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Rannoch Fraser Mysteries #3
The Paris Affair
July-August 1815
From the ashes of war rise the secrets of its darkest hearts. In the wake of the Battle of Waterloo, Paris is a house divided. The triumphant Bourbon court in Paris and their victorious allies flaunt their victory with lavish parties while the Royalists are quick to exact vengeance for everything since the Revolution. Countless Bonapartists seek revenge only to be captured and executed in what comes to be known as the White Terror.
In this seething atmosphere British attaché and Intelligence Agent Malcolm Rannoch learns that his murdered half-sister, Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, may have left behind a secret child in Paris; a child who may now be in grave danger. And Malcolm suspects there was more than mere impropriety behind her silence.
As Malcolm and Suzanne begin searching for answers, they learn that the child was just one of many secrets Tatiana had been keeping. The princess was the toast of Paris when she arrived in the glamorous city, flirting her way into the arms of more than a few men perhaps even those of Napoleon himself and the father must be among them. But in the melee of the Napoleonic Wars, she was caught up in a deadly game, and now Malcolm and Suzanne must race against time to save the child from a similar fate.
While friends and former associates are imprisoned and executed around them, Malcolm and his wife Suzanne set out to find the girl. And as kings argue over legitimacy and relations battle over estates, trusting the wrong side can be deadly…
From the ashes of war rise the secrets of its darkest hearts. In the wake of the Battle of Waterloo, Paris is a house divided. The triumphant Bourbon court in Paris and their victorious allies flaunt their victory with lavish parties while the Royalists are quick to exact vengeance for everything since the Revolution. Countless Bonapartists seek revenge only to be captured and executed in what comes to be known as the White Terror.
In this seething atmosphere British attaché and Intelligence Agent Malcolm Rannoch learns that his murdered half-sister, Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, may have left behind a secret child in Paris; a child who may now be in grave danger. And Malcolm suspects there was more than mere impropriety behind her silence.
As Malcolm and Suzanne begin searching for answers, they learn that the child was just one of many secrets Tatiana had been keeping. The princess was the toast of Paris when she arrived in the glamorous city, flirting her way into the arms of more than a few men perhaps even those of Napoleon himself and the father must be among them. But in the melee of the Napoleonic Wars, she was caught up in a deadly game, and now Malcolm and Suzanne must race against time to save the child from a similar fate.
While friends and former associates are imprisoned and executed around them, Malcolm and his wife Suzanne set out to find the girl. And as kings argue over legitimacy and relations battle over estates, trusting the wrong side can be deadly…
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2013
79 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Grant
55 books177 followersTracy Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her young daughter and three cats. In addition to writing, Tracy works for the Merola Opera Program, a professional training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors. Her real life heroine is her daughter Mélanie, who is very cooperative about Mummy’s writing. Tracy is currently at work on her next book chronicling the adventures of Malcolm and Mélanie Suzanne Rannoch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 23, 2023
I seldom read series books in order (my attention span wanders) but I really enjoyed the first 2 and had already borrowed this one from Hoopla. Grant includes a LOT of characters in her stories and at times it seems a bit too many. I found that to be the case in this book. It was just "too" everything....characters, plots, mysteries and family members. Suzanne's secret is mentioned too many times and just seemed to add angst that could not be resolved. I really enjoyed the start and the final parts of the book. It was just the middle that seemed to wander. Yes, I plan to continue with the series even though I thought this was just an ok book. I have not read the prequels but plan to do so and they may deal with issues that are a surprise in book 2. This would be a hard book to read as a standalone.
August 2, 2014
This book picks up shortly after the events in Imperial Scandal. Malcolm's latest assignment is Paris, post Waterloo. Paris is a hot bed of intrigue, plots, spies and counter spies - and a big mystery about his illegitimate half-sister (now dead, see Vienna Waltz), and Malcolm and Suzanne are once again in the thick of things - and really too complicated to try to spell out in a review. I don't do book reports :p
I enjoyed this a lot, especially seeing more of Malcolm and Suzanne's relationship (but boy, does she have a big secret waiting for the shoe to drop). The fictional characters are nicely blended in with real historical people and events (always a plus), especially that evil Fouché. Wouldn't want to get on his bad side.
One cautionary note on this and Grant's other books in the series, there is a large cast of characters and the twists and turns can really twist and turn and may be a bit overwhelming. Don't take this along as a beach read unless you're prepared to pay attention and keep the list of characters in the front at hand at all times.
Kindle copy obtained via library loan.
I enjoyed this a lot, especially seeing more of Malcolm and Suzanne's relationship (but boy, does she have a big secret waiting for the shoe to drop). The fictional characters are nicely blended in with real historical people and events (always a plus), especially that evil Fouché. Wouldn't want to get on his bad side.
One cautionary note on this and Grant's other books in the series, there is a large cast of characters and the twists and turns can really twist and turn and may be a bit overwhelming. Don't take this along as a beach read unless you're prepared to pay attention and keep the list of characters in the front at hand at all times.
Kindle copy obtained via library loan.
June 5, 2018
I've been having a wonderful time reading through Tracy Grant's books. She turns out consistently good novels, and I think it's a real shame that she doesn't get more attention for them.
This latest installment continues to follow Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch through Europe, this time in the aftermath of Waterloo. The two are in Paris during the tense days of Royalists giving the Bonapartists their comeuppance. Mixed into all this unrest is a lot of spy intrigue and a murder mystery. And best of all, we get to see Malcolm and Suzanne's relationship grow and deepen. They did not start off with a love match, but it's clear in this book that their feelings run very deep.
The book is a little slow to get moving initially, but as all of its various plot threads start to unwind, it turns into very addictive reading. In the early chapters, Malcolm and Suzanne are meeting a French agent willing to trade information for safe passage. However, he ends up mysteriously murdered in a barfight, but not before passing on some critical information to Malcolm.
The rest of the book shows Malcolm and Suzanne navigating diplomatic crises, trying to find a killer, and looking for a child whose safe hiding place may soon be threatened. There is a lot of excitement and the spy intrigue is very intricately written. It's about as far as one can imagine from the usual Regency spy story.
And then there are the Rannochs. At this point, we see them truly functioning as a team, and I enjoyed getting a peek inside their marriage, as well as the marriages of several of their closer friends. Throughout this series, we know that Suzanne carries many secrets from her past, and with each book, more of them are revealed to the reader. However, there is also a feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop because the reader knows quite a bit more than does Malcolm.
This series is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it. You can pick up here if you like, but you may get a little lost. I'd advise starting either with the novella, His Spanish Bride or with the first full book, Vienna Waltz.
This latest installment continues to follow Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch through Europe, this time in the aftermath of Waterloo. The two are in Paris during the tense days of Royalists giving the Bonapartists their comeuppance. Mixed into all this unrest is a lot of spy intrigue and a murder mystery. And best of all, we get to see Malcolm and Suzanne's relationship grow and deepen. They did not start off with a love match, but it's clear in this book that their feelings run very deep.
The book is a little slow to get moving initially, but as all of its various plot threads start to unwind, it turns into very addictive reading. In the early chapters, Malcolm and Suzanne are meeting a French agent willing to trade information for safe passage. However, he ends up mysteriously murdered in a barfight, but not before passing on some critical information to Malcolm.
The rest of the book shows Malcolm and Suzanne navigating diplomatic crises, trying to find a killer, and looking for a child whose safe hiding place may soon be threatened. There is a lot of excitement and the spy intrigue is very intricately written. It's about as far as one can imagine from the usual Regency spy story.
And then there are the Rannochs. At this point, we see them truly functioning as a team, and I enjoyed getting a peek inside their marriage, as well as the marriages of several of their closer friends. Throughout this series, we know that Suzanne carries many secrets from her past, and with each book, more of them are revealed to the reader. However, there is also a feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop because the reader knows quite a bit more than does Malcolm.
This series is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it. You can pick up here if you like, but you may get a little lost. I'd advise starting either with the novella, His Spanish Bride or with the first full book, Vienna Waltz.
June 10, 2014
Teresa Grant has written a series of historical mystery novels set during and just after the Napoleonic Wars. Her French heroine Suzanne is married to an English attaché and spy, and together they negotiate their way through murder, intrigue and passion. The stories are always a little slow, but the historical detail is spot-on and the interaction between the characters and their slowly unfolding relationships makes up for it.
August 17, 2017
Slow for me to get into initially, as I haven't read any of the previous books in the series. There were a lot of characters and background information to sort through. However, the actual mystery was really well done, and I ended up really enjoying the characters. I couldn't help thinking that the revolutionaries of 25 years before would have hated the Paris of 1815.
April 3, 2013
I have been ready for this book ever since I finished Imperial Scandal back in June of 2012, and Teresa Grant did not disappoint me. I sat down with this book and was immediately hooked from the first page onward, and before I knew it, an hour and a hundred pages had positively flown by. This is an absorbing mystery and a great addition to the series.
Picking up almost immediately where Imperial Scandal left off, The Paris Affair drops Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch in the midst of post-Waterloo Paris, where political intrigue and danger abound. Grant doesn’t waste any time setting up her story. Before the end of the first chapter, Malcolm and Suzanne have blackmail, a hidden child, a foiled assassination plot, and a corpse on their hands.
One of Grant’s biggest assets as a writer is her ability to place you seamlessly into her setting. She can paint a scene vividly without hammering you over the head to describe every piece of furniture in a room. She also has a gift for making her readers feel like they are participants in the story, working right alongside Suzanne and Malcolm. And on a more trivial note, good grief do her dress descriptions make me wish I had lived in the early 1800s.
Some of my favorite characters in the first and second books were back again, and I enjoyed watching Grant expand on their backgrounds, their relationships, and their hopes for the future. My personal favorite, the incomparable Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan, is back in all her glory, and Harry and Cordelia of Imperial Scandal return to help Suzanne and Malcolm get to the bottom of secrets that have been piling up for years.
Overall, this was one of the best books I’ve read in 2013. I am so glad Grant is already working on the next book in the series - I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.
Picking up almost immediately where Imperial Scandal left off, The Paris Affair drops Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch in the midst of post-Waterloo Paris, where political intrigue and danger abound. Grant doesn’t waste any time setting up her story. Before the end of the first chapter, Malcolm and Suzanne have blackmail, a hidden child, a foiled assassination plot, and a corpse on their hands.
One of Grant’s biggest assets as a writer is her ability to place you seamlessly into her setting. She can paint a scene vividly without hammering you over the head to describe every piece of furniture in a room. She also has a gift for making her readers feel like they are participants in the story, working right alongside Suzanne and Malcolm. And on a more trivial note, good grief do her dress descriptions make me wish I had lived in the early 1800s.
Some of my favorite characters in the first and second books were back again, and I enjoyed watching Grant expand on their backgrounds, their relationships, and their hopes for the future. My personal favorite, the incomparable Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan, is back in all her glory, and Harry and Cordelia of Imperial Scandal return to help Suzanne and Malcolm get to the bottom of secrets that have been piling up for years.
Overall, this was one of the best books I’ve read in 2013. I am so glad Grant is already working on the next book in the series - I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.
July 8, 2013
This latest book by one of the ‘best’ when it comes to delivering thrills, is focused once again on the Rannoch family; Malcolm, an aristocratic British diplomat, and his wife, Suzanne, whose family was absolutely ruined by Napoleon’s war. These two are true spies and have many secrets they keep from the public - not to mention each other - with a backstory that’s extremely engaging.
Finding themselves in the middle of an investigation of a French informant (double agent, Count Antoine de Rivere), these spies uncover even more secrets that are at the core of their own family.
Going into a lower-class bar located in a part of the city that they certainly don’t frequent, the spies try to get the double-agent away from danger and into a safe house. But while in the bar, the Count hints to Malcolm that Malcolm’s murdered sister, Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, might just be the mother of a child the family never even knew about.
Demanding safe passage out of the country to a safe destination, the informant threatens Malcolm. Unfortunately before he can win the argument a fight breaks out and causes the Count’s demise.
Back at the British Embassy the Duke of Wellington asks Malcolm and Suzanne to find the truth. As they begin looking for answers, what the couple does find is that the Princess was more than mysterious - the birth of a child was only a small part of her vault of secrets she’d kept hidden from her family. The biggest surprise? The child they go hunting for may just have been fathered by Napoleon himself.
A true romp through Paris offering readers thrills, chills and surprises around every dark corner, this tale keeps up a fast pace. Following Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the investigation into the Princess, and when and if she did have a child with the failed Emperor makes for a great adventure. Keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout, this is one book that is unforgettable.
Finding themselves in the middle of an investigation of a French informant (double agent, Count Antoine de Rivere), these spies uncover even more secrets that are at the core of their own family.
Going into a lower-class bar located in a part of the city that they certainly don’t frequent, the spies try to get the double-agent away from danger and into a safe house. But while in the bar, the Count hints to Malcolm that Malcolm’s murdered sister, Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, might just be the mother of a child the family never even knew about.
Demanding safe passage out of the country to a safe destination, the informant threatens Malcolm. Unfortunately before he can win the argument a fight breaks out and causes the Count’s demise.
Back at the British Embassy the Duke of Wellington asks Malcolm and Suzanne to find the truth. As they begin looking for answers, what the couple does find is that the Princess was more than mysterious - the birth of a child was only a small part of her vault of secrets she’d kept hidden from her family. The biggest surprise? The child they go hunting for may just have been fathered by Napoleon himself.
A true romp through Paris offering readers thrills, chills and surprises around every dark corner, this tale keeps up a fast pace. Following Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the investigation into the Princess, and when and if she did have a child with the failed Emperor makes for a great adventure. Keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout, this is one book that is unforgettable.
January 10, 2017
This book takes place immediately following the previous one. The Battle of Waterloo has ended and the victors are staking their claims in France. Malcom and Suzanne are on a mission meeting a French agent, when a fight ensues and the agent is killed. Was it an accident, or was it murder? Malcolm and Suzanne will find the truth. Meanwhile, Suzanne has met with Raul and works a side mission with him to rescue an old friend of hers. In the middle of Malcolm’s investigation, he finds that Tatiana had one last secret – a child. Malcolm is determined to find his missing relative. There are a lot of colorful characters in this book, which made it difficult to determine who was on what side. But, that’s what makes for a good mystery. Harry and Cordelia return in this book, and I enjoyed watching their relationship move along. I particularly liked one undercover operative named The Kestrel. He was excellent at disguises and putting himself into character. The book had some surprises at the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed the plot line.
May 26, 2015
This is another wonderful historical mystery featuring Malcolm and Suzanne. Set in Paris just months after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, the city is ripe for danger and intrigue. Malcolm and Suzanne set out to solve the murder of a man who has just indicated he had knowledge of secrets that could upset the British diplomatic corps as well as Malcolm's personal life. It was good to meet old friends such as Harry and Cordelia Davenport who both are becoming investigators in their own right.
As usual, Tray Grant includes in depth descriptions of Paris and events of the day as we follow the characters from elegant ballrooms to a local tavern and even the opera. Her use of the senses allows the reader to experience these events as if you were there. The clothing of both males and females is detailed down to the braiding on cuffs and the color and type of fabric. Grant builds the suspense throughout the book on its way to a surprising outcome.
As usual, Tray Grant includes in depth descriptions of Paris and events of the day as we follow the characters from elegant ballrooms to a local tavern and even the opera. Her use of the senses allows the reader to experience these events as if you were there. The clothing of both males and females is detailed down to the braiding on cuffs and the color and type of fabric. Grant builds the suspense throughout the book on its way to a surprising outcome.
July 1, 2014
Well, I did read all 427 pp. I know I have read one or more of the earlier books and did not feel strongly about them - more negative than positive. I'm done with this series now for certain. It was mushy dialogue to put it nicely. So very far away from what appeals to me, but at least I gave it another try due to my fondness for historical fiction. I suppose it would appeal to people who watch soap operas?
March 26, 2013
Teresa Grant has done it again. I love these books. Absolutely LOVE them. Be ready to become immersed in culture, mystery, romance, and history.
November 30, 2013
It has been two months since Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo and Paris is a hot bed of unrest. The old French royalty are being reinstated to the rule the country and British soldiers are everywhere. It is a powder keg waiting for a spark. Malcom and Suzanne meet in a public bar to meet Antoine Rivere, a french double agent and blackmailer. He manages to share to tidbits of information before a brawl ensues and Rivere is killed without Malcom and Suzanne witnessing who did it. They begin to investigate what little Rivere had told them and begin to uncover spies, double agents, falsely accused spies, indiscretions, and secrets. The path to the truth of who killed Rivere and why is a long road with several eventful twists.
Suzanne Rannock has some big secrets she is hiding from her husband, and throughout the investigation of Rivere's murder she worries about the fallout if they ever come to light. she manages to even smuggle an old spy friend out of the country before the new regime can arrest her, and without Malcom knowing. Suzanne isn't a coddled society lady, she has an unreputable past that comes dangerously close to her new life in this novel. Malcom is a British attache and intelligence officer who wonders at this wife's abilities by his side as they investigate. One of Rivere's bits of information touches on Malcolm's personal life and he takes some risks and uncharacteristically must confide in friends to gain their aid. He is a nicely complex character. Raoul, a former lover and Suzanne's prior spymaster is a complication as well as an ally in an era of uncertainty. He apparently has a history with Malcolm too. Rupert Caruthers and his wife Gabrielle Caruthers are integral parts to the unwinding plot, and they are both tragic in their own ways. They stand out in the whole of the story. Colonel Harry Davenport and Cordelia Davenport assist in a bit of the investigation and some clandestine maneuvers too.
The atmosphere of post-war France, with the Allied Powers restoring the Royalists to the throne, and the conquered Bonapartists being imprisoned becomes a part of the plot as well. The volatile atmosphere is vivid throughout the story.
The plot is gradually uncovered during the investigation with several twists and revelations. The complexity and danger grows as the story develops and the characters face their own vulnerabilities. The climax is riveting and the wrap-up answers many questions and provides a second chance in one case.
Overall, this is an excellent novel with intrigue, secrets, twists, danger, heroics, and fine characters set in a historical setting rife with human drama.
Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
Suzanne Rannock has some big secrets she is hiding from her husband, and throughout the investigation of Rivere's murder she worries about the fallout if they ever come to light. she manages to even smuggle an old spy friend out of the country before the new regime can arrest her, and without Malcom knowing. Suzanne isn't a coddled society lady, she has an unreputable past that comes dangerously close to her new life in this novel. Malcom is a British attache and intelligence officer who wonders at this wife's abilities by his side as they investigate. One of Rivere's bits of information touches on Malcolm's personal life and he takes some risks and uncharacteristically must confide in friends to gain their aid. He is a nicely complex character. Raoul, a former lover and Suzanne's prior spymaster is a complication as well as an ally in an era of uncertainty. He apparently has a history with Malcolm too. Rupert Caruthers and his wife Gabrielle Caruthers are integral parts to the unwinding plot, and they are both tragic in their own ways. They stand out in the whole of the story. Colonel Harry Davenport and Cordelia Davenport assist in a bit of the investigation and some clandestine maneuvers too.
The atmosphere of post-war France, with the Allied Powers restoring the Royalists to the throne, and the conquered Bonapartists being imprisoned becomes a part of the plot as well. The volatile atmosphere is vivid throughout the story.
The plot is gradually uncovered during the investigation with several twists and revelations. The complexity and danger grows as the story develops and the characters face their own vulnerabilities. The climax is riveting and the wrap-up answers many questions and provides a second chance in one case.
Overall, this is an excellent novel with intrigue, secrets, twists, danger, heroics, and fine characters set in a historical setting rife with human drama.
Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
August 31, 2013
This is the first book I’ve read by Teresa Grant but it won’t be the last. This adventure, one of a series featuring husband and wife team, Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch, is set in post Napoleonic Paris, at the time of the restoration of the monarchy. It holds a marvel of historic detail seldom found in such novels. Grant has researched the period thoroughly and has added to the verisimilitude of her complicated and involved plot by threading real historic figures through it in ways that are central to the story. We meet Wellington and Talleyrand and a host of other important figures of the time, all artfully woven into a story of intrigue and romance. To anyone who likes the history part of historical romance to be accurate and interesting this book is a “must read.”
I debated giving The Paris Affair five stars. What stopped me was the sheer number of characters the reader has to keep track of. Grant puts a three page list of her characters at the beginning of the book, making clear which are real people and which are fictional, but even so, six (or is it eight?) major characters are a bit much.
Still The Paris Affair is a good read and I highly recommend it.
I debated giving The Paris Affair five stars. What stopped me was the sheer number of characters the reader has to keep track of. Grant puts a three page list of her characters at the beginning of the book, making clear which are real people and which are fictional, but even so, six (or is it eight?) major characters are a bit much.
Still The Paris Affair is a good read and I highly recommend it.
June 10, 2022
Convoluted, even for this series, which made it hard to follow and consequently easier to disengage from. I forgot about subplots at times because they disappeared from the narrative thread for too long. The ending also came about in an almost comical cluster that didn’t feel authentic. I do love this series though. Concealment is taking an ever-increasing psychological toll on Suzanne, and I look forward to her eventual confession. However, I think her storyline could be displayed more intricately if it was handled by a more literary writer. Espionage is always in the end reduced to intrigue and thrills, foregoing an in-depth examination of the ethical, social and moral effects of the profession. This series notes them but would truly shine with just a little more evocation.
August 4, 2021
In the past I have loved the Malcolm and Susanna Rannoch books but I did not like this one. The characters are there, the intrigue is there, the action and danger are there in post-Bonaparte Paris. The story, however, just did not catch my interest at all. There was a lot of repetitive heart burn about secrets being kept and fear of them coming to light, etc. etc. The characters seemed a lot more shallow and bitter and unappealing that the others I remember. I did listen to this rather than read it and at times my mind wandered but this did not live up to my expectations.
March 2, 2025
The third installment of the Rannoch Regency mystery unfolds as a riveting thriller, with Teresa Grant expertly illuminating the dark alleys and hidden dangers of post-Napoleonic Paris. The couple delves into the mystery of the murder, striving to piece together the clues that might unveil his ticket to escape, while also guiding readers through the treacherous landscape of a city grappling with its own tumultuous rebirth. Full review coming soon on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com
June 27, 2013
I wanted to like this more than I did, and there were parts that were very enjoyable, but overall the pacing lagged and parts of it felt rather redundant or repetitive. I kept reading to find out what would happen in the end--and the last few chapters were the best--but for the most part, every time I picked it up, I'd think of something else I wanted to do more. A book that should have taken me a couple of days instead stretched to more than a week. Not a good sign.
September 28, 2014
Excellent third book in series. The characters are becoming more complex and well defined. Lots of intrigue in 1815 Paris. Highly recommend.
March 26, 2018
Somewhat better than its predecessor, but not by a lot. The way it's written, the setting felt more like London that Paris. Were the English really that isolated in Paris at that time?
May 12, 2018
This installment of the Rannoch adventures just didn't seem to have the highpoints that the previous two books did, especially Imperial Scandal. There were stretches in the middle that lagged due to too much talk and inner turmoil. I got tired of references to Malcolm putting Colin into Suzanne's arms after his birth which occurred several times. I got tired of all the people who lamented with self-doubt and guilt. As expected there were many unknowingly ironic comments sparking legitimate guilt in Suzanne.
There were certainly some good mysteries but it seems like they all got revealed too quickly, almost as if the author was running out of room, but on the other hand, TG didn't stretch the post climax story too long.
Suzanne is not quite the superstar that she was in the previous two books, but she still contributes to the investigation. Malcolm is steady especially in his devotion to her.
Really not much in the way of mature themes other than the necessary murder and a few fights.
There were certainly some good mysteries but it seems like they all got revealed too quickly, almost as if the author was running out of room, but on the other hand, TG didn't stretch the post climax story too long.
Suzanne is not quite the superstar that she was in the previous two books, but she still contributes to the investigation. Malcolm is steady especially in his devotion to her.
Really not much in the way of mature themes other than the necessary murder and a few fights.
April 1, 2023
It's always tricky jumping into a series, and I wasn't aware "The Paris Affair" was the third book in Teresa Grant's long chain of books about Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch. That meant I was playing catchup on a lot of exposition, but that was not the reason I was glad it finally ended.
First, the plot was incredibly complex -- an action mystery set in early 19th century Paris -- and ultimately unbelievable. There were twists and turns and red herrings and McGuffins, but in the end, the final revelation was more a "Really?" than "Wow."
Grant also spent a lot of time in this book on secrets and how they impact marriage and relationships, which grew wearying after a while. There was a scattering of action and plenty of intrigue, usually involving very rich people pulling off unexpected maneuvers to solve the mystery and punish the wicked.
In the end, "The Paris Affair" was a disappointment to me, but since Grant has gone on to write many, many more of these, a lot of people felt differently. But a lot of people like McDonald's, so you never know ...
First, the plot was incredibly complex -- an action mystery set in early 19th century Paris -- and ultimately unbelievable. There were twists and turns and red herrings and McGuffins, but in the end, the final revelation was more a "Really?" than "Wow."
Grant also spent a lot of time in this book on secrets and how they impact marriage and relationships, which grew wearying after a while. There was a scattering of action and plenty of intrigue, usually involving very rich people pulling off unexpected maneuvers to solve the mystery and punish the wicked.
In the end, "The Paris Affair" was a disappointment to me, but since Grant has gone on to write many, many more of these, a lot of people felt differently. But a lot of people like McDonald's, so you never know ...
February 27, 2022
Good book but DON”T READ IT ON KINDLE!!!!!!!!!!
The book is fun and well written, though incredibly complicated. The suspense is great. (But do people really swallow or swallow hard when tense? I never have.) However: the Kindle version has REMOVED ALL OF THE BREAKS WHEN SCENES CHANGE and this is positively deadly. You are reading along in one scene and suddenly a character appears who has nothing to do with that scene and is somewhere else entirely. TOTALLY INCOMPETENT and INEXCUSABLE. Surely those line breaks are there in the original and some careless soul removed them. The same was true of other Kindle books in the same series. So I recommend the paperback. It makes me wonder whether all the Kindle books have the same basic flaw.
The book is fun and well written, though incredibly complicated. The suspense is great. (But do people really swallow or swallow hard when tense? I never have.) However: the Kindle version has REMOVED ALL OF THE BREAKS WHEN SCENES CHANGE and this is positively deadly. You are reading along in one scene and suddenly a character appears who has nothing to do with that scene and is somewhere else entirely. TOTALLY INCOMPETENT and INEXCUSABLE. Surely those line breaks are there in the original and some careless soul removed them. The same was true of other Kindle books in the same series. So I recommend the paperback. It makes me wonder whether all the Kindle books have the same basic flaw.
July 17, 2017
The book is set in 1815 in Paris and features the married couple of Malcolm Rannoch and his wife Suzanne. Malcolm works for the British intelligence and his wife used to be an agent for the French. Malcolm knows some of Suzanne's secrets but not all. In this story, Malcolm is looking into the death of an agent who told him he had information about Tatiana who is Malcolm's sister. Everyone has lots of interconnections both of blood and love. The story takes a little time to get going but then moves quickly. The book was a fast easy read.
May 22, 2018
Family Affairs
Malcom and Suzanne are meeting a person who claims that he knows several secrets. He wants Malcom to smuggle him out of Paris. He also tells him that his half sister had a child. A fight breaks out and while Malcom and Suzanne are fighting Rivera is killed. This starts a chain of events that involves a lot of people. I enjoyed reading this story.
Malcom and Suzanne are meeting a person who claims that he knows several secrets. He wants Malcom to smuggle him out of Paris. He also tells him that his half sister had a child. A fight breaks out and while Malcom and Suzanne are fighting Rivera is killed. This starts a chain of events that involves a lot of people. I enjoyed reading this story.
September 1, 2021
Great characters, historical details and underlying tension of past agent misdeeds threatening marriage of Rannochs continue as setting moves to Paris. Grant is a master of creating glittering imagery with economy of prose, so you feel as if you’re sipping a cafe au lait in the Palais Royale along with Suzanne and Malcolm.
May 15, 2020
Superb Again....
I can honestly say that these books get better with each one! The complex story lines are put together seamlessly to make you feel that you are there with these characters! Can’t wait to read the next one!
I can honestly say that these books get better with each one! The complex story lines are put together seamlessly to make you feel that you are there with these characters! Can’t wait to read the next one!
February 25, 2021
This is the first book I have read in this series. Tracy Grant's style of writing does not appeal to me, I found it slow and laborious, but she obviously has a legion of fans for the series and there is plenty of action.
October 24, 2019
Question: The paperback edition that I just finished reading is by Teresa Grant. Hmmmm.
March 20, 2021
Absolutely loved this book read it in 2013 updating!!
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