Set in the dazzling yet dangerous world of 1930s Paris, this engaging historical mystery follows Opal, a spirited aspiring hat maker from London who lands a dream job designing costumes for a cabaret show. But her excitement is quickly overshadowed when she learns a dancer has been murdered just before her arrival. With a sharp mind and keen instincts—reminiscent of a young Sherlock Holmes—Opal, alongside her loyal dog Napoleon, begins unraveling the secrets behind the curtain. The mystery is full of intrigue, a touch of romance, and stylish suspense. The audiobook narrator was captivating, bringing the characters to life and keeping me hooked from start to finish.

Title: A Most Parisian Murder
Author: Millicent Binks
Genre: A Historical Cozy Mystery
Format: 🎧
Narrator : Antonia Beamish
Publisher: Bookouture Audio,
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 284

Paris, 1930 ~ Milliner Opal Laplume is excited to be working on the most glamorous cabaret in Paris. (Just writing that sentence brings the vision of the beautiful head piece worn in cabarets!)
Everyone is excited for opening night, but tragedy strikes when the star Valentine Beaumanoir falls from her hotel balcony.

Many heard Valentine shout - Christophe. However, her door was locked and they when they got in Valentine’s room she had falling. Police ruled the fall an accident but those who heard her shout believe otherwise including Opal. Was Valentine shouting her beau’s name to stop or for help? However no cry when she fell.
Opal of course is an amateur sleuth and wants to help with the investigation; she finds two clues – a broken pencil and a white rose on her bedside table.

Next - one of the chorus girls goes missing. Opal is sure there is a connection.

This was a fun read~ as mentioned I could visualize the cabarets and the chorus girls with their beautiful costumes. I did laugh at some of the saying. “Bees Knees”, ‘You are off your Onion” Oh that is simply Rippie’ and ,Costume Malfunction” (which I thought was new when it occurred at the Super Bowl with Janet Jackson).

This was an enjoyable and I am looking forward to Opal and her poodle Napoleon’s next sleuthing adventure!!!

Thank you NetGalley and the awesome team at Bookouture Audio for this great audiobook
Pub date May 13, 2025.

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
#AMostParisianMurder by @millicent.binks.x #OpalLaplumeMysteriesBk1 @bookouture #debutnovel
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The audiobook is narrated by Antonia Beamish who gives a riveting performance! May 01, 2025

I spent a pleasant afternoon in the sunshine listening to this and enjoyed it immensely. Opal as a character is easy to get along with and has a background that offers much to be explored in further stories, as any mysterious investigation she may be involved in. Looking forward to another instalment.

'A Most Parisian Murder' is a historical amateur detective mystery with great pacing! Millicent Binks delivers a glamorous setting, intriguing characters, and a satisfying puzzle to unravel. Additionally, Antonia Beamish's stellar performance enhances the story.

Special thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

That was fun! The author seems to have done a great deal of research into the art and design of the location and era, which made the setting more real than your average cozy setting. (Yes it helps that Paris is a real place where frequent murders is more plausible, but the details are much greater than those found in your average made-up small town cozy.) The main character is very much a product of her upbringing, and I will say that in any other genre I'd probably have found her to be kind of spoiled and annoying, but since she has the role of amateur sleuth, her personality works for the book.

An absolutely riveting read! I listened to it in one sitting and so very immersed in the world and the characters. I'm very excited for the next one!