When Chef Camille’s sister turns up dead in the kitchen, it’s up to Mimi Rousseau to tease the real killer out of a mélange of menacing charactersCrush Week in Nouvelle Vie is a madhouse—in a good way. Tourists pour into town for the pressing of the Napa Valley’s world-renowned grapes and all the town’s businesses get a nice lift, including Bistro and Maison Rousseau. Mimi is raising the ante … raising the ante this year with a Sweet Treats Festival, a wonderland of croissants, cakes, tarts, and soufflés crafted with expert care by the area’s top talents.
Chef Camille’s sister Renee is managing the festival with a cast-iron fist, upsetting everyone, including her sister. Which is bad for Camille when Renee turns up dead in the chef’s kitchen. Mimi is still building her business, so her first course of action is to whip up answers and catch the unsavory perpetrator before Camille takes a dusting and gets burned.
Fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke will want a succulent second serving of A Soufflé of Suspicion, Daryl Wood Gerber’s appetizing second French Bistro mystery.
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A Souffle of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber is the second novel in A French Bistro Mystery series. Mimi Rousseau owns Bistro and Maison Rousseau in Napa Valley. It is Crush Week and the tourists are pouring into the valley. On top of that, Maison Rousseau is hosting the Sweet Treats Festival organized by Renee Wells, Chef Camille’s sister. There are many delectable delights available for the attendees to enjoy. Mimi is relaxing at home after a long day when she receives a frantic call from Chef Camille. Mimi rushes to her house where Renee is dead on the kitchen floor from a whack on the head from the countertop mixer. Chef Camille is devastated and, unfortunately, Sgt. Tyson Daly’s prime suspect. Renee had created quite a stir lately and there is no shortage of suspects to sift through. Mimi whisks into action to whip up the suspects and deliver the guilty party to the police on a silver platter.
A Souffle of Suspicion can be read alone. The author nicely summarizes A Deadly Éclair along with the background information on Mimi. I found A Souffle of Suspicion to be well-written and it has a nice steady pace. The author has a conversational writing style that is engaging. I was drawn into the story which I found easy to read. Mimi likes to read cozy mysteries, so the author worked in references to Krista Davis and Kate Carlisle which I found amusing (I also love their books). There are some great characters in A French Bistro Mystery series. Mimi is a strong, intelligent female who runs two businesses with the aid of Jo James at Maison Rousseau and her wonderful kitchen staff at Bistro Rousseau. There were some humorous moments throughout the story that had me chuckling. The mystery is appealing with several suspects, misdirection and good clues. The one downfall was I identified the killer before Chef Camille found Renee deceased on her kitchen floor (is anyone else curious if the mixer survived). There are many delectable dishes mentioned throughout the book and recipes are provided at the end. My rating for A Souffle of Suspicion is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). A Souffle of Suspicion is a charming cozy mystery that pairs nicely with a glass of wine and a comfortable chair.
A Soufflé of Suspicion: A French Bistro Mystery
by Daryl Wood Gerber. If you love cozy mysteries than you will surly love this new book by Daryl Wood Gerber. This is the second book in A French Bistro Mysteries series. I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Mystery, suspense, laughter, and much much more. Be sure to get your copy of A Souffle of Suspicion today.
A Souffle Of Suspicion is the second book in the French Bistro Mysteries series.
A Souffle Of Suspicion is a wonderful follow up to the first book, A Deadly Eclair. Mimi Rousseau owns the Maison Rousseau and Bistro Rousseau in the Napa Valley of California. Mimi has a very capable staff that allows her to do sleuthing. They include Chef Camille Chabot, sous-chef Stefan, Heather, bistro manager, Jo James, manager at Maison Rousseau. This dependable staff is very important to this story as Chef Chabot will become a primary suspect.
It is “crush time” in the Napa Valley and wine drinkers from all over are arriving to tour the wineries. At the same time, Mimi is sponsoring the Sweet Treats Festival on the property at the bistro. The festival is being organized by Renee, Chef Chabot’s sister. Renee is separated from her husband and has purchased the rights to this festival from Allie O’Malley.
Then Renee is found dead in Chef C’s kitchen at her home. Chef C becomes the primary suspect when it is reported that Renee was supposedly trying to take her sister’s boyfriend, Donovan Coleman, away from her. But as Mimi begins to try and clear Chef C, she soon learns that there seem to be other suspects. Renee and Allie were seen having a heated argument. Allie was claiming that the contract of sale for the festival would allow her to repurchase the rights, which she wants to do. Renee’s husband, Rusty, also comes under suspicion when it is reported that he was seen near Chef C’s house. Also, a local councilman, Parker Price, has also reportedly been seen in the area, too.
Gerber provides the reader with a well-plotted story with a wonderful cast of well-developed and believable characters. She also provides descriptions of the wonderful meals that are prepared at Bistro Rousseau. Recipes for most, if not all, are provided with the book.
I am looking forward to reading next book in this appetizing series.
A delicious addition to the French Bistro Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. Amidst all the eating, drinking, and merriment at Bistro Rousseau, Mimi’s head chef, Camille, has to face the tragic death of her sister, Renee. Evidence reveals there is a killer at large during Napa Valley’s Crush Week.
I enjoyed getting to know more about Mimi and the great cast of characters from book one as they continue in their work and personal lives. The lengths the perpetrator goes to stop anyone from finding out their identity keeps the story lively and intriguing. The author provides delicious-sounding recipes for readers to try.
I reviewed an ARC from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
“A Souffle’ of Suspicion” is another fabulous read by the awesome Daryl Wood Gerber. Her writing is flowing, energetic, descriptive, and just plain fun to read. This is the second installment in her new mystery series “A French Bistro Mystery”. I loved the first one “A Deadly Éclair”, but have to say this one is even better. The pace is fast and intense, the characters have grown and developed and become even more real, the mystery is intriguing and I could not put the book down. The author’s writing style is, as always, smashing. This installment takes place during Crush Week when the Napa Valley is full of people. Protagonist Mimi just has to hope she is not crushed by the real killer when her chef’s sister ends up dead.
Mimi and her friends and coworkers have gone all out to celebrate Crush Week and it brings to town more than tourist. Chef Camille’s sister comes in and brings a cask load of trouble with her. Sweet Treats Festival should have been the cherry on top for Mimi and her amazing crew, not end up with her chef as the prime suspect in a murder. Mimi discovers that Renee, the victim, was not well liked and definitely might have stomped on more feet than it takes to stomp a bottle of wine. Thanks to the author’s finesse in murder plotting, the twists and turns kept me guessing. This is not just a wonderful written mystery, it is a trip for the senses. The food, the wine, the characters, the setting, just magnifique!
“A Souffle’ of Suspicion” is a journey into fabulous fun and mystery. Daryl Wood Gerber has done it again!! Even if you missed the first book in this series (get it now) you will be able to thoroughly enjoy this installment. Do not miss the fabulous recipes at the end! They are to die for!
I was given a copy of the book by the author/publisher, however this opinion is completely my own.