A riveting tale about professional milliner and aspiring detective Opal LaPlume. The story revolves around Opal's sudden relocation to Paris to assist in her family's millinery business and the unfortunate murder that takes place in her new place of work. Narrator Antonia Beamish does a fantastic job of capturing Opal's inquisitive and youthful essence. I thoroughly enjoyed Opal's escapades around Paris and the glamorous but overwhelming truth of stage life that Binks unveils through the side stories of secondary characters. I look forward to Opal's next adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Millicent Binks and publisher Hachette Uk - Bookouture for the eARC audiobook.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Grateful for the ARC of this audiobook. This was an interesting story. The narrator was wonderful, very pleasant to listen to and did very well with the different characters of the story. Opal is smart and kind and actually a bit naive… her last adventure before finally wrapping up the case… it could’ve been avoided. Really. The intrigues in the theatre are so juicy and her cousin so glamorous, it painted a very very vibrant picture of Paris in 1930. The mystery, interesting because I didn’t expect the identity of one of the conspirators. It would be fun to continue the series. And as an audiobook.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A unique historical whodunit with Moulin Rouge vibes (glitz and secrets), a milliner-turned-amateur-sleuth 🎩🕵️‍♀️, and… a mini poodle? Yes, please 🐾🐩🎭✨

Meet Opal Laplume, dropped into the 1930s Paris showgirl scene (AKA sent by her mother) to lead the millinery department (hat design and making) for the latest show at the Casino de Paris. With a milliner mother and an ornithologist father, Opal’s quirky backstory had me immediately curious. This mystery felt like a glitzy escape into a world I’m very much not part of, but with a main character I could relate to. I loved how setting-specific details—chandeliers, vintage fashion, feathers galore, and real-life figures like Coco Chanel—weren’t just background, but tied into the mystery itself.

Opal is a subtly funny and charmingly awkward lead, and I enjoyed following the breadcrumb trail as the mystery slowly unfolded. The pacing lagged in parts, and I wish some of the action at the end had been sprinkled in earlier. It felt like something was missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

There’s a fun dynamic between Opal, the showgirls (especially Zsa Zsa), and others in this dazzling backstage world—one that's new to Opal. Some characters surprised me with their true motivations, and a few lingering questions have me curious to see what’s addressed in book #2. 👀

Narrator Antonia Beamish gave the cast distinct voices, which helped bring the story to life, even if the French accents seemed a bit much at times. I wasn’t always sure what language we were meant to imagine them speaking, but it wasn’t too bothersome.

Also, loved the poodle on the cover! I enjoyed how the dogs in the story had their own unique personalities and roles in the mystery.🐾🦴

Overall, this was a fun, immersive escape full of historical flair and character. I’m looking forward to the next installment, especially if the author continues to weave unique aspects of the setting into the mystery. 🥂🕵️‍♀️

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.
#AMostParisianMurder #NetGalley #BookoutureAudio

This was a first in a series which shows great promise. Its a fairly quick listen with high quality engaging audio with some who done its. The narration did a fantastic job and only used ascents when strictly necessary. Although it was an a to c type mystery it was skillful told so it became more elaborate. I loved the main character and how she was in a man's world trying to prove herself as more than a hat maker. The complex dynamics of relationships, love and life were skillfully wound in with all interactions. The plot and final reveal were fab, this was a nice cozy mystery set in france mainly. The description was right and the i loved the way things such as drawing were told in a personal way. i felt for the character. I loved the addition of Napolean the dog he was so good. I was made to care about the characters and wanted her to solve it and so skillfully. A perfect first outing i hope i get to listen or read more as this character screams perfect. Thank you netgallery, publisher, author and narrator for this feel good mystery. This for me was 5 stars not too tacking quick listen, highly recommended.

A Most Parisian Murder is a new cozy murder mystery focusing on main character Opal Laplume, and her life as it comes into contact with multiple murders over a short period of time. Opal is one for details, which helps her in her millenary shop. When she is asked to go to Paris to design hats for a cabaret she takes the opportunity to showcase her skills both in design and sleuthing!

This book was a very nice cozy mystery in that the mysteries were straight forward and that there were a lot of interesting supporting characters. I found some of them quite charming, and definitely made for an interesting story. The mysteries had all the facts laid out, and I solved most of them before Opal, but it was still nice how it was laid out how she got to the result.

The only quirk I found that was a bit hard to get past was all the description about the eyes. How she will bring something up so close to her one eye to look at it. How she uses her eyelashes to direction attention (how is this done?) and how she always pulls her hat over her left eye. Just near the end it was quite repetitive and a little over done.

This series is already hinting at the next book, and I would probably pick it up to enjoy!

A fun little cosy mystery set against a backdrop of 1930s Paris glamour. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, it didn't read like a debut at all, and it was a great start to the series. I did have my issues with the main character (and her dog) but the plot overshadowed all my issues.
I listened to the audio narrated by Antonia Beamish. Overall the narration was well done, but I think it affected my enjoyment of the book a little, as the French accents were... a lot.
All in all a nice little cosy mystery - I'm excited for the next one in the series!

I really enjoy a murder mystery so this audiobook was perfect for me. I loved the characters and the narration. The narrator really brought the characters to life. I really enjoyed the fact I was kept guessing until the end. A great paced story.

Historical cozy set in 1930s Paris.

The Honourable Opal Laplume and her mother operate a millinery shop in Marylebone, London. Opal loves designs and her mother sends her off to Paris to do costume headdresses alterations on the showgirls for a new production that actually will star and feature her cousin, Clementina Lalonde, at the fabulous Casino de Paris. Unfortunately, tragedy struck before her arrival when one of the dancers, Valentine Beaumanoir, ended up dead on the street below her hotel balcony. No one knows how it happened and if it was suicide, accident, or murder. Amidst all the drama, Opal makes friends with the assorted characters involved with the show as she tries to parse the clues after yet another person dies.

This was mostly a satisfactory debut but something was missing or it was just that the character of Opal didn’t really feel realistic given the time period and setting. I didn’t warm to her. I’m still trying to figure out how big that tube of red lipstick was that someone could use it for drawing and writing so often. Also, and here we go, I’m tired of the new cliche where all of these amateur lady sleuths have a pet and far too much of the narrative is focused on it. The mystery was OK and some of the story drug a bit, but it was solved as you’d expect it to be while also having the inevitable peril for the main character. I may or may not try another installment featuring this character.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Antonia Beamish, tried her best to do all the different accents from plummy English, to Cockney, to French with varying degrees of success. She also had to do all the male characters, which was hit and miss. As always, this audio book would have benefited from having a male narrator as well. I enjoy how a good production enhances my enjoyment of a book.

This is a cozy mystery, a genre totally new for me and I started the perfect way. This audiobook was amazing. I loved the way the narrator acted the different accents and how she told the story. Loved the plot of this book and the main character, she is a girl who makes hats and gets hired in a theater, but she is so curious and there was a murder so she has to investigate.The police is negligent and is doing their job the wrong way, saying that it was suicide, but she notice the things that doesn’t make sense…

This book was so fast paced. I’m in the biggest slump ever and I finished this is three days, which is a short amount of time considering my case. it is so entertaining, from chapter one you just want to keep going. There is friendship, found family and a tiny bit of romance, I adored this book and would recommend to anyone who wants to listen.

Opal Laplume is EVERYTHING. This 1930s murder mystery has it all. Murder, mystery, and Coco Chanel.

Opal Laplume is a London based milliner who gets a chance to work as a seamstress in Paris for a cabaret her cousin is in. Opal comes from a well-known family in London with an overbearing mother. Getting to go to Paris to work for a cabaret with famous people is a dream she never thought would come true. She also never thought she would be investing a double murder and missing persons.

I loved this murder mystery. It had my mind going the whole book, I never guessed the killer. That is very rear and very much appreciated! I received this as an audio book, and the narrator did an A+ job. She did multiple accents flawlessly and made it easy to follow along. I look forward to following this series.

Thank you, Bookouture Audio and NetGally, for the ARC.

I read this via audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing this story to life and providing various voices to all the characters. It’s an engaging story that will keep you guessing and pondering the various story lines and characters intentions. I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters and that people from all over the world were included. There is some romance (it is Paris after all) but no spice. It is a true cozy, historical mystery that transports you to another era. If you are a fan of the Cleopatra Fox mysteries by C.J. Archer then this is a must read for you.

'A Most Parisian Murder' is a template 'cosy crime' set in the 1920s with a feisty amateur female detective. The cover neatly signals all you need to know - the Art Deco font of the title, the heroine in a dress straight out of Christie, accompanied by a cute dog. Heroines in these novels are nearly always accompanied by an adorable canine. You know what you are going to get, and the novel delivers on the cover's promise.

The sleuth here is the improbably named Opal Laplume, a posh girl whose family have fallen on hard times and now run a milliners shop. Opal gets the chance to work as a costumier on a cabaret show in Paris, starring her wayward cousin Clementina. Before Opal even arrives, a dancer has died in suspicious circumstances, and you can bet your bottom franc that that won't be the first corpse to turn up. Naturally, the police are bunglers, and Opal just happens to have unusual skills of observation. Soon she has added a jewel theft and a disappearance to the list of crimes to solve. And just in case there weren't enough cliches, there's a man with a distinctive facial scar who seems to be following her.

I had no difficulty working out who did it and how, and I found Opal rather annoying, but despite that it's not badly written and it serves up exactly what the reader expects from this genre. If you like slightly predictable but readable cosy crime set in the era that (I think) every good crime novel ideally should be, this is a reasonable pick from a wide range of options. The audiobook is nicely narrated and the story is easy to follow in audio form. It would be good holiday reading/listening, especially if visiting France.

The Honorable Opal Laplume is fairly bored with her life working as a seamstress for her family business. She is shocked when her mother decides to send her to Paris to work with her showgirl cousin that has been estranged from the family for years. The start of the show is found dead after falling from the balcony shortly before Opal arrives in Paris. Opal does not believe this was an accident. Soon other dancers are are threatened and there is another death, this time on stage. Opal becomes involved in the investigation to help solve the crime.

This was a great start to a new historical cozy mystery series. I really enjoyed Opal. She is smart and driven. The mystery was very interesting and had some good twists. I look forward to continuing with this series in the future! Antonia Beamish did a great job with the narration. Highly recommend the audio version of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in audio format free of charge in return for an honest review.

As always with an audio I start my review with the narration. As how the reader performs the book can make or break a read. This one is pure perfection and has done an excellent job bringing both the characters and setting to life.

Opal and her lovely companion cainiane Napoleon exceptional characters. And I really enjoyed getting to know them both.

The story is well written the characters are fun and imaginative. It certainly kept me guessing ! Very enjoyable read. Would recommend to anyone!

I really enjoyed A Most Parisian Murder. The setting was so vivid, with detailed descriptions of fashion and food that made me want to hop on a plane. The audiobook narration was fun (minus the American accent; do we all sound like that?), and I loved the addition of Napoleon, the little dog sidekick.

While some parts dragged a bit, especially in the middle, the mystery kept me guessing, and the ending tied things up nicely with a twist I didn’t see coming. I also appreciated learning a fun new word: milliner!

This book a great pick if you enjoy historical fiction with a light mystery feel. Looking forward to book two, Murder in Hollywood.

This is an enjoyable first in a new series. The setting is colorful, the characters are likeable, and the mystery is solid. I look forward to getting to know Opal and her friends in the next release.

I enjoyed listening to this story. The narrator did a great job. The historical mystery was entertaining. I will be looking forward to the next in this series.

I listened to this book

Pros Interesting mystery and a good beginning to what can be a fun cozy Good characters

Cons All over the place and messy ending with other sub plots

Audio - was not good Opals voice came across whiny and I felt the whole time I was listening to Hastings from the Poirot series - I get having to put colloquial expressions from the 1930s but some of it was too much

Has potential

I was given this ALC by NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s been a good while since I read a proper period murder mystery, and it was a wonderful re-introduction to the genre.

The FMC, Opal, is clever and engaging. Still young enough to be enamoured by the world, she is eager but diligent regardless. Being quick on her feet definitely proved to be to the benefit of those affected by the events that occur during the book and aided in solving the multiple mysteries that came to light as the book went on.

The pacing was good, the side characters interesting and fun, the elements of famous historical figures that were referenced in the peripheral of the story (Coco Chanel and Josephine Baker) helped add to the layers of setting the book in 1930’s Paris. Grounding it in this time period chosen by the author.

This is set the be the first of a series, following Opal as she proceeds to solve more mysteries in her travels. Nothing like proper cozy mystery series, reminds me of when I was young and loved reading of the adventures of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Look forward to the next one!!

A Most Parisian Murder is a fun, light murder mystery set against the vibrant backdrop of a Paris cabaret—an atmosphere that adds a lot of charm to the story. As a debut, it’s an impressive and enjoyable read. Opal LaPlume makes for a delightful protagonist: witty, likable, and paired with an adorable dog that adds an extra bit of warmth to the plot.

The mystery itself is engaging, though the story takes a little time to find its rhythm. While the final plotpoint felt a bit sudden and I could have done without the romance subplot, these are small quibbles in an otherwise entertaining read.

It might not be the most unforgettable mystery out there, but it’s a stylish and satisfying one—and a promising start for a new series or author. I had a lovely time with it!