This dark and atmospheric book is well-written and immersive. The pacing is good and the characters sympathetic.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC

Fin, the illegitimate son of an English earl, and his ballerina cousin, Aurelie, are barely making ends meet, but Fin hasn’t spoken to his father in years and has no plans to do so. In dire financial circumstances, Fin jumps at the chance to earn commissions on donations to his boss’s pet project, a tower that will take center stage in the Paris skyline. When a stranger takes Fin under his wing and introduces him to men who are willing to help finance the project, everything is going incredibly well – until, all of a sudden, it isn’t, and Fin’s life is at stake.

This appears to be the author’s first novel, which surprised me. It is so well written and the characters so complex that I was drawn into the story right from the start. There was a lot going on, and plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I wasn’t sure who could and could not be trusted, and it seemed like that changed with every new situation. I admired the way Fin kept his head through most problems, and was happy with – and surprised by – the way everything worked out in the end.

I learned a lot about Paris in the 1880s, and about the building of the Eiffel Tower. As beloved as it is today, it’s hard to believe that so many thought it would be an eyesore and sought to prevent its construction. Sadly, some of the attitudes prevalent in this story are still causing problems today, and it takes books like this to remind us what is truly important.

I hope the author continues writing fiction and will keep an eye out for future books, whether they bring Fin and Aurelie back or introduce new characters and new historical situations for readers to learn about.

This was a really well done historical romance novel, it had that suspenseful feel that I was looking for from the description. I was engaged with what was happening to this type of book and thought the characters worked in this world. Maureen Marshall has a great writing style and thought everything worked in this universe.

This book surpassed my expectations. It has everything: a thrilling mystery plot with multiple murders, a sizzling m/m romance (for romance readers: it's fade to black, has hea), a well-researched historical background, a family drama with secrets from the past, and a social commentary on the era that rings true to this day.

It's a single pov, 1st person narrator by our protagonist Fin, who's a down on his luck engineer working for Eiffel. He's deep in debts and there's also a controversy will the tower be even built, so he needs to help secure funding and support for it, lest he loses his job and he and his orphaned ballerina cousin land on the street.

There's an author's note at the end mentioning the Eiffel tower controversy is fairly unknown in the modern day, but the contemporaries didn't perceive it as a work of art but some ugly abomination. I was told that story by my primary school arts teacher and she also claimed there were plans to build multiple towers and connect them with a cable line cart travelling around the city - not sure whether that's legend or truth, but in the end, we just got 1 tower, but indeed it has become a symbol of Paris and France rather than something akin to oversized electricity pylon. There are even multiple other towers inspired by this one, including Tokyo tv tower.

Anyway, Fin gets approached by a very handsome, witty but a bit "this guy knows too much - why?" suspicious gentleman, Gilbert, who ropes him into a grand plan of making a ripple among the Paris elite society and securing sponsors for the tower.

The plan works well - too well. Something's off. And then people go missing and the dead bodies start appearing. Is Gilbert the murderer, or is he protecting Fin from the real murderer? Is he a swindler or a friend? Fin keeps asking himself what are Gilbert's true motivations, while getting entangled in an affair with the man.

The story was intriguing and fast paced, while also introducing a colorful cast of side characters. And as the author admits in the note, the protagonists might be gay white men, but the novel also says a lot about women of that era.

There's Aurelie, Fin's cousin, his only family left he really knows and would protect with his life. Her dream is to be a ballet star, but during that era, ballerinas and other female artists like actresses and singers are often treated as thinly concealed courtesans, only waiting for a rich "sponsor" to take care of them. Aurelie doesn't want to be anyone's kept woman or a prostitute, but the society's prejudices and the system designed to keep women down works in her disfavor.

There's Victoire, a transwoman working as a singer in a friend's "gay bar" of the era, disowned by her family (except one sister) for not being a man as they expected her to be. The representation was really well done and interesting, and Victoire is a strong character who doesn't self-pity despite the society being prejudiced against trans folks even more than against gay folks. There's a soul crushing scene where due to financial reasons she's considering detransitioning and going back to the closet, and that's also portraying harsh realities queer people often have to face.

There's Stephanie, a bi-racial fiancee and step-cousin of Gilbert. She a very smart and savvy woman but due to misogynistic laws she's under the thumb of her step-father who owns all her deceased mother's money. Gilbert is offering her a lavender marriage so she could have some semblance of financial independence while he's covered against homophobia.

At this point of time, being gay was illegal in England, and while it wasn't illegal in France, it was illegal to show any signs of it in public, and it was socially shunned. All of the queer characters in this novel have to hide their orientation and the "gay bar" is an underground "speakeasy" style establishment that uses various means of concealment to look "legal" and bribery against police raids. A lot of this still rings true in modern day, where in many places queer people don't have the privilege to be "out and proud" in fear of ostracism, bullying, discrimination and violence.

The mystery was well crafted, and in the end all pieces fell into place, but the last 20% plot twist really upped the stakes and made me rush to the end to see how everything will unravel. The ending sends a powerful message but also I felt it was a bit abrupt because everything started happening at once in the last part.

I also liked the last moment introduction of Fin's grandma, who has to suddenly step out of her comfort zone of a proper English lady and reconcile with her grandson shunned by the family for so long, but they're all dead now while Fin and the grandma are here and have to look into the future, not into the past.

Fin himself was likeable, but a bit naive and slow on uptake, partially due to insecurity, partially due to being constantly put in fish out of water situations, but in the end he managed to find his own voice and confidence, and it was satisfying. However, at at least two moments across the book I wanted to shake him and knock some sense into him. Man, you're an engineer, please add things up!

Overall it was an enjoyable, suspenseful read, but also hard at times due to heavy subjects. I appreciate the author's thoughtful exploration of the social inequalities of the era.

TW: homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, sexual assault (off page), slurs, discrimination of lower class / status people, forced child prostitution (non-graphic, backstory), murder, domestic abuse (mentioned in passing, backstory), suicide of a family member (backstory), disowning / familial estrangement, unfair / corrupt justice system.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing / Hachette Book Group for the ARC!

Here we are, in 1880's Paris - Fin is an engineer working on the preliminary plans for the Eiffel Tower, living with his cousin Aurelie (a ballet dancer for the Corps) in a rundown flat. Fin is gay, and Aurelie, being a ballet dancer, is looked down upon by society. Fin meets Gilbert on the fly, a man who promises him the moon to get the Eiffel Tower funded and Fin a promotion, but at what cost?

I really liked this story, from learning about LGBTQ Paris to the building of the Eiffel Tower. The writing is solid and the story moves along well. There are a couple plot points I am confused on (SPOILER ALERT ...

how exactly did Fin get Gilbert off the hook and for Aurelie not to get charged? What did I miss?) and I had a hard time getting a feel for Aurelie's personality. Gilbert really read to me as Oscar from a Gilded Age - a nice enough fellow, but always seems to be on the sly for some reason or another.

I wish that the author had a section at the end of the book more about the history of the Eiffel Tower and what she pulled from reality for her book. I did go look some things up, but it wasn't the same as hearing what the author pulled from history, who, and why. In a lot of historical fiction books that happens. Though I did find her interview after the discussion questions lovely and it gave us a sense of who she is and why she chose to write the characters as she did.

Thank you to NetGalley for ARC!

In The Paris Affair by Maureen Marshall, readers are transported to Belle Époque Paris, where young engineer Fin Tighe navigates a precarious existence amidst societal prejudice and the looming construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower. As Fin grapples with his identity and aspirations for financial security, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit orchestrated by the enigmatic Gilbert Duhais. Their burgeoning romance unfolds against a backdrop of danger and intrigue, as Fin endeavors to unravel secrets that threaten his future and the safety of those he holds dear. Marshall's meticulous attention to historical detail and vibrant characterizations breathe life into the rich tapestry of 19th-century Paris, resulting in a captivating narrative that seamlessly blends romance, suspense, and historical intrigue. The Paris Affair is a compelling literary journey that resonates with themes of identity, class, and the pursuit of love and acceptance, making it a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

This twist-y, turning, delicious, historical thriller has absolutely everything. Rich in historical detail and atmosphere, it's filled with unforgettable, complex characters, and twists that keep you guessing at every turn.

It's both romantic at heart, but as seductive as Gilbert himself. And the portrait it draws of Belle Epoch Paris is absolutely breathtaking, finding beauty in the high and the low, and grappling with the changes the era brings to the city and the culture.

Every part of this book is well-done and well-written and an absolute joy. I could read it over and over again. It is highly, highly recommended and I can't wait to see what Maureen Marshall does next.

this was a very captivating story! I loved the premise and the historical queer romance aspect of an interesting moment in history. I loved the historical moments of the building of Eiffel’s tower intertwined with the romance and suspense of the story. Fin is a lovable character, someone who is looking for his secured place in life financially, romantically, and intellectually. the macabre landscape of 19th century france— elitism, glorified death, & extreme poverty— are written in relatable ways to todays mirrored issues. I loved the characters and their well-rounded intrigue and heart they present throughout the story. I was enthralled right to the very end, through the epilogue. thank you for the arc!!!