Publishers Weekly
06/05/2023
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. Agent: Stacy Testa, Writers House. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Named a best book of the week by the New York Post
“A fizzy, fast-paced caper full of glitz, glamour and intrigue. . . . Manning highlights the opulence and decadence of interwar Paris in this engaging and delightful mystery. The City of Light comes alive through her descriptions of haute couture fashion and Parisian cuisine. Charlie is an engaging sleuth, too: She’s intelligent, empathetic and a skilled reporter. She’s keenly aware that the 1930s news industry is a male-dominated profession, but she refuses to let that mindset hold her back. Her relationship with Inspecteur Bernard, the French detective heading up the murder investigation, is also a highlight. Journalists and police officers often find themselves at odds in mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, but Charlie and Bernard quickly strike up a cordial working relationship that benefits them both.
—Bookpage
“Australian author Kirsty Manning (The Lost Jewels) launches a new cozy mystery series with this stellar entry, set in the stunning summertime beauty of 1938 Paris. . . . Readers join Charlie in the glamorous, decadent world of the novel and its Chanel gowns, Hermѐs handbags, Brut champagne, buttery croissants, and the fabulous sights and sounds of beautiful Paris. The story—with intriguing characters, a fast plot that twists and turns, a growing list of dead bodies, and a very surprising final reveal—is certain to leave readers wonderfully satisfied and eagerly awaiting the next installment in this charming series.”
—Shelf Awareness
“Enjoyable. . . . [Manning’s] talents for scene-setting and unpredictable plotting freshen up tired mystery tropes. Colorful characters and a brisk pace make this a pleasure.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This atmospheric historical mystery by the author of The Jade Lily reveals a Paris on the verge of war, in all its captivating beauty and excess. Suggest for fans of Cara Black or Betty Webb’s Lost in Paris.”
—Library Journal
Library Journal
06/01/2023
In 1938, journalist Charlotte "Charlie" James flees her failed marriage in Sydney, Australia, heading for a new job with The Times, a British newspaper in Paris. Surprised to learn that his new reporter is a woman, Charlie's boss tells her to ingratiate herself with Lady Eleanor Ashworth, wife of a British diplomat. Lady Ashworth knows everyone who counts in Paris, and Charlie is expected to cover her annual Circus Ball. With the help of The Times' administrative assistant, Charlie finds her way into the world of high couture and money. The Circus Ball is as decadent as everyone predicted, with tightrope walkers, bare-bosomed burlesque dancers riding ponies, and murder in the garden. When another journalist shows up with the knife that killed a powerful man, Charlie works her way into the case, consulting with inspector Benoît Bernard who is running the investigation. VERDICT This atmospheric historical mystery by the author of The Jade Lily reveals a Paris on the verge of war, in all its captivating beauty and excess. Suggest for fans of Cara Black or Betty Webb's Lost in Paris.—Lesa Holstine
