The Paris Mistress: A Revolutionary War Mystery

Revolutionary War Mysteries #3

by Mally Becker

Summer 1781. Passy, France. George Washington’s two least likely spies for liberty, Rebecca Parcell and Daniel Alloway, are determined to marry and leave their undercover past behind— until a plot to bribe Benjamin Franklin leads to murder.

Becca is eager to reach Paris to marry Daniel, who’s gone ahead to take up a new post there. But their idyllic prenuptial life unravels when they accept an invitation to reside with Dr. Benjamin Franklin, America’s brilliant, enigmatic ambassador to France.

It’s bad enough that someone is stealing Dr. Franklin’s correspondence and sending it to London. But then he receives a mysterious letter offering him a bribe to help England. And when a murdered man is found on the roof of Dr. Franklin’s home outside of Paris, and he calls upon Becca and Daniel his two new houseguests–former spies for George Washington–to investigate. The duo find themselves searching for the murderer through the labyrinth of 18th century Paris, a city brimming with danger, secrets, and the ever-present whispers of revolution.

With time running out, Becca and Daniel must determine whether the killer is a member of Dr. Franklin’s inner circle or a cunning outsider. And as the couple race from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the gilded halls of Versailles, they discover that their own lives are in grave danger and that the stakes for Dr. Franklin and America are even higher than they could have imagined.

Will Becca and Daniel find the killer before the murderer strikes again, and will they ever manage to marry?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, American Revolution

274 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2024

About the author

Mally Becker combines her love of history and crime fiction in mysteries that feature strong, independent heroines. She is the Agatha Award-nominated author of The Turncoat’s Widow, which Kirkus Reviews called, "A compelling tale ... with charming main characters.” Her debut novel was also named a Silver Falchion finalist and a Mystery & Mayhem finalist in the Chanticleer International Book Awards. The Counterfeit Wife, the next book in her series, will be published on September 20, 2022, by Level Best Books.

A member of the board of MWA-NY, Mally was an attorney until becoming a full-time writer. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime and the Historical Novel Society. She and her husband live in New Jersey, where they raised their wonderful son. 

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Paris mistress
Creating a prologue of introduction that is a testimony to the author’s creativity we meet Patience Wright a local and famous artist as she opens the door to the roof of Passy Mansion belonging to Benjamin Franklin and screams.
Enter the world as America and England each fight to keep control of the colonies. Set in 1781 Becca  and Daniel  both lose their spouses  and hope to marry  in Paris. But in the novel everything goes as planned as they are staying with Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Franklin as the novel opens is at the climax of his career as America’s ambassador France and wants to retire. Daniel and Becca did some spy work for Franklin and now get pulled back into when someone tries to bride Franklin into helping England with a letter that would change it all. Franklin realizes that his mail is missing and not all delivered to him and some of the letters made public. He thinks there is a spy in his household and that her mother met on the boat  to Paris and Jude is found dead on a lighting rod on the roof of Franklin's home. The couplet to visit Versailles is now filled with deception  danger, lies, backstabbing and  and how to deal with the upper ruling class.  But first the author shares some other unexpected information when Daniel and Becca are asked to follow and find the man with the red rose and never thinking he would escape the police and then found dead.
Added in we get to know the relationship between Mrs. Hannah her mother and Michael the chef that was her childhood friend. Things get tense and lives are at stake as they try to figure out who might  have killed Jude, was it meant to be Franklin and the intrigue and mystery is more intense as the story moves ahead.
Then the mystery gets more intense as Becca and Daniel agree to find the killer and decide to follow Mr. Bancroft taking Micheal the chef with him. When he sees Bancroft he hides beneath the shadows in the grass, Michael has the coach a distance away and then when he finally accesses the note and what was left in the dirt, he gets hurt, cannot move and needs care from Hannah, Becca’s mother for a serious head injury but will he remember what really happened?
As Franklin believes that Gabriel is an asset and then we learn more about Bancroft we understand that he appears to be on the right side but is really a spy and they plan to plant information to take him down. Daniel and Gabriel are to go to Versailles and Becca will not go there but when they realize that Jude had passed through the perfume shop what Lady Agusta allows them do to is priceless and fools the shop owners while they realize that their helper Renee has secrets of her own to reveal about him. Just how far will someone go to destroy Franklin and his goal for independence? Just what is Michael the Chef’s relationship with Ms. Hannah and just where will this wind up when they find the killer the spy in his household and what will Daniel discover after being hit in the head and losing part of his memory
As  each group intertwines we learn that Mrs. Wright had a relationship with Fenimore but when she and Becca talk the conversation turns offbeat and you wonder if she is capable of caring for anyone but herself. Becca and Daniel create a false impression, then we meet the family of Michael cousins and all who want freedom as he says he does, and they want to leave France and go to America but what is truth and what is fiction as Becca hopes to come to the end of this deception but first she and her
The facts are as follows: How did Fenimore die?
how did he allow himself to be tied up and place on lightening rod? Why did he run towards the perfume shop and where did the rope come from? Did the police leave it there?  How did Patience  get a cut? What about  Edward  Bancroft   and did he leave Paris? Who is he exactly and what is the importance of the disappearing ink and the note? Did they find anyone in the household that members of the household were spying and what about the note appeared to a love letter? Explain sympathetic ink  or disappearing ink. Then in order to protect  Becca she and Daniel had to do some real acting and pretend they were no more.
Then the truth about the carriage and why it was in repair and the something was sawed off and it was no accident that someone was trying to kill Dr. Franklin and why is he not aware of it. then Michael and his friends works at the great house nearby and what they learn from them
Truths and lies come out when they meet with Renee who was close to Fenimore, and they learn of the many secrets they both had and the truth behind the red rose and Fenimore presenting himself with it. conspiracies, then the truth about what Gabriel planned and the meeting with Marie Antoinette as the author shares Becca and the queen’s interaction but what is hidden behind closed doors and the potion that both Daniel and Becca experience might take two more lives if they do not find a way out of the clutches of a killer.
Lives change in the end. Becca has to take hold of what she did, and Franklin admits his role and his lies to get what is needed for independence and more. Chapter 31 you will hear the voice of Franklin admit what he had to do, and the last chapter will bring either tears of wonder, joy or the final reveal about whether Daniel and Becca tie the knot, what about Michael will he get his freedom and find love with Hannah. The story is far from over as Becca receives a note from Martha Washington. Does that mean another mission. Find out when the author pens the next Daniel and Becca novel but beware of the title given to Becca: THE PARIS MISTRESS! Do you agree?
Fran Lewis just reviews



























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[Mary Ann Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one!

[Venita Bonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all wars are won on the battlefield. Some are fought in drawing rooms, palaces, cathedrals, and dusty shops thousands of miles from gunshots and cannon fire.
Such is the case in Mally Becker’s THE PARIS MISTRESS, the third book in her American Revolutionary War mystery series.
When Rebecca Parcell, a widowed former American operative, travels to Paris to marry Daniel Alloway, she’s caught in a web of murder, deceit, and international intrigue. A British spy is murdered and strung up on Dr. Benjamin Franklin’s lightning rod. Franklin knows of Rebecca and Daniel’s past heroism and presses them to ferret out the murderer and the secrets jeopardizing the rebellious Colonies. Although Rebecca swears that she has come to marry, not solve a murder, her sense of patriotism overrules her reluctance.
As Rebecca and Daniel seek to unravel this 18th-Century whodunit and uncloak a murderer, they battle sinister forces imperiling the Revolutionaries. On a personal level, they must also combat the French bureaucrat refusing to give them a license to marry. Even in promiscuous Paris, Rebecca is looked upon as a fallen woman whose dead husband was a traitor.
The author’s sense of place, historical detail, culture, costumes, and dialogue make the reader feel that she is walking the muddy streets of Paris. Readers who appreciate “Turn: Washington’s Spies” and “John Adams” (the series depicting the diplomatic efforts between America and France), will applaud Mally Becker’s adroit weaving of historical fact and fiction. And the romantics among us will sigh over the poignant love story between Rebecca and the handsome Daniel. Will she become more than a “mistress” who must sneak into her lover’s bed?
I highly recommend THE PARIS MISTRESS and Mally Becker’s Agatha Award-nominated former books in the series. 5 Stars for this brilliant writer!

[Graeme Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mally Becker delivers a lively blend of historical intrigue and mystery in The Paris Mistress, a tale set against the political tensions of 1781 France. The story follows former spies Rebecca Parcell and Daniel Alloway as they attempt to leave their dangerous past behind, only to be drawn into a new web of intrigue when a plot involving bribery and murder threatens both their future and the fragile diplomacy of the American cause.

Becker’s vivid portrayal of revolutionary era Paris, combined with a clever mystery plot and the inclusion of historical figures, creates an immersive narrative. The dynamic between Becca and Daniel adds emotional depth, while the espionage elements keep the tension high. Rich in atmosphere and suspense, this novel offers an engaging mix of romance, history, and mystery.

[Eileen Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating - A Page Turner

Having recently returned from a tour of France, which included Versailles and the surrounding countryside this story rang true. The author’s detailed descriptions of the palace, the country and the characters are spot on. Mally Becker’s skill at creating believable characters that you want to meet and creating plot twists that keep you surprised keep the reader turning the page.

[Sue Flaig · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page-turner

This historical mystery is set during the time frame of the American Revolutionary War but takes place in France. Mally Becker brings her two protagonists, Becca and Daniel, to life and makes us care about them. The plot revolves around Benjamin Franklin, treason, murder, attempted murder, and more.

[Laurieanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery was less spy-y compared to the others in this series and a dud for me.

Booklist Queen’s 2025 Reading Challenge #23: Set in the Summer.
Taylor Swift Reading Challenge #150: Exile/A book with male/female POV.

[Mary G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very nice story with characters with depth. Hopefully there will be another book in the series.

[Beth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is the third and final in the series. This is a satisfying ending to the series, although I think the author could continue if she chooses. I thoroughly enjoyed these books, in spite of the fact that historical fiction is not my favorite genre. This series successfully combines elements of romance, intrigue, and history with the mystery format and I find that very satisfying. The plot moves at a good pace. There is enough historical detail to satisfy history lovers, but not so much that it bogs down the plot. I appreciate the balance.
Becker brings historical characters to life and humanizes them. The Paris Mistress contains amazing renderings of Benjamin Franklin and Marie Antoinette that I found fascinating. The characters are surprising and yet fully believable. The secondary characters have depth and contribute to the story as well.
I love the way the author incorporates unexpected sensory and visual details! The description of the elegant party at Versailles is not to be missed.
I highly recommend this series to readers of both historical fiction and mysteries, really almost any fiction reader, I think would enjoy these books.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been 10 months since Daniel Alloway went to Paris for his new employer, and Rebecca Parcell is thrilled to finally be joining him, with plans to wed while they are there. Daniel has been staying with Benjamin Franklin, and, not too long after Rebecca arrives, Dr. Franklin receives a note bribing him to end the Revolutionary War in England’s favor. When Daniel and Rebecca start to investigate, a dead body soon turns up. Can they figure out what is going on?

While I love the time period, I usually prefer to focus on what was happening in the colonies at the time. I am glad this book was set in France, however, since it allowed me to see how our war as impacting them. I really appreciated that insight. The plot is good. I was beginning to suspect where things were going, but there were so many secrets that I really wasn’t sure. Daniel and Rebecca are still a great team, and I enjoyed seeing them in action again. The characters, whether real or fictional, were just as good. If you enjoy this period of history, you need to read these books.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Becca and Daniel find themselves in the middle of a murder scandal while in Paris. The man who had accompanied Becca and her family overseas winds up dead at Benjamin Franklin's estate while they are visiting. Can they help solve the mystery before it's too late?

Maybe if you're really into historical fiction, this may be more for you, but as a professional historian, I thought this was honestly really cringey at times. I hate it when authors try to include famous figures and give them a personality that suits the book's style more than authenticity, and I honestly wish they would've just left well enough alone. This appears to be part of a series, however, in that the two main characters reference being spies for George Washington and get invited back to Mount Vernon. Aside from my gripe with the famous figures, I thought there was a whole lot of unnecessary conversation, events, and fluff that made the story drag on, but then the mystery's reveal was brief, giving an unsatisfactory end to that. The book seemed far more interested in the main character's marriage than any other plot point.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read much spy lit, but I loved Mally Becker's 3rd, well-researched Revolutionary War mystery, and now I'm a fan, especially of historical mysteries.

It's 1781, and someone is trying to bribe Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who is at the end of his career as America’s ambassador to France, into helping England. Someone else in Franklin's household is spying on him, and a man is found tied on the roof to Benjamin Franklin’s new invention, the lightening rod. Rebecca and Daniel, a couple who hope to marry while they are in Paris that had worked as spies for George Washington, are recruited. He brings them on a visit to Versailles in this tale packed with fabulous details about French clothing, makeup, royalty, and rule-based socializing, in addition to secrets, back-stabbing, and danger.

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mally Becker's Revolutionary War-era historical mysteries continue to delight, with both their originality and their solid sense of time and place. This time, Becca and Daniel are in France, guests of ambassador Benjamin Franklin. Daniel has been working for an American businessman overseas, and the couple is looking forward to their marriage. But first a mysterious letter, and then a murdered man, complicate their lives. The Paris Mistress could easily have been twice as long, to further explore the place and time. The novel ends with a coded message from Martha Washington -- can we hope there are more adventures for Becca and Daniel to come?

[NIna Wachsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

With powdered wigs and perfumes, satin dresses and taffeta birthmarks, the era comes alive, transporting the reader at a white-knuckled gallop to its surprising conclusion. Highly recommended, and even better if you read the first two, like I did.