Devi Nair
š±š Read on Kindle š 323 pages ā± Duration: 5 hours š·ļø Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton š Published: September 18, 2025 Genre: Cozy Mystery
This book had me at āFrench bookshop.ā Between the croissants, cobblestone lanes, and bookish charm, I thought Iād found my next comfort read. And in some ways, I did. The setting is lovely. You can almost feel the ProvenƧal sunlight and hear the chatter of locals spilling out of cafĆ©s. Greg Mosse captures the easy rhythm of small-town life with genuine warmth.
But while the world-building had me swooning, the pacing slowed things down more than I expected. The mystery is gentle, almost meandering, which isnāt a dealbreaker in cozy-land, but I did find myself wishing the plot would pick up the pace. And then thereās Zoe. Sheās sweet, and her bookshop-owner fantasy is charming, but she feels like sheās waiting for someone else to tell her who she is. A little more spark, a little more growth, and she couldāve easily carried this story with more oomph.
Itās a pleasant cozy, but one that didnāt leave me counting down for the sequel. Think of it as a gentle walk through a French village rather than a twisty chase, nice company, beautiful scenery, just not the most thrilling route.
Would I Recommend It? If youāre craving a slow, atmospheric cozy set under the French sun, absolutely. The setting alone is worth the trip, even if the pacing wanders. Zoe has room to grow, but the world around her is delightful.
Bonjour or Meh? Letās Discuss š«š· Would you move abroad for a fresh start, even if your dream job came with a body count? Tell me in the comments: is small-town murder your kind of escapism?
š±š Read on Kindle š 323 pages ā± Duration: 5 hours š·ļø Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton š Published: September 18, 2025 Genre: Cozy Mystery
This book had me at āFrench bookshop.ā Between the croissants, cobblestone lanes, and bookish charm, I thought Iād found my next comfort read. And in some ways, I did. The setting is lovely. You can almost feel the ProvenƧal sunlight and hear the chatter of locals spilling out of cafĆ©s. Greg Mosse captures the easy rhythm of small-town life with genuine warmth.
But while the world-building had me swooning, the pacing slowed things down more than I expected. The mystery is gentle, almost meandering, which isnāt a dealbreaker in cozy-land, but I did find myself wishing the plot would pick up the pace. And then thereās Zoe. Sheās sweet, and her bookshop-owner fantasy is charming, but she feels like sheās waiting for someone else to tell her who she is. A little more spark, a little more growth, and she couldāve easily carried this story with more oomph.
Itās a pleasant cozy, but one that didnāt leave me counting down for the sequel. Think of it as a gentle walk through a French village rather than a twisty chase, nice company, beautiful scenery, just not the most thrilling route.
Would I Recommend It? If youāre craving a slow, atmospheric cozy set under the French sun, absolutely. The setting alone is worth the trip, even if the pacing wanders. Zoe has room to grow, but the world around her is delightful.
Bonjour or Meh? Letās Discuss š«š· Would you move abroad for a fresh start, even if your dream job came with a body count? Tell me in the comments: is small-town murder your kind of escapism?