This is a story in many parts and we learn and read from a many viewpoints but mostly from the viewpoint of Dr Olivia Finn (present day) and her grandmother Josephine Benoit (1945/wartime). We start with Olivia getting a call from Paris to say her gran is at the Hotel Lutetia and has confessed to killing someone in Room 11 in 1945.

When Olivia flies to Paris to be with her grandmother and sort this all out things get scary, tense and confusing. Gran is murdered and Olivia has to find out the truth and if all the memories are real or implanted in then minds of not only her gran but herself as well.

There is a lot going on in the book, it is very deep and emotional but is written in a way that it is quite easy to follow. It also kept me guessing as I didn't know who was behind all the chaos and mayhem until the very end. A great read and another good book written by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love Anna O and thought it was an absolute masterpiece which I recommended highly for months to friends, so I was really pleased to get an advance copy of Mathew Blakes latest book.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me a copy.

Centred about the identify of Dr Olivia Finn's gran Josephine Benoit this story weaves through the past from 1945 to present day. Based in Paris some of the French vocabulary was difficult to understand, I was very probably pronouncing them wrong in my head. It swings from era to era but melts together beautifully. Dr Finn is a psychotherapist a memory expert, helping people to overcome trauma from buried memories. Over time memories take on a life of their own and the original memory becomes obscured and different, this becomes apparent in this storyline. Matthew Blake delves deep into the effects of memories in this novel. Alongside her mentor and friend Louis Dr Finn is taken on a confusing journey of love, betrayal and false memories that even she was not aware she had been controlled into believing

The ending I felt was almost predictable.

It didn't grip me like Anna O did and I found it hard to stay with a times.

Without our memories who are we.

A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake is a compelling read. The story moves between present day with Psychotherapist and mum, Dr Olivia Finn and in 1945 with her Grandma, Josephine Benoit at the end of World War II in Paris.

The historical aspects of Paris at the end of the Nazi occupation and the return of the survivors from the camps is fascinating, giving insight into the process.

In the present day, Olivia is summoned to Paris by the French police from where she lives and works in England as her Grandmother has just confessed to a murder in 1945. Olivia’s investigation into this sudden memory sets off a whole train of dramatic events.

Olivia’s field of expertise is memory and memory is a central theme in the story both for her and other characters in the story.

While the story is complex with many sub-plots, it is fast moving and engaging. With many twist and turns the plots unfold and with many totally unexpected. Initially the story seems innocent enough but it get increasingly sinister which makes it a psychological thriller.


Highly recommended read.


This review is based on a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Publishers Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#AMurderInParis #NetGalley

I love the concept around memory and how memories change over time. I didn't know what to expect but i didn't expect that.

An absolutely intriguing story about Olivia in the current time and her grandmother in France in 1945. Olivia arrives in Paris after hearing that her grandmother has confessed to a murder that happened in 1945. What follows are twists and turns about who actually did commit the murder, as well as all the things that happen while Olivia is investigating her grandmother’s confession. An intriguing book which I devoured.

When Dr Olivia Finn's grandmother walks into the lobby of the Hotel Lutetia and declares herself a murderer, everyone presumes it is her dementia taking over her mind. Afterall, memory is a fragile beast.

But who IS Josephine Benoit and could she have a past that has been hidden behind walls of therapy?

A Murder in Paris isn't exceptionally 'well-written', but the plot is fast moving and the premise fascinating; I couldn't wait to finish it to find out the truth. In fact, I stayed up well passed by bedtime to complete the read! I felt the ending could have been drawn out a little longer but really enjoyed the novel.

What would you do if you are doing your best to live out your chaotic life as a single mama, and you get a call
From The police in Paris to say your grandmother has confessed to a murder back in the 1940s?

We get to follow Olivia through this exact reality!
Did her grandmother really kill someone and take their identity or is this just the fractured mind of a lady battling dementia?

We get to explore this story through 2 timelines as they come together, whilst the plot thickens and the thrill is thrilling.

This book definitely has a psychological aspect, it delves into the mind body and soul. Throw in some historical WWII and it’s a whole Shazam.
Definitely worth the read!

I loved Anna O so much that I requested A. Murder in Paris without even reading the synopsis! I have been waiting for another book from this author and was so happy to receive an early copy thanks to Harper Collins.

What an absolutely fantastic book! i loved the historical timeline, and the fascinating story of WWII survivors. What those poor innocent people were put through was just horrific. I do always enjoy multiple timelines in a story and it was so cleverly executed by the author. I couldn’t wait to get back to all the timelines!

Olivia Finn is a memory expert, so seeing her grandmother suffering through dementia breaks her heart. So when she gets a call from Paris to say that her grandmother has confessed to a murder in 1945, she drops everything and gets herself on the Eurostar. Is she telling the truth or is this the illness talking?

Memory plays a big part of this book, what we remember and what we think we remember. How memories change over time and how they can be manipulated l it was such an interesting concept and ai couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. You have to read this book, out on July 3rd.

Set in the romantic city of Lights—only here, they’re tainted by secrets, murder, and betrayal. Matthew Blake delivers a tightly-woven mystery, with just enough grit and intrigue to keep you turning the pages long into the night.

At the heart of this story is Olivia Finn, a working in London. When her French grandmother, Josephine Benoit, suddenly appears at the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris and confesses to a murder she claims to have committed at the end of World War II, Olivia is forced into a chilling investigation that links past and present. Though Josephine is confused, she insists the memory is real—and the truth may be buried in postwar chaos and family secrets.

As Olivia digs into her grandmother’s past, she uncovers the shocking revelation that a woman did die in that very hotel room in 1945. When fresh deaths begin occurring in the present, the lines between memory, history, and danger blur fast.

I loved how Paris itself became almost a character in the story—moody, beautiful, and unpredictable. The characters are compelling, and the dual timelines are handled with care. There were a few moments where the pacing dipped however perfect for fans of historical thrillers with psychological depth

A Murder in Paris is a fast-paced, gripping read that had me completely hooked from the very first page. Set against a moody and mysterious Paris backdrop, this story expertly blends suspense, emotional depth, and just the right amount of family secrets.
I absolutely adored the character of Olivia and her relationship with her gran I felt it brought so much heart to the story. I'm a sucker for older characters who have a few secrets of their own, and Olivia’s gran was a standout. The slow unraveling of her past, mixed with the question of a possible murder, made for such an addictive read. The pacing was spot on for me there were no dull moments and I found the character development incredibly strong. Each person felt real, flawed, and compelling in their own right, and I genuinely cared what happened to them.
If you enjoy mysteries with rich characters, family drama, and a hint of danger lurking beneath the surface, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the opportunity to read this early. I’ll be eagerly watching for Matthew Blake’s next release!

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.