Book Review: Death du Jour

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Death du Jour     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lou Jane Temple
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Culinary   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character   Historical
Series: Spice Box # 2
Berkley Prime Crime, 2006, 267 pps.

In this the second of Lou Jane Temple’s Spice Box Mysteries Fanny Delarue is a cook’s helper and the spice box is presented to her by her father Phillippe. Phillippe builds furniture and Fanny’s mother is a dressmaker. Fanny lives in the Place Royale where she is employed in the residence of a wealthy family.

Fanny’s mother is actively involved in politics and joined thousands of other women in a march to Versailles to force the King back to Paris. Fanny was shocked at her mother’s actions and unsure of her own feelings as to the political climate in Paris.

Henri the cook at the home where she works is the love of Fanny’s life. She has visions of the two of them working together as husband and wife.

Fanny’s world is turned upside down when there is a murder in the Place Royale but that is only the beginning. Soon there are other incidents that became very unsettling including the fact that Fanny found a secret drawer in her spice box and the drawer is full of valuables. Fanny begins moving the spice box from place to place to keep it secure and she is unsure of who to trust.

Death Du Jour is the story of a very brave young girl and her struggles during a bad time in Paris. The descriptions of the residence where Fanny is employed as well as the different classes of people and the restrictions because of their class were quite interesting to me.

If you like to read about history and about food this would be a book for you.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

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