A Murder in Paris by Matthew Blake

Matthew Blake’s A Murder in Paris is a masterfully executed psychological thriller that expertly weaves memory, trauma, and history into a compelling mystery. Following the international success of Anna O, Blake returns with a story as intricate as it is emotional, delivering a gripping narrative that balances high-stakes suspense with deep psychological insight.

The novel introduces Olivia Finn, a memory expert and single mother working at the Memory Unit at Charing Cross Hospital. Her ordered life is upended when she receives an unexpected call from the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris. Her grandmother, Josephine Benoit (a reclusive and once-celebrated portrait artist) has turned up at the iconic Left Bank hotel in a confused state, claiming to have committed a murder there in 1945. Though Josephine suffers from dementia, her confession is eerily specific, and the hotel’s records confirm that a woman did indeed die in that very room during the chaotic post-liberation days of World War II.

What follows is a dual-timeline narrative, alternating between the glamour and devastation of 1940s Paris and the psychological tension of the present day. As Olivia delves into her family’s wartime past, she begins to uncover layers of suppressed truths, both personal and political. Blake paints a haunting portrait of the Hôtel Lutetia, once a refuge for Holocaust survivors, now the site of long-buried secrets that refuse to remain hidden.

The novel’s central theme of memory, both real and reconstructed, is explored with remarkable nuance. Olivia’s professional expertise contrasts with her personal struggles as she confronts the shifting sands of Josephine’s recollections. Is her grandmother revealing a suppressed truth, or are these false memories born of trauma and age? Blake’s skill lies in his ability to keep readers questioning what is real while anchoring the narrative in emotional authenticity.

The pacing is generally tight, though it occasionally slows during introspective sections that explore Olivia’s inner conflicts and familial bonds. However, these moments add depth to her character and allow the novel to grapple with broader questions: Can memory ever be trusted? How do we carry the legacy of our ancestors’ choices?

Blake’s atmospheric prose captures the essence of Paris in both timelines. In the 1940s, the city is war-torn and morally complex, haunted by occupation and betrayal. In the present day, it becomes a place of introspection and reckoning, as Olivia unravels a mystery that spans generations. The use of real historical events, such as the Liberation of Paris and the plight of Holocaust survivors, lends weight and urgency to the story.

Though some secondary characters could have been more fully developed, the novel’s emotional impact lies in its portrayal of Josephine (an ageing woman caught between guilt, trauma, and art) and Olivia, who must navigate the shadows of both history and the human mind.

A Murder in Paris is an intelligent and haunting thriller that asks how well we really know those we love, and whether the truth is always worth uncovering. A stylish, emotionally rich tale that firmly establishes Matthew Blake as an exciting powerful voice in contemporary crime fiction.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Harper Collins