Lightweight murder-lit

The Paris Affair by Pip Drysdale, Simon & Schuster, $35

.. .. .. .. .. .. Harper has had a long-term relationship with a musician. She dropped out of art school when she met him and has provided most of the financial support on his way to fame. When fame was within his grasp, Harrison dropped her in favour of Melody, a member of his band.

Disillusioned and determined never to fall in love again, Harper heads to Paris where she has managed to get a position as a journalist writing for an online Parisian arts/culture magazine.

In an effort to impress her editor she does an early morning reconnoiter of an art gallery she is supposed to be visiting the following day. Finding it unlocked, she enters and begins looking at the display. When disturbed, she gives a false name and pleads ignorance of the language.

When the artist’s model is found murdered in a very similar fashion to a previous murder, the story does pick up pace. Harper turns investigator in an effort to save the artist who has been framed. Her previous sexual encounters, one night stands, lead her deeper into the mire. However not all is lost, knowing how to get out of handcuffs is definitely an asset.

The Paris Affair is, in my opinion, fairly shallow chick lit, but I can see the author’s appeal.

It was an easy read and I certainly had to read until the end. Although I thought Harper was a fairly conniving character, I was pleased to see a better life for her might be around the corner.

—