Reviewed by Ian Lipke
Set in 1930s Paris, this book has a cover that suggest dark deeds in mind, and characters with poison in their souls. Actually, it is a romp, ‘a glorious historical mystery of murder, fashion, food, secrets, and danger’ in the French capital in that exciting era of 1938.
At a glitzy gala in the ballroom of the Hotel Ritz, young American tourist Maisy Bell meets a man who interests her. She accepts his charming offer to take her on a day trip. But when Maisy doesn’t return to the Ritz the following day, alarm bells ring and Maisy’s aunt Clementine tries to file a missing person’s report. The Paris police laugh the request away. Plenty of tourists ‘disappear’, having lost themselves in foolish escapades. After all, summer in Paris is the perfect time for lovers. The police are familiar with the indulgent behaviours of the super-rich. Then Clementine Bell receives a ransom note.
Enter investigative reporter Charlie James. As she follows Maisy Bell’s designer footsteps around Paris, Charlie is plunged into a heady world of diamonds, haute couture, opera, bohemian wine bars and extravagant soirees in grand country châteaux, before being pulled into the sordid underworld.
Kirsty Manning has been compared with a much older lady in the form of Agatha Christie. The comparison is soon made if one focuses on the setting. Paris was a location often used in her books by Christie. A young journalist, spunky or dull, is appropriate to Agatha Christie’s writings even though she may not actually have used one. A cast of very rich, influential people most of which lack brain power but who live in very large houses, is pure Christie.
That is where the similarities with the great writer of yesteryear terminate. The language cannot maintain the smoothness or the flow of Manning’s predecessor. The plot has been described as ‘jerky’. I cannot think of a more appropriate word. While the ending was exciting, just as expected, the call to sex, while fitting the scenes, is not one of Manning’s strengths.
I detest fitting labels to characters in stories. But it must be said that, if anyone is going to write a mystery novel, then the reader should expect not to pre-empt the solution. I solved the mystery of ‘who-dunit’ early in the novel. This premature guess not only spoilt the climax to the story but ruined the enjoyment for me.
Kirsty Manning is the bestselling author of The Paris Mystery, The French Gift, The Lost Jewels and The Jade Lily (published in North America and UK as The Song of the Jade Lily).
Her historical novels have been published in Australia and New Zealand, North America, UK, South Africa and translated into several languages including German, Dutch, Hebrew, Russian and Serbian.
Kirsty grew up in northern New South Wales, Australia and has degrees in literature and communications. A country girl with wanderlust, her travels and studies have taken her around the globe.
Kirsty lives in Melbourne. Together with her husband she is a partner in the award-winning Melbourne wine bar Bellota and the Prince Wine Store in Melbourne and Sydney.
Murder in Paris
(2026)
by Kirsty Manning
Allen & Unwin
ISBN:978-176087-991-4
$34.99;321pp