Murder in Paris, Matthew Blake

A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake marks the author’s return following the global success of Anna O. Blending psychological tension with historical depth, the novel is an ideal read for fans of both genres.

At the center of the story is Olivia Finn, a memory specialist from London, who is called to Hôtel Lutetia in Paris. There, her 96-year-old grandmother, Josephine Benoît, is in a state of shock, claiming she committed a murder in 1945.

Even more unsettling is her confession that her real name is Sophia Leclerc, and that she assumed a new identity after World War II.

As Olivia begins to investigate, she uncovers hotel records confirming that a woman did indeed die in that very room in 1945. The question quickly shifts — not whether Josephine is telling the truth, but what other secrets the past is still hiding.

The mystery doesn’t remain confined to history. As new murders shake the present, Olivia finds herself in a race against time through the elegant yet dangerous streets of Paris. She must determine whether her grandmother is lying, suffering from dementia, or concealing something far more sinister.

With this novel, Matthew Blake once again places memory at the forefront — not just as a fragile human function, but as a powerful and unreliable force. Here, memory becomes something that can be distorted, manipulated, and weaponized.

Early reader responses on platforms like NetGalley highlight the novel’s dual timelines and psychological complexity — elements that build tension not through constant action, but through the gradual unraveling of truth.

In an interview about his previous novel, Blake noted:

“Good lawyers share the skills of good liars: persuasion, misdirection, manipulation.”

This idea resonates strongly in A Murder in Paris, where the line between truth and memory remains blurred until the very end.

Booklovers verdict:
In our view, A Murder in Paris definitely deserves a place on your shelf.