Matthew is back with another gripping pageturner exploring the powers of the mind. This time forgotten memories. Dr Olivia Finn gets a call from the French police. Her grandmother has arrived at the Hotel Lutetia, claiming to be another woman and confessing to a murder. You’re hooked immediately and the book keeps up a good pace as Matthew weaves together a number of different angles- art, forgotten memories, long standing trauma from World War II and the murder. An interesting cast of characters, luxe settings and some really thought provoking topics. I binged it in one setting and was blown away by the ending.

ARC READ - NetGallery & HarperCollins

It was an okay read but it didn’t really capture my interest. The story revolves around her gran’s secret identity and a murder she might be involved in.

This isn’t the kind of book I’d normally pick up as I don’t tend to read post war stories and I didn’t know going into this book because it wasn’t mentioned.

Since I had no prior knowledge of Paris or WW2 vocabulary. I found myself frequently turning to Google for clarification.

ARC Review
𝔄 𝔐𝔲𝔯𝔡𝔢𝔯 ℑ𝔫 𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔰
By Matthew Blake
Published by @harpercollinsaustralia
Out on July 3rd, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, so this was my first ever Matthew Blake read, and I could not put this book down! I am currently on a mission to read more of his books 😍

Murder mystery, physcological thriller, set in Paris. I found this read extfemely fast paced, and not once did I find it lacked in anything. The plot & the characters were so well written, along with the investigations and the world building & settings of where it has all taken place.

If you are in the mood for a murder mystery, that is extremely well written and keeps you on your toes and holds your interest throughout the book, pick this one up!

4.5 stars-rounded up*

Book Review: A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake
Advanced Reading Copy provided by HarperCollins Publishers Australia and NetGalley

Matthew Blake returns with another gripping thriller in A Murder in Paris, a chilling, atmospheric follow-up to his debut hit, Anna O. Set against the shadowy elegance of the French capital, Blake spins a compelling web of murder, memory, and psychological intrigue that made it difficult for me to put the story down…I devoured it in a single sitting!

When a high-profile killing shocks Paris, the ensuing investigation plunges readers into a world of secrets, trauma, and carefully constructed lies. Blake’s talent for building suspense is on full display, and the plot refused to let go! His evocative writing captures both the beauty and menace of Paris, setting the perfect stage for a mystery that is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually satisfying.

The protagonist-haunted, intelligent, and morally complex-is a standout, and the layered narrative explores guilt, obsession, and the cost of truth with a clever psychological touch.

That said, the novel’s pacing does falter slightly in the middle, where introspective passages and intricate backstory slow the otherwise electric momentum. Perhaps a few secondary characters could also have benefited from more emotional nuance to balance the protagonist’s depth.

Despite this minor point, A Murder in Paris is a sophisticated, absorbing thriller that solidifies Matthew Blake as a major voice in crime fiction. It’s a smart, sinister read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC of A Murder in Paris in exchange for an honest review.