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Maggie Newberry Mysteries #6
Murder in Nice
The French Riviera is the ultimate travel destination...unless murder is on the itinerary.
When an old high school friend is murdered on the Côte d'Azur while auditioning for the hit TV travel show "Americans See Europe," Maggie is forced to break away from village life and new motherhood to find the killer. Her sleuthing takes her from the sun-drenched beaches of Saint-Tropez to the cafes and backstreets of Arles, across lavender fields and stunning medieval ruins and straight into the evil hands of her most diabolical adversary yet.
Can Maggie find her friend's killer before an innocent man pays for the crime? And can she do it without paying the ultimate price herself?
When an old high school friend is murdered on the Côte d'Azur while auditioning for the hit TV travel show "Americans See Europe," Maggie is forced to break away from village life and new motherhood to find the killer. Her sleuthing takes her from the sun-drenched beaches of Saint-Tropez to the cafes and backstreets of Arles, across lavender fields and stunning medieval ruins and straight into the evil hands of her most diabolical adversary yet.
Can Maggie find her friend's killer before an innocent man pays for the crime? And can she do it without paying the ultimate price herself?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2014
1045 people are currently reading
1274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 22, 2015
This is typical of this series - which means I thoroughly enjoyed it! This time I was surprised by the way the mystery unraveled. As always, I am more than half in love with Laurent and quite jealous of Maggie...not only for her life but for the way she blurts and breezes her way through it. I was, also, happy to have her BFF, Grace, and daughter, Zouzou ( echoes of "It's A Wonderful Life) be back in her life. It makes sense to read this series in order or some of the elements of the plots won't make sense. So, in conclusion, Ms Kiernan-Lewis has a knack for great characters, fresh descriptions of recognizable places and lots of twists and turns in the story. Always easy and fun to read.
August 22, 2015
I can see why some people would enjoy this book, but I didn't. There were simply too many of my cozy mystery pet peeves.
Here's what I did like -
- Kiernan-Lewis does a fabulous job at creating a sense of place; I could imagine myself at Maggie's lovely country vineyard or in the streets of Nice.
- Also, there were lovely descriptions of foods and wine.
- There were plenty of potential suspects and believable motives.
- The writing style was essentially good.
Here's what I didn't like -
- Maggie and her husband, Laurent. The relationship seemed unequal and unhealthy.
- There was too much in your face grief. I want mysteries to combine the fun of solving a puzzle with pure escape. When I want powerful emotional experiences, I turn to novels. Lanie's grieving mother broke my heart, so she was well-written, but not what I like in a mystery.
- The suspects were almost universally loathsome creatures with no redeeming qualities. I find it uncomfortable to read a book where everyone is always snarling, sneering, gloating or behaving in some reprehensible way. I find it far more interesting when the suspect pool is filled with essentially nice people or seemingly average people who couldn't possibly have committed a heinous crime. A villain or two is fine, but really, when I can't stand anybody, it makes for a long read.
- No real humor or light moments.
I know lots of people love complex emotional mysteries, lots of villains, and complicated protagonists. If you do, you will probably like this book. It's just not my ideal mystery book experience.
Here's what I did like -
- Kiernan-Lewis does a fabulous job at creating a sense of place; I could imagine myself at Maggie's lovely country vineyard or in the streets of Nice.
- Also, there were lovely descriptions of foods and wine.
- There were plenty of potential suspects and believable motives.
- The writing style was essentially good.
Here's what I didn't like -
- Maggie and her husband, Laurent. The relationship seemed unequal and unhealthy.
- There was too much in your face grief. I want mysteries to combine the fun of solving a puzzle with pure escape. When I want powerful emotional experiences, I turn to novels. Lanie's grieving mother broke my heart, so she was well-written, but not what I like in a mystery.
- The suspects were almost universally loathsome creatures with no redeeming qualities. I find it uncomfortable to read a book where everyone is always snarling, sneering, gloating or behaving in some reprehensible way. I find it far more interesting when the suspect pool is filled with essentially nice people or seemingly average people who couldn't possibly have committed a heinous crime. A villain or two is fine, but really, when I can't stand anybody, it makes for a long read.
- No real humor or light moments.
I know lots of people love complex emotional mysteries, lots of villains, and complicated protagonists. If you do, you will probably like this book. It's just not my ideal mystery book experience.
August 21, 2017
Had enough
I have enjoyed reading these books but now I'm fed up with the same old format. I can't believe now that Maggie has children that she would take such ridiculous risks. She's had multiple broken arms and is always getting herself into unbelievable fixes. Still no proof reader and the errors are now unforgivable. The use of the French is not how it's spoken in France either. I had assumed this would improve with Maggie's improvement in her use of the language. I liked Maggie, Laurent and Grace but I've had enough now.
I have enjoyed reading these books but now I'm fed up with the same old format. I can't believe now that Maggie has children that she would take such ridiculous risks. She's had multiple broken arms and is always getting herself into unbelievable fixes. Still no proof reader and the errors are now unforgivable. The use of the French is not how it's spoken in France either. I had assumed this would improve with Maggie's improvement in her use of the language. I liked Maggie, Laurent and Grace but I've had enough now.
September 5, 2016
Not reading this series EVER glad this book was free!
So this is the 6th book in the series - I'd never read this author before so this was an odd place to start but this was the free book so . . . I didn't miss the backstory on any of the characters as I didn't care about any of them. There were allusions to prior crimes, broken homes, family drama but again didn't feel like it was pertinent to this tale - should have been but the author saved those details for the tidy wrap-up at the end. The murder, the reasons the protagonist became involved, remained involved and delved deeper were so nonsensical it became clear that her entry into motherhood wasn't enough of a challenge that she had to jump into a murder investigation. Did I mention she's an American living in France with a struggling home business on the verge of ruin and this month's-old baby? So by all means leave your home, your business and your baby to solve the murder of a practical stranger. I could not suspend my belief in regular human behavior to care if the killer got her. And the overuse of the misdirection ploy and those odd guilt trip moments attempting to look like a new mother doubting herself - I guess the author needed more pages to satisfy her publisher's requirements. I'm not intrigued enough to go back and understand how these characters arrived here and am less interested in knowing where they are headed. Don't bother with this series -- go read an Agatha Christie or Rex Stout mystery instead for genuine intrigue and entertainment!
So this is the 6th book in the series - I'd never read this author before so this was an odd place to start but this was the free book so . . . I didn't miss the backstory on any of the characters as I didn't care about any of them. There were allusions to prior crimes, broken homes, family drama but again didn't feel like it was pertinent to this tale - should have been but the author saved those details for the tidy wrap-up at the end. The murder, the reasons the protagonist became involved, remained involved and delved deeper were so nonsensical it became clear that her entry into motherhood wasn't enough of a challenge that she had to jump into a murder investigation. Did I mention she's an American living in France with a struggling home business on the verge of ruin and this month's-old baby? So by all means leave your home, your business and your baby to solve the murder of a practical stranger. I could not suspend my belief in regular human behavior to care if the killer got her. And the overuse of the misdirection ploy and those odd guilt trip moments attempting to look like a new mother doubting herself - I guess the author needed more pages to satisfy her publisher's requirements. I'm not intrigued enough to go back and understand how these characters arrived here and am less interested in knowing where they are headed. Don't bother with this series -- go read an Agatha Christie or Rex Stout mystery instead for genuine intrigue and entertainment!
October 11, 2025
I love the setting of this series in Provence in a family vineyard. I'm not as crazy about the main character, although I keep reading this series periodically.
March 31, 2024
3.5 - 4 Stars
Murder in Nice is the sixth book in the Maggie Newberry Mysteries series by Susan Kiernan-Lewis.
The Maggie Newberry series of books by Susan Kiernan-Lewis turned out to be a great cozy mystery series that kept me engrossed the whole way through. Throughout the series we follow thirty-something, Maggie Newberry, an advertising copywriter who has been unlucky in love. Her ‘normal’ life gets upended when her sister, who has been missing for quite some time, turns up dead. Then to add an extra layer of complication, Maggie must now travel to France to locate her young niece that she didn’t even know existed. Arriving in France, thing take a dangerous turn when her sister’s murderer then sets his sights on Maggie and her niece. Add in a sexy Frenchman to add a little extra layer of intrigue, plenty of dramatic developments, secrets, lies, crime & investigation, and the story takes an engrossing turn.
From book #2 onwards-
Maggie’s sexy (French) boyfriend, who we met in the first instalment has inherited an ancient vineyard in a small rural village in France- so Maggie quits her job and sets off for a year abroad. But trouble soon follows, when a vicious murder takes place, thrusting them into the middle of an investigation that links to a 50year-old murder. What happens makes for intriguing reading….and so the series unfolds, with each book bringing another cozy mystery for Maggie to investigate. Sprinkled with mystery suspense, tension, drama, danger, romance, marriage, motherhood, travel, and recipes- made this series a memorable read. It is a light-hearted and enjoyable series, the ‘clean’ stories mean there are no sexy times, violence, or profanity.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Susan Kiernan-Lewis!
Murder in Nice is the sixth book in the Maggie Newberry Mysteries series by Susan Kiernan-Lewis.
The Maggie Newberry series of books by Susan Kiernan-Lewis turned out to be a great cozy mystery series that kept me engrossed the whole way through. Throughout the series we follow thirty-something, Maggie Newberry, an advertising copywriter who has been unlucky in love. Her ‘normal’ life gets upended when her sister, who has been missing for quite some time, turns up dead. Then to add an extra layer of complication, Maggie must now travel to France to locate her young niece that she didn’t even know existed. Arriving in France, thing take a dangerous turn when her sister’s murderer then sets his sights on Maggie and her niece. Add in a sexy Frenchman to add a little extra layer of intrigue, plenty of dramatic developments, secrets, lies, crime & investigation, and the story takes an engrossing turn.
From book #2 onwards-
Maggie’s sexy (French) boyfriend, who we met in the first instalment has inherited an ancient vineyard in a small rural village in France- so Maggie quits her job and sets off for a year abroad. But trouble soon follows, when a vicious murder takes place, thrusting them into the middle of an investigation that links to a 50year-old murder. What happens makes for intriguing reading….and so the series unfolds, with each book bringing another cozy mystery for Maggie to investigate. Sprinkled with mystery suspense, tension, drama, danger, romance, marriage, motherhood, travel, and recipes- made this series a memorable read. It is a light-hearted and enjoyable series, the ‘clean’ stories mean there are no sexy times, violence, or profanity.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Susan Kiernan-Lewis!
July 2, 2021
I enjoyed this book, but felt like I came in half-way through a movie! This is the 6th book in the series, but I had not read the other five and it took quite a while to sort out the characters and their relationships. (I know I complain about other series of books in which the author spends too much time repeating past events, but a few hints would have been good.)
The author's take on the difference between the French and American attitudes toward going directly to the point of business, is very interesting. I guess that goes along with being from a country with so many years of history.
Maggie, originally from Atlanta, husband Frenchman Laurent, and have nine month old son, Jem, live in Provence, France. Her brother, Ben, and sister-in-law Haley are on a tour of France and will leave the tour to stay with them. The tour is promoting a TV travelogue show and at the same time the host will choose a new co-host from a number of candidates. One of these is a high school friend of Maggie's, Lanie.
Before Maggie can pick up Ben and Haley in Nice, Lanie is murdered. Maggie, who has solved some crimes in the past and over her husband's objections, becomes involved in trying to solve this.
The author's take on the difference between the French and American attitudes toward going directly to the point of business, is very interesting. I guess that goes along with being from a country with so many years of history.
Maggie, originally from Atlanta, husband Frenchman Laurent, and have nine month old son, Jem, live in Provence, France. Her brother, Ben, and sister-in-law Haley are on a tour of France and will leave the tour to stay with them. The tour is promoting a TV travelogue show and at the same time the host will choose a new co-host from a number of candidates. One of these is a high school friend of Maggie's, Lanie.
Before Maggie can pick up Ben and Haley in Nice, Lanie is murdered. Maggie, who has solved some crimes in the past and over her husband's objections, becomes involved in trying to solve this.
March 7, 2020
I'm reading this series in order and like what I'm reading, although I will say 6 books in and they are rather formulaic, but that in no way detracts from my enjoyment of the books.
Each book set in a different part of the French region, Provence, where Maggie, ex advertising writer, now married to a French winemaker (ex conman) lives.
In this book we get introduced to Maggie's Brother, Ben and his wife Haley. They're on a trip, being recorded for TV. through the Provence region.
An old school friend, Lanie, is one of the presenters on the trip and she's murdered, cue Maggie to get involved to try and solve the murder for Lanie's Mother. Is it one of the crew or a member of the 'audience' who is guilty, or someone else?
Whilst Maggie is away from the vineyard, Laurent has his own problems to deal with, which may impact their future.
I've already bought book 7 to read! I had to read til the end, which entailed a very late night/ not so early morning!
Each book set in a different part of the French region, Provence, where Maggie, ex advertising writer, now married to a French winemaker (ex conman) lives.
In this book we get introduced to Maggie's Brother, Ben and his wife Haley. They're on a trip, being recorded for TV. through the Provence region.
An old school friend, Lanie, is one of the presenters on the trip and she's murdered, cue Maggie to get involved to try and solve the murder for Lanie's Mother. Is it one of the crew or a member of the 'audience' who is guilty, or someone else?
Whilst Maggie is away from the vineyard, Laurent has his own problems to deal with, which may impact their future.
I've already bought book 7 to read! I had to read til the end, which entailed a very late night/ not so early morning!
November 1, 2022
Better
A much better story with a good number of twists and turns, but I still can’t like Maggie who makes ridiculous and irrational decisions.
Who in their right mind would go haring off to Nice, leaving behind your infant child and husband purely because a very old minor acquaintance asked you to do something. Certainly not me!
As I said it’s a better story but even then it mentions Laurent’s two dogs but I’m sure I recall one of them dying early in the series of stories. I can’t be bothered looking back to confirm I’m right but feel I am.
Yet again the characters in this story are quite awful people and character traits from previous characters are repeated in this story. Surely the author can have a wider imagination?
I’m glad to say this is the last of the series I’ve bought and I don’t currently plan to buy any more.
A much better story with a good number of twists and turns, but I still can’t like Maggie who makes ridiculous and irrational decisions.
Who in their right mind would go haring off to Nice, leaving behind your infant child and husband purely because a very old minor acquaintance asked you to do something. Certainly not me!
As I said it’s a better story but even then it mentions Laurent’s two dogs but I’m sure I recall one of them dying early in the series of stories. I can’t be bothered looking back to confirm I’m right but feel I am.
Yet again the characters in this story are quite awful people and character traits from previous characters are repeated in this story. Surely the author can have a wider imagination?
I’m glad to say this is the last of the series I’ve bought and I don’t currently plan to buy any more.
July 12, 2021
Maggie is at it again...the murder of a high school friend has her off investigating. She and her husband Laurent now have a son, and a friend, Grace and her daughter Zouzou are also living at their house. And to this mix her brother, Ben, who she is no longer close to and his wife Haley and things are very tense at her house. I love her stories but, for me, the language could be cleaned up a bit. The light swearing doesn't add to the story and for me is irritating.
September 6, 2024
Maggie gets a phonecall from her old school friend's mother, Ann to say that Lainie whilst touring for a travel tv show has been murdered and could she look into it. Apparently Lainie's boyfriend has been arrested but Ann doesn't believe he did it so reluctantly Maggie agrees leaving her husband and baby with her brother and his wife due to arrive. So many twists and turns it's hard to guess and Maggie is in danger.....
October 22, 2019
Good read
I am enjoying this series so far but I do have issues with some of it. Things happen in the books that don't seem to carry over to the next books. Also it bothers me that the characters don't seem to learn from their mistakes. Maggie especially sometimes seems pretty stupid in her decision making. I do love the setting and the food references.
I am enjoying this series so far but I do have issues with some of it. Things happen in the books that don't seem to carry over to the next books. Also it bothers me that the characters don't seem to learn from their mistakes. Maggie especially sometimes seems pretty stupid in her decision making. I do love the setting and the food references.
June 18, 2021
A decent read as far as the mystery part but I do have a few issues with this series. A pregnant woman taking a really bad fall and not seeing a doctor to make sure all is okay? Some things were left unanswered and some too detailed. Not enough humor for me and I don’t think this is a “cosy” murder mystery because of things done to kids.
September 30, 2022
Full of adventure and achy bones.
I liked being back in France with Maggie and Laurent. It felt like I was on holiday. It was fast paced and made my bones ach a little but I like a good adventure and with a murder thrown in it was a perfect recipe for a good story. And I do love Laurent's cooking. I put on weight just reading about it.
I liked being back in France with Maggie and Laurent. It felt like I was on holiday. It was fast paced and made my bones ach a little but I like a good adventure and with a murder thrown in it was a perfect recipe for a good story. And I do love Laurent's cooking. I put on weight just reading about it.
October 9, 2018
I love the characters in this series and the storylines. The only thing I don't like about the books is the use of so many French words and phrases. I have a hard time reading over words I can't pronounce.
March 28, 2021
An enjoyable murder mystery series with very likable main characters and take place in the south of France. What more is there to like? I never am able to solve who the murderer is. This is a series to binge read!
June 25, 2021
Murder in Nice
What a fun and tantalizing adventure—murder, French countryside, history, cuisine and aperitifs. Babies, lovers and family who, what and why is the question of the murders
What a fun and tantalizing adventure—murder, French countryside, history, cuisine and aperitifs. Babies, lovers and family who, what and why is the question of the murders
July 5, 2021
A tour that I would not want to take.
There's danger and intrigue combined with lots of mystery. Some very interesting characters that certainly keep you in suspense as you try to unravel who did what. A very good mystery.
There's danger and intrigue combined with lots of mystery. Some very interesting characters that certainly keep you in suspense as you try to unravel who did what. A very good mystery.
July 27, 2021
Nice to have a new go to author!
I love the setting of this book and the characters jump off the page. Truly didn’t see the ending coming, strong mystery plot and personal secrets that kept me intrigued.
I love the setting of this book and the characters jump off the page. Truly didn’t see the ending coming, strong mystery plot and personal secrets that kept me intrigued.
October 26, 2021
I liked the story, but find it so unbelievable that Maggie would run off and get involved in yet another murder when she has so much she needs to take care of at home. And there is no way I would invite my snarky brother to stay at my house when he is never nice to anyone.
February 10, 2018
True suspense
Definitely true suspense you think right along with Maggie on who committed the crime only to change your mind several times....definite must read
Definitely true suspense you think right along with Maggie on who committed the crime only to change your mind several times....definite must read
December 4, 2018
This is a great series. Independent woman, love, murder, friendship, children and adventure!
January 22, 2019
Liked this book. The characters and settings are great, and there are plenty of nice red herrings to keep the crime from being too easily solved.
September 21, 2020
Another good mystery
Once again the author kept me guessing until near the very end. I enjoy how the characters have evolved over time.
Once again the author kept me guessing until near the very end. I enjoy how the characters have evolved over time.
July 10, 2021
Absolutely love this series! Have read prior books and just downloaded the next in the series with the advent of Jemmy’s baby sister. Can’t wait to meet Maggie’s in-laws or will I? Lol
July 11, 2021
Spine-tingling suspense!
July 16, 2021
I really wanted to give this more stars, but there was just too much going on. I feel there were too many subplots to keep me fully interested.
July 17, 2021
Murder in Nice
The story began slow but then it became interesting. There are a number of changes as to who did what. I enjoyed it and could not figure out the murderer.
The story began slow but then it became interesting. There are a number of changes as to who did what. I enjoyed it and could not figure out the murderer.
July 31, 2021
Who done it
OMG I couldn’t put book down excellent. French words thrown in was interesting but I had no idea what I was pronouncing. The meaning was there. The suspense. Loved it
OMG I couldn’t put book down excellent. French words thrown in was interesting but I had no idea what I was pronouncing. The meaning was there. The suspense. Loved it
August 1, 2021
Goodness me Maggie certainly gets herself into some tricky situations
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews