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Lucy Stone #21
French Pastry Murder
Lucy Stone is saying "Au revoir!" to Tinker’s Cove, Maine, and "Bonjour!" to Paris to take in the sights, learn how to bake authentic French pastries, and experience some joie de vivre. But her dreams of la vie en rose are put on hold when the City of Lights turns deadly…
Lucy always dreamed of visiting Paris, but when renowned pastry chef Larry Bruneau is discovered on death’s doorstep and Lucy and her friends are detained for questioning, she’s worried she’ll be trading in her luxury accommodations for a sojourn in the Bastille. Now, if she’s going to enjoy her vacation, she’ll have to unpack her sleuthing skills and clear her name…
Lucy always dreamed of visiting Paris, but when renowned pastry chef Larry Bruneau is discovered on death’s doorstep and Lucy and her friends are detained for questioning, she’s worried she’ll be trading in her luxury accommodations for a sojourn in the Bastille. Now, if she’s going to enjoy her vacation, she’ll have to unpack her sleuthing skills and clear her name…
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
386 people are currently reading
1507 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Meier
66 books2,060 followersLeslie Meier lives in Braintree and Harwich (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. She is the creator of 'Lucy Stone', a reporter and amateur sleuth in the fictional seaside village of Tinker's Cove, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
April 3, 2025
In French Pastry Murder, Lucy and her gal pals. along with their husbands, win a free trip to Paris. Elizabeth, Lucy's oldest daughter, is working there at a high-hotel. Soon after arrival, they witness an attack where the man later days. Elizabeth has troubles with her roommate, and the hotel seems to have connections to a dirty past. The French are not depicted well in this cozy mystery, but the scenery and foods sound delicious. Enjoyed the mystery and side stories. Thought it was a little too coincidental and missing some connection points but another fun one.
March 2, 2024
Lucy and her closest friends win a trip to France where they get to sightsee and also visit Lucy’s daughter Elizabeth, who is working at a hotel in Paris. But while they’re there, they get tangled up in a murder. As with most of the “destination” books in this series, lots of tourist stops at famous sites around Paris, descriptions of French cuisine, and French phrases sprinkled in for fun. Some discussion of Elizabeth’s love life as well.
December 31, 2014
This is a good mystery starring Lucy Stone, her husband, daughter and her friends transported to Paris for a different adventure. The mystery itself is fun although with some interesting twists. The story itself is racist, anti-every part of the world apart from America. This book is a clear example of an American feeling superior and showing off that superiority and bigotry. I was incredibly disappointed. I hoped that she was just trying to express some beliefs via some characters but she continued to criticize every aspect of French life apart from the food and every aspect of "Arabian" life whilst being very racist. I am sad that this is what she feels and has chosen to share in this book.
January 29, 2018
This book had a rather weak plot. On top of that,it was painfully obvious that Leslie Meier hates France. She made the same few points again and again. On top of that, she wrote rather stereotypical characters that seemed to be defined by her prejudices. This was not a good read
November 3, 2014
Americans are so accustomed to the freedom and rights that we have in the USA that sometimes we fail to realize that those rights are ours only as long as we remain on US soil. When traveling to other countries, these rights do not travel with us. This fact is made abundantly clear to Lucy Stone and her traveling companions when they are linked to an attempted murder in France. They are shocked to discover that they really have no rights and even the US consulate cannot help them. Their passports are taken and they are forbidden to leave the country. Lucy decides to help move matters along by doing some sleuthing of her own. But things take a turn for the worse, and Lucy finds herself in more trouble with the local police. Author Leslie Meier does not disappoint with this newest book in this charming series. Delightful continuing characters in an intricate plot will keep you reading until the very end, and then leave you wishing to read the next not-yet-published novel.
April 2, 2015
So this is how it's like to read a book by an author so unconnected with the rules of fiction writing that she begins to remind us of the Agatha Christie of The Postern Of Fate fame. That's quite ironic as Leslie Meier here tipped her hat to the Great Dame and before has lifted an entire plot for her convenience.
My jaw dropped when reading the hodgepodge that was part of the ending of this book. It was, bar, none, the worst finale to a book that I've ever read. Ever. Easily. But it was fun as well. I could have rated the book 1 or 2 stars, but instead went for 4 because the start was strong and because my favorite character of the series, Bill, appears the most of any of the books in this one. But the weirdness that permeated the book was impossible to dismiss. There were little things at first, here and there, that the author let get printed. There was a lot of rubbish about French society and culture. There was Bill being decidedly thick at times, and given rotten dialog to spout. There was Lucy Stone counting down to one IN FRENCH, at a time under stress. The entire plan of the American group, their destination choices and shopping concerns were weird. There were amazing coincidences.
I could go on and trust me I will to some extent. There's Lucy thinking Gainsbourg as sexy, and being very much anti French and pro American over no brainer benefits like extended holidays, which France has, and the USA don't. I can't even picture Serge, the guy that bones Elizabeth, realistically as 'ridiculously handsome' because there's no accounting for what's going on in Lucy's brain, and by projection, the mind of the writer. The one thing that rivals all the conveniences, and the unbelievable ending was the fact that Lucy Stone never got close to solving the murders. The two murders are almost unrelated. Good. We're on firm ground. Laurence gets stabbed, stabilizes in the hospital, then is murdered successfully this time. But there's no explanation over what subterfuge the murderer used to escape notice and forge an alibi. I could go on and on. The ending doesn't even give us the closure of the group returning to America. There's just a footnote about Elizabeth as she finds herself at the apex of a love triangle. I never thought a book could rival movies like Plan 9 and Manos as the best worst work I've ever experienced. That's because book editors have tremendous say in the final cut than their movie counterparts. I'm giving the book 4 stars, but all of the bad things I've said about it, if viewed in a given mood, can pass for a funny read. Unintentional, inept but still stunningly eccentric.
My jaw dropped when reading the hodgepodge that was part of the ending of this book. It was, bar, none, the worst finale to a book that I've ever read. Ever. Easily. But it was fun as well. I could have rated the book 1 or 2 stars, but instead went for 4 because the start was strong and because my favorite character of the series, Bill, appears the most of any of the books in this one. But the weirdness that permeated the book was impossible to dismiss. There were little things at first, here and there, that the author let get printed. There was a lot of rubbish about French society and culture. There was Bill being decidedly thick at times, and given rotten dialog to spout. There was Lucy Stone counting down to one IN FRENCH, at a time under stress. The entire plan of the American group, their destination choices and shopping concerns were weird. There were amazing coincidences.
I could go on and trust me I will to some extent. There's Lucy thinking Gainsbourg as sexy, and being very much anti French and pro American over no brainer benefits like extended holidays, which France has, and the USA don't. I can't even picture Serge, the guy that bones Elizabeth, realistically as 'ridiculously handsome' because there's no accounting for what's going on in Lucy's brain, and by projection, the mind of the writer. The one thing that rivals all the conveniences, and the unbelievable ending was the fact that Lucy Stone never got close to solving the murders. The two murders are almost unrelated. Good. We're on firm ground. Laurence gets stabbed, stabilizes in the hospital, then is murdered successfully this time. But there's no explanation over what subterfuge the murderer used to escape notice and forge an alibi. I could go on and on. The ending doesn't even give us the closure of the group returning to America. There's just a footnote about Elizabeth as she finds herself at the apex of a love triangle. I never thought a book could rival movies like Plan 9 and Manos as the best worst work I've ever experienced. That's because book editors have tremendous say in the final cut than their movie counterparts. I'm giving the book 4 stars, but all of the bad things I've said about it, if viewed in a given mood, can pass for a funny read. Unintentional, inept but still stunningly eccentric.
April 18, 2024
Terrible, très terrible. The Fearsome Foursome and their spouses win a trip to Paris - then the fiasco begins. This Book #21 was so bad I have to take a break before I continue my review.
I’m still mad but I’ll tone it down. All eight character were biased, racist, hateful and ignorant. Ms Meier could start a riot with her misinformation.
Elizabeth is a whiny spoiled brat who sounds like she is 13 rather than 25. She should be drown in the Seine.
Editing is nonexistent - so many errors.
Inserting phrases from high school French class did not add anything at all.
I keep reading this series just to see what her next rant will be - they are short and uncozy👎
I’m still mad but I’ll tone it down. All eight character were biased, racist, hateful and ignorant. Ms Meier could start a riot with her misinformation.
Elizabeth is a whiny spoiled brat who sounds like she is 13 rather than 25. She should be drown in the Seine.
Editing is nonexistent - so many errors.
Inserting phrases from high school French class did not add anything at all.
I keep reading this series just to see what her next rant will be - they are short and uncozy👎
October 25, 2014
I have been keeping up with the series even though I am not a big fan. Why you ask? Because I like to have something different to read in between really great books. I was being kind with the 2star rating because no investigating was done and it was notbelievable. Sorry but it just seemed to down the French, which is OK I guess but why? Plus I would have thought if they were in Paris they would see the Eifel tower and all these other major places but flea markets? It was ridiculous and all of Lucys self loathing is sad. It puts women down and back into the dark ages. My mom at 80 is more self confident than Lucy at what late forties to early 50's, my age and I cannot relate to her. Fast read but not good!
December 31, 2014
When I read a cozy mystery I want to relax and enjoy great characters and a nice location with a mystery thrown in to make things interesting. If the characters travel I want to read about the great place they are visiting that I am not able to visit other than through the book. This book had none of that.
Lucy and her friends get a free trip to Paris which should be exciting. But all they do is complain. Paris is nothing but grey boring buildings, rude people, navigating the city is difficult, the class they take doesn't teach what they wanted, the place they stay isn't good enough, Lucy can't get a good night's sleep, and their feet hurt from walking. They go out of their way to avoid the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or anyplace you would expect to enjoy visiting with them. Lucy's daughter hates Paris, her apartment and her roommate. Oh, and there are evil Egyptians, the French legal system is not the same as the USA (Which is mentioned constantly.) and it would stink to be a French woman who can't dress comfortably. And all the great things you would want to buy to display in your home to show off that you went to Paris cost too much. To deal with all of this negativity the group drinks a lot of red wine. According to this book France is the last place you would want to visit.
If there was ever an example of why you should not mix the elements from a gritty crime novel with a cozy this is it.
Lucy and her friends get a free trip to Paris which should be exciting. But all they do is complain. Paris is nothing but grey boring buildings, rude people, navigating the city is difficult, the class they take doesn't teach what they wanted, the place they stay isn't good enough, Lucy can't get a good night's sleep, and their feet hurt from walking. They go out of their way to avoid the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or anyplace you would expect to enjoy visiting with them. Lucy's daughter hates Paris, her apartment and her roommate. Oh, and there are evil Egyptians, the French legal system is not the same as the USA (Which is mentioned constantly.) and it would stink to be a French woman who can't dress comfortably. And all the great things you would want to buy to display in your home to show off that you went to Paris cost too much. To deal with all of this negativity the group drinks a lot of red wine. According to this book France is the last place you would want to visit.
If there was ever an example of why you should not mix the elements from a gritty crime novel with a cozy this is it.
October 12, 2014
I see some reviewers think Lucy should just stay home. I don't think that is the case. I gave it a 4 as I thought some of the ending was just thrown in at the reader out of the blue, but it was still a good book for Leslie Meier.
July 4, 2020
Lucy Stone, her husband, and her three friends and their husbands---all of them are going to Paris, winners of a tv star's attempt to reward efforts of women in their communities. In Paris, all eight are given free cooking lessons. But this is a mystery, so it isn't long until Lucy Stone runs across a murder (possibly her twenty-first, given that this is a series).
I can take cardboard characters. I can take cardboard plots. I will sacrifice these for a Paris setting. But when these cardboard characters don't like Paris...well, that's too much for me. It got where I was writing down all the slams against my favorite city: The buildings are all alike (unlike the variety of buildings in Maine where Lucy lives). Notre Dame is "dingy." Lucy's daughter is living and working in Paris and she thought "France was a horrible place." Lucy's daughter called the apartment where she was staying "a dump," and she said her roommate was terrible. Lucy distrusted "all Frenchmen." The line to the Musee d'Orsay was "too long," and the visitors just left. Monet's paintings at Musee d'Orangerie were "too chaotic." Lucy tells her friends that she would "never understand these French people."
If that wasn't bad enough, there is also a great deal of slamming of "the Arab or Muslim population, whatever you want to call them."
I have no doubt that there are probably people like this in America but that doesn't mean I have to spend time with them.
I can take cardboard characters. I can take cardboard plots. I will sacrifice these for a Paris setting. But when these cardboard characters don't like Paris...well, that's too much for me. It got where I was writing down all the slams against my favorite city: The buildings are all alike (unlike the variety of buildings in Maine where Lucy lives). Notre Dame is "dingy." Lucy's daughter is living and working in Paris and she thought "France was a horrible place." Lucy's daughter called the apartment where she was staying "a dump," and she said her roommate was terrible. Lucy distrusted "all Frenchmen." The line to the Musee d'Orsay was "too long," and the visitors just left. Monet's paintings at Musee d'Orangerie were "too chaotic." Lucy tells her friends that she would "never understand these French people."
If that wasn't bad enough, there is also a great deal of slamming of "the Arab or Muslim population, whatever you want to call them."
I have no doubt that there are probably people like this in America but that doesn't mean I have to spend time with them.
February 9, 2015
Lucy Stone and the gang head for Paris in this installment of the Lucy Stone mysteries. Recognized on the Norah Show for their charity work through the Hat and Mitten Club they organize for the needy children of Tinker's Cove, Lucy and her friends are rewarded with a trip to Paris, complete with cooking classes. Unfortunately, Paris isn't at all what they had hoped for, especially when Lucy finds Chef Larry has been attacked. Through one stressful interview with the Paris authorities after another, the group of Americans just want their passports back so they can go home on time. This series has been a favorite for quite a while, but this book was a disappointment. The French police were portrayed as bumbling and incompetent. The French people were stereotypically rude and unpleasant, and the American visitors were portrayed as arrogant and self-absorbed. Travel abroad was not a good idea for this novel.
November 12, 2014
Two and a Half Stars.
Love the idea of Lucy being in Paris . Perfect setting but too hard to buy that these small town folks who have never been to Europe, win a trip of a lifetime and then have absolutely no trouble at all finding their way around or communicating, even in high school French. They win an all-expenses paid vacation to Paris and they eat most of their meals in their apartment? There are 4 couples and only 3 bedrooms and one couple has to sleep in the general pathway the entire time? So, despite the fun of a Parisian sojourn, it's just too far to suspend my disbelief.
Love the idea of Lucy being in Paris . Perfect setting but too hard to buy that these small town folks who have never been to Europe, win a trip of a lifetime and then have absolutely no trouble at all finding their way around or communicating, even in high school French. They win an all-expenses paid vacation to Paris and they eat most of their meals in their apartment? There are 4 couples and only 3 bedrooms and one couple has to sleep in the general pathway the entire time? So, despite the fun of a Parisian sojourn, it's just too far to suspend my disbelief.
October 22, 2014
French Pastry Murder by Leslie Meier
Wanted to read this book in hopes it'd have tips on how I can make my husband his favorite apple turnovers-healthy style.
Have read many of the author's other works and have enjoyed the books.
Have been to Paris once and can't wait to see the characters view. Book starts out where Lucy Stone and her husband along with other couples have won a trip to Paris for 2 weeks and participate in a cooking class because of their charity work with the hat and mitten fund.
Her daughter, Elizabeth is in Paris studying under a world famous chef and is excited about the visit. The accommodations are a let down but they are in the city of lights! Glad when Bill and Lucy strike out on their own to discover new things. When the chef is found stabbed their passports are all held from leaving the country.
The place they are staying is ransacked from the police-they think the chef might have been laundering money or some other black market schemes and now they are all drawn into the investigation. Lucy gets help from the others as the clues come in and they start to make sense of it all.
Murders and more investigations and help from their reporter friend Richard. Book wasn't really what I thought it would be, because I read the prior books. Mentions a lot of locations but doesn't describe what they saw and did at the locations.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
Wanted to read this book in hopes it'd have tips on how I can make my husband his favorite apple turnovers-healthy style.
Have read many of the author's other works and have enjoyed the books.
Have been to Paris once and can't wait to see the characters view. Book starts out where Lucy Stone and her husband along with other couples have won a trip to Paris for 2 weeks and participate in a cooking class because of their charity work with the hat and mitten fund.
Her daughter, Elizabeth is in Paris studying under a world famous chef and is excited about the visit. The accommodations are a let down but they are in the city of lights! Glad when Bill and Lucy strike out on their own to discover new things. When the chef is found stabbed their passports are all held from leaving the country.
The place they are staying is ransacked from the police-they think the chef might have been laundering money or some other black market schemes and now they are all drawn into the investigation. Lucy gets help from the others as the clues come in and they start to make sense of it all.
Murders and more investigations and help from their reporter friend Richard. Book wasn't really what I thought it would be, because I read the prior books. Mentions a lot of locations but doesn't describe what they saw and did at the locations.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
September 9, 2015
Maybe I need to stay away from cozy mysteries for a while.
This is the latest (or almost latest) book in Meier's Lucy Stone series. Unlike most of the other books in the series, though, very little of the action takes place in Tinker's Cove; it's set in Paris! It still includes Lucy finding herself in the middle of murder, though, and doing some sleuthing despite being in a foreign country. What's not to like, right?
Perhaps I was experiencing the reader's version of what I'd be feeling if I were one of 4 couples staying in a 3-bedroom Paris apartment for 2 weeks -- and not knowing if I could return home as planned. Not cabin fever, precisely, but an increasing dislike of having to live and socialize with 6 friends I've never shared living space with. Then again, perhaps some of the other characters were, in fact, objectively annoying in how they faced the situation. Luckily this wasn't enough to make me actively dislike the book.
So is it a favorite? No, definitely not. But it was passable and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is the latest (or almost latest) book in Meier's Lucy Stone series. Unlike most of the other books in the series, though, very little of the action takes place in Tinker's Cove; it's set in Paris! It still includes Lucy finding herself in the middle of murder, though, and doing some sleuthing despite being in a foreign country. What's not to like, right?
Perhaps I was experiencing the reader's version of what I'd be feeling if I were one of 4 couples staying in a 3-bedroom Paris apartment for 2 weeks -- and not knowing if I could return home as planned. Not cabin fever, precisely, but an increasing dislike of having to live and socialize with 6 friends I've never shared living space with. Then again, perhaps some of the other characters were, in fact, objectively annoying in how they faced the situation. Luckily this wasn't enough to make me actively dislike the book.
So is it a favorite? No, definitely not. But it was passable and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 1, 2021
I normally don't like the storylines as well that take place outside of Tinker's Cove but this was an exception. Because of Lucy and her friends doing so much for the community with their, they regular contributions to those in need, they are selected (along with their husbands) to win a free trip to Paris. This is great because not only will they be able to attend a series of cooking classes, shop the markets and eat great food, Lucy's oldest daughter is now working at a hotel in Paris and they'll get to visit with her. Almost as quickly as they get there, their class chef is attacked and Lucy, who cannot just stand by and wait for the police to solve the crime, jumps right into the investigation.
August 30, 2015
I'm a huge fan of Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone mysteries, but this one was not a favorite. I thought I would enjoy the setting, as I love Paris and it is one of my favorite cities. The writing, though on this was not smooth, especially the dialogue. If Bill and Lucy had travelled alone the Paris, that would have been fine, but adding the three couples made the book a little clunky, and there just were not enough ways to keep everyone involved in the main plot.
October 9, 2014
I love Lucy Stone and this book was excellent. I just missed her adventures in Tinker's Cove and her family wasn't all in this book which was no fun because I love her family. Still a definite must read, I just hope her next book she is back home!!!
November 18, 2014
Lucy and her friends win a trip to Paris where her daughter Elizabeth is now working. There, the get involved in the murder of a pastry chef and with the discovery of a group selling black market gourmet foods. I like the ones that take place in her home of Maine better, but this one was okay.
April 8, 2015
I just couldn't finish reading this.
This was anything but a fun cozy mystery it felt as if the author was pushing this anti-French/anti-Paris propaganda instead of providing an interesting mystery.
This was anything but a fun cozy mystery it felt as if the author was pushing this anti-French/anti-Paris propaganda instead of providing an interesting mystery.
December 13, 2014
DNF
I normally love these books but this one was awful. I couldn't handle everyone's negativity. Makes me sad because I was excited to read it.
I normally love these books but this one was awful. I couldn't handle everyone's negativity. Makes me sad because I was excited to read it.
July 14, 2022
This book offends so many people. Women, men, religions, nations - it’s like the author just crawled out of a hole and decided to offend as many people in one sitting as she could. Cringe
February 10, 2025
Lucy Stone and her three friends, Sue, Pam, and Rachel have been treated to a trip to Paris, along with all of their husbands. The trip was not enjoyable because a murder is committed shortly after their arrival, and they are all suspects. The story quickly becomes less than cozy! They are in a foreign country with a very different legal system, and they don't have the same rights that they would have had in the United States. The police are not nearly as friendly as Barney Culpepper, and I found myself very much longing for the cozy town of Tinker's Cove. Lucy's daughter, Elizabeth, also plays a vital part in the story, as she is working at the Cavendish hotel and living with a roommate in Paris. This is not a story about how to enjoy a trip to Paris! I will be glad to return home to Tinker's Cove in the next book. Still, there is a focus on both the personal and professional development in Elizabeth's life, and I was glad for a chance to get to know her better!
October 22, 2014
Lucy Stone, her three best friends and all four husbands win a trip to Paris, which Lucy has always wanted to visit. Now her daughter is working there, so they can visit when not enjoying a cooking class set up especially for them. But when Lucy finds the chef/teacher dead, the police confiscate all eight passports and the group worries about getting home on time. Okay, this is the probable part of the plot. Not only does the story get seriously strange, but Lucy--who has solved crimes in her little Maine home town--acts recklessly and stupidly, not once but repeatedly. I hate to say this about a character I've followed for years, but maybe everything that can be written about Lucy has already been written.
October 14, 2014
Not one of my favorite books from Leslie Meier. I give her credit for wanting to try something new and different but it just didn't seem credible that these characters would continue on with touring the beautiful city of Paris with so much dark stuff invading their lives. It was just a little too coincidental how the main characters arriving from lovely Tinkers Cove would tie in so neatly with affairs going on in with Stone's daughter's life too. Looking forward to the next Lucy Stone novel however in hopes it will provide a more pleasant escape into fiction!
July 7, 2015
I read a large print book from my library. Lucy Stone and Friends received an all expense trip to Paris for their work with Women Who Make A Difference.On the second day after their arrival Lucy find a murder victim who was stabbed in the back. They find that French Laws are completely different from American. They are at the mercy of the French who took their passports. Elizabeth is now working at a Paris Hotel and her roommate is murdered Lucy and Bill really become concern. I enjoy this series and have read most of it.
June 26, 2017
Lucy, her husband and some of their friends win a surprise trip to Paris to take cooking classes with the well known pastry chef, Chef Larry. Lucy is even more excited as her daughter's work has relocated her to Paris, meaning she can visit her. Things are going well until Lucy discovers Chef Larry in a pool of blood right after one of their lessons. In France the law is quite different than the US and they finger Lucy and her friends to be one of their top suspects. Lucy must learn to navigate Paris and the French legal system to clear her name and come back home.
July 21, 2015
Except for some of the information about Paris, this book was unfortunately pretty typical Lucy Stone, only worse. The investigation was horrendous and laughable. Her friend Sue is so annoying, I cringe when I see her name appear. I think Leslie Meier found her winning "formula" and has milked it for 21 books. Well, it's time for a change or to stop publishing the series, if she can't do better than that: when your plots, characters, and action are same old, same old, it's time to stop.
January 5, 2023
It's rare that I rate a book 1 star but there it is. I found the group of characters to be the most prejudiced and bigoted group of people I have ever read. They win a trip to Paris and all they do is complain about France, the French people and the Arabic people. It was frankly embarrassing to think this is how the author wished to portray Americans on holiday in a foreign country. This was my first Lucy Stone mystery and it will be my last.
April 13, 2015
This cozy seemed like a downer from the beginning. I kept reading & it did not get any better. I have been to Paris 3 times, and I was not very comfortable there. So I am not sure that it is the book or my feelings that make this cozy so blah, but there it is. Even the character of Lucy could not make this book palatable. Sorry about the pun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews