Cover Image: The Paris Mystery

The Paris Mystery

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Charlotte "Charlie" James is excited for her first big job for the London-based, The Times. She knows she needs to do her best and even better than anyone else can do it. She is in Paris and understands that she needs connections to get her story. She utilizes the assistance of Lord and Lady Ashworth to make some contacts and is invited to Lady Ashworth's annual party, A Circus Ball. Charlie is excited to see how many people she can connect with. The night of the Ball, there are burlesque dancers, a jazz band and tightrope walkers adding to the merriment. The murder of an investor ruins the ball and leaves behind a list of suspects. Charlie wants to solve the murder, but is also drawn into the social cycle of Paris and some hidden secrets. The Paris Mystery is set in a magical setting of Paris with the story having twists and turns and more dead bodies showing up. Even with all these factors, The Paris Mystery is a charming, mystery story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Paris Mystery.

Was this review helpful?

My apologies, but I got busy and neglected to read this book during the period it was available to me. so I can't offer an opinion. It is a book I would like to read in the future.

Was this review helpful?

i can see the potential in the series. i’m a sucker for mystery & this one didn’t quite catch me all the way. but it was fun & i hope the series improves to MY specific liking.

Was this review helpful?

It’s 1930s Paris, Australian born Charlie (Charlotte) James relocates after a devastating divorce. Based on the byline “Charlie” James and the assumption that Charlie is a man she is hired by the Paris Times newspaper. Determined to prove that she is the best journalist possible and better than any of her male counterparts, Charlie’s first assignment is to cover British expatriate and Socialite Lady Ashworth’s extravagant Circus Ball. Charlie hopes that at the very least she’ll be sure to make connections with the most interesting and exciting upper crust of society. Festivities come to a halt when an influential and detestable banking investor is murdered. Charlie finds herself a part of solving the mystery. Who would be so bold as to murder someone at such a high profile event? As she becomes involved in covering the story, Charlie becomes part of the Paris scene. For me, I found an extraordinary amount of unnecessary details that detracted from the story line. Do I really need to know or care that a hanky tucked into a sleeve is blue? Secrets unravel and suspects are many. There’s an unexpected twist and for that reason I’ve given this ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 rounded up to four. This ARC was provided by Penguin Random House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

"The Paris Mystery" by Kirsty Manning is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a mysterious and evocative journey through time and place. Manning skillfully weaves a narrative that combines historical intrigue with compelling characters, creating a novel that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

One of the novel's notable strengths is Manning's ability to transport readers to different eras and locations with vivid and atmospheric prose. The dual timeline narrative is executed with finesse, allowing for a seamless blend of historical and contemporary storytelling. The characters are well-drawn, and their interconnected stories contribute to the overall richness of the novel.

However, readers who prefer a more straightforward narrative may find the frequent shifts between timelines and perspectives challenging to follow. While the complexity adds depth to the storytelling, it may require careful attention from the reader to fully appreciate the nuances of the plot.

In conclusion, "The Paris Mystery" is a commendable novel that successfully combines historical mystery with compelling characters. Kirsty Manning's adept storytelling and the rich historical backdrop make it an appealing choice for those who enjoy immersive and layered narratives. While the novel's structure may pose a challenge for some readers, those willing to embrace the intricacies will find "The Paris Mystery" to be a rewarding and captivating read.

Was this review helpful?

A murder mystery set in 1930s Paris. Austraulian reporter Charlotte "Charlie" James is looking for a fresh start. When she is offered the position of correspondent for The Times in Paris, she happily accepts. She's ready to prove herself. Her first assignment is quickly complicated, however, when a murder occurs at the extravagant ball she's attending. Charlie throws herself into the investigation. Her skill as an investigative reporter will definitely be tested by this case, but this is one reporter who won't give up easily.

I greatly enjoyed the 1930s Parisian setting. Decadent parties and lots of beautifully described dresses. Charlie was a perfect protagonist. Amateur sleuths are always fun to follow, plus she's a successful female reporter, at a time when that was highly unlikely. I liked her rapport with the inspector (maybe forthcoming romance?) and with Violet. The mystery was well done. Plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. I look forward to seeing more from Charlie in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

The Paris Mystery
A Novel
by Kirsty Manning

The Paris Mystery is a historical mystery written by Kristy Manning set in 1930s. I love Manning writing, and that this is a first start of a mystery series. I’m really excited to read more. This was quite an immersive read for me. I loved everything - from the characters, the setting, and the plotting. Very well paced and thrilling to read.

Enjoyed!

Was this review helpful?

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

The Paris Mystery was a super fun story to read. Manning creates the perfect atmosphere in The Paris Mystery – where we follow Charlie to Paris in the 1930s. Elegant soirees, rich people behaving badly, tons of fashion talk, and of course – murder; what’s not to love?! I’d mark this one down as more of a cozy mystery, nothing over the top wild, a fairly straight forward mystery.

Charlie made this story for me, I loved her character. She is a strong independent woman ahead of her times. With the Paris Mystery being the first of the Charlie James series, I definitely think I will continue with this series to see where Charlie ends up next. I will be so curious to see how her character grows throughout the series. Not to mention any potential love interests??

Mannings way of writing is very entrancing. I found myself very easily being able to see the parties, see the fancy designer dresses and handbags, see the entire story unfolding which made this one extra fun. I did note some repetition but it wasn’t anything that drove me bonkers. I really enjoyed the ending of this one and thought that the little twists in the story were good!

Overall, I enjoyed this one, think it was a good start to a series and look forward to reading more of Charlie and where her reporting will take her next.

The Paris Mystery was released on 7/25 of this year. If you’re looking for an atmospheric cozy mystery be sure to check this one out. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Penguin random House and Kirsty Manning for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
I have not read from this author before and absolutely loved this book! As this is the beginning of a new series, I cannot wait to read any following ones!
The story was cute and a fast read. The characters were all very likeable and the storyline progressed at a good pace. There was enough background information on the protagonist to understand her and see "where she was coming from." Some was a little repetitive and could have made the book shorter but it wasn't overly repetitive so it didn't bother me too much.
The ending came fast and was a little quick. It could have been a little better rolled out but it didn't take away from me liking this book and story.
At first I found the female main characters a little naive but then had to remind myself that it was placed in an era where they were actually quite progressive.
Great book! 4 solid 🌟 for sure! Looking forward to #2 in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting story and good start to a new series. I think Charlie’s character will develop over time.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and to NetGalley for providing me a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

It's 1938 and Charlie James has just arrived to Paris for a new newspaper correspondent job. She knows it will be an uphill battle proving herself along her many male counterparts, but she's very determined. She quickly works her way into the circle of some elite society members and finds herself covering an annual party thrown by Lady Ashworth. When the night ends in murder, Charlie finds herself smack dab in the middle of the investigation and proving herself may mean needing to help solve the crime.

I really enjoyed the historical Paris setting. The characters were eclectic and interesting. The mystery kept me guessing. All aspects were perfectly fine, I just wasn't blown away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Vintage for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Was this review helpful?

A woman was hired as a reporter in the late 30s in Paris because her name sounded like that of a man. Grabbing that chance, she involves herself with wealthy British ex-pats. All goes well until a murder occurs.

Charlie is quirky and lots of fun. I especially enjoyed the Paris setting for this novel.

Was this review helpful?

As much as I wanted to love this book I really struggled to feel connected to Charlie. I understand what the author was trying to do in terms of showcasing her struggles, but I feel like she came off as a cliche without a lot of humanity. The dialogue was over the top and stilted all at the same time. I also felt like the mystery portion of the book was very obvious. I don't need to be duped to love a mystery novel, but this one felt overly simplified. This one just isn't for me.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Vintage, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.

Meh. Didn't buy into it and the dialogue was grating.

Was this review helpful?

Kirsty Manning has a real knack of completely hooking you at the very beginning of the story and
making you absolutely desperate to see how, what, why and everything is going to happen. One five stars read for sure.

Was this review helpful?

Charlie James is a female journalist with two men's first names. She moves from Australia to Paris to escape her failed marriage and start a new job as a newspaper correspondent. Her first assignment is to cover Lady Ashworth's circus extravaganza, but turns to a while different story when a murder is committed during the party. Charlie works with the hunky police inspector on the story of a lifetime.

The writing is fairly good, and you can really feel the Paris of the Roaring Twenties coming through. Charlie is tough but fair, and is a wonderfully rounded character. The chemistry between her and the inspector, as well as one of the other fancy gentlemen in the mix of high society, is well done and leaves you wanting more for her. Once I got into the story, I really enjoyed it.

What I will say is that after the story that was developed in the first 32 chapters, the Epilogue leaves something to be desired. There's a final confrontation that plays out there, and Charlie alternated between know-it-all and clueless vibes, almost every other sentence. The person being confronted isn't much better. So the ending feels like it was rushed to be finished, or added FAR after the rest, so the author had gotten out of practice of writing these characters. Or maybe they're both play-acting? I did get this as an ADVANCED copy, so maybe (hopefully) this was fixed before publishing, but I'm not sure. I'll try to catch a physical copy and see if it was changed. I'll update my review then.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

Was this review helpful?

Not a bad book if you enjoy a slower paced read. I found it dragged in quiet a few places and than picked up in others. I am not a fan of books regarding reporters but this one caught my interest. All in all a good read even with the slower pace.

Was this review helpful?

This is an enjoyable mystery that takes place in Paris just before the the start of WWII. Charlie James has left her home in Australia after filing for divorce from her cheating husband. She's taken a job with the London times Paris desk. Her boss was surprised to discover she was a woman leading to Charlie having to prove she was capable to handle the job from the moment she stepped off of the train. She quickly becomes involved in a murder while investigating another story. I enjoyed the characters, and the twists in the mysteries that came right up to the end.

Was this review helpful?

This one just didn’t hold my interest. I’ve read other books by her I loved but this one just was to slow and it was hard to follow.
Thanks yo Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

Was this review helpful?

I liked the premise of The Paris Murder, the story moved along quickly. I had a couple of issues though. At times the story seemed to switch locations, scenes etc with no warning. If this turns out to be a series I’ll gladly pick up the next installment to see where the characters go from here

Was this review helpful?