CHAMPAGNE: The Farewell
about:
Max Maguire is a lieutenant in the New York police force, and when her best friend Chloé invites Max to her French countryside wedding, Max packs up and heads to Europe. Shortly after arriving, she meets Oliviér, a judge, and the two instantly are drawn to each other. But just as the two start to enjoy their own version of a wedding dance, they get interrupted. Léa, Chloé's cousin, has been murdered. And thus begins the mystery portion of this mystery-romance.
Max and Oliviér set out to discover whodunit, albeit with neither terribly excited about working with the other. Max prefers to work alone, and Oliviér does not understand Max's propensity to use intuition when it comes to crime solving.
Our dynamic duo faces a host of prospective bad guys, both together and separately they interpret clues and identify the culprit. There are some red herrings, but if you pay attention, you will know who it is before they do.
The romance here is fairly tame, but it's sweet and fun. Max and Oliviér court each other, with her just as aggressive as he is. The sex scenes are very mild (almost too mild), which makes this book a fun, inoffensive choice. Just like its namesake, this is a bubbly, intoxicating story with a romance and mystery that hooks you. Be warned, however: the characters drink a LOT of champagne, and you might find yourself craving some.
Reviews:
“A sparkling country house mystery set in France’s wine country, Janet Hubbard’s deep love for Champagne’s vineyards, cuisine and people informs every page. Champagne: The Farewell says hello to a stylish new series. C’est magnifique!”
- Julia Spencer-Fleming, New York Times bestselling author of One Was a Soldier
“CHAMPAGNE: The Farewell has the character of a fine wine, sparkling and flavorful, with just a touch of malice.”
- Craig Johnson, author of The Cold Dish and As the Crow Flies
"A lovely, fizzy champagne cocktail of a book with a tricky kick in its tail!"
- Martin Walker, author of The Bruno Series
Publishers Weekly: ...an agreeable debut, the first in a series devoted to different French wine regions...[with] a creative solution.
Kirkus: First in a planned series by the author's many trips to France. The mystery is less complex than the heroine, who's nearly as appealing as the descriptions of the wine district.
Irene Watson, author of "The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference." (writing for blogcritics):
The story has a little of everything: mystery, romance, life of aristocrats, and family dysfunction, which made it a well-rounded plot...the writing is brilliant and the plot enticing; an overall good mystery to delve into."
Bonne lecture! Or, happy reading!