Book Review: Death du Jour

Reviewed By: Dawn Dowdle

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, Hardcover, 3/06, 264 pages, $23.95

Fanny Delarue is a young cook for a wealthy family in Paris in 1790. Her mother gives her a Spice Box. She treasures it.

There is a lot of political unrest at this time. Then a neighboring chef, Etienne de la Porte, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. She and her head chef, and lover, Henri, had been taking classes from Etienne. He was also Henri's mentor. Soon after Fanny and Henri's boss leaves the area and dismantles his house and lets all the servants go.

Henri and Fanny end up staying at the master's house because Henri has been injured in the unrest. Then Henri disappears. Fanny searches for him and finds herself in some dangerous situations.

Can Fanny find Henri and Etienne's killer? Are they the same person? Can she stay safe while investigating?

This is the second in the Spice Box series. I liked Fanny and Henri. Even though historical mysteries are often hard for me to get into, I don't find that with this series. The author writes in such a way that I almost forget it's a historical mystery. I just get into the mystery. I found this time period to be very interesting. Not something I knew a lot about. I recommend this book.

Dawn Dowdle

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Please visit Dawns website at www.mysteryloverscorner.com

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