A Murder in Paris - by Matthew Blake (Paperback)

About the Book

"An expert in memory must uncover the truth about her family's wartime past in this dazzling psychological thriller from the #1 international bestselling author of Anna O. Olivia Finn is a memory expert at Charing Cross Hospital in London. One night, she receives an urgent call from the police at the Hotel Lutetia on Paris's famous Left Bank. Olivia's French grandmother, Josephine Benoit, has appeared at the Lutetia in a distressed state claiming she once committed a murder in the hotel at the end of the Second World War. Traveling to Paris, Olivia finds her grandmother confused. But Josephine insists it is a recovered memory from the past. More disturbingly, hotel records show that a woman did die in that room of the Lutetia in 1945. Could her story really be true? As people start dying in the present day, Olivia is plunged into a race against time to uncover the truth about Josephine and what really happened all those years ago. Set among the glamorous streets of Paris, this addictive thriller asks: what if a memory could get you killed?"-- ]cProvided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

"Not only a psychological thriller, but also a locked-room/locked-memory mystery extraordinaire."--Anniston Star

An expert in memory must uncover the truth about her family's wartime past in this dazzling psychological thriller from the #1 internationally bestselling author of Anna O.

Two women checked in . . . only one checked out

Olivia Finn is a memory expert at Charing Cross Hospital in London. One night, she receives an urgent call from the police at the Hôtel Lutetia on Paris's famous Left Bank. Olivia's French grandmother, Josephine Benoit, has appeared at the Lutetia in a distressed state claiming she committed a murder in one of the hotel's rooms at the end of the Second World War.

Travelling to Paris, Olivia finds her grandmother confused. But Josephine insists it is a recovered memory from the past. More disturbingly, hotel records show that a woman did die in that room of the Lutetia in 1945. Could Josephine's story actually be true?

As people start dying in the present day, Olivia is plunged into a race against time to uncover the truth about Josephine and what really happened all those years ago. Set among the glamorous streets of Paris, this addictive thriller asks: What if a memory could get you killed?

Review Quotes

"Riveting . . . . Blake weaves a sprawling spiderweb of a plot that spans nearly a century and thrills from start to finish . . . . With a memorable protagonist, jaw-dropping twists, and provocative questions about the nature of memory, this page-turner is nearly impossible to forget." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The glamorous Parisian backdrop, juxtaposed with the shadows of war, lends the book a cinematic feel. At the same time, Blake's exploration of memory--its fragility, its danger, and its power--gives the story clever psychological depth . . . . A stylish, page-turning thriller that shows us the past is never truly buried." - The Summerville Journal Scene

"Riveting . . . . The novel's look at Holocaust history and at the question of recovered memory are both fascinating and unsettling . . . . With one surprise following another, A Murder In Paris moves inexorably towards its shattering climax in Room 11 of the Hôtel Letitia. Not only has Matthew Blake written a psychological thriller, but also a locked-room/locked-memory mystery extraordinaire." - Anniston Star

"A dazzling, intricate puzzle box of a novel. The author masterfully intertwines the personal agony of a family secret with the sweeping, morally gray landscape of postwar Europe . . . . The novel is not only a thrilling mystery but a poignant exploration of inherited trauma and the lengths people go to protect the past. For readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with a rich, historical backbone, especially those fascinated by the dark, complex legacy of World War II, this intriguing book is an absolute must-read. Blake delivers a smart, emotionally charged conclusion that is both satisfying and chilling." - MSN.com

"A Murder in Paris once again shows that Matthew Blake excels in psychological thrillers that question reality and challenge memory, making for some highly suspenseful reading." - Bookreporter.com

"Exquisitely told by the author of last year's bestselling debut Anna O...just as unforgettable." -- Daily Mail

"Original, exceptionally well written, clever, engaging, and a fun read for mystery buffs from start to finish." - Wisconsin Bookwatch

"The most talked about thriller of 2024." - The Today show on Anna O

"One of the best twists I've ever read." - David Baldacci

"Steeped in mythology, psychology, and true-crime lore, Blake's cliff-hanger features a young woman who's been asleep since she murdered her two besties four years earlier. Now it's time to wake up Sleeping Beauty . . . and unleash a cascade of twists likely to outfox all but the sharpest thriller mavens." - People on Anna O

"An irresistible concept beautifully executed - certain to be one of the year's best thrillers." - Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, on Anna O

"A riveting, unsettling crime novel that will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime. Is Anna O a sleeping beauty or a sleeping killer? Matthew Blake's tension-filled thriller is as elusive and mysterious as sleep itself." - Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest, on Anna O

"Like blockbusters such as The Maidens and The Girl on the Train." - Washington Post on Anna O

"An audacious, inventive mystery, a thriller of ideas, and--here's irony for you--a novel about sleep to keep you up late. Anna O reads like a dream but unsettles like a nightmare; the premise is original, the writing stylish, and the payoff unforgettable. You won't forget her name." - A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window, on Anna O