Another one of my favourite mystery series has a new book just in time for the summer- Dianne Freeman’s Countess of Harleigh series is back again! This cosy series features one of my favourite protagonists in the fun and exciting Belle Epoque period, and I’m always happy to be back with Frances. And of course, when I was asked to be a part of the Book Tour, I could not say no! Onto An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman!
Thank you to Austenprose for inviting me on the tour and providing an eARC.
An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder, Dianne Freeman
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.
Why You Should Read This…
This book perfectly shows what I love most about the Countess of Harleigh series- Freeman slowly and surely expands Frances’ world (and George’s) with every book, and while Frances is fascinating all on her own, I love getting to know her friends and family. (Even if they unfortunately perish…) I find that cosy mysteries can often get a tad repetitive when you are sticking with the same group of people in the same place, and Freeman knows exactly when to expand and how. While I wouldn’t have guessed we would be heading to Paris, it worked out very well!
An Art Lover’s Guide also has one of my favourite mystery structures- a mystery within a mystery! Not only are we trying to find out who killed Julia, we are also trying to figure out who killed her friend and fellow artist, Paul Ducasse. It is a complicated but interesting web to sort through, and it makes for the best kind of mystery reading! (While I like Poirot and Sherlock, I enjoy the “boots on the ground, looking for clues” style of detectives.)
I also very much appreciate Frances and George’s relationship developing throughout the book. This romance/ relationship is definitely in the background, but that does not make it any less sweet or fun. Instead of it being a separate thread in the story, it’s more of a lens or layer that makes the whole story all the more interesting.
If you haven’t read the other books in this series, you can absolutely pick this book up and follow along with no issues! However, the series is incredibly entertaining and will keep you reading, so I would highly recommend that you read the others if you are interested.
This is a summer must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery!
Is An Art Lover’s Guide to Paris and Murder by Dianne Freeman on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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