Review of "A Most Parisian Murder: An Opal Laplume Mystery" by Millicent Binks

 

It's 1930 and the Honorable Opal Laplume and her mother own an upscale millinery shop in London.



There was a time when British aristocrats wouldn't dream of being in trade, but times change and the Laplume women design and sell VERY fashionable hats while Opal's father, Viscount Laplume, studies birds all over the world.

Twenty-two year old Opal has led a sheltered life......



.....so she's surprised when her mother, Lady Phyllis, suddenly says Opal has to go to Paris.



Opal is to design headpieces for a glamorous cabaret show starring Opal's cousin Clementina, who belongs to the scandalous side of the family.



In addition to Clementina, the show features chorus girls - including Valentine, Estelle, and Zsa Zsa - and will highlight a fabulous diamond necklace worth twelve thousand pounds.





Lady Phyllis instructs the maid to pack Opal's bags, and Opal and her little black poodle Napoleon - who wears a tricorn hat - are soon on their way to France.





Unfortunately, the Paris cabaret show seems to be cursed with bad luck. Before the show opens, the dancer Valentine is killed by a fall from her hotel balcony. The circumstances are suspicious, but Police Inspector Prosper Delacroix considers the incident a terrible accident or a suicide.



Nevertheless, chorus girl Zsa Zsa insists she heard Valentine calling for help, and Opal - who has the soul of an amateur detective - decides to investigate. Before long there are additional suspicious events when someone vanishes, there's a robbery, and a murder occurs. DI Delacroix seems clueless about all of this, so Opal really has to step up.



Opal investigates these incidents by examining crime scenes, asking questions, making deductions, and so on. Valentine is very observant and lucky, and she manages to collect important evidence and charm people into speaking to her. Valentine interviews the cabaret show's fashion designer, producer, and director, as well as dancers, restaurant waiters, and others.



Along the way, Valentine develops a friendship with Clementina's handsome Spanish bodyguard Augusto. Both Valentine and Augusto like to sketch, and they visit various Paris sites to dance, dine, meet people, and draw pictures.



While all this is going on, Valentine observes an unknown, gun-toting man lurking around, and reports this to DI Delacroix. The mysterious man has a gun license and claims to live and work in the area, so nothing can be done. Of course the stranger turns out to be important to the story.



Much of the charm of the book lies in the descriptions of the cabaret show's extravagant costumes and elaborate sketches, which are carefully choreographed and rehearsed.



It's fun to visit 1930s Paris, which is an enticing place with tango dancing at the Eiffel Tower, posh restaurants, intellectual people, street vendors selling oysters, and more.



The book is a pleasant cozy mystery in an interesting setting. Opal's next adventure will take place in Hollywood, which should make for a good story.





I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Antonia Beamish, who does a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Millicent Binks, and Bookouture Audio for a copy of the book.

 Rating: 3 stars