The Paris Winter

September 8, 2014
Set in Paris in 1909, this standalone from Robertson falls short of the high standard of her Westerman and Crowther historicals (Circle of Shadows, etc.). Englishwoman Maud Heighton, an impoverished art student at the Académie Lafond, is shaken by the suicide of her fellow student Rose Champion. Maud believes that Rose hanged herself because she was poor and felt like a failure. Meanwhile, another fellow student, Tanya Koltsova, helps Maud financially by arranging a position for her as a companion to Sylvie Morel, a “sickly young woman who wishes to spend her free hours sketching the Paris streets and must have some respectable person to accompany her.” Maud finds the work more challenging than expected after she catches Sylvie stealing a brooch, a crime that Sylvie’s attractive brother, Christian, downplays. Further developments involving Sylvie result in violence and murder. Robertson fans will miss her customary strong lead and supporting characters with depth. Agent: Annette Green, Annette Green Agency (U.K.).

Starred review from October 15, 2014
Three young women, joined by their independent spirits and love of art, become embroiled in a criminal plot in belle epoque Paris.This rousing novel by Robertson (Circle of Shadows, 2013, etc.) starts calmly enough. Maud Heighton, a young Englishwoman in 1909, is a student at the Academie Lafond, an all-female painting school suitable for women of a middle-class background. Maud, however, is near destitute. Her meager inheritance covers little more than a room and the academy's fees. She skimps on food to the extent that her hunger is noticed by the school's regular model, Yvette. Also noting Maud's obvious pride, the low-class Montmartre girl sends another student, Tanya, a rich, bright Russian, to intervene. With the help of a charity, they get Maud employed by a French gentleman, Christian Morel, as a companion to his sickly sister, Sylvie. That the position seems too good to be true is explained away by Christian's confession that Sylvie is an opium addict, a secret Maud guards as her own in exchange for being well fed and having the freedom to paint. Maud, Tanya and Yvette are such distinct, likable characters that if there were no more plot than their striving for their own livelihoods it would be a lovely novel. Luckily, for lovers of adventure, there is more. The Morels are far more dangerous than they appear, and once the seeds of intrigue are planted, the scope of the book (and of Maud's worldview) is expanded to encompass murderous plots, shady Parisian undersides, upper-class dealings, gems of history and gems-as in jewels. The women are heartwarming as friends and delightfully effective as crime fighters. With a twisty, well-crafted plot, this novel is rich in historical detail and robust with personality.

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from October 1, 2014

In Paris, as the end of 1909 approaches, Miss Maud Heighton is a dedicated student at the Academie des Beaux Arts. Struggling to uphold the standards of her English upbringing on ever-dwindling funds, Maud accepts the offer of respectable employment as a lady's companion to Monsieur Morel's sister. But not all is as it appears and Morel family secrets threaten Maud's safety more than poverty ever could. Robertson's ("Westerman and Crowther Mysteries") stand-alone historical is the complete package; her characters continue to grow and develop as they make decisions befitting past experiences; her vivid descriptions create a strong impression of a particular time and place; and her plot line is full of top-notch surprises. Various strata of Parisian society, from the elite to the criminal, are presented with the kind of details that make it easy to understand how characters shift their way into and out of trouble. The art world is equally on display, providing a colorful backdrop for all the action. VERDICT For readers of historical fiction looking for a complex story, this is a sure bet and most likely the next big hit of any book discussion group.--Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.