In the Spirit of French Murder

After moving to France, Tabitha Knight has a new friend in fellow expat and Cordon Bleu student Julia Child, whose culinary tips come in quite handy. But something’s cooking in postwar Paris, and it isn’t just cheese soufflé . . .

Tabitha has enjoyed an afternoon in Julia’s kitchen, but her return home is jarring. A woman bursts out the door of her grandfather’s rue de l’Université mansion babbling about messages from spirits and a warning Grand-père must heed. Oncle Rafe angrily sends the woman on her way, and neither man will answer Tabitha’s questions. But it’s not the last she sees of the mysterious visitor.

Tabitha soon learns that Madame Vierca is a medium who claims to have visions of a dark fate that awaits Grand-père and Oncle Rafe. The very next night, Tabitha’s messieurs host a soiree at their new restaurant, inviting fellow Resistance fighters known as the Nine Bluets. To commemorate them, the dinner table sports a vase of nine pretty blue flowers. But shortly after the revelers leave, one of
Grand-père’s old friends is found dead in the street . . . and one of the nine flowers is missing,

When a second member of the Nine Bluets is found poisoned and a bluet flower is left with the body, Tabitha can’t ignore Madame Vierca’s predictions. She has no choice but to share her fears with the enigmatic Inspecteur Merveille. Soon, Tabitha is caught up in an investigation that takes her and Merveille to the seediest and strangest parts of the Left Bank. But they don’t have much time to find the killer before the remaining Bluets are targeted . . . including Grand-père and Oncle Rafe.

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