothing pans out the way the team expected and they find themselves embroiled in the artist lifestyle of Paris attempting to piece together the events.
What I loved most about this cozy mystery, was the witty banter and relaxed relationship between the adorably married Frances and George. While they haven’t been married all that long, according to the story, they have a chemistry together that is comforting and makes the rest of the story so enjoyable. Around them, is the unfolding of personal dynamics about George’s Aunt Julia and the life she’s lived, as well as the lifestyle of artists in Paris, France during this time.
It was well done – mashing together a story that highlights and focuses on art and those that aspire to the lifestyle of artist, as well as on the investigative nature of trying to solve two different murders. Plus, you get the added historical fan fare of envisioning the World Fair in all its glory in the year 1900.
A delightful cozy mystery that had me giggling at the dialog between Frances and her husband George, as well as embroiled in trying to figure out whodunnit in this classical depiction of Paris.
