Framed for French Murder

From Le Cordon Bleu to the Louvre, Paris in the 1950s is perfect for food lovers and art lovers alike, including expat Tabitha Knight and her friend, aspiring chef Julia Child. Unfortunately, the City of Light also has a dark side . . .

Seeking distraction from her upcoming exam at Le Cordon Bleu, Julia delightedly accepts Tabitha’s invitation to meet her former fiancé Henry and his sister, who are visiting from the U.S. with plans to tour the Louvre. They’ve also befriended a young painter on their voyage who, despite Tabitha’s wariness of the strange attachment, seems truly excited to see the art. Once there, however, he expresses confusion over a painting hanging which he claims to have seen in a collector’s home back in America.

The next day, Tabitha receives an early morning visit from Inspecteur Merveille. The young painter has been found dead in his hotel room, and Henry is the prime suspect. Henry and his sister are distraught: he’s clearly been framed…but by whom? And could it concern the painting at the Louvre?

Tabitha and Julia are determined to clear Henry’s name—much to the frustration of the good inspector. As the women canvas the clues, they begin to suspect a connection to Parisians hiding art from the Nazis and the dark business of forgery. With evidence against Henry mounting, Tabitha and her friends risk their very lives to uncover the real killer, before he perfects the art of murder…

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs