Review: Murder Most Delicious – Danielle Postel-Vinay

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

In Paris, murder is a dish best served with chocolate éclairs.

Starting over in Paris was supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime for American sommelier Olivia Beech—until her dream job ends in murder.

Once a rising star in the wine world, Olivia was one of a handful of women in the world to hold the distinction of being a Master Sommelier before COVID stole her sense of taste—and her career. Adrift and depressed, she gets a second chance when beloved celebrity chef Jacques de Bizet invites her to Paris for a job interview. But as the interview begins, he collapses, poisoned, making Olivia the prime suspect.

Olivia is in trouble, but she has an advantage: her extraordinary nose is still sharp enough to detect the subtlest of scents, including the poison that killed Jacques. Olivia knows she’s innocent, but how can she prove it?

Enter the Paris Neighborhood Watch, an eccentric circle of locals determined to protect their quartier. At the helm is the mysterious Augusta Dupin, a brilliant but agoraphobic detective, aided by her intuitive British shorthair cat, Chateaubriand. Olivia and Augusta join forces with a group of neighborhood amateur sleuths—a pâtissier, a café owner, a part-time librarian, a florist and a kind-hearted cop who may be falling for Olivia—to solve the crime, a search that helps them find not only the killer but fresh purpose in their lives.

Warm, witty, and brimming with food, friendship, and intrigue, Murder Most Delicious transports you to a cozy Parisian neighborhood where the comforts of French daily life soothe the soul even in the darkest times.

Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay is the kind of mystery that draws you in right away. Set in Paris, the story mixes wine, food, gossip, and murder, and feels rich and immersive from start to finish.

What really worked for me was the tension running underneath all the beauty. One moment, the story feels warm and comforting, with all the food, wine, and neighborhood charm; the next, there is a lingering feeling that something is not right. That balance gave the mystery a stronger edge without losing the cozy feel of the book.

I also liked how the story looked at themes like starting over, reputation, and identity. There’s real emotional depth here, which makes the book feel more meaningful and layered than a typical suspense novel.

The story does slow down in a few spots, but overall, it’s a stylish and clever mystery with a strong sense of place and personality.

Reviewed by: Orsayor

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