The Paris Secret - Karen Swan

Somewhere along the cobbled streets of Paris, an apartment lies thick with dust and secrets: full of priceless artworks hidden away for decades.

High-flying fine art agent Flora from London, more comfortable with the tension of a million-pound auction than a cosy candlelit dinner for two, is called in to assess these suddenly discovered treasures. As an expert in her field, she must trace the history of each painting and discover who has concealed them for so long.

Thrown in amongst the glamorous Vermeil family as they move between Paris and Antibes, Flora begins to discover that things aren't all that they seem, while back at home her own family is recoiling from a seismic shock. The terse and brooding Xavier Vermeil seems intent on forcing Flora out of his family's affairs - but just what is he hiding?

I’d wanted to read this for a while actually but just didn’t get round to it until i read The Rome affair and then i was back in my Karen swan phase of the year (i’m desperately waiting for the new arrival ‘Greek Escape).

So, why this book? Paris, fashion, social drama, spoilt rich kids and art …basically.  
One of Swan's key skills is transporting the reader straight into the passage and yet again, she didn't disappoint. This was my first non-Xmas novel i read by Swan and the sheer description enveloped you into the story and made you feel like you were standing in the dusty flat. 

I think the main reason i enjoyed this was that the main character,  Flora, just made me laugh out loud (hint: wolf whistle), feel for her and be very jealous of her wardrobe. Add this with the moody Xavier and the whole story was set and simply, weaved its way to its finale.