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Убийство в Париж
В „Убийство в Париж“ - един потиснат спомен, едно убийство, заровено във времето. Една жена, която трябва да разкрие истината - преди да е станало твърде късно.
Оливия Фин е експерт по паметта в болница в Лондон. Едно обаждане от Париж преобръща живота ѝ. Баба ѝ - Жозефин Беноа, твърди, че в последните дни на Втората световна война е извършила убийство в легендарния хотел „Лутеция“. Спомен, изникнал след десетилетия мълчание.
Когато пристига в Париж, Оливия вижда хотелските архиви, които потвърждават, че в същата стая е умряла жена през 1945 г. Въпросът вече не е дали Жозефин казва истината, а какви други тайни крие миналото...
Докато нови убийства разтърсват настоящето, Оливия се впуска в надпревара с времето из елегантните, но и опасни улици на Париж, за да стигне до истината. Истина, която я води до прозрението, че някои спомени имат способността да убиват.
Оливия Фин е експерт по паметта в болница в Лондон. Едно обаждане от Париж преобръща живота ѝ. Баба ѝ - Жозефин Беноа, твърди, че в последните дни на Втората световна война е извършила убийство в легендарния хотел „Лутеция“. Спомен, изникнал след десетилетия мълчание.
Когато пристига в Париж, Оливия вижда хотелските архиви, които потвърждават, че в същата стая е умряла жена през 1945 г. Въпросът вече не е дали Жозефин казва истината, а какви други тайни крие миналото...
Докато нови убийства разтърсват настоящето, Оливия се впуска в надпревара с времето из елегантните, но и опасни улици на Париж, за да стигне до истината. Истина, която я води до прозрението, че някои спомени имат способността да убиват.
328 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2025
147 people are currently reading
12470 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Blake
4 books297 followersAfter discovering that the average person spends thirty-three years of their life asleep, Matthew Blake felt the pull of a story. He began extensive research into sleep-related crimes and into the mystery illness known as resignation syndrome, research that sparked a thrilling question: if someone commits murder while sleepwalking, are they innocent or guilty? And so his novel Anna O was born.
Before writing fiction, Matthew worked as a researcher and speechwriter at the Palace of Westminster. He studied English at Durham University and Merton College, Oxford and now lives in London.
Before writing fiction, Matthew worked as a researcher and speechwriter at the Palace of Westminster. He studied English at Durham University and Merton College, Oxford and now lives in London.
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October 6, 2025
Memory serves… murder! 🗼🧠
Matthew Blake’s A Murder in Paris is a brainteaser with real joie de vivre, part psychological thriller, part murder mystery, all wrapped in a croissant-flaky plot that keeps shedding buttery layers. Olivia Finn, a memory expert, is summoned to the Hotel Lutetia when her grandmother Josephine confesses to a wartime killing. It sounds like a mis-remember-me, but the records say otherwise… and soon the present starts adding fresh bodies to an old ledger.
I’m usually not in Seine about dual timelines, they can feel like taking the metro the wrong direction, but here the back and forth between 1945 and now gradually clicks like a well-set watch. Once the pieces warm up, Blake turns memory science into narrative rocket fuel, playing fair while still palming narrative cards like a boulevard magician. The Lutetia setting is a treat: glamorous, haunted, and steeped in real history without becoming a textbook tour. Olivia’s clinical cool vs. Josephine’s fraying recollections gives the book its pulse; their bond is the lockpick that opens the mystery.
Pun aside, what really left banked me was how cleverly the story threads trauma, guilt, and the slipperiness of recall without leaning on cheap amnesia tricks. A few early chapters pace like a long queue at a patisserie, worth it, but you do clock the minutes, and the dual timeline occasionally feels like two exquisite melodies competing for the same bar. Still, the reveals land, the red herrings are Michelin starred, and the final turn is both earned and satisfying. I kept guessing right to the end, and the ending guessed me right back.
Publication date: June 3, 2025
Rating: 🔍🔍🔍🔍.5 (4.5/5)
Come for the Lutetia lore, stay for the twisty tour: two timelines, one haunting confession, and a finale that proves the past isn’t past, it’s just waiting to be re-membered.
Matthew Blake’s A Murder in Paris is a brainteaser with real joie de vivre, part psychological thriller, part murder mystery, all wrapped in a croissant-flaky plot that keeps shedding buttery layers. Olivia Finn, a memory expert, is summoned to the Hotel Lutetia when her grandmother Josephine confesses to a wartime killing. It sounds like a mis-remember-me, but the records say otherwise… and soon the present starts adding fresh bodies to an old ledger.
I’m usually not in Seine about dual timelines, they can feel like taking the metro the wrong direction, but here the back and forth between 1945 and now gradually clicks like a well-set watch. Once the pieces warm up, Blake turns memory science into narrative rocket fuel, playing fair while still palming narrative cards like a boulevard magician. The Lutetia setting is a treat: glamorous, haunted, and steeped in real history without becoming a textbook tour. Olivia’s clinical cool vs. Josephine’s fraying recollections gives the book its pulse; their bond is the lockpick that opens the mystery.
Pun aside, what really left banked me was how cleverly the story threads trauma, guilt, and the slipperiness of recall without leaning on cheap amnesia tricks. A few early chapters pace like a long queue at a patisserie, worth it, but you do clock the minutes, and the dual timeline occasionally feels like two exquisite melodies competing for the same bar. Still, the reveals land, the red herrings are Michelin starred, and the final turn is both earned and satisfying. I kept guessing right to the end, and the ending guessed me right back.
Publication date: June 3, 2025
Rating: 🔍🔍🔍🔍.5 (4.5/5)
Come for the Lutetia lore, stay for the twisty tour: two timelines, one haunting confession, and a finale that proves the past isn’t past, it’s just waiting to be re-membered.
July 11, 2025
I loved Anna O so much that I requested A. Murder in Paris without even reading the synopsis! I have been waiting for another book from this author and was so happy to receive an early copy thanks to Harper Collins.
What an absolutely fantastic book! i loved the historical timeline and the fascinating story of WWII survivors. What those poor innocent people were put through was just horrific. I do always enjoy multiple timelines in a story and it was so cleverly executed by the author. I couldn’t wait to get back to all the timelines!
Olivia Finn is a memory expert, so seeing her grandmother suffering from dementia breaks her heart. So when she gets a call from Paris to say that her grandmother has confessed to a murder in 1945, she drops everything and gets herself on the Eurostar. Is she telling the truth or is this the illness talking?
Memory plays a big part in this book, what we remember and what we think we remember. How memories change over time and how they can be manipulated l it was such an interesting concept and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. You have to read this book, out on July 3rd.
What an absolutely fantastic book! i loved the historical timeline and the fascinating story of WWII survivors. What those poor innocent people were put through was just horrific. I do always enjoy multiple timelines in a story and it was so cleverly executed by the author. I couldn’t wait to get back to all the timelines!
Olivia Finn is a memory expert, so seeing her grandmother suffering from dementia breaks her heart. So when she gets a call from Paris to say that her grandmother has confessed to a murder in 1945, she drops everything and gets herself on the Eurostar. Is she telling the truth or is this the illness talking?
Memory plays a big part in this book, what we remember and what we think we remember. How memories change over time and how they can be manipulated l it was such an interesting concept and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. You have to read this book, out on July 3rd.
July 20, 2025
“A Murder in Paris”, by Matthew Blake (author of “Anna O”)
3 generous stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so looking forward to reading this book, because after reading his first book, which will be adapted for the screen (TV series), I did see some potential.
Well, this one felt like a draft that was written before the first book. The writing was too simple and felt too amateurish, and it was also very repetitive.
Some of the dialogues were weak and juvenile and the inner thoughts even shallow.
The concept was excellent and I did like the timeline structure.
The story started very well, but the execution and the conclusion was underwhelming.
The chapters were too short and the characters felt underdeveloped.
The storytelling alternates between first and third person.
But don’t mind me. There are plenty of 5 and 4 stars.
3 generous stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so looking forward to reading this book, because after reading his first book, which will be adapted for the screen (TV series), I did see some potential.
Well, this one felt like a draft that was written before the first book. The writing was too simple and felt too amateurish, and it was also very repetitive.
Some of the dialogues were weak and juvenile and the inner thoughts even shallow.
The concept was excellent and I did like the timeline structure.
The story started very well, but the execution and the conclusion was underwhelming.
The chapters were too short and the characters felt underdeveloped.
The storytelling alternates between first and third person.
But don’t mind me. There are plenty of 5 and 4 stars.
May 29, 2025
Without memories, who are we?
Hôtel Lutetia, Paris, 1945. Survivors of the Holocaust make this their temporary home but there’s a body in room 11, is it murder or natural causes?
Present day – Olivia Finn is a single mum to TJ and a psychotherapist and memory expert who works at the Memory Unit at Charing Cross Hospital. She receives a call from The Hôtel Lutetia and is asked if she knows a Sophie Leclerc who claims to be her grandmother. However, her grandmother is called Josephine Benoit, a reclusive famous portrait painter, who indeed has a famous painting hanging in the Lutetia, entitled Room 11. However, the description provided does indeed sound like a 96-year-old grandmother and the worst bit of all, is that she wants to confess to a crime, a murder no less. This is just the start as this confession has ramifications that date back to Paris of 1945.
This is a rollercoaster read with the well constructed plot going this way and that and it’s an emotional rollercoaster too, making it a compelling and absorbing piece of storytelling. I like the way the reader is taken backwards and forwards in time until the truth is revealed through several points of view, although principally that of Olivia.
The focus on memory is especially intriguing. There’s the issue of Olivia’s grandmother who has dementia, the painting she creates of Room 11 and sits beneath, Olivia‘s job concerns memory as does that of Olivia‘s mentor and contemporary of her grandmother, Louis de Villefort. What emerges a bit like the memories of someone battling the cruelty of dementia. You have some of the memory pieces but a lot are missing which results in an enigmatic puzzle. What is real and what is the result of Josephine‘s confusion or of some trauma? The connection between past and present is cleverly done and it gets increasingly intriguing, especially as secrets or potential secrets, are dangled in front of the reader resulting in continuing on in order to discover the elusive truth. In amongst this is of course, the sadness of Josephine‘s deepening dementia and what occurs as a consequence.
It’s a very atmospheric tale and frequently the atmosphere is a chilly one. Paris is a wonderful city and I have visited it many times and it looms large here, particularly through the Hôtel (Lutetia does exist and it’s iconic) and it’s past and of course the atmosphere of Paris in 1945 is crucial. There’s the inescapable darkness of the Nazi occupation and all that entails as well as what unfolds in the chaos and the reprisals following their departure. Paris of 1945 sets the tone for the novel and maintains it throughout, taking the storytelling to Auschwitz and back again and propelling it forwards in the present day.
I do guess part but not the overall reveal. Matthew Blake has delivered a very good follow-up to the best selling Anna O. It’s different and a page turner.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Hôtel Lutetia, Paris, 1945. Survivors of the Holocaust make this their temporary home but there’s a body in room 11, is it murder or natural causes?
Present day – Olivia Finn is a single mum to TJ and a psychotherapist and memory expert who works at the Memory Unit at Charing Cross Hospital. She receives a call from The Hôtel Lutetia and is asked if she knows a Sophie Leclerc who claims to be her grandmother. However, her grandmother is called Josephine Benoit, a reclusive famous portrait painter, who indeed has a famous painting hanging in the Lutetia, entitled Room 11. However, the description provided does indeed sound like a 96-year-old grandmother and the worst bit of all, is that she wants to confess to a crime, a murder no less. This is just the start as this confession has ramifications that date back to Paris of 1945.
This is a rollercoaster read with the well constructed plot going this way and that and it’s an emotional rollercoaster too, making it a compelling and absorbing piece of storytelling. I like the way the reader is taken backwards and forwards in time until the truth is revealed through several points of view, although principally that of Olivia.
The focus on memory is especially intriguing. There’s the issue of Olivia’s grandmother who has dementia, the painting she creates of Room 11 and sits beneath, Olivia‘s job concerns memory as does that of Olivia‘s mentor and contemporary of her grandmother, Louis de Villefort. What emerges a bit like the memories of someone battling the cruelty of dementia. You have some of the memory pieces but a lot are missing which results in an enigmatic puzzle. What is real and what is the result of Josephine‘s confusion or of some trauma? The connection between past and present is cleverly done and it gets increasingly intriguing, especially as secrets or potential secrets, are dangled in front of the reader resulting in continuing on in order to discover the elusive truth. In amongst this is of course, the sadness of Josephine‘s deepening dementia and what occurs as a consequence.
It’s a very atmospheric tale and frequently the atmosphere is a chilly one. Paris is a wonderful city and I have visited it many times and it looms large here, particularly through the Hôtel (Lutetia does exist and it’s iconic) and it’s past and of course the atmosphere of Paris in 1945 is crucial. There’s the inescapable darkness of the Nazi occupation and all that entails as well as what unfolds in the chaos and the reprisals following their departure. Paris of 1945 sets the tone for the novel and maintains it throughout, taking the storytelling to Auschwitz and back again and propelling it forwards in the present day.
I do guess part but not the overall reveal. Matthew Blake has delivered a very good follow-up to the best selling Anna O. It’s different and a page turner.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
June 23, 2025
I flew through this book and it was totally unputdownable! From the first page to the last, it kept me guessing, and I just had to know how it would end.
The story follows Olivia Finn, living in London, whose world is turned upside down when her French grandmother, Josephine, suddenly turns up at a hotel in Paris and confesses to a murder she says she committed back in 1945. Even though Josephine is confused, she’s sure the memory is real.
As Olivia starts digging into the past, she uncovers the shocking truth: a woman really did die in that hotel room all those years ago. And just when you think that’s wild enough, mysterious deaths start happening in the present day too.
The book jumps between the present day and post-WWII Paris, and I loved hearing both Olivia’s and Josephine’s sides of the story. It’s fast-paced, gripping, and full of twists, including a few surprises near the end that totally caught me off guard. I loved the characters, especially how real and likeable they felt from the start. And knowing that some parts are based on actual historical events made it even more intense.
If you like a book that keep your brain working overtime (and you secretly love it), you need to read this.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
🔪 Psychological Thriller
🔪 Murder Mystery
🔪 Set in Paris
🔪 Multiple Timelines
The story follows Olivia Finn, living in London, whose world is turned upside down when her French grandmother, Josephine, suddenly turns up at a hotel in Paris and confesses to a murder she says she committed back in 1945. Even though Josephine is confused, she’s sure the memory is real.
As Olivia starts digging into the past, she uncovers the shocking truth: a woman really did die in that hotel room all those years ago. And just when you think that’s wild enough, mysterious deaths start happening in the present day too.
The book jumps between the present day and post-WWII Paris, and I loved hearing both Olivia’s and Josephine’s sides of the story. It’s fast-paced, gripping, and full of twists, including a few surprises near the end that totally caught me off guard. I loved the characters, especially how real and likeable they felt from the start. And knowing that some parts are based on actual historical events made it even more intense.
If you like a book that keep your brain working overtime (and you secretly love it), you need to read this.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
🔪 Psychological Thriller
🔪 Murder Mystery
🔪 Set in Paris
🔪 Multiple Timelines
August 15, 2025
Geheugenexpert Olivia Finn krijgt een dringend telefoontje van de politie in Parijs: haar Franse grootmoeder, Josephine Benoit, beweert dat ze aan het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog een moord heeft gepleegd. Olivia reist af naar de Franse hoofdstad en treft haar verward aan.
Josephine houdt echter vol dat ze zich de moord nu pas herinnert. Nog verontrustender is het feit dat het hotelarchief aantoont dat er destijds inderdaad een vrouw is gestorven in de bewuste kamer.
Wat is er die fatale nacht echt gebeurd in Hotel Lutetia? En hebben nieuwe sterfgevallen iets met het verleden te maken? Het antwoord ligt in kamer 11… en in het geheugen van Olivia’s grootmoeder.
Dit verhaal begint met een mysterieuze proloog in het jaar 1945. Hier werd ik als lezer nieuwsgierig en wilde ik snel verder lezen.
Vervolgens maak je een sprong naar het heden en lees je vanuit Olivia. De Franse politie belt haar op met de mededeling dat haar oma, van Franse afkomst, beweert dat ze in 1945 een moord heeft gepleegd. Olivia weet niet wat ze hoort, en haar oma is inmiddels ook nog eens aan het dementeren. Dus klopt het überhaupt wel wat ze zegt?
Dan lees je over de reis die Olivia naar Frankrijk maakt en het contact dat ze weer met haar grootmoeder heeft. Ondertussen komen er ook andere personages voorbij en lees je ook vanuit hen.
De grootmoeder van Olivia blijft volhouden dat ze een moord heeft gepleegd en 'Kamer 11' van een hotel blijkt een hele grote rol daarin te spelen. De grote vraag is of Olivia precies kan achterhalen wat er toen in die kamer gebeurd is...
Tijdens het lezen maak je regelmatig weer sprongen naar 1945 en dat vond ik wel verrassend. Ook hier lees je dan vanuit andere personages en daardoor kom je meer te weten over wat er toen precies afspeelde.
Het begin vond ik zeer veelbelovend en ik was dan ook enorm benieuwd naar het verdere verloop. Toch vond ik het daarna een klein beetje afzwakken en zaten er voor mij niet hele grote plottwists in het verhaal.
Desondanks was de schrijfstijl wel heel erg fijn, net zoals de sprongen in de tijd en de afwisseling van personages.
Ik wil @harpercollins_holland heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
3,5 ⭐️
Josephine houdt echter vol dat ze zich de moord nu pas herinnert. Nog verontrustender is het feit dat het hotelarchief aantoont dat er destijds inderdaad een vrouw is gestorven in de bewuste kamer.
Wat is er die fatale nacht echt gebeurd in Hotel Lutetia? En hebben nieuwe sterfgevallen iets met het verleden te maken? Het antwoord ligt in kamer 11… en in het geheugen van Olivia’s grootmoeder.
Dit verhaal begint met een mysterieuze proloog in het jaar 1945. Hier werd ik als lezer nieuwsgierig en wilde ik snel verder lezen.
Vervolgens maak je een sprong naar het heden en lees je vanuit Olivia. De Franse politie belt haar op met de mededeling dat haar oma, van Franse afkomst, beweert dat ze in 1945 een moord heeft gepleegd. Olivia weet niet wat ze hoort, en haar oma is inmiddels ook nog eens aan het dementeren. Dus klopt het überhaupt wel wat ze zegt?
Dan lees je over de reis die Olivia naar Frankrijk maakt en het contact dat ze weer met haar grootmoeder heeft. Ondertussen komen er ook andere personages voorbij en lees je ook vanuit hen.
De grootmoeder van Olivia blijft volhouden dat ze een moord heeft gepleegd en 'Kamer 11' van een hotel blijkt een hele grote rol daarin te spelen. De grote vraag is of Olivia precies kan achterhalen wat er toen in die kamer gebeurd is...
Tijdens het lezen maak je regelmatig weer sprongen naar 1945 en dat vond ik wel verrassend. Ook hier lees je dan vanuit andere personages en daardoor kom je meer te weten over wat er toen precies afspeelde.
Het begin vond ik zeer veelbelovend en ik was dan ook enorm benieuwd naar het verdere verloop. Toch vond ik het daarna een klein beetje afzwakken en zaten er voor mij niet hele grote plottwists in het verhaal.
Desondanks was de schrijfstijl wel heel erg fijn, net zoals de sprongen in de tijd en de afwisseling van personages.
Ik wil @harpercollins_holland heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
3,5 ⭐️
June 26, 2025
ARC read - Harper Collins
2.5/5 ⭐️
I’m not sure how to rate this book, I would say it was a solid 3 star read for me, but then again, it felt underdeveloped in places, and all of the characters got on my nerves.
The writing was messy and quite predictable, it was repetitive at times and the dialogues felt really pretentious. The mystery of it all still had a suspense, so at least there’s that.
All in all, a satisfactory read, but not my favorite.
2.5/5 ⭐️
I’m not sure how to rate this book, I would say it was a solid 3 star read for me, but then again, it felt underdeveloped in places, and all of the characters got on my nerves.
The writing was messy and quite predictable, it was repetitive at times and the dialogues felt really pretentious. The mystery of it all still had a suspense, so at least there’s that.
All in all, a satisfactory read, but not my favorite.
September 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️,5
In ‘De moord in kamer 11’ wordt je meegenomen in het verhaal van geheugenexpert Olivia Finn. Olivia krijgt op een dag een telefoontje dat haar Franse oma Josephine Benoit beweert dat zij aan het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog een moord heeft gepleegd, maar welke ze zich nu pas herinnert. Olivia gaat naar haar oma toe in de Franse hoofdstad om de waarheid te achterhalen.
Voordat ik begon met lezen had ik eigenlijk geen verwachtingen van dit verhaal. Het was voor mij ook het eerste boek wat ik van Matthew Blake heb gelezen, dus ik wist qua schrijfstijl ook niet wat ik moest verwachten.
Wat ik een sterk punt aan dit verhaal vond was de verhaallijn in combinatie met hoe het verhaal neergezet is. De verhaallijn speelt zich grotendeels af in de Franse hoofdstad Parijs. Hier kwam ook direct de gedetailleerde schrijfstijl van de auteur bij kijken. Parijs is op een levendige manier beschreven, waardoor ik het gevoel had dat ik zelf in de stad was.
Het verhaal maakt afwisselend tijdssprongen tussen het heden en het verleden. Hierdoor weet de auteur de spanning en het mysterieuze randje van het verhaal goed aanwezig te houden, waardoor ik ook continue wel geboeid bleef om verder te lezen.
Wat ik helaas wel minder vond ik in dit verhaal, is het tempo in de opbouw van de verhaallijn en de mate van verhaling. De introductie van het verhaal was enigszins nog op een redelijk tempo, maar het duurde daarna vrij lang voordat er wat tempo in het verhaal kwam. In combinatie met de veelvoudigheid van herhaling maakte dat dat ik mezelf een beetje door het eerste deel moest worstelen. Enerzijds vond ik het in het begin wel goed dat er wat herhaald werd, zodat de personages en verhaallijn duidelijk werden, maar daarna vond ik het wel een tikkeltje irritant worden.
Qua personages ben ik gemiddeld genomen positief. Het eerste gedeelte lees je enkel vanuit het personage van Olivia. Ik vond Olivia als personage oke. Als het gehele verhaal enkel over haar was gegaan, betwijfel ik of dat ik het verhaal uiteindelijk nog hetzelfde had beoordeeld. Ik vond Olivia op sommige momenten wat zeurderig overkomen.
Gelukkig werden er ook andere POV’s in het verhaal gebracht, waaronder de pov van Josephine, de oma van Olivia. Haar pov is geschreven ten tijde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Ik vond haar POV dan ook direct een stuk boeiender en levendiger dan de pov van Olivia.
Qua ontknoping heeft de auteur mij wel echt positief verrast. Tot het einde heeft hij de daadwerkelijke ontknoping stil weten te houden en zag ik de ontknoping ook zeker niet aankomen.
Ondanks dat niet alle keuzes van de auteur qua verhaallijn of personages mijn ‘cup of tea’ waren, ben ik toch voldoende geënthousiasmeerd om eventuele nieuwe boeken van Matthew Blake te gaan lezen.
*Ik heb dit boek gekregen als recensie-exemplaar in ruil voor een eerlijke recensie, maar dit heeft mijn mening niet beïnvloed.
In ‘De moord in kamer 11’ wordt je meegenomen in het verhaal van geheugenexpert Olivia Finn. Olivia krijgt op een dag een telefoontje dat haar Franse oma Josephine Benoit beweert dat zij aan het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog een moord heeft gepleegd, maar welke ze zich nu pas herinnert. Olivia gaat naar haar oma toe in de Franse hoofdstad om de waarheid te achterhalen.
Voordat ik begon met lezen had ik eigenlijk geen verwachtingen van dit verhaal. Het was voor mij ook het eerste boek wat ik van Matthew Blake heb gelezen, dus ik wist qua schrijfstijl ook niet wat ik moest verwachten.
Wat ik een sterk punt aan dit verhaal vond was de verhaallijn in combinatie met hoe het verhaal neergezet is. De verhaallijn speelt zich grotendeels af in de Franse hoofdstad Parijs. Hier kwam ook direct de gedetailleerde schrijfstijl van de auteur bij kijken. Parijs is op een levendige manier beschreven, waardoor ik het gevoel had dat ik zelf in de stad was.
Het verhaal maakt afwisselend tijdssprongen tussen het heden en het verleden. Hierdoor weet de auteur de spanning en het mysterieuze randje van het verhaal goed aanwezig te houden, waardoor ik ook continue wel geboeid bleef om verder te lezen.
Wat ik helaas wel minder vond ik in dit verhaal, is het tempo in de opbouw van de verhaallijn en de mate van verhaling. De introductie van het verhaal was enigszins nog op een redelijk tempo, maar het duurde daarna vrij lang voordat er wat tempo in het verhaal kwam. In combinatie met de veelvoudigheid van herhaling maakte dat dat ik mezelf een beetje door het eerste deel moest worstelen. Enerzijds vond ik het in het begin wel goed dat er wat herhaald werd, zodat de personages en verhaallijn duidelijk werden, maar daarna vond ik het wel een tikkeltje irritant worden.
Qua personages ben ik gemiddeld genomen positief. Het eerste gedeelte lees je enkel vanuit het personage van Olivia. Ik vond Olivia als personage oke. Als het gehele verhaal enkel over haar was gegaan, betwijfel ik of dat ik het verhaal uiteindelijk nog hetzelfde had beoordeeld. Ik vond Olivia op sommige momenten wat zeurderig overkomen.
Gelukkig werden er ook andere POV’s in het verhaal gebracht, waaronder de pov van Josephine, de oma van Olivia. Haar pov is geschreven ten tijde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Ik vond haar POV dan ook direct een stuk boeiender en levendiger dan de pov van Olivia.
Qua ontknoping heeft de auteur mij wel echt positief verrast. Tot het einde heeft hij de daadwerkelijke ontknoping stil weten te houden en zag ik de ontknoping ook zeker niet aankomen.
Ondanks dat niet alle keuzes van de auteur qua verhaallijn of personages mijn ‘cup of tea’ waren, ben ik toch voldoende geënthousiasmeerd om eventuele nieuwe boeken van Matthew Blake te gaan lezen.
*Ik heb dit boek gekregen als recensie-exemplaar in ruil voor een eerlijke recensie, maar dit heeft mijn mening niet beïnvloed.
September 21, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Mind blowing and captivating throughout. I never guessed the villain in this nor the motivation. The story moves from current day back to the days Auschwitz survivors are sent to a hotel in Paris. There are two murders, one during current times and one as survivors from Auschwitz return to Paris. The main character, Olivia is wonderfully portrayed. It’s quite easy to flip between characters and time periods. The author is masterful at this. Tearful moments for me. The only negative for me was the Lord’s name was used in vain twice. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank youNetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank youNetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
July 20, 2025
❀ A Murder in Paris is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends the past and present in a story of long-buried secrets, memory, love, and betrayal.
⇢ Told through alternating timelines, present-day London and post-war Paris in 1945, the novel follows Dr. Olivia Finn, a psychotherapist and single mother, who is suddenly pulled into a chilling mystery when her elderly grandmother, Josephine, suffering from dementia, confesses to a murder that allegedly took place eighty years ago. Claiming to be someone named Sophie Leclerc, Josephine turns up at the iconic Lutetia Hotel in Paris and insists she committed the crime in Room 11 at the end of World War II.
⇢ At first, Olivia dismisses it as confusion brought on by her grandmother’s condition. But when police records confirm that a death did occur in that very room during the war, Olivia travels to Paris, determined to uncover the truth. With the help of Louis, her grandmother’s oldest friend and her own trusted mentor, she begins to dig into the past, only to find herself tangled in a web of secrets, lies, and dangerous truths that still cast a shadow in the present day.
❀ The story is rich with atmosphere and historical detail, capturing the emotional scars left by the war and the haunting aftermath faced by survivors. As Olivia races against time to separate memory from reality, she faces two burning questions: Who was her grandmother really, Josephine or Sophie? And what happened in Room 11, which has remained buried for nearly a century?
❀ With multiple perspectives and intertwining timelines, the narrative can get intricate, but the complexity makes the story compelling. I kept notes on characters and plot threads to keep up, and I loved every minute of it.
❀ This book has everything I look for in a thriller: suspense, emotional stakes, and a final twist that completely blindsided me. It starts quietly but grows darker and more sinister as truths begin to surface. What begins as a simple mystery unravels into something more profound and disturbing.
❀ A powerful and unputdownable novel about memory, identity, and the secrets we carry, A Murder in Paris is a must-read for fans of dual-timeline mysteries and psychological thrillers. Highly recommended! 😎
Thank you, Times Reads, for the ARC. 🫶🏻 This book is set to be released in July 2025.
4.5 🌟
⇢ Told through alternating timelines, present-day London and post-war Paris in 1945, the novel follows Dr. Olivia Finn, a psychotherapist and single mother, who is suddenly pulled into a chilling mystery when her elderly grandmother, Josephine, suffering from dementia, confesses to a murder that allegedly took place eighty years ago. Claiming to be someone named Sophie Leclerc, Josephine turns up at the iconic Lutetia Hotel in Paris and insists she committed the crime in Room 11 at the end of World War II.
⇢ At first, Olivia dismisses it as confusion brought on by her grandmother’s condition. But when police records confirm that a death did occur in that very room during the war, Olivia travels to Paris, determined to uncover the truth. With the help of Louis, her grandmother’s oldest friend and her own trusted mentor, she begins to dig into the past, only to find herself tangled in a web of secrets, lies, and dangerous truths that still cast a shadow in the present day.
❀ The story is rich with atmosphere and historical detail, capturing the emotional scars left by the war and the haunting aftermath faced by survivors. As Olivia races against time to separate memory from reality, she faces two burning questions: Who was her grandmother really, Josephine or Sophie? And what happened in Room 11, which has remained buried for nearly a century?
❀ With multiple perspectives and intertwining timelines, the narrative can get intricate, but the complexity makes the story compelling. I kept notes on characters and plot threads to keep up, and I loved every minute of it.
❀ This book has everything I look for in a thriller: suspense, emotional stakes, and a final twist that completely blindsided me. It starts quietly but grows darker and more sinister as truths begin to surface. What begins as a simple mystery unravels into something more profound and disturbing.
❀ A powerful and unputdownable novel about memory, identity, and the secrets we carry, A Murder in Paris is a must-read for fans of dual-timeline mysteries and psychological thrillers. Highly recommended! 😎
Thank you, Times Reads, for the ARC. 🫶🏻 This book is set to be released in July 2025.
4.5 🌟
July 25, 2025
Un thriller psicologico ambientato ai giorni nostri, con continui salti indietro nella Francia del 1945, tra la fine della guerra e la liberazione dai campi di prigionia. Il ritmo alternato tra presente e passato è gestito con cura: nonostante i cambi temporali, si riesce a seguire la trama senza smarrirsi.
Lo stile dell’autore è piacevole, diretto, e riesce a mantenere il filo anche nei momenti più intensi. Il tema centrale è la memoria, trattata in modo profondo e disturbante. Si parla di manipolazione, gaslighting, identità che vacillano, ricordi che non si sa più se siano veri o imposti. Un’atmosfera che mette in dubbio tutto.
Peccato solo aver capito troppo presto dove si andava a parare. A metà libro era già chiaro tutto, e questo ha tolto un po’ di magia. Speravo in un colpo di genio, ma non è arrivato. Pazienza.
Il libro mi è piaciuto? Sì, decisamente.
Lo consiglio? Sì.
Lo stile dell’autore è piacevole, diretto, e riesce a mantenere il filo anche nei momenti più intensi. Il tema centrale è la memoria, trattata in modo profondo e disturbante. Si parla di manipolazione, gaslighting, identità che vacillano, ricordi che non si sa più se siano veri o imposti. Un’atmosfera che mette in dubbio tutto.
Peccato solo aver capito troppo presto dove si andava a parare. A metà libro era già chiaro tutto, e questo ha tolto un po’ di magia. Speravo in un colpo di genio, ma non è arrivato. Pazienza.
Il libro mi è piaciuto? Sì, decisamente.
Lo consiglio? Sì.
November 2, 2025
Amintirile reprezintă, fără doar și poate, o sabie cu două tăișuri – adesea incomplete, uneori neclare, rareori fidele realității, dar întotdeauna fluide și imprevizibile, ele constituie de fapt puntea care ne leagă pentru vecie de un anumit loc, un anumit eveniment sau de o anumită persoană, fiind în același timp unice și comune; o marcă puternică a individualității și un tabuu social, un adevăr și o minciună, un motiv de speranță și un motiv de jale. În toate aceste cazuri, reacția individului în fața realității face de fapt diferența. De exemplu, să ne gândim la supraviețuitorii lagărelor de exterminare din timpul celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial. Îmbrăcați în zdrențele dungate ale infernului din care au reușit să scape, slabi, hămesiți și hăituiți de ororile pe care le-au trăit, adolescenți, bătrâni, femei și bărbați s-au întors în țările natale, nădăjduind să-și ia viața de la capăt. Cu toate că au supraviețuit, amintirile au continuat să-i tortureze zi și noapte, transformându-i în fantome ce bântuie o societate care nu-i înțelege. Unii au ales să-și transforme trauma în artă, alții au decis să tacă și să se retragă complet din lume; unii și-au dedicat restul existenței celorlalți, ajutându-i să învingă memoria, alții au căzut pradă disperării și au ales să treacă dincolo; unii au ales să-și aducă mereu aminte că au supraviețuit, alții au vrut să uite. Indiferent de alegerile lor, trauma i-a făcut vulnerabili atât fizic, cât și psihic. Mintea lor a devenit ușor de modelat, aidoma unei bucăți de plastelină în mâinile unui copil. Astfel încât adevărul unora a devenit minciuna altora.
Pentru Olivia, adolescența a reprezentat un șir nesfârșit de provocări și bătălii necâștigate. Ziua în care și-a găsit mama moartă la masa din bucătărie din cauza unei supradoze, ședințele nesfârșite de terapie alături de Louis, un bun prieten al bunicii sale și un psiho terapeut renumit încâ de la finele celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial, coșmarurile, muntele de vinovăție greu de escaladat, pierderea marii iubiri și amintirile, mai ales AMINTIRILE, și-au pus amprenta asupra ei, însă nu au reușit s-o doboare. Dimpotrivă. Toate eșecurile au impulsionat-o să-și construiască o carieră de succes, iar astăzi este specialist în memorie, ajutându-i pe pacienți să-și recupereeze și cele mai bine ascunse amintiri. Chiar și așa, viața a continuat s-o pună la încercare – a trecut printr-un divorț, bunica ei de 96 de ani suferă de demență și trebuie să se împartă zilnic între serviciul extrem de solicitant și creșterea băiețelului de șase ani. În ciuda greutăților, Olivia e mulțumită și împăcată cu realizările ei, însă acolo unde e prea multă pace, furtuna lovește de două ori mai puternic.
Pregătindu-se într-o dimineață să-și ducă fiul la școală, femeia primește un telefon neașteptat din Paris. Apelantul îi aduce la cunoștință că în foaierul hotelului Lutetia, bunica ei, Josephine Benoit, tocmai a mărturisit o crimă comisă cu mai bine de 70 de ani în urmă. Bătrâna susține că numele ei este Sophie Leclerc și că a ucis-o pe adevărata Josephine în camera pe care au împărțit-o pentru scurtă vreme după ce au fost eliberate din lagăr. Buimăcită, neînțelegând despre ce este vorba și presupunând că boala bunicii avansează în mod alarmant, Olivia pleacă din Londra direct la Paris pentru a-i da de capăt poveștii. Însă nimic n-ar fi putut-o pregăti pentru secretele șocante pe care urma să le afle. Josephine, în prezent o pictoriță faimoasă și solitară, al cărei tablou renumit se aflăexpus în holul hotelului Lutetia, s-a numărat printre supraviețuitorii de la Auschwitz care au fost repatriați și reintegrați în societate. Dar, acum, mărturisirea ei pare delirul unui om nebun, un nebbunce trebuie redus la tăcere cu orice preț. Uciderea bunicii cade ca o lovitură de ghilotină peste Olivia, ceea ce o determină să caute adânc în istoria familiei, sperând că va afla cinea fost cu adevărat bunica ei și de ce a fost omorâtă.
„Crimă la Paris” nu e un thriller tipic, nu abundă în suspans și nici în crime atroce, nu ne prezintă o anchetă elaborată și nici nu insistă asupra identtății și motivelor criminalului. La o primă vedere, pare o narațiune previzibilă, ușor haotică, aidoma fluxului gândirii, oscilând între un ritm alert și episoade lente, la care participă personaje minimalist construite. Însă romanul lui Matthew Blake este de fapt unul complex, ce așează în centrul său memoria traumatică, devenită un personaj în sine. Mai mult decât atât, constituie un elogiu adus trădării și minciunii, dar și un omagiu închinat supraviețuirii. Structurat pe două planuri temporale, trecut (1945), în care aflăm povestea zugrăvită în tonuri de grii a Sophiei Leclerc și a Josephinei Benoit, două tinere a căror soartă a fost decisă de război, și prezent (2019), în care o însoțim pe Olivia în goana ei după adevăr, volumul ne pune pe tavă tot ce trebuie să știm pentru a descurca ițele înaintea protagonistei.
Aș minți dacă aș spune că nu mi-am dat seama de la bun început care va fi deznodământul. De cele mai multe ori, mă deranjează faptul că autorul lasă toate mecanismele la vedere, conferind narațiunii un aer superficial. Și în acest caz am simțit nevoia de ceva mai mult mister, însă miza lui Blake a fost cu totul alta – important este ce se întâmplă în spatele ușilor închise, în subconștient; cum sunt gestionate amintirile traumatice, dar, în special, cum pot fi alterate și modificate dacă deții cheia potrivită. Componenta psihologică predominantă și trimiterile la istorie îndepărtează romanul de sfera thrillerului, mai ales că cel care este însărcinat cu dezlegarea cazului aparemai degrabă ca un Deus ex Machina decât ca un personaj asumat și constant. Cu alte cuvinte, ideea lui Blake e fantastică, dar poate că modul în care a fost ambalată ar mai fi putut fi puțin șlefuit. Dar, dincolo de minusurile pe care le-am pus pe hârtie, cartea merită o șansă, fiind o lectură captivantă, relaxantă și plăcută.
Pentru Olivia, adolescența a reprezentat un șir nesfârșit de provocări și bătălii necâștigate. Ziua în care și-a găsit mama moartă la masa din bucătărie din cauza unei supradoze, ședințele nesfârșite de terapie alături de Louis, un bun prieten al bunicii sale și un psiho terapeut renumit încâ de la finele celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial, coșmarurile, muntele de vinovăție greu de escaladat, pierderea marii iubiri și amintirile, mai ales AMINTIRILE, și-au pus amprenta asupra ei, însă nu au reușit s-o doboare. Dimpotrivă. Toate eșecurile au impulsionat-o să-și construiască o carieră de succes, iar astăzi este specialist în memorie, ajutându-i pe pacienți să-și recupereeze și cele mai bine ascunse amintiri. Chiar și așa, viața a continuat s-o pună la încercare – a trecut printr-un divorț, bunica ei de 96 de ani suferă de demență și trebuie să se împartă zilnic între serviciul extrem de solicitant și creșterea băiețelului de șase ani. În ciuda greutăților, Olivia e mulțumită și împăcată cu realizările ei, însă acolo unde e prea multă pace, furtuna lovește de două ori mai puternic.
Pregătindu-se într-o dimineață să-și ducă fiul la școală, femeia primește un telefon neașteptat din Paris. Apelantul îi aduce la cunoștință că în foaierul hotelului Lutetia, bunica ei, Josephine Benoit, tocmai a mărturisit o crimă comisă cu mai bine de 70 de ani în urmă. Bătrâna susține că numele ei este Sophie Leclerc și că a ucis-o pe adevărata Josephine în camera pe care au împărțit-o pentru scurtă vreme după ce au fost eliberate din lagăr. Buimăcită, neînțelegând despre ce este vorba și presupunând că boala bunicii avansează în mod alarmant, Olivia pleacă din Londra direct la Paris pentru a-i da de capăt poveștii. Însă nimic n-ar fi putut-o pregăti pentru secretele șocante pe care urma să le afle. Josephine, în prezent o pictoriță faimoasă și solitară, al cărei tablou renumit se aflăexpus în holul hotelului Lutetia, s-a numărat printre supraviețuitorii de la Auschwitz care au fost repatriați și reintegrați în societate. Dar, acum, mărturisirea ei pare delirul unui om nebun, un nebbunce trebuie redus la tăcere cu orice preț. Uciderea bunicii cade ca o lovitură de ghilotină peste Olivia, ceea ce o determină să caute adânc în istoria familiei, sperând că va afla cinea fost cu adevărat bunica ei și de ce a fost omorâtă.
„Crimă la Paris” nu e un thriller tipic, nu abundă în suspans și nici în crime atroce, nu ne prezintă o anchetă elaborată și nici nu insistă asupra identtății și motivelor criminalului. La o primă vedere, pare o narațiune previzibilă, ușor haotică, aidoma fluxului gândirii, oscilând între un ritm alert și episoade lente, la care participă personaje minimalist construite. Însă romanul lui Matthew Blake este de fapt unul complex, ce așează în centrul său memoria traumatică, devenită un personaj în sine. Mai mult decât atât, constituie un elogiu adus trădării și minciunii, dar și un omagiu închinat supraviețuirii. Structurat pe două planuri temporale, trecut (1945), în care aflăm povestea zugrăvită în tonuri de grii a Sophiei Leclerc și a Josephinei Benoit, două tinere a căror soartă a fost decisă de război, și prezent (2019), în care o însoțim pe Olivia în goana ei după adevăr, volumul ne pune pe tavă tot ce trebuie să știm pentru a descurca ițele înaintea protagonistei.
Aș minți dacă aș spune că nu mi-am dat seama de la bun început care va fi deznodământul. De cele mai multe ori, mă deranjează faptul că autorul lasă toate mecanismele la vedere, conferind narațiunii un aer superficial. Și în acest caz am simțit nevoia de ceva mai mult mister, însă miza lui Blake a fost cu totul alta – important este ce se întâmplă în spatele ușilor închise, în subconștient; cum sunt gestionate amintirile traumatice, dar, în special, cum pot fi alterate și modificate dacă deții cheia potrivită. Componenta psihologică predominantă și trimiterile la istorie îndepărtează romanul de sfera thrillerului, mai ales că cel care este însărcinat cu dezlegarea cazului aparemai degrabă ca un Deus ex Machina decât ca un personaj asumat și constant. Cu alte cuvinte, ideea lui Blake e fantastică, dar poate că modul în care a fost ambalată ar mai fi putut fi puțin șlefuit. Dar, dincolo de minusurile pe care le-am pus pe hârtie, cartea merită o șansă, fiind o lectură captivantă, relaxantă și plăcută.
August 13, 2025
3 ⭐️
Прочетох “Убийство в Париж“ за ден и половина! 📚 Историята ме хвана от първите страници, а късите глави са просто коварни - “само още една… само още една…” и изведнъж вече бях на 86% от книгата.
Стилът на писане е лек и разбираем, но на моменти се усещаше повтаряемост - имах чувството, че авторът твърде настойчиво се опитва да прави foreshadowing, което на места просто дублираше вече казаното.
Както и в “Анна О”, тук Матю Блейк постоянно прескача от първо в трето лице. Честно, ако ще сменяш гледни точки - защо не ги направиш всички от първо лице или пък всичко в трето? Това тук-там прескачане ми беше леко досадно.
Историята обаче беше интересна - аз обожавам психологически трилъри и особено такива, в които авторът буквално те gaslight-ва като читател. 🤯 Темата за това как спомените могат да бъдат редактирани, вглъбявани и подсилвани ми беше супер любопитна, но ми се искаше да има повече психологическа дълбочина и малко по-ясни обяснения.
В крайна сметка - бърз, динамичен и увлекателен трилър… но лично аз останах с усещането, че можеше да има още малко “месо” в психологическата част.
Прочетох “Убийство в Париж“ за ден и половина! 📚 Историята ме хвана от първите страници, а късите глави са просто коварни - “само още една… само още една…” и изведнъж вече бях на 86% от книгата.
Стилът на писане е лек и разбираем, но на моменти се усещаше повтаряемост - имах чувството, че авторът твърде настойчиво се опитва да прави foreshadowing, което на места просто дублираше вече казаното.
Както и в “Анна О”, тук Матю Блейк постоянно прескача от първо в трето лице. Честно, ако ще сменяш гледни точки - защо не ги направиш всички от първо лице или пък всичко в трето? Това тук-там прескачане ми беше леко досадно.
Историята обаче беше интересна - аз обожавам психологически трилъри и особено такива, в които авторът буквално те gaslight-ва като читател. 🤯 Темата за това как спомените могат да бъдат редактирани, вглъбявани и подсилвани ми беше супер любопитна, но ми се искаше да има повече психологическа дълбочина и малко по-ясни обяснения.
В крайна сметка - бърз, динамичен и увлекателен трилър… но лично аз останах с усещането, че можеше да има още малко “месо” в психологическата част.
September 30, 2025
Mwoah, mwoah - was dit een amazon add ofzo? Wie zegt 'ik luisterde op audible' of 'keek op prime'.
July 17, 2025
Good story, but in order for A Murder in Paris to be a good novel, it needs a good dose of editing. There is nothing wrong with having a 250-280 pages novel that you cannot put down, vs slogging through 350 pages of repetition, repetition ad nauseam, that only makes one want to skip paragraphs and ultimately leave you feeling the novel was not that great!
I really loved the core story. For me, it was quite fascinating. Again, another side of the WW2 and the Holocaust that I haven't really considered. Plus I liked that the focus wasn't only on the past, but was instead shifting between then and now and the intergenerational impact. The POV switching between different character was another positive, for me. I felt it enriched the narrative, without making it hard to follow.
Now as I've mentioned in the opening of my review, there are a few phrases that have been repeated wayyyy too much. Sometimes even in the same chapter. Really not on... There's also a bit of predictability, but that's not necessarily a bad things, as some readers like it when they manage to intuit what's going on. I guess in this case, it does start to grated, when paired with the constant filler phrases. Plus I felt that the end left lots unsolved. While I am not against an open end, here there are just too many narrative threads left to the imagination: what happened with Louis after the reveal, what about Tom? What about the french policeman? A bit more development at the end would have been welcome!
*Novel from the publisher, via NetGalley, with many thanks for the invitation to read it!
I really loved the core story. For me, it was quite fascinating. Again, another side of the WW2 and the Holocaust that I haven't really considered. Plus I liked that the focus wasn't only on the past, but was instead shifting between then and now and the intergenerational impact. The POV switching between different character was another positive, for me. I felt it enriched the narrative, without making it hard to follow.
Now as I've mentioned in the opening of my review, there are a few phrases that have been repeated wayyyy too much. Sometimes even in the same chapter. Really not on... There's also a bit of predictability, but that's not necessarily a bad things, as some readers like it when they manage to intuit what's going on. I guess in this case, it does start to grated, when paired with the constant filler phrases. Plus I felt that the end left lots unsolved. While I am not against an open end, here there are just too many narrative threads left to the imagination: what happened with Louis after the reveal, what about Tom? What about the french policeman? A bit more development at the end would have been welcome!
*Novel from the publisher, via NetGalley, with many thanks for the invitation to read it!
October 30, 2025
După ce a cucerit inimile cititorilor crime fiction cu romanul "Anna O", Matthew Blake revine cu o nouă poveste în care psihanaliza subconștietului joacă rolul principal 🕵️ "Crimă la Paris" (trad. Alunița Voiculescu) are toate ingredientele unui thriller captivant: o intrigă solidă, personaje bine creionate, un trecut misterios și un cadavru suspect 🖼️ Iar memoria victimei este cheia 👀 Mai multe despre carte am scris într-un articol publicat pe blog ✍️
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2025/...
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2025/...
July 23, 2025
This is a fabulous story and one that spends some of its time in the past and the rest in the present day. Set in Paris, France as the war has ended and the POWs are returning, they are housed in a hotel to be interviewed, assessed and then to go on to live their lives. One of these is renowned artist Josephine Benoit.
Her granddaughter, Olivia, has returned to France. Josephine has made some shocking admissions. She killed someone. The murder took place in The Hotel Lutetia. The hotel is where the POWs from Auschwitz were brought, interviewed to see if they were genuine POWs and not collaborators.
The author has done a fabulous job mixing the past with the present. Josephine is elderly so there is some finger pointing towards her confused state being dementia. But, Josephine does have moments where she is completely lucid. Having Olivia as a psychotherapist gives her credence for what she is to discover as she delves into the mystery of her grandmother's past. Olivia is no stranger to psychotherapy either.
I really enjoyed the way the story from the present is interspersed with the historical accounts. The author has crafted a story with two timelines that work exceptionally well, and the flow between the two is seamless. Having a strong psychological thread to this story is what initially caught my attention. There are several sections of the story where the focus is on the psyche and how it can be used to help people overcome trauma.
This is one of those books that immediately grabbed me. I soon found myself getting to know the characters and found myself needing to know more. I didn't see the unveiling until the author revealed it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and how the author has brought different tragedies together and worked them so well. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers that have historical events, family drama, intrigue and mystery, then this is one I would definitely recommend.
Her granddaughter, Olivia, has returned to France. Josephine has made some shocking admissions. She killed someone. The murder took place in The Hotel Lutetia. The hotel is where the POWs from Auschwitz were brought, interviewed to see if they were genuine POWs and not collaborators.
The author has done a fabulous job mixing the past with the present. Josephine is elderly so there is some finger pointing towards her confused state being dementia. But, Josephine does have moments where she is completely lucid. Having Olivia as a psychotherapist gives her credence for what she is to discover as she delves into the mystery of her grandmother's past. Olivia is no stranger to psychotherapy either.
I really enjoyed the way the story from the present is interspersed with the historical accounts. The author has crafted a story with two timelines that work exceptionally well, and the flow between the two is seamless. Having a strong psychological thread to this story is what initially caught my attention. There are several sections of the story where the focus is on the psyche and how it can be used to help people overcome trauma.
This is one of those books that immediately grabbed me. I soon found myself getting to know the characters and found myself needing to know more. I didn't see the unveiling until the author revealed it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and how the author has brought different tragedies together and worked them so well. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers that have historical events, family drama, intrigue and mystery, then this is one I would definitely recommend.
November 29, 2025
Interesting concept, a little repetitive in the middle, but overall a decent read. I wished the ending had packed a bit more of a punch.
May 5, 2025
4.5 stars-rounded up*
Book Review: A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake
Advanced Reading Copy provided by HarperCollins Publishers Australia and NetGalley
Matthew Blake returns with another gripping thriller in A Murder in Paris, a chilling, atmospheric follow-up to his debut hit, Anna O. Set against the shadowy elegance of the French capital, Blake spins a compelling web of murder, memory, and psychological intrigue that made it difficult for me to put the story down…I devoured it in a single sitting!
When a high-profile killing shocks Paris, the ensuing investigation plunges readers into a world of secrets, trauma, and carefully constructed lies. Blake’s talent for building suspense is on full display, and the plot refused to let go! His evocative writing captures both the beauty and menace of Paris, setting the perfect stage for a mystery that is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually satisfying.
The protagonist-haunted, intelligent, and morally complex-is a standout, and the layered narrative explores guilt, obsession, and the cost of truth with a clever psychological touch.
That said, the novel’s pacing does falter slightly in the middle, where introspective passages and intricate backstory slow the otherwise electric momentum. Perhaps a few secondary characters could also have benefited from more emotional nuance to balance the protagonist’s depth.
Despite this minor point, A Murder in Paris is a sophisticated, absorbing thriller that solidifies Matthew Blake as a major voice in crime fiction. It’s a smart, sinister read that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC of A Murder in Paris in exchange for an honest review.
Book Review: A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake
Advanced Reading Copy provided by HarperCollins Publishers Australia and NetGalley
Matthew Blake returns with another gripping thriller in A Murder in Paris, a chilling, atmospheric follow-up to his debut hit, Anna O. Set against the shadowy elegance of the French capital, Blake spins a compelling web of murder, memory, and psychological intrigue that made it difficult for me to put the story down…I devoured it in a single sitting!
When a high-profile killing shocks Paris, the ensuing investigation plunges readers into a world of secrets, trauma, and carefully constructed lies. Blake’s talent for building suspense is on full display, and the plot refused to let go! His evocative writing captures both the beauty and menace of Paris, setting the perfect stage for a mystery that is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually satisfying.
The protagonist-haunted, intelligent, and morally complex-is a standout, and the layered narrative explores guilt, obsession, and the cost of truth with a clever psychological touch.
That said, the novel’s pacing does falter slightly in the middle, where introspective passages and intricate backstory slow the otherwise electric momentum. Perhaps a few secondary characters could also have benefited from more emotional nuance to balance the protagonist’s depth.
Despite this minor point, A Murder in Paris is a sophisticated, absorbing thriller that solidifies Matthew Blake as a major voice in crime fiction. It’s a smart, sinister read that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC of A Murder in Paris in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
Olivia's famous painter grandmother walks into a Paris hotel and confesses to a murder from the 1940s. This sets off a chain of events that threatens everything Olivia though she knew about her life.
This was an interesting one! While I loved the premise and was invested, there were parts that really did drag a little too much for me. I liked Olivia the most in this. She's strong and capable. Her past was interesting and how that really led her into therapy. You get two different timelines as well. This helps build up the mystery as you read about Josephine in the past. Both only take place in under a week which gives the story a tight feeling. I found the past story about the famous hotel and the occupation survivors to be really interesting.
thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
This was an interesting one! While I loved the premise and was invested, there were parts that really did drag a little too much for me. I liked Olivia the most in this. She's strong and capable. Her past was interesting and how that really led her into therapy. You get two different timelines as well. This helps build up the mystery as you read about Josephine in the past. Both only take place in under a week which gives the story a tight feeling. I found the past story about the famous hotel and the occupation survivors to be really interesting.
thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
October 26, 2025
I love historical fiction, make it a historical mystery and you’ve got me hooked! This one pulled me in right away.
The story moves between past and present, blending family secrets, danger, and memory with the gorgeous backdrop of Paris.
It’s one of those reads that keeps you second-guessing what’s real until the very end.
The story moves between past and present, blending family secrets, danger, and memory with the gorgeous backdrop of Paris.
It’s one of those reads that keeps you second-guessing what’s real until the very end.
July 3, 2025
Started off well and I was instantly drawn in but then too much extra stuff crept in and I found myself a little lost and uninterested towards the end which didn't come as much of a shock. I liked the writing style though and the overall story.
July 5, 2025
Closer to a 4.5 and would have been a 5 except that some parts are a bit too repetitive.
This story grabbed me from the beginning and I found it hard to put down. Duel timelines, multiple perspectives, interesting characters and some twists I didn’t see coming.
This book is from the same author as Anna O, which I also loved. Both books deal with memory….how reliable it is, how it can be manipulated, how much can you trust it?
This story grabbed me from the beginning and I found it hard to put down. Duel timelines, multiple perspectives, interesting characters and some twists I didn’t see coming.
This book is from the same author as Anna O, which I also loved. Both books deal with memory….how reliable it is, how it can be manipulated, how much can you trust it?
May 5, 2025
Okay, so this was my first ever Matthew Blake read, and I could not put this book down! I am currently on a mission to read more of his books 😍
Murder mystery, physcological thriller, set in Paris. I found this read extfemely fast paced, and not once did I find it lacked in anything. The plot & the characters were so well written, along with the investigations and the world building & settings of where it has all taken place.
If you are in the mood for a murder mystery, that is extremely well written and keeps you on your toes and holds your interest throuhout the book, pick this one up!
Murder mystery, physcological thriller, set in Paris. I found this read extfemely fast paced, and not once did I find it lacked in anything. The plot & the characters were so well written, along with the investigations and the world building & settings of where it has all taken place.
If you are in the mood for a murder mystery, that is extremely well written and keeps you on your toes and holds your interest throuhout the book, pick this one up!
July 20, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up I think. The different viewpoint chapters and past/present flipping, means you constantly reevaluate as you read, trying to work out if Olivia’s grandma is telling the truth about having killed someone in room 11 of Hotel Lutetia in Paris at the close of WW2. When memories can and are edited each time we access them, and we can hide memories and recover them, what can we believe about this story?
I did suspect some of what had happened, though not all the details - which is always satisfying, as you’re partially right but still with some surprises! Recommended for people who like to guess and read different perspectives.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
I did suspect some of what had happened, though not all the details - which is always satisfying, as you’re partially right but still with some surprises! Recommended for people who like to guess and read different perspectives.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
September 29, 2025
4.5 stars
This was an engrossing murder mystery. The FMC was an interesting character to follow. The use of memory was well handled and made for an interesting premise. I figured out the final reveal but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.
This was an engrossing murder mystery. The FMC was an interesting character to follow. The use of memory was well handled and made for an interesting premise. I figured out the final reveal but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.
November 28, 2025
4⭐
i'm always up for a good historical thriller! just thought the book was slow in parts and could have been a little shorter than 368-ish pages.
i'm always up for a good historical thriller! just thought the book was slow in parts and could have been a little shorter than 368-ish pages.
August 1, 2025
I loved the concept but not the book. I predicted where the story was going but it took a while to get there. Some of the characters and events were pretty thin and not connected. There could have been so much more.
And, (spoiler alert) what happens with Tom/Myles, and Edward? For seemingly important characters there was no ending for them. I like things wrapped up in a bow - we might not like the bow, but at least we know.
Maybe I needed to pay much closer attention but that was not the mood this week. I was hoping for a little more action and a lot more connection. Ho hum.
And, (spoiler alert) what happens with Tom/Myles, and Edward? For seemingly important characters there was no ending for them. I like things wrapped up in a bow - we might not like the bow, but at least we know.
Maybe I needed to pay much closer attention but that was not the mood this week. I was hoping for a little more action and a lot more connection. Ho hum.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2025
ARC READ - NetGallery & HarperCollins
It was an okay read but it didn’t really capture my interest. The story revolves around her gran’s secret identity and a murder she might be involved in.
This isn’t the kind of book I’d normally pick up as I don’t tend to read post war stories and I didn’t know going into this book because it wasn’t mentioned.
Since I had no prior knowledge of Paris or WW2 vocabulary. I found myself frequently turning to Google for clarification.
It was an okay read but it didn’t really capture my interest. The story revolves around her gran’s secret identity and a murder she might be involved in.
This isn’t the kind of book I’d normally pick up as I don’t tend to read post war stories and I didn’t know going into this book because it wasn’t mentioned.
Since I had no prior knowledge of Paris or WW2 vocabulary. I found myself frequently turning to Google for clarification.
August 26, 2025
Better than I expected, but a major continuity mistake, which I find annoying.
On p. 36 Olivia says to Vidal, "I check in (on Gran) on Zoom most days."
Then on p.82 Olivia is at her Gran's apartment and she notes, " There is no wi-fi in the apartment and I want to catch up on emails and admin."
So if Gran is a recluse, I don't believe she would go to the internet cafe to Zoom, and as far as I know, wi-fi is necessary to Zoom.
Lazy writing or editing.
On p. 36 Olivia says to Vidal, "I check in (on Gran) on Zoom most days."
Then on p.82 Olivia is at her Gran's apartment and she notes, " There is no wi-fi in the apartment and I want to catch up on emails and admin."
So if Gran is a recluse, I don't believe she would go to the internet cafe to Zoom, and as far as I know, wi-fi is necessary to Zoom.
Lazy writing or editing.
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