A Novel
by Julia Bryan Thomas
I was first drawn to this title by its cover. Key elements of the story are here including the city of Paris, a young woman and some diamonds. I was curious as to how everything would unfold.
This book establishes its espionage theme from the beginning. There is a literal bang early on when Mia shoots someone. How did she get to this moment? The novel goes back and shows readers in this Cold War set story.
Mia was working in a bakery in New York and coping with the loss of her father. Her life was pretty quiet. One day, a man named Theo, engaged her in conversation. Theo invited Mia to come to Paris where she would train to be a model at the House of Rousseau. Mia who idolized Jackie Kennedy, and knew of her time in Paris, was intrigued. She did not hesitate for long before finding herself flying to France.
Mia interacts with many people in the pages that follow. She has two roommates, a woman in her building who is “of a certain age,” the woman who tutored and mentored her when she arrived and, a CIA agent, among others.
How did Mia’s life get so out of control? Why has she been recruited? Will she survive? Will Mia find happiness? Read this one to find out.
Recommended to those who like historical fiction from the not so distant past, those who are intrigued by the Cold War, and those who love Paris and fashion. I enjoyed this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 14 January 2024
From the Publisher
The author’s earlier book
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 