This is a fun beginning to what promises to be an entertaining historical mystery. Our heroine with the unlikely name of Opal Laplume is in 1930 Paris to make the hats for a fancy cabaret show. There has already been one mysterious death before she even arrived in Paris. Opal is exceptionally curious and takes it upon herself to figure out the mystery. As more mysteries pile up, Opal keeps sticking her nose in and asking questions while bringing her cute poodle everywhere she goes. There’s the possibility of a romance with Opal’s glamorous cousin’s bodyguard. The atmosphere of the story is fun in capturing the fun of fashionable Paris. There isn’t any indication of the Depression or civic unrest which France was beginning to experience at this time, but perhaps it’s more fun without any sad atmosphere. The book ends with the hint that Opal will be traveling to Hollywood to design hats for the movies in a second mystery. I look forward to reading that.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

In 1930s Paris, a seamstress at a glamorous cabaret investigates the suspicious death of a star performer, uncovering a deadly plot and seeking a killer who seems to vanish into thin air.

This debut cozy mystery is clever and entertaining. Sleuth Opal is likable, and the Parisian setting is immersive. I look forward to more from this author.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: A decent debut

1930, Paris
Opal Luplume is sent to Paris by her mother to spread their milliner business and supply fashionable hats for the most glamorous cabaret in the city. However, the mysterious death of Valentine Beaumanoir, one of the main leads, creates some trouble. While the police conclude it is an accident, Opal thinks otherwise. Wasn’t there a witness who heard the victim cry out her beau’s name and call for help? Where did he vanish from a locked room?
When another murder occurs on the stage, Opal is even more determined to find the elusive killer. Maybe Valentine’s death had less to do with her personal life. Can she find the murderer without risking her neck?
The story comes in Opal's third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Yep, that’s me again, trying a new cozy mystery series. Luckily, this wasn’t too bad.
The book starts with murder (the best way to begin a mystery), and then we meet the MC. Though the pacing is on the slower side, it doesn’t feel boring.
The cast is large, but it is to be expected when you have a theatre group of dancers, technicians, and a few others.
The MC has a black miniature poodle, Napoleon (look at the cutie on the cover). I thought it would be mostly a prop given the size. To an extent, it is, but the teeny doggy can growl! It has a snoopy nose too, so little poodle does sort of help with the sleuthing. Also, who can resist such a squishy dog?
We get a glimpse into the Parisian life before the Great Depression, as well as touch upon the changing situations in London. Dresses, hats, feathers, dancing, extravagance, etc., are all touched up seamlessly since they are various elements of the plot.
The mystery is actually good. Just right for the cozy vibe, without being too silly or too dark. The MC is good enough, though I can’t say I like her. Nothing wrong with her, but she has yet to make her mark. Needs time, I guess!
There’s a potential love interest (it is not the detective, thank you so much for this). I’m curious to see where it would lead.

To summarize, A Most Parisian Murder is a nice start to a new series. While nothing actually stands out, it is not a boring read either (hence rounding up to 4 stars). I’ll be sure to read the next book or two and hope the MC grows into the character created for her.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A cosy historical mystery set in 1930's Paris. It is an easy read but found it quite slow paced. The main character Opal is likeable. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for ARC.

This was a really lovely cosy mystery! I like the time period it is set in, and that’s what drew me to the book. Loved the story line and main character Opal, going from an unseen or unnoticed person to a well known name in Paris! Really enjoyed it and excited for the next one in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc :)

Slightly down at heal, yet still aristocratic at heart, Opal is bundled off to Paris by her mother to stay with a cousin she doesn’t know. The cousin is a fabulous Parisian showgirl working on the stage. As Opal arrives funny things start happening, including a body flung off a balcony in a locked room. Accompanied by her delightful dog Napoleon and making friends along the way we discover the world of showbiz including the dark aspects. This is a gentle mystery with no blood or gore and all the better for it. This will joyfully fill a quiet afternoon.

A fun easy historical cozy mystery. This was a story you can sit and read all the way through, because its that good. Great characters and a cute dog. Definitely recommend.

A murder mystery set in the 1930s in Paris. Nice. The story is entertaining and enjoyable. Opal is such a bold and smart young woman. I loved the twists which made it hard to figure out who is the murderer and why. I’m already looking forward to find out what will happen next.
I received an advance review copy via Netgalley/Bookouture and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

1930 Paris where the star of the most glamorous cabaret was heard screaming for help and then found broken on the pavement below despite her room being locked and the key in the lock inside. Opal Laplume is a milliner from London who is living near the attic in the posh hotel where it happened and working with other support staff at the same cabaret. Now she becomes an amateur sleuth at the urging of a new friend. Marvelous descriptions of the hats, costumes, and food as well as fun characters and lots of plot twists. Very good read!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Bookouture via NetGalley. Avail May 13, 2025
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☕Review: A Most Parisian Murder

🥞Rate: 5 Stars!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🧁Praise: I now have another favorite mystery author! Her name is Millicent Binks!! I hope to have so many books in this series! I will be reading them and reading them! We meet Opal Laplume! (Even saying her name is so much fun!) 💗 Our Opal works at her family's millinery store for hats! In london! Right away there's a huge mystery!

📖 Her mother asked her to ask no questions and quickly leave to Paris to help her cousin, who is a beautiful burlesque dancer, with the costume department! Opal of course ask her mother why?! But her mother won't tell her why she's sending her to Paris to see a cousin whom she has never met! Gasp!!! Eiffel Tower and stars gasp!!

💖 The other mystery that starts off right away is that of the murder of a cabaret dancer!! I love how the author narrated it as if it was a movie in the beginning! She mentioned certain characters in certain rooms doing their nightly routine while a murder takes place in another room! But no one sees anything! They can only take the word of another cabaret dancer that they heard something very mysterious!

🎆When Opal arrives she is greeted by Paris and all her gorgeously whimsical and fashionable people! We meet a cast of side characters that are mysterious and fun! Now be warned! All those characters might glitter and shine! But in the end will their truths come together and rhyme?!

🍰This whole mystery starts off with the death of a cabaret dancer and like pearls everything strings along with it! Opal is very determined and quite cheeky! She is traditional with a dash of glitter pizzazz! She uses her wits to figure out things that everyone else cannot see or does not want to see.

💌Characters: Opal, Zsa Zsa, Augusto, Clementina, David, and so many more characters have my literary senses tingling! A lot of will they or won't they moments and a lot of revelations that actually left me shocked! A beautiful very expensive diamond necklace gets stolen! But how was it stolen if everyone was in the room at the same time?! How did the death of a dancer go noticed but the person who did it go unnoticed? Millicent Binks is a genius wrapped in gilded feathers and mysterious quirks! This is an author I will add to my shelf for life!

🌹 Extra/Tropes: This was a wonderful start to a wonderful series! My heart belongs to Paris and all things cabaret and burlesque! And of course my heart beats for anything cozy mystery! Bookouture really is a wonderful publishing company!

🍪New in a Cozy Mystery Series
🍪 Multiple mysteries!
🍪A touch of romance!
🍪 Beautiful descriptions!
🍪Must read! Must Read!

I actually really liked this book. It follows the Honorable Opal Laplume, a young English milliner who travels to Paris to help her famous cousin with her cabaret production on one of the city’s most famous stages. While she’s there tragedy strikes with the death of one of the dancers and it seems as though the perpetrator has vanished into thin air. Seeing that the police seem to have given up, Opal places herself on the case sleuthing around for clues when tragedy strikes yet again. Opal is such a loveable character. She is charming and sweet and looking for friends. Her poodle, Napoleon, with his little bicker hat is an instant hit wherever she goes. This is historical, cozy murder mystery and I recommend it for a light, enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more of Opal’s adventures.

Opal Laplume, a milliner in her family's hat shop in London, is suddenly sent by her mother to Paris where her cousin is a famous cabaret star. One of the dancers in the cabaret died from falling off a balcony - or was she murdered? Opal begins to investigate. The story is rather slow to get underway as Opal and her friend Zsa Zsa try to question possible suspects and convince the police to give them evidence (the police, unsurprisingly, aren't interested in the assistance of amateur detectives). Opal is hard to pin down as a character, as she is sometimes incredibly naive and out of her depth and sometimes leading the police in their inquiries. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC.

I found this novel rather slow and ponderous. Too much time was spent describing hats, costumes, and food. In the end, there were more questions than answers.

Paris, 1930. The Honourable Opal Laplume has just started working as a seamstress in the most glamorous cabaret in Paris. The stage is set for a spectacular opening night, but tragedy strikes when the star of the show, Valentine Beaumanoir falls from her hotel balcony.
The police believe it’s an accident, but Opal isn’t convinced. Witnesses heard Valentine shout for help before she fell. But if she was pushed, how could the culprit have escaped when her room was locked from the inside? And who left a perfect white rose on her bedside table……
I read this in an evening, perfect light entertainment which left me wanting more……. Such a delightful read, which I absolutely loved!

I enjoyed this romp through 1930s Paris. Set amongst the cabaret and artist scenes of the time it is a glittering escape to the past. The protagonist, the Hon. Opal LaPlume was a tough nut to crack at first but she grew on me. The only regret I have is that our stay in Paris could have been a bit longer. Things felt a bit rushed in the end, but overall it was an enchanting mystery. I look forward to seeing what mademoiselle LaPlume gets up to in her next adventure.