About the Book
This book has now been released in Trade Paperback and
at the time of this posting, you can get the Kindle version for just $1.20!!!
A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Setting – California
Crooked Lane Books (June 12, 2018)
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683316046
Kindle ASIN: B06XWDWRLF
It’s always been Mimi Rousseau’s dream to open her own bistro, but it seems beyond her grasp since she’s been chased back home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley by her late husband’s tremendous debt. Until her best friend Jorianne James introduces her to entrepreneur Bryan Baker who invests in promising prospects. Now, working the bistro and inn until she’s able to pay it off and call it her own, Mimi is throwing the inn’s first wedding ever.
The wedding will be the talk of the town, as famous talk show host Angelica Edmonton, daughter of Bryan’s half-brother, Edison, has chosen the inn as her perfect venue. Anxious, Mimi is sure things are going to turn south, especially when Edison gets drunk and rowdy at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but by the evening, things begin to look up again. That is until six AM rolls around, and Bryan is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. And the fingers point at Mimi, whose entire loan is forgiven in Bryan’s will.
Now it’s up to Mimi to clear her name and get to the bottom of things before the killer turns up the heat again in A Deadly Éclair, the scrumptious series debut by Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This series is off to a magnificent (magnifique) start! Mimi Rousseau is living her dream of owning her own inn and bistro. She has collaborated with Bryan Baker for the financial backing needed for the purchase and the vast remodeling effort to get both places open. In fact, the story opens with Mimi and her staff getting reading to host its first wedding. Bryan’s niece, talk show host, Angelica Edmonton and her fiancé are excited to be married at the inn. Things start to go awry with Angelica’s father, Edison, arrives at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but when Bryan is found dead the next morning at the bistro with an éclair in his month, Mimi doesn’t think things can get any worse. Now her mentor is dead and she is the prime suspect.
I have been looking forward to the book since I first saw the cover pop up on Facebook and it certainly exceeded my expectations. As a fan of the author’s Cheese Shop Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries, I knew the characters would be strong and the food descriptions would have my mouth watering and I was right.
Mimi Rousseau has a lot on her plate but I knew right away she could handle it. She is strong and savvy and has hired a top-notch staff. Chef C. and sous chef Stefan keep the kitchen under control while Heather runs the dining room. The inn, a fancy bed, and breakfast is managed by Mimi’s BFF, Jorianne. Mimi oversees everything from the menus and wine to all the events happening at the inn and bistro. All of the characters are very well defined for the first book in a series but there is plenty of room for them to grow. The secondary cast, the wedding party, family, and friends, are also very well crafted. I was drawn right into all of their drama.
The story was very fast paced with some corkscrew twists and more suspects than I at first set my sites on. This author knows how to set the scene and have readers nibbling on each little clue as we follow Mimi in her investigation. The mystery is well plotted and so entertaining. I was enthralled from the first page until the last and then I wanted more.
Now let me talk about the food. Oh, my! Thanks to the tantalizing descriptions I could almost taste and smell so many delightful dishes and even the unique flavors of the wine served. I love onion soup so every time it was mentioned my cravings stepped up another notch. Daryl Wood Gerber does share some recipes in the back of the book including recipes for Chocolate Éclairs and Onion Soup Gratinée. Both have been copied into my recipes file.
I am really excited about this new series and can’t wait for book #2, A Soufflé of Suspicion, coming in July 2018.
About the Author
Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries and CHEESE SHOP MYSTERIES, which she pens as Avery Aames. She will soon debut the new French Bistro Mysteries. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense: DAYS OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!
Praise for A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery
by Daryl Wood Gerber
Great cozy mystery filled with all the things I love…great characters, great storyline, great food, and a dash of romance!
~Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews
What a wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series . . . This really is a must-read for fans of the genre and food. I just loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
My vocabulary also got a workout, which I enjoy. Reading a good cozy should expand your world and this does that very well.
~Laura’s Interests
A DEADLY ECLAIR serves up a delicious blend of characters, setting, and mystery in the first French Bistro Mystery.
~Cozy Up With Kathy
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through most of the book, I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place. And the descriptions of the foods had me salivating.
~MJB Reviewers
Setting, characterization and plot all come together beautifully in A Deadly Éclair, book #1 in Daryl Wood Gerber’s entertaining new French Bistro series.
~The Power of Words
This was a great new series which leads us to another food cozy mystery . . . I love reading how Mimi clears her name.
~Community Bookstop
The setting descriptions were great, which I’ve come to expect from this author. She usually has a good balance of details and leaving some things to the imagination. I’m totally in love with the fact that the inn and gardens are based on Monet’s house in Giverny.
~Valerie’s Musings
A Deadly Éclair is well-written, contains good characters, and luscious food descriptions. Daryl Wood Gerber sets up a lovely backdrop for A French Bistro Mystery series.
~The Avid Reader
I loved the story and plot. I loved the characters.
~My Reading Journeys
What a wonderful start to a new series. The author has mesmerized me with her exquisite meals served at the beautiful restaurant our main character runs.
~Texas Book-aholic
A fun read with a wonderful setting, a blossoming relationship, and a perplexing murder.
~Mysteries with Character
The fictional setting of Nouvelle Vie, including the inn and bistro, will have you seriously considering a vacation to Napa Valley, and the food mentioned throughout the novel will leave your mouth watering!
~Reading is My SuperPower
The author’s descriptive style beautifully captures the setting and paints a lush and inviting place you would want to visit on your next holiday.
~That’s What She’s Reading
Author Links
Visit Daryl or Avery at www.darylwoodgerber.com.
Daryl’s Blog – Avery’s Blog – Mystery Lover’s Kitchen – Killer Characters –
Twitter: @AveryAames @DarylWoodGerber
Goodreads: Daryl Wood Gerber Avery Aames
Purchase Links
Coming July 10
Tour Participants
June 6 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews– REVIEW
June 7 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
June 7 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 7 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
June 8 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
June 8 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 9 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 9 – The Power of Words – REVIEW*
June 10 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
June 11 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 11 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW*
June 12 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
June 12 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW*
June 13 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
June 14 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 14 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW*
June 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
June 16 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW
June 16 – Lisa Ks Book Review – REVIEW*
June 17 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW
June 18 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 18 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW*
June 19 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
June 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW*
*Review Repost from Hardcover tour.
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This book sounds delicious!
Thank you for your review and great information on “A Deadly Éclair” by Daryl Wood Gerber. Great author, wonderful book, cool cover!
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