Title: The Paris Winter

Author: Imogen Robertson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 409

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Imogen Robertson’s break-out novel—a deep, dark and opulent tale of Belle Époque Paris, and the secrets and dangers hidden beneath its luxurious facade. Maud Heighton came to Lafond’s famous Academie to paint, and to flee the constraints of her small English town. It took all her courage to escape, but Paris eats money. While her fellow students enjoy the dazzling joys of the Belle Époque, Maud slips into poverty. Quietly starving, and dreading another cold Paris winter, Maud takes a job as companion to young, beautiful Sylvie Morel. But Sylvie has a secret: an addiction to opium. As Maud is drawn into the Morels’ world of elegant luxury, their secrets become hers. Before the New Year arrives, a greater deception will plunge her into the darkness that waits beneath this glittering city of light.

Review:

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I love books set in Paris during the early 20th century, but this book had so many great components to it, including art, love, mystery, and scandal!

Maud came to Paris to study art in the hopes of becoming a great painter. She is struggling to make ends meet, and eventually finds a place with a brother and sister. She gets paid to be a companion for the sister, and she gets room and board on top of her wage. This seems like a dream come true for Maud, until some strange things start happening…..

This book was a bit of a roller coaster in terms of plot and pacing. It was boring and then something happened and I couldn’t put it down, and then it took a while for something to happen again…but I loved the characters and Maud developed so much as a character that it really saved the book for me. If you’re interested in reading historical fiction then I definitely recommend this one for you!!

Happy reading!