The Girl, the Dog, and the Writer in Lucerne by Katrina Nannestad

🍫 This is the third and final installment of The Girl, the Dog, and the Writer series. Freja Peachtree is ten years old when the series began in Rome. She was brought up mostly within Arctic region by her researcher mom, and grew up as a shy but intelligent girl. When her mom is sick, Freya had to live with Tobias Appleby, an absent-minded bestselling crime writer, and his huge silly puppy Finnegan.

🍫 In book one, The Girl, the Dog, and the Writer in Rome, the unlikely trio stumbled upon exciting adventure, and got acquainted with Vivi, a sweet girl who was apprenticed as a chef. Tobias was instantly smitten by her, that when Vivi moved to Provence to be apprenticed to a famous chef, Tobias followed her step. Once again the girl, the dog, and the writer were embroiled in another adventurous mystery.

🍫 Now Vivi moved to work at a chocolatier in Lucerne, and at the same time Tobias and Freja are heading there too, where Clementine, Freja's mother whom she hadn't met for months, is hospitalized. This is also Clementine's first "appearance", and I've been wondering what illness had took her away from her daughter for months? It's not clearly stated in this book, but judging by her condition.. mightn't it be cancer?

🍫 Switzerland is famous for chocolate, and we get chocolate in almost every page of this book! The mystery this time is a string of chocolate thefts. The mysterious thief only steals particular chocolate dishes which was made of Margrit's chocolate - a premium quality chocolate from a premium factory. Why? And the thief seems not to enjoy the chocolates and throw them like trash - Freja & co. finds chocolate-coated log in the forest behind their hotel. Again,  why?

🍫 There's also the mystery of Lady P - a patient next to Clementine's bed - who's just had an accident- or has she been pushed by her maid? But the biggest mystery for Freja is: who is Tobias Appleby? Freja shares Tobias' curly hair and his habit of pulling his ear while pondering; does it mean he is...?

🍫 In Lucerne is the best of the series - it has similar quality to the previous two, but twice intensified. The mystery/adventure is more puzzling, the romance is sweeter, and the family and friendship theme is deeper. It has all the quality of a great book. All lose end is tied satisfactorily, and the whole story has a bitter and sweet taste; full of love and humour. I might love it more for personal reasons. Freja, Clementine, and Tobias' relationship is the kind that is tightly bound with love - love that shape them into one solid unity. That's the kind of love we used to have - me, my mama and late papa - and that has shaped me into what I am now. I might often be fragile, but that love protects me and gives me strength. And I believe Freja would grow up a wonderful woman. No matter what happens in our journey, that love would always live inside us.

Rating: 5 / 5