The Paris Affair

A young engineer in 1880s Paris weathers romance and danger while helping to build the Eiffel Tower in former high school history teacher Marshall’s effervescent debut. The bastard son of an English earl, Fin Tighe can hardly pay rent in the apartment he shares with his cousin, ballet dancer Aurelie. When Fin’s not protecting Aurelie from lecherous patrons, he spends his time helping Gustave Eiffel find investors for his tower. In that capacity, he meets charismatic Gilbert Duhais, who insists he can help land investors if Fin is willing to claim he’s closer to his estranged father than he actually is. Meanwhile, Jody, the owner of a gay club Fin frequents, enlists the engineer to help find his missing sister. As Fin starts to investigate, he uncovers clues that the girl’s disappearance may be tangled up with Gilbert and his wealthy and unpleasant uncle. Then someone in Fin’s circle turns up dead, and his budding attraction to Gilbert becomes colored by a growing suspicion that his handsome paramour might be a killer. Marshall laces the novel’s first half with delightful characterizations and rich historical detail, then ratchets up the pace in the second, delivering a barrage of well-earned reveals. Francophiles, take note: this steamy slice of romantic suspense is très bien. Agent: Catilin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Assoc. (May)