Dru’s Short Musing:
Claire is on the hunt for a killer in this multi-plot whodunit that I could not put down until all was said and done.
This fast-paced drama with its crisp writing and comfortable tone made it easy to follow along the path the author has set. The mystery was nicely executed with all the elements I love in a mystery from the main protagonist to the victim to the motive to the clues sauteed between the pages and to the people that Claire encountered in her pursuit of justice. As the story moved forward, we learn a lot about who was doing what to whom with a few surprises from a recurring character that I did not expect to see happen. In her search for a killer, Claire gets a glimpse of a familiar person and that subplot enhanced my reading pleasure. The author knows how to tell a character-driven story with visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue and the ability to make this story come alive to this reader. Overall, this was an excellent read and one of the best in the series.
Series: A Suddenly French Mystery, Book 3
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release: November 10, 2026
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
Book Synopsis:
A fall festival. An old mansion. And a death that’s anything but accidental.
When a car plunges off a cliff during Caper Cove’s beloved harvest celebration, former criminal attorney turned caterer Claire Fontaine assumes it’s a tragic accident, until the medical examiner reveals the truth: the victim, a local psychic, was already dead.
Now Claire finds herself investigating beneath the looming shadow of LaMaison, a storied cliffside mansion rumored to be cursed. As she prepares to cater its extravagant Halloween Ball, Claire uncovers a century-old injustice tied to stolen land, silenced women, and a ghost who may not be ready to rest.
Things turn personal when Claire spots a woman who looks exactly like her sister Aurora, missing for twenty years, on the mansion grounds. Is it coincidence, wishful thinking…or something far more unsettling?
With quirky friends, a skeptical detective roommate, and her sharp legal instincts, Claire must untangle a mystery where the past refuses to stay buried, before another death turns this cozy coastal town upside down.
An atmospheric, modern mystery filled with small-town secrets, historic intrigue, and fall vibes.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the author.