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The Paris Affair
She thinks love can kill you. It turns out she might be right.
Harper Brown is an expert at picking locks, breaking her way out of car boots, talking her way out of trouble and she could run a masterclass on escaping relationships - her record for losing a guy is three minutes flat. She’s addicted to true crime podcasts and is the genius behind a micro-column called ‘How to not get murdered’.
After having her heart broken helping her ex follow his dreams, Harper has moved to Paris to fulfill hers. She’s talked her way into a job as an arts journalist, a stepping stone to her dream role as an investigative journalist. All she has to do is whatever it takes to get there. But then one night she meets the artist Noah X, and everything she thinks she knows is turned upside down.
Soon Harper finds herself entangled in a web of lies, hot on the trail of a murderer and the scoop of a lifetime. This is the story that could make her career - if the killer doesn’t catch her first.
Harper Brown is an expert at picking locks, breaking her way out of car boots, talking her way out of trouble and she could run a masterclass on escaping relationships - her record for losing a guy is three minutes flat. She’s addicted to true crime podcasts and is the genius behind a micro-column called ‘How to not get murdered’.
After having her heart broken helping her ex follow his dreams, Harper has moved to Paris to fulfill hers. She’s talked her way into a job as an arts journalist, a stepping stone to her dream role as an investigative journalist. All she has to do is whatever it takes to get there. But then one night she meets the artist Noah X, and everything she thinks she knows is turned upside down.
Soon Harper finds herself entangled in a web of lies, hot on the trail of a murderer and the scoop of a lifetime. This is the story that could make her career - if the killer doesn’t catch her first.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2021
140 people are currently reading
3299 people want to read
About the author
Pip Drysdale
5 books809 followersPip Drysdale is the bestselling author of five novels. She grew up in Africa, Canada, and Australia, became an adult in New York and London, and lives on a steady diet of coffee, dreams, and literature. She is now also writing under the pen name Pip Knight—her debut 'Aubrey Wants To Die' is out in March 2026. Connect with Pip at PipDrysdale.com or on Instagram, TikTok (and rarely, Facebook) @PipDrysdale.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
January 30, 2021
Journalist, Harper Brown is the @new.girlinparis but she's no stranger to the ‘city of love’. Love hasn't been so kind to Harper, having wasted eight years on a man she thought was ‘the love of her life, only to be epically dumped when he finally got his big break as a musician. Now, bitter and cynical Harper trolls the city for men to hook up with. But her risky behaviour is about to place not only her job in jeopardy, but her life as well.
Can a book be labelled a ‘thriller' when the majority of it wasn't? It was a shame because the actual resolution to mystery and the motivation and psychology behind the murders was great, but the story lacked ominous build-up, and instead chose to focus on Harper's social and professional life. And her one-night stands, appalling treatment of men, partying, fashion trends, the art scene, and office politics just didn't interest me in the slightest. Therefore, it was pretty slow and boring with the thriller plot only really kicking in towards the end.
Also, I never at any time felt afraid for Harper as her character was written as some kind of female ‘MacGyver' capable of extraordinary physical and mental strength able to ‘lock-pick' herself out of every dangerous situation she found herself in. I appreciate that the author wanted to make her strong and capable, but I think she went a bit far. Not only that, but did Harper have to be written as quite so emotionless? I realise that it was a personality trait of her character, a way to protect herself from being hurt again, but it backfired because whenever she was in trouble, I never felt her fear, so since she wasn't scared, I wasn't scared for her either.
The setting was conveyed in interesting descriptive detail, and I really felt like I was in Paris which was a definite plus, but I craved more thrills and chills. If you enjoyed Emily in Paris, or prefer contemporary drama with a light crime subplot then The Paris Affair might be a better fit for you.
Can a book be labelled a ‘thriller' when the majority of it wasn't? It was a shame because the actual resolution to mystery and the motivation and psychology behind the murders was great, but the story lacked ominous build-up, and instead chose to focus on Harper's social and professional life. And her one-night stands, appalling treatment of men, partying, fashion trends, the art scene, and office politics just didn't interest me in the slightest. Therefore, it was pretty slow and boring with the thriller plot only really kicking in towards the end.
Also, I never at any time felt afraid for Harper as her character was written as some kind of female ‘MacGyver' capable of extraordinary physical and mental strength able to ‘lock-pick' herself out of every dangerous situation she found herself in. I appreciate that the author wanted to make her strong and capable, but I think she went a bit far. Not only that, but did Harper have to be written as quite so emotionless? I realise that it was a personality trait of her character, a way to protect herself from being hurt again, but it backfired because whenever she was in trouble, I never felt her fear, so since she wasn't scared, I wasn't scared for her either.
The setting was conveyed in interesting descriptive detail, and I really felt like I was in Paris which was a definite plus, but I craved more thrills and chills. If you enjoyed Emily in Paris, or prefer contemporary drama with a light crime subplot then The Paris Affair might be a better fit for you.
February 2, 2021
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
I was absolutely hooked with The Paris Affair, what an intriguing thriller, you won’t want to put this one down until the end! The author has nailed it!
Harper Brown is a great character, she is a journalist and has moved to Paris from London where she has taken on a position as Arts and Culture journalist with online magazine The Paris Observer although Harper’s dream position is writing crime. She’s an expert in picking locks and once had a recurring micro column named ‘How not to get murdered’ but that magazine folded.
Harper is a little damaged, she still has her musician ex on social media and stalks him frequently but she takes up with various men never wanting to stay with them long and going from cool girl to stage five clinger intentionally so that the guys don’t call back. She doesn’t want the stress of dating!
Harper's about to scoop the story of her life but it may cost her her own! I think it's best that I keep the details secret and not give anything away!
Loved that the story was set in Paris as it made it all the more engaging to read. Excellent read and wonderfully written. Out in Feb 2021!
I wish to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of The Paris Affair to read and review
I was absolutely hooked with The Paris Affair, what an intriguing thriller, you won’t want to put this one down until the end! The author has nailed it!
Harper Brown is a great character, she is a journalist and has moved to Paris from London where she has taken on a position as Arts and Culture journalist with online magazine The Paris Observer although Harper’s dream position is writing crime. She’s an expert in picking locks and once had a recurring micro column named ‘How not to get murdered’ but that magazine folded.
Harper is a little damaged, she still has her musician ex on social media and stalks him frequently but she takes up with various men never wanting to stay with them long and going from cool girl to stage five clinger intentionally so that the guys don’t call back. She doesn’t want the stress of dating!
Harper's about to scoop the story of her life but it may cost her her own! I think it's best that I keep the details secret and not give anything away!
Loved that the story was set in Paris as it made it all the more engaging to read. Excellent read and wonderfully written. Out in Feb 2021!
I wish to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of The Paris Affair to read and review
March 10, 2021
Unapologetically biased... x
December 6, 2020
I have loved both of Pip Drysdale's previous books, The Sunday Girl and The Strangers We Know, so I had high hopes for the Paris Affair. And I am so happy to tell you that it is brilliant! I started reading it late on Saturday night and was still reading in the early hours of Sunday morning. It is not a book that is easy to stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen next, what Harper was going to do with the information. I was kinds sad when it was all over.
I absolutely loved Harper Brown. She is such a fun character, strong and feisty but inside a wreck. She has moved to Paris from London for a job as an arts journalist, but she has her eye on the crime desk job. She has a passion for true crime podcasts and practices picking locks in her spare time. She still stalks her ex online and she loves the Paris lifestyle. Her life is about to be turned on its head when she meets Noah X when covering his exhibition for her work.
This is when the trouble starts. Not going to go into too much detail on the plot, but she discovers more than she bargains for and the people she starts to get involved with have secrets that they would rather keep a secret.
I will be adding The Paris Affair to the books that I recommend to others. I have pre ordered my physical copy already, due for release in Australia early February 2021.
A big thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for approving my request for this book - I am sure they could hear my squeals of delight! All the stars
I absolutely loved Harper Brown. She is such a fun character, strong and feisty but inside a wreck. She has moved to Paris from London for a job as an arts journalist, but she has her eye on the crime desk job. She has a passion for true crime podcasts and practices picking locks in her spare time. She still stalks her ex online and she loves the Paris lifestyle. Her life is about to be turned on its head when she meets Noah X when covering his exhibition for her work.
This is when the trouble starts. Not going to go into too much detail on the plot, but she discovers more than she bargains for and the people she starts to get involved with have secrets that they would rather keep a secret.
I will be adding The Paris Affair to the books that I recommend to others. I have pre ordered my physical copy already, due for release in Australia early February 2021.
A big thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for approving my request for this book - I am sure they could hear my squeals of delight! All the stars
January 5, 2021
Harper Brown has always dreamed of being a journalist, preferably writing about crime. However, after University she found herself working for eight years in a boring marketing job in London, supporting her boyfriend Harrison while he got his musical career going. Unfortunately, as soon as he got his big break she found herself dumped when he took off with his keyboardist (who he'd been seeing all along). However, she did learn a lot about art while spending all her holidays in art galleries all over Europe when he was on tour and started writing an online micro-column about lifestyle, music, art and the true crime podcasts she loved. All this led to her new job at an online magazine in Paris as an Art and Culture journalist allowing her a fresh start in a new city away from Harrison.
Harper is enjoying Paris, settling in to her job and writing about art, even if she'd rather be writing about crime, especially with the current cases of young women disappearing. She's determined not to start a new relationship and has perfected the art of the one-night stand. That is until she meets the enigmatic Noah X, an artist whose exhibition she attends. Somehow, she finds herself getting mixed up in dangerous matters that she doesn't fully understand.
Harper is a great character - cool and feisty and never giving up when backed into a corner. The novel moves at a good pace with strange events piling up and the suspense building as Harper gets deeper and deeper into trouble. An excellent thriller with a high tension ending! 4.5★
With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read
Harper is enjoying Paris, settling in to her job and writing about art, even if she'd rather be writing about crime, especially with the current cases of young women disappearing. She's determined not to start a new relationship and has perfected the art of the one-night stand. That is until she meets the enigmatic Noah X, an artist whose exhibition she attends. Somehow, she finds herself getting mixed up in dangerous matters that she doesn't fully understand.
Harper is a great character - cool and feisty and never giving up when backed into a corner. The novel moves at a good pace with strange events piling up and the suspense building as Harper gets deeper and deeper into trouble. An excellent thriller with a high tension ending! 4.5★
With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read
April 28, 2021
Pip Drysdale can do no wrong. Every book of hers I’ve read has hooked me from the start and this one was no exception and I binged it in 24 hours!
The chapters are short and they end in such a way that encourages you to read just one more chapter. This one is a thriller/drama mix which I thought worked really well.
Also, Harper is a strong female lead who doesn’t back down which I loved as it’s becoming increasingly rare in thrillers lately.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy. This one is out now.
The chapters are short and they end in such a way that encourages you to read just one more chapter. This one is a thriller/drama mix which I thought worked really well.
Also, Harper is a strong female lead who doesn’t back down which I loved as it’s becoming increasingly rare in thrillers lately.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy. This one is out now.
February 6, 2021
3.5* I enjoyed this book that has a murder mystery at its centre but isn’t really a thriller as such. I wasn’t sure I would like the narration to start with, it’s in first person and Harper Brown, who has hardened her heart after a long term relationship failed is cynical, standoffish and not that likeable. But I did get used to it and found it hard to put down. It’s set in Paris obviously, and it’s a lived in Paris not tourist Paris, emphasis on lots of stairs, metro travel and codes for opening doors. Harper is an arts and culture journalist and after doing a story on an art show she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery and she starts investigating. I never had my heart pounding while reading this like a true psychological thriller even though the murder storyline could’ve gone that way, it’s more focussed on Harper and her life, relationships etc. There’s some funny bits, some annoying bits and while it’s not a full on chicklit, or full on thriller, it’s an enjoyable read.
August 12, 2022
I absolutely love the two books I have read by this author!!! 😍😍 Review to come!!
March 17, 2021
The Paris Affair is narrated in first person by Harper. This is a narration style I don't usually enjoy as the narrator is quite often unreliable. I am only getting Harper's POV but it is clear by the way she talks that she knows this and doesn't care whether you believe her...or even like her. Which made me like her even more.
Harper Brown is super feisty and cynical. She is addicted to true crime podcasts, can pick a lock, escape handcuffs, and she knows how to lose a guy in three minutes. She comes across as a real person with hopes and dreams and flaws.
Pip Drysdale has created this wonderfully complex and complicated character. She is not scared to confront people but she is also full of insecurities. Life had been shitty for her. She gave up her chance of a career to support and fund her boyfriend's music career and then when he had finally made a name for himself he dumped her.
Determined to now live her own life she lands a job with the Paris Observer, an online magazine based in Paris, where she writes about art and exhibitions. When a young woman is found murdered, and Harper is one of the last people to see her alive, the story of her dreams lands into her lap and Harper will stop at nothing to get that story. She is willing to lie, steal and manipulate, putting herself in the path of the murderer.
The Paris Affair is set in the city of love however Pip Drysdale shows us a seedier side of Paris with a serial killer stalking young women. The story is set firmly in the modern day with texting, Tinder dates, Instagram posts and Uber rides. The mentions of Harper stalking her ex on Instagram and Googling the artist from the exhibition she was covering to get more information on him was all very realistic.
There are plenty of twists, turns and danger as Harper investigates the murdered girl's life and I found myself holding my breath with my heart pounding as I turned the pages.
The Paris Affair is another sharply plotted page turner from Pip Drysdale placing her firmly on my 'must read' list.
*I received a copy from the publisher
"Of course, I still haven't told him who I am either, so yes, technically that makes me a hypocrite but whatever. Nobody is perfect."
Harper Brown is super feisty and cynical. She is addicted to true crime podcasts, can pick a lock, escape handcuffs, and she knows how to lose a guy in three minutes. She comes across as a real person with hopes and dreams and flaws.
Pip Drysdale has created this wonderfully complex and complicated character. She is not scared to confront people but she is also full of insecurities. Life had been shitty for her. She gave up her chance of a career to support and fund her boyfriend's music career and then when he had finally made a name for himself he dumped her.
Determined to now live her own life she lands a job with the Paris Observer, an online magazine based in Paris, where she writes about art and exhibitions. When a young woman is found murdered, and Harper is one of the last people to see her alive, the story of her dreams lands into her lap and Harper will stop at nothing to get that story. She is willing to lie, steal and manipulate, putting herself in the path of the murderer.
The Paris Affair is set in the city of love however Pip Drysdale shows us a seedier side of Paris with a serial killer stalking young women. The story is set firmly in the modern day with texting, Tinder dates, Instagram posts and Uber rides. The mentions of Harper stalking her ex on Instagram and Googling the artist from the exhibition she was covering to get more information on him was all very realistic.
There are plenty of twists, turns and danger as Harper investigates the murdered girl's life and I found myself holding my breath with my heart pounding as I turned the pages.
The Paris Affair is another sharply plotted page turner from Pip Drysdale placing her firmly on my 'must read' list.
*I received a copy from the publisher
January 19, 2025
This was a bit all over the place but I didn't totally hate it.
Harper doesn't believe in love. She had her heart broken, so from now on she's going to be doing the breaking.
She's just landed her dream job in Paris, and so begins a tangle of threads revolving around a tortured artist, vengeful journalists and murdered women. I mean, you know they're going to all connect somehow but I definitely spent a lot of the book wondering when we were going to get to any kind of connection.
Still, it was an intriguing enough read that I was never bored. I didn't really like Harper as a character (I'm naturally inclined to dislike characters who tell stupid lies for no reason) but I enjoyed her story well enough. Despite her telling dumb lies and making dumb decisions, she does also reflect on some interesting topics within the feminism spectrum.
The pace is decent, though there was plenty in this story that just didn't really interest me a lot. I think it took half the book for me to feel really committed to it and where it might lead.
It was an addictive enough read, so I'd happily recommend this one to people looking to pass the time with a relatively quick, intriguing thriller.
Harper doesn't believe in love. She had her heart broken, so from now on she's going to be doing the breaking.
She's just landed her dream job in Paris, and so begins a tangle of threads revolving around a tortured artist, vengeful journalists and murdered women. I mean, you know they're going to all connect somehow but I definitely spent a lot of the book wondering when we were going to get to any kind of connection.
Still, it was an intriguing enough read that I was never bored. I didn't really like Harper as a character (I'm naturally inclined to dislike characters who tell stupid lies for no reason) but I enjoyed her story well enough. Despite her telling dumb lies and making dumb decisions, she does also reflect on some interesting topics within the feminism spectrum.
The pace is decent, though there was plenty in this story that just didn't really interest me a lot. I think it took half the book for me to feel really committed to it and where it might lead.
It was an addictive enough read, so I'd happily recommend this one to people looking to pass the time with a relatively quick, intriguing thriller.
January 26, 2021
Harper Brown, arts afficiando, has finally got the career she wanted - a real job as a journalist at the Paris Observer - in Paris of course! Among the arts and culture articles her boss, Hyacinth, wants her to write Harper yearns to be taken seriously as a journalist and write serious articles. Harper is feisty and snarky and just a bit manipulative. She’s also not above using her feminine wiles to get what she wants. Despite all that I did actually like Harper because she didn’t moan and complain about things, she just got on with it and sometimes got even! She attends a small gallery which is launching an exhibition of works by hot new artist, Noah X, for an article she plans. There she meets the enigmatic Noah X although she doesn’t know it at the time and he doesn’t know she’s a journalist.
Two days later, having learned his identity, she invites herself to a party at his place to learn more. But while there she is filmed, with Noah, by one of his life models and arts student Sabine. Soon she realises that she may have made a mistake that will cost her her career. It turns out that Noah is married to a very well connected doyen of the Paris art world who is older than Noah. And soon after that Sabine is found dead in similar circumstances to another dead girl a few weeks ago. Harper really wants to write this story! She thinks she knows what happened but does she really?
Soon after that she notices she’s being followed and she gets possession of some information that throws a different light on things. How can she use this to get her story? Unfortunately pursuing this story puts her in the crosshairs of a dangerous predator and as she puts it all together it’s - oops! How could she have got it so wrong?
This is Pip Drysdale’s third book. I really enjoyed the first two but, for me, this one wasn’t quite as good. The first half was quite slow and it took a long time to get to the thrills. Nevertheless I did enjoy the story. Harper’s character is so refreshing after so many books where the women are weak, snivelling and don’t trust their own shadows, although the other characters were a little underdeveloped. The Paris location was also a pleasant change. And after the slowish start the story did race to an exciting conclusion. Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Australia and Pip Drysdale for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
Two days later, having learned his identity, she invites herself to a party at his place to learn more. But while there she is filmed, with Noah, by one of his life models and arts student Sabine. Soon she realises that she may have made a mistake that will cost her her career. It turns out that Noah is married to a very well connected doyen of the Paris art world who is older than Noah. And soon after that Sabine is found dead in similar circumstances to another dead girl a few weeks ago. Harper really wants to write this story! She thinks she knows what happened but does she really?
Soon after that she notices she’s being followed and she gets possession of some information that throws a different light on things. How can she use this to get her story? Unfortunately pursuing this story puts her in the crosshairs of a dangerous predator and as she puts it all together it’s - oops! How could she have got it so wrong?
This is Pip Drysdale’s third book. I really enjoyed the first two but, for me, this one wasn’t quite as good. The first half was quite slow and it took a long time to get to the thrills. Nevertheless I did enjoy the story. Harper’s character is so refreshing after so many books where the women are weak, snivelling and don’t trust their own shadows, although the other characters were a little underdeveloped. The Paris location was also a pleasant change. And after the slowish start the story did race to an exciting conclusion. Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Australia and Pip Drysdale for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
February 4, 2021
The Paris Affair is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller set amidst the contemporary art scene in Paris.
Harper Brown is a British journalist in her late 20s, working as an arts-culture columnist for a Paris online magazine, The Paris Observer. Her ambition is to succeed as an investigative crime journalist, a goal she's pursuing doggedly after wasting years supporting a former partner, a musician, who dumped her as soon as his band found success. Her love of true-crime podcasts has enabled her to amass an intriguing armoury of self-preservation and crime-busting skills, detailed through her blog How Not to Get Murdered.
When she attempts to obtain a somewhat unorthodox preview of a new art exhibition at a private gallery, she has no idea that she'll soon be putting theory into action, drawn into a complex web of murder, suspicion and intrigue in the underground art trade.
Although billed as a mystery-thriller, it wasn't until about the one-third point of the book that the psychological tension took hold. Up to that point, Harper struck me as a rather pathetic and self-absorbed character, stuck in a behavioural rut. With no apparent sense of irony, she uses her resentment for the way she was manipulated by her former partner Harrison to justify her ruthless treatment of any potential future partners. Meanwhile, she's unable to resist the temptation of stalking him and his new partner online.
The action really picks up after she meets beguiling American artist Noah X., and accepts an invitation to attend a party at his Montmartre apartment. She's among the last to see Noah's life model, Sabine, alive before she disappears and is found dead in woodland outside Paris. Sabine's death mirrors the circumstances surrounding the recent death of another young Parisian woman, and Harper senses that she might be in the perfect position to write a career-making scoop! Harper's investigative techniques are not quite as subtle as she thinks, however, and she soon realises that she's caught the attention of some very shady characters, who'll stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
The story gathers momentum towards a dizzying crescendo as Harper races against time to prove Noah's innocence and identify the real killer or killers.
The Paris Affair was a quick and enjoyable read, with an engaging storyline and a glamorous setting. Pip Drysdale uses misdirection and suspense skilfully to create an edge-of-your-seat final act.
I hadn't read anything by Pip Drysdale previously, and feel I'm a bit late to the party! My enjoyment of The Paris Affair was such that I'll be seeking out her other titles soon. I'd recommend it to all readers who enjoy spunky female protagonists and lots of action in their thriller reads.
My thanks to the author, Pip Drysdale, publisher Simon & Schuster Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Harper Brown is a British journalist in her late 20s, working as an arts-culture columnist for a Paris online magazine, The Paris Observer. Her ambition is to succeed as an investigative crime journalist, a goal she's pursuing doggedly after wasting years supporting a former partner, a musician, who dumped her as soon as his band found success. Her love of true-crime podcasts has enabled her to amass an intriguing armoury of self-preservation and crime-busting skills, detailed through her blog How Not to Get Murdered.
When she attempts to obtain a somewhat unorthodox preview of a new art exhibition at a private gallery, she has no idea that she'll soon be putting theory into action, drawn into a complex web of murder, suspicion and intrigue in the underground art trade.
Although billed as a mystery-thriller, it wasn't until about the one-third point of the book that the psychological tension took hold. Up to that point, Harper struck me as a rather pathetic and self-absorbed character, stuck in a behavioural rut. With no apparent sense of irony, she uses her resentment for the way she was manipulated by her former partner Harrison to justify her ruthless treatment of any potential future partners. Meanwhile, she's unable to resist the temptation of stalking him and his new partner online.
The action really picks up after she meets beguiling American artist Noah X., and accepts an invitation to attend a party at his Montmartre apartment. She's among the last to see Noah's life model, Sabine, alive before she disappears and is found dead in woodland outside Paris. Sabine's death mirrors the circumstances surrounding the recent death of another young Parisian woman, and Harper senses that she might be in the perfect position to write a career-making scoop! Harper's investigative techniques are not quite as subtle as she thinks, however, and she soon realises that she's caught the attention of some very shady characters, who'll stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
The story gathers momentum towards a dizzying crescendo as Harper races against time to prove Noah's innocence and identify the real killer or killers.
The Paris Affair was a quick and enjoyable read, with an engaging storyline and a glamorous setting. Pip Drysdale uses misdirection and suspense skilfully to create an edge-of-your-seat final act.
I hadn't read anything by Pip Drysdale previously, and feel I'm a bit late to the party! My enjoyment of The Paris Affair was such that I'll be seeking out her other titles soon. I'd recommend it to all readers who enjoy spunky female protagonists and lots of action in their thriller reads.
My thanks to the author, Pip Drysdale, publisher Simon & Schuster Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
January 22, 2021
4.5★s
The Paris Affair is the third novel by Australian author, Pip Drysdale. Three weeks into her new job as arts and culture writer for online English-language magazine The Paris Observer, Harper Brown is desperate to please her editor-in-chief, Hyacinth Cromwell-Scott, hoping she might get a chance at the more prestigious crime column.
Her piece on American artist Noah X’s exhibition is criticised for lacking personal details; luckily Harper has formed a connection with the artist and is confident that she can get what’s needed at his private party. But that doesn’t go quite like she expected…
When a young female art model goes missing, Harper realises she was one of the last people to see her alive, at that party, but is conflicted, as the woman has something that has the potential to threated her career. When the body turns up, Harper begins to suspect the person who compromised her situation.
What sort of person is Drysdale’s protagonist? Previously burned in a relationship, Harper likes to keep her encounters with men uncomplicated, no strings attached. Having dropped her most recent three-day-old relationship as he was getting too clingy, she finds herself in an indiscriminate liaison that could jeopardise her career. Yet, with a killer out there picking off women at random, she reacts to her job worries by distracting herself listening to a murder podcast and hooking up for a quick session with an unknown man met online.
Considering she’s under pressure from her editor and having to deal with a very competitive colleague, she is quite clever, innovative and resourceful, although she has a poor grasp of the correct use of personal pronouns considering she is meant to be a writer, but perhaps this is a common trait for those below a certain age.
She is surprised to later find herself taping over a CCTV camera, picking a lock and photographing documents. Nor has the research for the blog she used to write (How not to get murdered), which included freeing yourself when bound by duct tape, escaping a car boot and opening handcuffs, sufficiently prepared her for being in those situations herself.
An interesting sidebar to the story is the attitude of the French police to missing persons: “in France, the police won’t search for you unless there are clear signs of foul play or you’re a minor. Which means that approximately one thousand unidentified bodies are found in France each year, compared with around sixty-six in Britain, which has a similar population. Most of the time the DNA from those bodies isn’t recorded either.” Lesson: don’t go missing in France, unless you want to.
Once again, Drysdale gives the reader a fast-paced thriller with plenty of turns and not a few red herrings, an excellent twist and a nail-biting climax. A gripping read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia.
The Paris Affair is the third novel by Australian author, Pip Drysdale. Three weeks into her new job as arts and culture writer for online English-language magazine The Paris Observer, Harper Brown is desperate to please her editor-in-chief, Hyacinth Cromwell-Scott, hoping she might get a chance at the more prestigious crime column.
Her piece on American artist Noah X’s exhibition is criticised for lacking personal details; luckily Harper has formed a connection with the artist and is confident that she can get what’s needed at his private party. But that doesn’t go quite like she expected…
When a young female art model goes missing, Harper realises she was one of the last people to see her alive, at that party, but is conflicted, as the woman has something that has the potential to threated her career. When the body turns up, Harper begins to suspect the person who compromised her situation.
What sort of person is Drysdale’s protagonist? Previously burned in a relationship, Harper likes to keep her encounters with men uncomplicated, no strings attached. Having dropped her most recent three-day-old relationship as he was getting too clingy, she finds herself in an indiscriminate liaison that could jeopardise her career. Yet, with a killer out there picking off women at random, she reacts to her job worries by distracting herself listening to a murder podcast and hooking up for a quick session with an unknown man met online.
Considering she’s under pressure from her editor and having to deal with a very competitive colleague, she is quite clever, innovative and resourceful, although she has a poor grasp of the correct use of personal pronouns considering she is meant to be a writer, but perhaps this is a common trait for those below a certain age.
She is surprised to later find herself taping over a CCTV camera, picking a lock and photographing documents. Nor has the research for the blog she used to write (How not to get murdered), which included freeing yourself when bound by duct tape, escaping a car boot and opening handcuffs, sufficiently prepared her for being in those situations herself.
An interesting sidebar to the story is the attitude of the French police to missing persons: “in France, the police won’t search for you unless there are clear signs of foul play or you’re a minor. Which means that approximately one thousand unidentified bodies are found in France each year, compared with around sixty-six in Britain, which has a similar population. Most of the time the DNA from those bodies isn’t recorded either.” Lesson: don’t go missing in France, unless you want to.
Once again, Drysdale gives the reader a fast-paced thriller with plenty of turns and not a few red herrings, an excellent twist and a nail-biting climax. A gripping read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia.
May 14, 2021
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**4.5 stars**
The Paris Affair by Pip Drysdale. (2021).
No matter what Audrey Hepburn might have said about the city of love, it turns out Paris is not always a good idea...
Meet Harper: she's an art and culture writer. She is living in Paris and dreams of being a hard-hitting news reporter. She loves true crime podcasts and art galleries. She doesn't love fake people and toxic positivity. She has special skills such as breaking out of car boots, picking locks and escaping relationships. She can lose any guy in 3 minutes flat. And she's hot on the trail of a murderer - and the scoop of a lifetime.
That's if the killer doesn't catch her first.
Another excellent thriller from Pip Drysdale, who has quickly become one of my favourite authors as all of her books are such great reads. I really liked Harper who was an intelligent, feisty and cynical woman; some might say she had a harsh nature in relation to her attitude towards men but I thought given her history it was fair enough and it made for very entertaining reading haha. Fortunately for her, her interest in true crime comes in handy when she finds herself linked to a dead woman. With Paris always being marketed as the city of love, it was very interesting to learn about it's darker side and facts such as there is on average over 1000 unidentified bodies found in France every year!
I highly recommend this intriguing thriller that you won't want to put down, definitely binge read if you can.
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**4.5 stars**
The Paris Affair by Pip Drysdale. (2021).
No matter what Audrey Hepburn might have said about the city of love, it turns out Paris is not always a good idea...
Meet Harper: she's an art and culture writer. She is living in Paris and dreams of being a hard-hitting news reporter. She loves true crime podcasts and art galleries. She doesn't love fake people and toxic positivity. She has special skills such as breaking out of car boots, picking locks and escaping relationships. She can lose any guy in 3 minutes flat. And she's hot on the trail of a murderer - and the scoop of a lifetime.
That's if the killer doesn't catch her first.
Another excellent thriller from Pip Drysdale, who has quickly become one of my favourite authors as all of her books are such great reads. I really liked Harper who was an intelligent, feisty and cynical woman; some might say she had a harsh nature in relation to her attitude towards men but I thought given her history it was fair enough and it made for very entertaining reading haha. Fortunately for her, her interest in true crime comes in handy when she finds herself linked to a dead woman. With Paris always being marketed as the city of love, it was very interesting to learn about it's darker side and facts such as there is on average over 1000 unidentified bodies found in France every year!
I highly recommend this intriguing thriller that you won't want to put down, definitely binge read if you can.
January 28, 2021
The Paris Affair’s heroine is Harper, who has just moved from London to Paris and begun a new job, writing for the Arts section of a local online magazine. Eager to make her mark, as she ultimately hopes to crack into crime journalism, she pursues a story of a mysterious up-and-coming artist, Noah X. Harper finds herself as attracted to Noah as she is to his edgy artworks -- and the feeling seems to be mutual. But the story she planned on writing takes quite a deviation when she realises Noah could turn out to be at best a witness to a murder, or at worst the actual murderer.
Harper is an interesting heroine. She could almost be described as an anti-heroine at times, given that she often makes very questionable choices. Circumstances have led her to find real strength and independence, however, and this, combined with her intelligence, makes her no pushover for any potential serial killer.
Drysdale’s mystery plot was multi-layered and complex. She managed to link everything together. A lot of the scenes I thought she’d written to merely highlight some character trait of Harper’s, ended up being integral to the main plot in the end. Very clever indeed.
The book is written from Harper’s first person point of view which felt very intimate. The action scenes were very clearly described and, given the Paris location, almost had an old fashioned Hitchcock-like way about them. The suspense and tension built gradually, with interactions Harper has with other characters going from innocuous to threatening at a nice pace.
Drysdale takes full advantage of the Paris setting when it comes to the suspense and tension. The style of the houses -- their less than secure entrances due to numerous sets of stairs, and their internal designs that allow neighbouring properties a clear view of each other -- add to the Harper’s sense that someone is watching her. Drysdale also throws in a few dimly lit back lanes and (in the complete reverse really) the crowded Metro carriages and stations, to great effect.
This book is very modern, its young characters are effortlessly tech savvy and conversant in all things social media and app driven. Harper’s relationships are [mostly] initiated on dating apps. She investigates the murders via videos, Instagram and podcasts. Her previous job was writing a blog. As such, I’m not sure every older reader will be able to easily relate to the book. (I think a lot of it would go over my 84 year old mother’s head.) I would, however, highly recommend it for those new adult readers who are in their 20s and looking for something relevant to their generation.
In fact, Drysdale is fast becoming the queen when it comes to the modern contemporary thriller and I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a sleek and stylish thriller. 5 out of 5
Harper is an interesting heroine. She could almost be described as an anti-heroine at times, given that she often makes very questionable choices. Circumstances have led her to find real strength and independence, however, and this, combined with her intelligence, makes her no pushover for any potential serial killer.
Drysdale’s mystery plot was multi-layered and complex. She managed to link everything together. A lot of the scenes I thought she’d written to merely highlight some character trait of Harper’s, ended up being integral to the main plot in the end. Very clever indeed.
The book is written from Harper’s first person point of view which felt very intimate. The action scenes were very clearly described and, given the Paris location, almost had an old fashioned Hitchcock-like way about them. The suspense and tension built gradually, with interactions Harper has with other characters going from innocuous to threatening at a nice pace.
Drysdale takes full advantage of the Paris setting when it comes to the suspense and tension. The style of the houses -- their less than secure entrances due to numerous sets of stairs, and their internal designs that allow neighbouring properties a clear view of each other -- add to the Harper’s sense that someone is watching her. Drysdale also throws in a few dimly lit back lanes and (in the complete reverse really) the crowded Metro carriages and stations, to great effect.
This book is very modern, its young characters are effortlessly tech savvy and conversant in all things social media and app driven. Harper’s relationships are [mostly] initiated on dating apps. She investigates the murders via videos, Instagram and podcasts. Her previous job was writing a blog. As such, I’m not sure every older reader will be able to easily relate to the book. (I think a lot of it would go over my 84 year old mother’s head.) I would, however, highly recommend it for those new adult readers who are in their 20s and looking for something relevant to their generation.
In fact, Drysdale is fast becoming the queen when it comes to the modern contemporary thriller and I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a sleek and stylish thriller. 5 out of 5
February 21, 2023
I loved the setting, I mean it's Paris who wouldn't? The descriptions were all so clear and the writing was interesting.
There isn't such a sucha big reveal or anything like it but I may read the author's other works as the writing and descriptions give me the confidence to try her other reads. 3.5 stars
There isn't such a sucha big reveal or anything like it but I may read the author's other works as the writing and descriptions give me the confidence to try her other reads. 3.5 stars
February 25, 2021
“Well, it began like any anti-love story. With Chapitre Un.”
Having landed a dream job as an arts and culture journalist for The Paris Observer, Harper Brown is enjoying her new life in the City of Love, though love is last thing she’s interested in. Still nursing a broken heart after the demise of an eight year relationship, Harper doesn’t want normal - she just wants to impress her new boss, work her way onto the features desk, and has just one rule- do no harm.
It’s rare that I’m surprised by the direction a story takes, but Drysdale managed to do so in The Paris Affair. The first quarter or so of the novel reads more like a romcom, so I wasn’t really expecting the twists in this tale that sees Harper caught up in an art world scandal, and become the target of a serial killer. While not a strong thriller, there are certainly moments of tension, and the pace is persuasive.
Harper Brown is a very appealing protagonist. Though not without her flaws, with her generally pragmatic and confident attitude, she stands out from the more typical insecure, capricious, aged 20-something protagonist in contemporary fiction. Though her cynicism about love is a little intense, it’s also understandable, and her obsession with true crime podcasts is a fun trait.
The Parisian setting will likely charm readers (personally I don’t care much for the place), as will the chapters headed in French, though Drysdale does provide a glimpse of the city’s shadows. The story is firmly grounded in the here and now as Harper scrolls through Instagram, browses though Tinder, texts with friends, and makes her way around the city via Uber.
I found The Paris Affair to be a quick, entertaining and satisfying read.
Having landed a dream job as an arts and culture journalist for The Paris Observer, Harper Brown is enjoying her new life in the City of Love, though love is last thing she’s interested in. Still nursing a broken heart after the demise of an eight year relationship, Harper doesn’t want normal - she just wants to impress her new boss, work her way onto the features desk, and has just one rule- do no harm.
It’s rare that I’m surprised by the direction a story takes, but Drysdale managed to do so in The Paris Affair. The first quarter or so of the novel reads more like a romcom, so I wasn’t really expecting the twists in this tale that sees Harper caught up in an art world scandal, and become the target of a serial killer. While not a strong thriller, there are certainly moments of tension, and the pace is persuasive.
Harper Brown is a very appealing protagonist. Though not without her flaws, with her generally pragmatic and confident attitude, she stands out from the more typical insecure, capricious, aged 20-something protagonist in contemporary fiction. Though her cynicism about love is a little intense, it’s also understandable, and her obsession with true crime podcasts is a fun trait.
The Parisian setting will likely charm readers (personally I don’t care much for the place), as will the chapters headed in French, though Drysdale does provide a glimpse of the city’s shadows. The story is firmly grounded in the here and now as Harper scrolls through Instagram, browses though Tinder, texts with friends, and makes her way around the city via Uber.
I found The Paris Affair to be a quick, entertaining and satisfying read.
March 21, 2024
“The Paris affair” is a sensational dark twisty thriller.
The plot follows our FMC Harper. She has sworn off love and relationships after her long term boyfriend used her to achieve his dreams and then hung her out to dry as soon as he achieved stardom.
Moving to Paris in an attempt to get her life back on track she lands a job as an art journalist and as a result meets the famous elusive artist Noah X.
Things go from bad to worse when she becomes trapped in a tail spin of plots, lies and deception. Harper attempts to navigate this dangerous world, trailing after a murderer for the first hand story of a lifetime that could sky rocket her journalism career. The only problem is the killer may be on to her and she could be next.
I enjoyed Harper’s character. Her suave ways of getting herself out of bad situations; whether that be by dumping a guy and making him think it was his idea, or talking her way out of breaking and entering closed art galleries. I found her antics entertaining and rooted for her success.
I also enjoyed the setting of Paris for a change of scenery from the typical thrillers I read. The world of journalism and the art scene gave it an extra touch also.
Thank you to Pip Drysdale, Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the EARC
Publish date: May 23rd
The plot follows our FMC Harper. She has sworn off love and relationships after her long term boyfriend used her to achieve his dreams and then hung her out to dry as soon as he achieved stardom.
Moving to Paris in an attempt to get her life back on track she lands a job as an art journalist and as a result meets the famous elusive artist Noah X.
Things go from bad to worse when she becomes trapped in a tail spin of plots, lies and deception. Harper attempts to navigate this dangerous world, trailing after a murderer for the first hand story of a lifetime that could sky rocket her journalism career. The only problem is the killer may be on to her and she could be next.
I enjoyed Harper’s character. Her suave ways of getting herself out of bad situations; whether that be by dumping a guy and making him think it was his idea, or talking her way out of breaking and entering closed art galleries. I found her antics entertaining and rooted for her success.
I also enjoyed the setting of Paris for a change of scenery from the typical thrillers I read. The world of journalism and the art scene gave it an extra touch also.
Thank you to Pip Drysdale, Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the EARC
Publish date: May 23rd
February 22, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
A darker side to the city of love is exposed in Pip Drysdale’s third contribution to her growing contemporary fiction catalogue in The Paris Affair. Following the exploits of a daring and larger than life lead Harper Brown, the reader is soon swept up in this compulsive tale of murder, mystery and relationships.
With a blurb that provides a comprehensive list of the main attributes of the lead character of The Paris Affair, Harper Brown, the reader is immediately intrigued by this main character. Harper is an arts and culture writer, who aspires to be a respected news reporter. Harper receives an opportunity to work in Paris when we are first acquainted with her. With no attachments romantically, Harper is soon swept up in a life beyond the perfect façade of Paris. Harper is confronted with a much darker side to the city of love, a gritty and dark underground world, where crime is commonplace. The question is, can Harper gain her big break in the reporting world by following the path of a murderer who is walking the streets of Paris?
I have a good reading relationship with the author of The Paris Affair, Pip Drysdale. I have enjoyed Drysdale’s two previous novels and I was confident that The Paris Affair was going to be another entertaining read. I’m happy to report that it was brilliant tale from start to finish and I would consider this latest offering from Pip Drysdale to be just as good as her last two books. Fans of Drysdale’s previous novels will gravitate to this latest offering, while new readers to Drysdale’s work will find much to admire in this very persuasive story!
The Paris based setting was the big drawcard for me and this novel. I am a huge Francophile, so anything set in Paris is going to immediately reel me in! Drysdale does a fine job with her setting, offering the reader a glimpse into another side of Paris. Drysdale removes the mask of love, lights and allure and she takes an abrasive look at one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Drysdale’s Paris is a place of violence, murder and mystery. I liked this alternative focus on the ominous side to a city I adore with all my heart. Thanks to Drysdale’s well-placed descriptions within her novel, the audience is completely immersed in this vivid setting base.
Drysdale’s lead Harper Brown provides the bare bones structure to The Paris Affair. Sophisticated, brazen and enigmatic, Harper is an unforgettable central protagonist. The form of narration applied to this novel by the author allows the audience to delve deep into the mindset of this complex but entertaining lead. A lead you love to hate, Harper will seduce you into a state of pure intrigue and mystery. Drysdale works hard to set her scene and fully immerse her audience in the onslaught of events in the first half of her novel, while the second half sees The Paris Affair take full flight. Gripping, perplexing, tension filled and highly engaging, Pip Drysdale’s latest modern fiction novel glimmers with possibility.
The added touch of French language-based chapter headings helped to set the mood and tone for this very chic Parisian novel. I loved it The Paris Affair and I hope you do too!
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Paris Affair is book #12 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
A darker side to the city of love is exposed in Pip Drysdale’s third contribution to her growing contemporary fiction catalogue in The Paris Affair. Following the exploits of a daring and larger than life lead Harper Brown, the reader is soon swept up in this compulsive tale of murder, mystery and relationships.
With a blurb that provides a comprehensive list of the main attributes of the lead character of The Paris Affair, Harper Brown, the reader is immediately intrigued by this main character. Harper is an arts and culture writer, who aspires to be a respected news reporter. Harper receives an opportunity to work in Paris when we are first acquainted with her. With no attachments romantically, Harper is soon swept up in a life beyond the perfect façade of Paris. Harper is confronted with a much darker side to the city of love, a gritty and dark underground world, where crime is commonplace. The question is, can Harper gain her big break in the reporting world by following the path of a murderer who is walking the streets of Paris?
I have a good reading relationship with the author of The Paris Affair, Pip Drysdale. I have enjoyed Drysdale’s two previous novels and I was confident that The Paris Affair was going to be another entertaining read. I’m happy to report that it was brilliant tale from start to finish and I would consider this latest offering from Pip Drysdale to be just as good as her last two books. Fans of Drysdale’s previous novels will gravitate to this latest offering, while new readers to Drysdale’s work will find much to admire in this very persuasive story!
The Paris based setting was the big drawcard for me and this novel. I am a huge Francophile, so anything set in Paris is going to immediately reel me in! Drysdale does a fine job with her setting, offering the reader a glimpse into another side of Paris. Drysdale removes the mask of love, lights and allure and she takes an abrasive look at one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Drysdale’s Paris is a place of violence, murder and mystery. I liked this alternative focus on the ominous side to a city I adore with all my heart. Thanks to Drysdale’s well-placed descriptions within her novel, the audience is completely immersed in this vivid setting base.
Drysdale’s lead Harper Brown provides the bare bones structure to The Paris Affair. Sophisticated, brazen and enigmatic, Harper is an unforgettable central protagonist. The form of narration applied to this novel by the author allows the audience to delve deep into the mindset of this complex but entertaining lead. A lead you love to hate, Harper will seduce you into a state of pure intrigue and mystery. Drysdale works hard to set her scene and fully immerse her audience in the onslaught of events in the first half of her novel, while the second half sees The Paris Affair take full flight. Gripping, perplexing, tension filled and highly engaging, Pip Drysdale’s latest modern fiction novel glimmers with possibility.
The added touch of French language-based chapter headings helped to set the mood and tone for this very chic Parisian novel. I loved it The Paris Affair and I hope you do too!
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Paris Affair is book #12 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
September 3, 2022
Twisty!! :)
February 23, 2023
If you enjoy Drysdale’s young and dynamic female leads, then you will soon warm to Harper Brown, a young journalist trying to “make it” in Paris. Even though in the City of Love, young Harper has sworn off romance for good after a failed relationship, and is determined to just have fun without any commitment. Harper is just the right balance between vulnerable and feisty – the true-crime podcast loving and lock picking girl at odds with the deep hurt and betrayal she still feels after her ex cheated on her with his now new partner. Like all of Drysdale’s lead characters, it’s Harper’s curiosity that will be her undoing, and the story that follows was full of intrigue.
I love that “soft” centre to Drysdale’s female leads. Whether they’re out for revenge, or trying to solve a crime, there is always a hint of vulnerability and innocence that is very endearing and gets the reader emotionally involved. That is no mean feat – I am a completely different generation from Harper, and yet I could still relate to the glimpses of thoughts and feelings she shares. Even if the mystery is on the lighter side, I appreciated the underlying darker element that gave it a slight edge over some other domestic mysteries. The Paris setting was an added bonus and made for an atmospheric backdrop.
In short, this was another great read from Pip Drysdale – extra points to the author for her audiobook narration, which helped me reach my step count on my morning walks because I wanted to listen “just a little bit longer”.
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I love that “soft” centre to Drysdale’s female leads. Whether they’re out for revenge, or trying to solve a crime, there is always a hint of vulnerability and innocence that is very endearing and gets the reader emotionally involved. That is no mean feat – I am a completely different generation from Harper, and yet I could still relate to the glimpses of thoughts and feelings she shares. Even if the mystery is on the lighter side, I appreciated the underlying darker element that gave it a slight edge over some other domestic mysteries. The Paris setting was an added bonus and made for an atmospheric backdrop.
In short, this was another great read from Pip Drysdale – extra points to the author for her audiobook narration, which helped me reach my step count on my morning walks because I wanted to listen “just a little bit longer”.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
March 29, 2021
My View:
I loved this sassy, modern, exciting, captivating mystery. Set in Paris, this read makes you feels like you are in the city, at the art gallery, in the office, walking along the streets...the settings are brilliant. And the characters are just as well written. Visit the office and recognise some of the character traits Drysdale has instilled in Harper’s colleagues, you will recognise them. Examine the friendships, the relationships are credible and some familiar.
Flawed yet resilient and strong, the protagonist Harper Brown is gutsy and likeable in a sometimes cringeworthy way. But you will like her. And a bonus – she has a great knowledge of art (or if not, she certainly talks the talk) 😊. And Noah X is …worth reading about.
The murders/mystery elements will keep you guessing. There are so many well-placed red herrings you will not guess who did.
A great read.
I loved this sassy, modern, exciting, captivating mystery. Set in Paris, this read makes you feels like you are in the city, at the art gallery, in the office, walking along the streets...the settings are brilliant. And the characters are just as well written. Visit the office and recognise some of the character traits Drysdale has instilled in Harper’s colleagues, you will recognise them. Examine the friendships, the relationships are credible and some familiar.
Flawed yet resilient and strong, the protagonist Harper Brown is gutsy and likeable in a sometimes cringeworthy way. But you will like her. And a bonus – she has a great knowledge of art (or if not, she certainly talks the talk) 😊. And Noah X is …worth reading about.
The murders/mystery elements will keep you guessing. There are so many well-placed red herrings you will not guess who did.
A great read.
August 25, 2025
Journalist Harper Brown takes a job as an art and culture writer for an online magazine The Paris Observer, although her main interest is crime. When an artists model is murdered after attending a gallery party at which Harper was present, Harper investigates. I enjoyed the mystery but had a hard time liking Harper, who has no qualms in lying and deceiving to get her story. It also took a while for anything much to happen and most of the first half of the book focussed on Harper's love life and office politics. An interesting mystery but rather slow in the beginning.
April 29, 2021
Having read both of Pip Drysdale's previous books, The Sunday Girl and Strangers We Know, I had high expectations going into this and I was not disappointed. The Paris Affair delivers a fast-paced, heart-racing psychological thriller that I've come to expect this author but with the charming addition of a Paris setting.
Harper Brown, our crime-podcast obsessed MC, has just moved to Paris in hopes of becoming a serious news reporter. If only she could be rid of egocentric colleagues and find a career-changing story to impress her boss.
After the media hints to a serial killer being on the loose, Harper finds herself uncovering secrets that could solve the murders and give Harper the story she desperately needs - if she isn't caught by the killer first!
Harper was such a fun character to read. She was so bold and brazen, and I found my heart racing many times as she found herself in various situations and then talked - or broke - her way out of them.
Much like Drysdale's other work, the beginning is a little slow to start but by the end, I couldn't put the book down as I raced to get to the conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book
Recommend if you enjoy:
- crime podcasts
- books set in Paris
- books with a strong focus on art
- murder mysteries
Harper Brown, our crime-podcast obsessed MC, has just moved to Paris in hopes of becoming a serious news reporter. If only she could be rid of egocentric colleagues and find a career-changing story to impress her boss.
After the media hints to a serial killer being on the loose, Harper finds herself uncovering secrets that could solve the murders and give Harper the story she desperately needs - if she isn't caught by the killer first!
Harper was such a fun character to read. She was so bold and brazen, and I found my heart racing many times as she found herself in various situations and then talked - or broke - her way out of them.
Much like Drysdale's other work, the beginning is a little slow to start but by the end, I couldn't put the book down as I raced to get to the conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book
Recommend if you enjoy:
- crime podcasts
- books set in Paris
- books with a strong focus on art
- murder mysteries
April 18, 2021
The main character is so unlikeable. The most selfish, self serving and rude person with an inflated sense of self importance. Half of the book is her just spoiling every opportunity afforded to her because of her own idiocy and selfishness. The second half of the book gets into the thriller aspect which does draw you in quite a bit. The ending was somehow both predictable and also a bit of a leap at the same time. There's no real growth for the main character. The author sets up a lot of backstory for the main character around the European art scene and true crime yet somehow despite being an 'expert' in both of these areas, the protagonist misses a bunch of obvious clues to the mystery and her interest and knowledge of art is minimal. The authors description of the art is also dismal. Imagine writing a whole novel novel and describing a painting with a river as Blue and a sunset as Orange.
January 30, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Wow...what a ride!! I wasn't sure where this book was headed...it certainly keeps you guessing!
Wow...what a ride!! I wasn't sure where this book was headed...it certainly keeps you guessing!
March 14, 2021
Don't even bother with this one.
August 7, 2021
It was somewhat exciting at times but I found the writing quite repetitive and ending a bit bland. A solid read to pass time.
January 26, 2021
I read Pip Drysdale's
The Sunday Girl
when it was released in 2018 and her subsequent novel of suspense
The Strangers We Know
the following year. Both feature flawed but engaging narrators and relationships-gone-bad, with themes around trust and disappointment.
The Paris Affair initially had me comparing it to Netflix's Emily in Paris, given there's a slightly similar feel to the early pages with a confident and ambitious Harper heading off to Paris to work for an English-language French publication. When we meet her she's keen to wow the world but struggling to find her feet professionally.
Here however, we've got the added bonus of a murder. So, Emily in Paris meets Girl on a Train. Perhaps.
Harper's still smarting from being dumped unceremoniously after having supported her now-successful boyfriend through fledgling days as a musician.
She's arrived in Paris to work at The Paris Observer and not yet trusted with stories of any particular gravitas. A previous exposure to art however means she's sent to cover a new art show with an edgy up-and-coming artist, the annoyingly named Noah X.
It's probably a little predictable that a romance blossoms between the said artist and Harper though she soon discovers he's not entirely available. Or single.
Although I say I don't enjoy straight romances (ie. romance without murder and mayhem) I actually enjoyed the way the relationship between Harper and Noah plays out and it probably would have sustained the book without the added element of suspense.
But in the background there's the murder of a young woman - who bares a resemblance to Harper. It's just a story appearing in the headlines until it hits closer to home and causes Harper to question everything and everyone she knows in Paris.
Again Drysdale offers readers a contemporary feel with use of social media (reminders of Emily in Paris and her use of Instagram) and the inclusion of dating apps (etc). I loved the pragmatism of Harper and really liked her as a narrator. She's flawed, obviously and has to stop herself scoffing some scotch before heading into work in the morning; knows she uses sex as a coping mechanism; and has trust issues thanks to her ex, and / but she's delightful.
Drysdale introduces a charming relationship between Harper and her best friend Camilla that felt very real and it's a reminder how important close confidantes and trusted and supportive friends can be.
This is a great read and lovely way to start the year. It's engaging and light enough to not have readers checking the locks before bed but also offering an underlying level of substance, including a deeper theme about social media and how we expect our lives to be and look and how that can differ from reality.
The Paris Affair by Pip Drysdale will be published in Australia by Simon & Schuster and available in early February.
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
The Paris Affair initially had me comparing it to Netflix's Emily in Paris, given there's a slightly similar feel to the early pages with a confident and ambitious Harper heading off to Paris to work for an English-language French publication. When we meet her she's keen to wow the world but struggling to find her feet professionally.
Here however, we've got the added bonus of a murder. So, Emily in Paris meets Girl on a Train. Perhaps.
Harper's still smarting from being dumped unceremoniously after having supported her now-successful boyfriend through fledgling days as a musician.
She's arrived in Paris to work at The Paris Observer and not yet trusted with stories of any particular gravitas. A previous exposure to art however means she's sent to cover a new art show with an edgy up-and-coming artist, the annoyingly named Noah X.
It's probably a little predictable that a romance blossoms between the said artist and Harper though she soon discovers he's not entirely available. Or single.
Although I say I don't enjoy straight romances (ie. romance without murder and mayhem) I actually enjoyed the way the relationship between Harper and Noah plays out and it probably would have sustained the book without the added element of suspense.
But in the background there's the murder of a young woman - who bares a resemblance to Harper. It's just a story appearing in the headlines until it hits closer to home and causes Harper to question everything and everyone she knows in Paris.
Again Drysdale offers readers a contemporary feel with use of social media (reminders of Emily in Paris and her use of Instagram) and the inclusion of dating apps (etc). I loved the pragmatism of Harper and really liked her as a narrator. She's flawed, obviously and has to stop herself scoffing some scotch before heading into work in the morning; knows she uses sex as a coping mechanism; and has trust issues thanks to her ex, and / but she's delightful.
Drysdale introduces a charming relationship between Harper and her best friend Camilla that felt very real and it's a reminder how important close confidantes and trusted and supportive friends can be.
This is a great read and lovely way to start the year. It's engaging and light enough to not have readers checking the locks before bed but also offering an underlying level of substance, including a deeper theme about social media and how we expect our lives to be and look and how that can differ from reality.
The Paris Affair by Pip Drysdale will be published in Australia by Simon & Schuster and available in early February.
I received an early copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
February 3, 2021
Full disclosure, Pip Drysdale is a favourite author of mine. This novel did not disappoint.
Harper Brown is trying to make it in Paris as a journalist. All of which has come about because of a particularly hurtful breakup (read: she is still stalking him and relentlessly listening to his music).
Right now, Harper has a lacksadaisical approach to her social life, sexual encounters and work.
She is relegated to the “girl about town” and “how-to” articles, and she is good at these articles, but she is looking for more. She bides her time with meaningless sex, and nights out at events. Until the story of a lifetime falls into her lap. Enter Noah X…..
While out and about, a person Harper has a run-in with is murdered. Harper is drawn into the investigation in the hopes of solving what happens, not because she wants to be an amateur sleuth, but because she wants the scoop and has an interesting angle, one that perhaps no one else has.
I won’t go too much into what happens because I want the story to unravel for you the way it did for me, but a subplot of the story involves missing girls, which is the story Harper wants to write.
Harper Brown is trying to make it in Paris as a journalist. All of which has come about because of a particularly hurtful breakup (read: she is still stalking him and relentlessly listening to his music).
Right now, Harper has a lacksadaisical approach to her social life, sexual encounters and work.
She is relegated to the “girl about town” and “how-to” articles, and she is good at these articles, but she is looking for more. She bides her time with meaningless sex, and nights out at events. Until the story of a lifetime falls into her lap. Enter Noah X…..
While out and about, a person Harper has a run-in with is murdered. Harper is drawn into the investigation in the hopes of solving what happens, not because she wants to be an amateur sleuth, but because she wants the scoop and has an interesting angle, one that perhaps no one else has.
I won’t go too much into what happens because I want the story to unravel for you the way it did for me, but a subplot of the story involves missing girls, which is the story Harper wants to write.
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