Death in Paris is a work of fiction in the mystery, suspense, and adventure subgenres and serves as the opening installment in the Mairi Maguire Cozy Mysteries series. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Kate Darroch. The book follows teacher Mairi Maguire during a trip to Paris in which her friend Lianna winds up arrested for a murder she didn’t commit. On the run from dangerous criminals herself and with the elusive Major Peverel as her only ally, Mairi has less than a week to uncover the truth and free Lianna – if she can survive that long.

I adored the accessible and engaging mystery that sat at the heart of this book as Mairi used her trusty notebook to log clues and work out which of her new friends could really be trusted. The depiction of Paris was gorgeous, and though it’s been many years since I last visited, author Kate Darroch’s gorgeous descriptive writing made me feel like I was wandering along the beautiful streets once more. The protagonist Mairi was a quickly relatable and witty leading lady in the story, and I found myself investing in her journey quite easily, especially her determination to do right by her best friend despite the danger. Death in Paris is an easy novel to pick up but don’t let that fool you; the mystery at the heart of the narrative is excellent and well-considered, with plenty of room for the reader to make their own deductions. A wonderful first book in what I hope will be a long series, I recommend this book to all.

Due to a set of very special circumstances, Glasgow natives Máiri Maguire and her best friend, Lianna, head to Istanbul, Turkey to get away from their ex-lovers. Both women need an escape, so when Máiri is offered a position as the head of the English department at a college in Instanbul, she jumps at the chance to leave, bringing along Lianna as her assistant. The pair board a train and stop in Paris, speaking with several interesting characters along the way and discovering that the taxman, Charlie Stout, who Lianna loathes, is one of the passengers. After they arrive at their hotel in Paris, Máiri has dinner, and Lianna excuses herself as she is upset over Stout’s presence on their trip. The next morning, Máiri and Lianna are informed that Stout has been murdered and Lianna is strongly suspected. After her friend is taken away in handcuffs, Máiri vows to find out who killed the man. The mystery deepens as the reader learns more trouble than just the repercussions of Charlie Stout’s death is afoot.

In Death in Paris: Màiri Maguire Cozy Mysteries, Kate Darroch takes the reader on a whirlwind murder mystery in the late summer of 1970. I was sucked into the Agatha Christie-style mystery that closed on a cliffhanger. It’s easy to be transported to the time and places as Kate Darroch pens words and phrases from the dialect common to the region of Glasgow. I liked seeing Máiri’s mental notes throughout the book, and they provided good reference points as I looked back through the text after the mystery was solved. The trail the amateur sleuth followed and her thoughts as she gathered more information had me nodding my head along with her as I reviewed subtle things I had missed.

Death in Paris is a sleuth murder mystery thriller by Kate Darroch. Due to an unforeseen breakup with her boyfriend, Scots-Irish schoolteacher Màiri Maguire accepts a job in Instanbul and leaves Glasgow with her friend Lianna Stuart for a rendezvous in Paris. But everything turns upside down once they arrive in Paris. Lianna is arrested and put in a Parisian police lockup on suspicion of killing Charlie Stout, a dishonest Tax Inspector. Heeding the advice of Major Ellis Peverel -- a man with unknown motives -- Màiri takes it upon herself to find the actual killer and free Lianna. However, in doing so, she inadvertently embroils herself in a far sinister conspiracy involving a terrorist plot that she must now foil at any cost.

If you're a fan of Agatha Christie novels, you will have an absolute blast with Death in Paris. Author Kate Darroch weaves a gripping murder mystery full of suspense, intrigue, and plenty of thrills that hook you in from the get-go and refuse to let go until the end. The plot moves at a brisk pace, taking twists and turns that keep you guessing what's going to happen next. Every character is well-developed with distinct personalities that shine through the pages. Màiri is an intelligent and tenacious young woman who is determined to free her friend of false charges, no matter the cost. It doesn't take much time for the reader to start rooting for her. Death in Paris is a stellar start to the Màiri Maguire Cozy Mysteries book series. Recommended to sleuth story lovers.

Gold Badge:

After a bad breakup with her boyfriend of twelve years, Mairi decides to chuck her teaching job and accepts a more exciting position in Istanbul. Luckily for her, she manages to score a job for her friend Lianna as well, and they agree to a stopover in Paris for some fun. However, instead of fun Lianna ends up getting arrested for murder, and it’s now Mairi’s job to find the real killer and get her friend released. And so The Who-done-it mystery unfolds.

as the plot expands and unfolds, I got immersed in the story and was eager to discover the identity of the killer. That came as a shock, but the super-surprise ending was what clinched this book for me. What a fun read and a riot of an ending!

General thoughts on the Novel:
I recommend it for those who enjoy a light read as well as a touch of humor thrown in for good measure. It’s a quick read, but I liked that. Brisk and to the point, but with fun and flavor mixed in. The characters are fanciful and amusing, and as I said, the ending will absolutely blow you away!

Chosen as the Fiction Spotlight novel in the Publishers Weekly 25th March 2022 issue's Indie RoundUp, European Culture theme
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/88879-indie-spotlight-march-2022.html

Death in Paris
About the book: In book one of the Màiri Maguire Cozy Mysteries series, Scots Irish teacher Màiri Maguire works in top boarding schools all over the world, but on days like today she wishes she’d never left Glasgow! They’ve been in Paris just 12 hours. Lianna’s in jail accused of murder and Màiri’s being chased by murderous criminals. She didn’t dream traveling outside Scotland would be so dangerous! The books in the series feature recipes for every meal eaten by the sleuth: Scottish, Irish, Regional English (e.g., Lancashire hotpot), French, Italian, Turkish, and many more dishes from around the world. Readers are also introduced to famous sights from each city visited, along with little-known facts.
Author statement: “Màiri’s story begins in August 1970, which was a very exciting time to be a woman—the world was opening to us and we really believed that we could be agents of massive positive change. I have fond memories of the years 1970 to 1975. I wrote these stories to give people a break from the difficult world of Covid-19 by transporting them to another and better world. But the better world in these stories is not an illusion. It’s how things were back in the 1970s for many women; it’s how things could be today. My cozies are like all cozies—entertaining. But true to the spirit of the 1970s in which they are set, these little books are also educational. I hope that, just as fans of James Blish can never forget that water has a double meniscus, Màiri’s readers will remember that people have been praying in Sacre Coeur continuously, 24 hours a day, for over 100 years.”

2022 IPPY Awards: Death in Paris was selected as a Bronze Medalist for Best Mystery & Thriller eBook

2022 International Book Awards: Death in Paris was selected as a Finalist for Best Mystery & Suspense Fiction (joint second place)

2022 International Book Awards: Death in Paris was selected as Winner for Humour/Comedy/Satire (first place)

In Kate Darroch’s DEATH IN PARIS, a Parisian getaway goes south when a taxman is found dead around the Eiffel Tower, and Màiri Maguire’s best friend Lianna gets locked up as the only suspect. This cosy mystery perfectly depicts the beauties of the City of Lights and reveals a fascinating main narrator with her love for English tea, prim and proper 70s British mannerism and an impeccable sixth sense.

Death in Paris was selected for the First Place award in the July 2022 Firebird International Book Awards in four categories: Best Cozy Mystery, Best Book Series, Best Cross Genre Book, Best Book by a First Time Published Author.

Unique voice. Exemplary character appeal. An intense ride, the reader is engaged with the fate of these girls. Intense yet funny, the humour so appropriate. Compelling, layered... professional.
Extract from judge's lengthy and highly complimentary review
Death in Paris 8.5 x 5.5 paperback