A Deadly Eclair by Daryl Wood Gerber

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 stage is superbly set for future stories as the cast of characters is introduced and fleshed out, but not in an overwhelming way. Supporting characters, some a little quirky, add richness and depth. Through the fictional setting of Nouvelle Vie, as well as the bistro and inn, the sights and smells of Napa Valley felt so very real. A Deadly Éclair has a delightful traditional cozy feel. As you would expect from a bistro series, food plays an important part, but descriptions don’t slow the pace down – they only make me hungry! Several appealing recipes are included at the end, introduced by little notes from Mimi and Chef C that make them more personal. They don’t appear to be all that difficult and I plan on trying one or two. I enjoyed Ms. Gerber’s writing style and all the twists and turns involving the suspects. Readers will be easily drawn to Mimi. It was fun to follow her logical and methodical questioning of the suspects as background info was revealed little by little. She also employed one of my favorite techniques – listing suspects and motives on a blackboard – which helped me keep things straight. And the chemistry between Mimi and Nash added just the right touch of romance, with lots of room for development. A Deadly Éclair is a clean, enjoyable read. Mimi, as well as her family and friends, are strong, appealing characters, and I look forward to seeing them grow through the series. The only negative for me is the surprising mention of the political leanings of a couple of secondary characters toward the end of the story, something that I want the books I read to be free of. Recommended.