Kirsty Manning’s new cozy mystery transports readers to 1938 Paris, where glamour and decadence collide with murder.
Australian reporter Charlotte “Charlie” James has just accepted her dream job: She’s the new Paris correspondent for a major international newspaper. After a devastating personal loss, Charlie is looking forward to starting anew in Paris and jump-starting her career. Her first assignment is to ingratiate herself with well-connected members of Parisian society while covering the extravagant Circus Ball, hosted by British expats Lord and Lady Ashworth. The lavish ball is a smashing success—until a wealthy investor is found murdered. Charlie covers the crime for her paper and her investigation reveals a growing list of suspects, all wealthy and powerful. As Charlie closes in on the truth, she brings herself closer to a murderer who may strike again.
Manning highlights the opulence and decadence of interwar Paris in this engaging and delightful mystery. The City of Light comes alive through her descriptions of haute couture and Parisian cuisine. Charlie is an engaging sleuth, too: She’s intelligent, empathetic and a skilled reporter. She’s keenly aware that the 1930s news industry is a male-dominated profession, but she refuses to let that mindset hold her back. Her relationship with Inspecteur Bernard, the French detective heading up the murder investigation, is also a highlight. Journalists and police officers often find themselves at odds in mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, but Charlie and Bernard quickly strike up a cordial working relationship that benefits them both.
The Paris Mystery is a fizzy, fast-paced caper full of glitz, glamour and intrigue.
