It's 1947 and Billie Walker's private inquiry building is bustling. After the high profile case covered in The War Widow (2019) - Tara Moss' first Billie Walker mystery - Walker has become well known in Sydney and has seen a rise in clients. Much of her work involves helping people secure grounds for divorce, by procuring evidence of infidelity. She and her trusty assistant Samuel Baker tail men through the seedy underbelly of Kings Cross to take photographs of liaisons. It is not her preferred kind of investigation, but it pays the bills.
Billie has many memories of Paris from her time as a war correspondent. It was where she first met her photojournalist husband Jack, who went missing during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. With an all-expense paid trip to London and Paris, Walker may also have an opportunity to investigate more than one disappearance. But first, she and Sam have to deal with whoever is following them...
The Ghosts of Paris (2022) is a thrilling follow up to The War Widow (2019). Moss' knows how to write a gripping page-turner, with enough action and plot twists to keep the reader guessing. Packed with historical detail, we are transported to another time and place. Taking the action to Europe allows Moss to explore the post-war recovery and the societal differences with Australia. I love Moss' characterisation of Billie - a quick-witted, independent woman in a man's world. Billie is an intelligent, empathetic and well-rounded heroine.
While we may need to wait for the next Billie Walker novel, Moss has recently confirmed a two-book deal with Harper Collins Australia to expand the series. I can't wait to see what Billie gets up to next and to spend more time in her world. Until then, we'll always have Paris.