It's the late 1930s, as Hitler is starting his rise in Europe and Charlie James is excited about her new job -- reporter in Paris. Charlie is looking forward to her new life away from Australia and her ex-husband and make a name for herself as a journalist. Through an assignment to interview one of Paris' leading socialites and Charlie's friendship with a coworker who has connections in the fashion industry, she gets invited to the social event of the season. When one of the guests is murdered, Charlie becomes part of the investigation.

This should have been a 5 star book for me. It ticks all the boxes for a book that I can't wait to read -- strong female character, historical fiction set in an era that interests me, a murder mystery with twists and turns. I did enjoy the book, but found that it dragged in places, focusing on far too many details of the locations, fashion and food for my taste. Yes, those details created a wonderful ambiance and placed me squarely in 1930s Paris. I also figured out the killer far ahead of the big reveal. Not a bad book, just not up to my expectations. Charlie is a great character, and there are clearly secrets from her past that may be revealed in the subsequent books. I'll likely check out the next book and see what Charlie is up to next.

Not my favourite mystery. I liked the setting and the heroine, but the tension of the story just wasn't enough or as compelling as I hoped.

The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning. Pub Date: July 25, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. In this new historical fiction series, the reader is taken to Paris in 1938. The setting is lovely and I loved how the author was able to paint the scene with highlighting fashion, art and society of that time period. Unfortunately, the novel was more dominated by the setting than the actual mystery itself. I think this would be a good novel for a long airplane ride, but it was more fluff than substance. Thanks to #netgalley and #penguinrandomhouse

Australian journalist Charlie James, is in the process of undergoing divorce, when she scores a position on The Times in Paris. Sumptuous, fun and electrifying, The Paris Mystery is a book that cosy crime mystery fans will lap up!

This enjoyable debut fast-paced historical murder muster 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 just as good as any man especially after being belittled by her boss, Charlie seizes her chance to report on the crime.

The author Manning effortlessly details everything from designer couture to food to architecture and landmarks during this time period. Fans of classic murder mysteries, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's brilliance, will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in Charlie's journey. With anticipation, we await the next installment in Charlie's adventures, eager to see what mysteries she unravels next.

Charlie Jenkins arrives in Paris from Sydney, Australia to be the Times new reporter. Reeling from a recent divorce she is hoping that Paris before WWII will be the fresh new start she's looking for. Her first assignment is to report on Lady Ashworth & her husband Lord Ashworth and their spectacular life in Paris as well as their ties to the abdicated King and his wife. While at Lady Ashworth's spectacular party, a murder occurs and Charlie works as both the reporter on the scene as well as an amateur detective. This is a nice start to a potential series, Charlie is a good main character and is introduced to a lovely side-kick and an interesting detective, I'm looking forward to reading more about Charlie, especially with the looming war/occupation of France.

This is a great start to a new series! If you like a good mystery set in Paris, this book is for you.
Many thanks to the author, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I love books set in Paris and a good mystery, so this ticked those boxes for me! I loved that the main character was a journalist and following her journey to both solve a murder and prove herself as a female journalist in a male-dominated field (at that time, 1938). Would recommend!

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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!

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
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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.
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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??
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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!
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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.
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.