In 1925 Paris everything is très chic, except murder.
Jazz age Paris is home to writers, artists, dancers and painters who all flock to the city of light where living is cheap and the party never stops.
Women’s pages reporter Abigail Dixon is seeking her big break in hard news. When the dowdy reporter is sent to interview a famous fashion designer she wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. … terrible mistake. But Abby finds herself in the middle of a hard news story when her despised stepmother is murdered in the couture house. Even worse, Inspector Henri Deschamps believes she’s the prime suspect.
With only high school French to defend herself, Abby’s in despair until a chance meeting with young reporter Ernest Hemingway convinces her to use her skills and clear her name by finding the real murderer.
With help from new friends like Hemingway and Coco Chanel, Abby is transformed into a Parisian sensation. Can she enjoy her new bobbed hairstyle before losing her head? Because the French still punish murderers with the guillotine…
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I’m a fan of Nancy Warren’s “Vampire Knitting Club” mysteries and more, and Death of a Flapper (Abigail Dixon Mysteries Book 1) represents a bit of a departure from those fun paranormals – but a totally satisfying one. Set in Jazz Age Paris, it stars an ambitious journalist whose fluff piece on a fashion house becomes a personal story of being suspected of murder. There are lots of interesting characters, from the gruff newspaper editor to the demanding designer, as well as cameos by some of the famous names of the time, including Hemingway. Abigail Dixon is “plucky” (the term she and colleagues agree is a de rigueur term for true-crime heroines), and she’s swept up in the glamour of Paris, its fashion and its rich expats as she unravels the mystery. The glamour is a big part of the appeal of this engaging first book in a series. It has a classic mystery feel to it, with the charm of a really good BBC show. I look forward to reading more of Abigail Dixon’s adventures.
Death of a Flapper by Nancy Warren
Abigail Dixon Mysteries Book One
Abigail “Abby” Dixon has moved to Paris from Chicago. A new life. A promotion from the newspaper she worked at. Or so she thought. She wanted to write real news, not fashion. Unfortunately…she became the news. Suspected of a murder, her neck was on the line…literally.
This story takes place in 1925 and is told from Abby’s point of view only. She just can’t stay out of the investigation…even though she was the main suspect. Especially since she was. She was determined to find out who the murderer was to save her own neck.
Great characters, main and secondary. Humorous and yet serious.
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As a fan of Warren’s other series, I was interested to see what she would do with this setting and style. “Knock it out of the park” is the answer! Abigail is independent and feisty, clever and creative … reminiscent of and comparable to Frankie Drake and Phryne Fisher. The setting is beautifully portrayed, the plot line is well written, real historical figures lend authenticity to the overall feel of the story and punch of the plot. I had planned on reading it over the weekend and read it in a single sitting…pulls you right in! Great read!
Abigail arrives in Paris from Chicago thinking she is going to get to report on hard hitting news right off the bat only to be tossed to the “women’s pages” of fluff, pomp and circumstance involving fashion of all ridiculous things. Set in the 1920’s our ready to hit the streets main character starts out as an ingénue of fashion and ends up being one of the most sophisticated of them all. However, is our newly minted sophisticate about to be the best dressed in line for the guillotine? A fantastic plot wrapped in excellent writing with well developed and lovable characters makes the historical cozy mystery a can’t miss read! Ironic coming from me as historical reads are not usually my favorites, but this one is so well done that anyone will love it. How can you not be enthusiastic about meeting Earnest Hemingway or Coco Chanel in Paris in the 1920’s when they were young and full of ideas! I absolutely can’t wait to see what happens in the world of Abigail next!
Take a trip back to the Roaring Twenties with Death of a Flapper by Nancy Warren. Joining Abigail Dixon on her trip to Paris in 1925 is a wonderful reminder of better days to come for all of us during these COVID-19 days. Then the Great War was over, the Spanish Flu survived, and the 19th US Amendment had passed with other opportunities opening up for women.
While Abigail is at first down about covering fashion instead of hard news that soon changes. Covering “women’s news” is the way to go in Paris 1925. Before long she is in the middle of a murder investigation, “living a story” and seeking advice from Hemingway. There is plenty of name dropping and a hint of romance which rounds out this great story. I must say I envy Abby just a bit since she saw F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda. I would have loved that even more than knowing Hemingway. Besides the fantasy of rubbing elbow with famous people there is Ms. Warren’s strong writing making this a top notched story.
Better days are coming in 2020 so why not be encouraged by reading about those who didn’t just dream big but lived big. Lovely mystery with a wonderful heroine and a positive outlook.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Paris was reputed to be forward-thinking and progressive, but from what she’d seen so far,their attitude toward women was from the dark ages. Pretty ironic for a place calling itself the City of Light”
1925 Paris; just the ticket Abigail Dixon needs coming from the States to work in the newsroom of a local paper. However, as much as she wants to report “hard news”, she gets assigned to the “fluff” aimed at women, the first being reporting on a couturier. And then there’s her step-mother; NOT Abby’s favorite person. When she’s found dead, all fingers point at Abby. Did she?
She gets a chance at proving herself in the paper of all places when they ask her to report on herself! With author Nancy Warren’s indelible style we are quickly drawn into the story with an intelligent, fantastically written page turner—with a gorgeous cover. Brava Nancy Warren! Highly Recommended. 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book as a gift from the author and voluntarily chose to read and review it]
Death of a Flapper is the first in a new series by Nancy Warren. This book was a great beginning and is set in Paris during the Jazz age. The main character, Abigail Dixon, is an up and coming reporter who is newly relocated in Paris and ends up getting help and becoming friends with some famous names we know.
New mystery area for author – historical and not magical. Definitely different form author’s other series, which I love.
I enjoy the historical people of the times, especially Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel. I admit I was surprised at their (and others) appearance in the story. Bravo.
I have to admit, even the clues were there in hindsight, that I never so the end coming. I was still trying to figure it out.
Since first, giving it benefit of my needing a break from all the reading I do, and new style for author. I found it easy to put down and come back to. Not like I needed to get to end immediately.
Not sure that I like the focus change at the end. To me does not fit with personality. However, will see where the next few books go.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
Murder ala mode? Mon Dieu!
Nancy Warren takes a stab(pardon the pun) at 20’s Paris(1920’s, that is) and delivers a winner!
The year is 1925, the Great War is over, and everyone is determined to put the ugliness behind them and enjoy life to the hilt. American Abby Dixon, fledgling newspaper reporter, has just been transferred to the City of Lights and given a promotion! At last! She can become the hard-hitting news reporter she’s always dreamed of being. Women in America have the vote. She’s going to make sure they have a voice when it comes to the news, too….
….Except….the job isn’t exactly what her uncle promised. Instead of beating the streets, promoting suffrage for Frenchwomen, she’s reduced to covering the latest couture runway show for Atelier de Paul Joubert. Dowdy Abby hasn’t the least idea about or interest in couture.
To make matters worse, when she arrives at the chic atelier, she has a run-in with none other than her destested stepmother, Lillian, the woman Abby blames for the breakup of her family, the death of her mother, and the estrangement between Abby and her father. Before a confrontation can ensue, however, Lillian ends up dead, and Abby is the Number one suspect in her murder! Can Abby convince dour Inspector Henri Deschamps she’s innocent and solve Lillian’s murder before she’s sent to the guillotine? You’re going to have to read the book to find out!
A fantastic start to a brand new series! Abigail Dixon, a reporter, is newly relocated to Paris, and thinking she’s going to get to report on a huge news story is sent to cover a new line for a fashion designer. Then there’s a murder and she’s a suspect. The characters, murder, and who done it, kept me intrigued and turning the pages to find out what would happen next. A really enjoyable read and one I highly recommend. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Abigail Dixon has left her job as women’s reporter in Chicago for hopefully a more newsworthy job as reporter in Paris. Avoiding her stepmother is only a bonus. Unfortunately, her first job is to cover the new line of a famous designer. Of course, one of the first people she sees is her stepmother. Abigail manages to avoid her and by having the designer give her a tour of the back rooms. When Abigail finds her stepmother dead, she becomes a prime suspect.
Somehow during the solving of the murder, Abigail evolves from being disinterested in fashion to the muse of a designer. This is the first in a series and is an enjoyable book. It will be interesting to see how the relationships develop in the next book. Enjoy.