Murder in Paris
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley May 20, 2026
Author Kirsty Manning
Distributor: Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 9781760879914
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Release Date: 28 April 2026
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A tall stranger stood surveying the ballroom at the Hotel Ritz, Paris. His white tuxedo jacket was ill fitting, his air of intrigue captivating for young American heiress Maisy Bell; this was not the first time a man of his years had caught her attention. As the Krug flowed, the talk escalated and couture fashion was worn with elegance, Maisy introduced herself to this intriguing man.
An air of mystery and mystique introduces Murder in Paris from Kirsty Manning as Charlie James, still enjoying life in Paris, still trying her hardest to be accepted as an Investigative Journalist is asked to discretely look into the disappearance of Maisy Bell, who according to her Aunt Clementine went for an outing a week ago and failed to return.
Charlie taps into her contact in the Paris Gendarmerie, the delightfully shy Inspecteur Bernard, who while sympathetic seems to think Maisy will eventually return, but Charlie is none too sure. She talks her boss George into allowing her to follow through with the story of the missing American.
When a murder is committed in Tours, Charlie is sent to cover the story but also decides while she is there to see if she can discretely find out more about Maisy Bell’s destination, a Villa in Saint-Cloud,
Nothing goes according to plan as she is refused admission to the murder site, hides behind a tree, meets a man whom she believes is the gardener, but is Detective Gilles Allard, of the Tours Police Department and officer in charge of the case.
As the details of the murder become apparent, Charlie finds she and the handsome Gillies Allard spend time together sharing information, trying to place all the pieces in the ever-increasing puzzle that seems to be connected to the disappearance of Maisy Bell.
Captivatingly woven between the high society of Paris during 1938, Haute Coutre and murder, Charlie James realises that moving to Paris with a bruised heart, determined to become a reporter with her own by-line, has also shown her that sometimes a second chance at love can be offered, in the most unusual circumstance.
Murder In Paris is book two in A Charlie James Mystery series.