The Crumpled Letter

Belle Epoque Mystery, Book 1

By: Alice Quinn, Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies - translator

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

On the French Riviera during the Belle Epoque, a murder draws two women into the dangerous shadows of Europe’s privileged elite…

One spring evening in 1884, beautiful young courtesan Lola Deslys discovers the lifeless body of a chambermaid hidden in the gardens of the Hôtel Beau Rivage in Cannes. Even more distressing is that Lola knows the girl well. When the inquiry into her murder fails to reveal a single substantial clue, Lola is persuaded by novelist Guy de Maupassant to delve into the case on her own.

Eager to exert her independence and defy conventions, Lola agrees. But she needs help in her investigation, and there’s no better partner in her pursuit - however unlikely - than Miss Gabriella Fletcher, a highborn, well-educated, and currently disgraced English governess.

To solve this dreadful crime, Lola and Miss Fletcher must navigate the depths of respectable society. But will their determination suffice in a city where fortune, secrets, men, and appearances reign supreme?

©2017 Alice Quinn. Translation © 2018 by Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Surprised

I found it slow in the beginning but found I couldn’t stop listening. I ended up liking the characters

a wonderful narration of a captivating story.

I couldn't stop listening, to this audiobook. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, the story or the narration.

Good premise, disjointed delivery

I liked the basic premise of the book, but felt it was delivered in a rather disjointed unfocused way. At times I wasn’t even sure what the main plot was, and none of the characters were relatable. I ended up skipping ahead quite a bit just to see how it ended before giving up.

I did like the narrator, just wish she’d had better material to work with.

Engaging!

Part murder mystery, part romance, part history lesson, all fun listening. Am engaging novel that starts the series. More to come.

Difficult to follow

The foreign names and accent of reader made this story difficult to follow. Overall, it was a very good story line with just the right amount of intrigue. However, I’m still a bit confused.