The Paris Mystery
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Intrepid reporter Charlotte "Charlie" James arrives in Paris in 1938 eager to make a fresh start, but little does she know the trouble that awaits her...
Charlie James is chasing her first big scoop as correspondent for British-based newspaper The Times, and she needs to prove to her boss that she can do this job as well, if not better, than her male counterparts. The best way to forge the necessary contacts quickly is to make well-connected British expats, Lord and Lady Ashworth, her business. Lady Eleanor knows everyone in Parisian high society, and at her sumptuously extravagant annual party, a Circus Ball, Charlie will meet them all.
On the summer solstice eve, the Circus Ball is in full swing, with the Parisian elites entranced by burlesque dancers, tightrope walkers, a jazz band . . . and a horrific murder. A wealthy but unscrupulous investor is dead, and the list of suspects is a veritable who's who of le haut monde. As Charlie tries to determine who the murderer is, she finds herself drawn into the magical parties, couture houses, and bohemian wine bars of the City of Lights. Soon secrets start to unravel, including some Charlie has a personal stake in keeping hidden.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This enjoyable debut cozy from Manning (The French Gift) follows Australian journalist Charlotte "Charlie" James as she begins a job with the Paris bureau of the London Times in the summer of 1938. Charlie's first assignment is a masquerade party hosted by Lady Eleanor Ashworth on the grounds of her Versailles villa. Performers from the famous Cirque d'Hiver entertain the high-society attendees, until banker Maxime Marchand is stabbed to death. Eager to prove she's as tough as any man—especially after being belittled by her boss, who assumed she was a man when he hired her—Charlie seizes her chance to report on the crime. The many guests with potential motives include Marchand's onetime lover Amelia Goldsmith, who found his body; Amelia's jealous current beau, American photographer Conrad Mackenzie; and British attaché Edward Rose-Thomas, who is angry that Marchand bankrupted his wife's family. Charlie develops feelings for both Rose-Thomas and the inspector in charge of the case as she embarks on an investigation that takes her to various high-society settings, and ultimately threatens to reveal secrets she'd rather keep hidden. Though Manning's fans may miss the depth and nuance of her historical fiction, her talents for scene-setting and unpredictable plotting freshen up tired mystery tropes. Colorful characters and a brisk pace make this a pleasure.
