Death by Cliché

An American in Paris aka Claire Baskerville #2

by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Picking up where Déjà Dead left off, Claire Baskerville is a "woman of a certain age" trying to make a new life for herself in the City of Life. When one of her clients—the owner of a popular expat bookstore—ends up brutally murdered in his bookstore, Claire finds herself in the hot seat. Working with a handsome police detective who was once her sworn enemy, Claire will need to find her client’s killer—while keeping herself out of jail and at the same time not the killer’s next victim.

This book is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex or strong language
Genre: light culinary cozy mystery, women amateur sleuth, cozy animal (dog)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, France, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2020

Reviews

[Jackie Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by Susan Kiernan-Lewis.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Claire Baskerville's latest client winds up dead moments after she leaves him screaming in outrage about his cheating wife, she finds herself the prime suspect. With a detective who seems uninterested in pursuing any other suspects, Claire will have to turn to her own investigative skills to prove her innocence.

Death by Cliche is full of the same Paris life as the first novel. The author brings the city to life as she enthrals us with a new string of murders and a different cast of suspects. I get absolutely ravenous whilst reading this series due to the fantastic descriptions of the food that comes out of the boulangeries. And while the food is good, the mystery keeps me spellbound, turning page after page. There is one disappointment, though - covered with a spoiler to protect those who have yet to read this story. It seems hypocritical for Claire to jump into a relationship with Marc-Jean when you consider how devastated she was when her husband cheated on her. His marriage may be a toxic inconvenience, but even so, his wife doesn't deserve this fate visited on her. When you marry someone, you are promising to walk beside them in both good times and bad. At least have the respect of letting your partner choose if they want to stay in what you have now decided-to-be an open marriage or free them from the travesty before you start in with someone else. Claire went down in my estimation because of this plot turn.

More gritty than the Maggie Newbury series, but still readable by those with weak stomachs, this series is full of surprises, twists and turns. Claire is an unusual PI with an astounding backstory. I have infinite respect for her.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Susan, you write great mysteries!
I have inhaled the Maggie Newberry, Stranded in Provence, and the Mia Kazmaroff mystery series and always preorder the next instalments in each. So I was thrilled to see another series set in Paris with an older heroine who still "thinks young" like Claire Baskerville. This is the second book in the series and I loved it as much as the first one. Claire's affliction of being unable to remember faces (remember Oliver Sachs' books?) has heightened her other senses giving her unique abilities to "read" people and discover the truth.

The book began with the murder of a book store owner for whom Claire was employed as a private detective to find out if his spouse was cheating on him. With many possible suspects the lead detective has inexplicably focused on Claire forcing Claire to investigate the others in order to clear herself. Meanwhile there are more murders and Claire finds herself in danger before she discovers the truth.

Great stories, well-realized characters, and satisfying conclusions combined in making An American in Paris one of my favorite mystery series.

[Veronica Traynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently discovered the adventures of Claire Baskerville having read and enjoyed all the Maggie Newberry books written so far. The plots are well thought out and the description of Parisian neighborhoods and bistros are delightful.
I do have a pet peeve, however in both series. The editor should check the spelling as well as the grammar of the French phrases sprinkled throughout the stories. It can’t be all that difficult as they are all italicized. As a bilingual reader, I would prefer a phrase in French not be used if it cannot be spelled properly! Otherwise, bravo.

[Cj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Bookbub, as part of a boxset.
This is the second book in the series.

I found this book more difficult to read the first. I felt like I spent a day longer, than I would have liked reading it. The plot didn't feel realistic. What motive? We knew that Claire was being framed for murder, but we never understood why (there never was enough evidence to place her in jail, for the evening she spent)? And just because her younger step-mother had a hatred for her... doesn't add up to guilt or murder.

We spent a good amount of time out in the pouring raining, just following people (to look at their faces and ask our questions). Why should we ever care about a bookstore? This story never took off. I felt like we bumbled around, just laying the ground work for the next book in the series.

All I got from this, was people died (funerals, affairs, dinners & cafes)... and Courtney should appear with baby Robbie in tow. Is Courtney looking to dump the child on Claire? Or, is she seeking help in co-parenting? As far as suspense goes... Claire hasn't put on a pound, with all her pastries because she walks a lot (following people) and takes a few classes here and there.

And yet, I will be reading the 3rd book in the series.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery series following Claire Baskerville, an American living in Paris. I am a fan for all things French so I enjoyed this story with all it’s Parisian references. Claire is a likable character trying to rebuild her life after the murder of her husband while on vacation in Paris. She has relocated from Atlanta after inheriting an apartment from her French father and settling into a new life. This is book 2 and when the owner of an ex-pat English book store is murdered Claire becomes a person of interest. She must join forces with a French detective who was her nemesis in Book 1. I listened to this as an audio book and the narrators voice annoyed me which diminished my enjoyment of the story. It is hard for me to rate this as I was distracted by the narration. If you like cosy type mysteries set in Paris, give this a try in book form.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue to love this series. After Claire moved to Paris in the first book and found out that her father was not who she thought he was she continues to settle into her life in Paris. Claire starts a small investigations career finding missing people and investigating people for the expat community in Paris. When one of her clients who owns a English Book Shop dies Claire becomes one of the suspects in his death. Can she solve the mystery of why he was killed and stay out jail?

[Lisa Barbour · Rating 2 out of 5]

Talk about cliché. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this one was tough to get through. I’m tired of the constant references to her age, that her dog is a French bulldog, and referring to the plot of the first book doesn’t make any sense to those who haven’t read it. Her character is not believable to me. And not likable.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good one in the series of Claire in Paris.
This one seemed to drag on a bit more than the previous one, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Happy to read Claire is 'falling in love'.
Anxious to find out what happens next in her very busy and somewhat dangerous life.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

Attention grabbing, entertaining, surprising. This story and these characters keep you guessing and interested for the next surprise twist. Recommend to anyone interested in characters dealing with complicated lives, relationships and character development

[Betsy Fatzinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this, the second book of this intriguing series. It was a good and quick read. The plot was full of twists and turns. Both the plot and the characters caught me by surprise! Another recommend from me!

[Rizello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm going to end this series at this book. Too many things that get in the way.

She has face blindness but instantly recognizes some people but not others. Her husband cheated on her and now she is attracted to a married man and thinks that is OK.

[Julia Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh stupid cops is annoying but WTF to that ending!!

[Bk]

Another great read!

[Marion Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

If possible, this 2nd book in the series was better than the first. I stayed up late to finish the last few pages.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and I love that the audio books are narrated by the author. Highly recommended.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good mystery, that takes place in Paris, but wish Claire would not be so impulsive. I feel as if I have walked the streets of Paris with Claire!

[MinglingThreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series so far.

[Karen Heiser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too ridiculous

The main character is too nuts, too crazy, too into herself to be real. Susan can do much better with presenting a repeating character.

[Traci Hunziker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this mystery series set in Paris with a 60-year-old widow as the main character. Plenty of action and lots of guessing.