What do you think?
Jackie Bouvier #1
Paris to Die For
A fast-paced, fashionable, and "intriguing novel [that] may not be as far-fetched as you think" from the author of Spy in a Little Black Dress (Kitty Kelley, New York Times bestselling author of Jackie Oh!).
Young Jacqueline Bouvier's first CIA assignment was supposed to be simple: Meet with a high-ranking Russian while he's in Paris and help him defect. But when the Comrade ends up dead, and Jackie-in her black satin peep-toe stiletto heels-barely escapes his killer, it's time to get some assistance. Enter Jacques Rivage, a French photographer and freelance CIA agent who seems too brash and carefree to grapple with spies, though he's all too able to make Jackie's heart skip a beat.
Together the two infiltrate 1951 high society in the City of Lights, rubbing shoulders with the likes of the Duchess of Windsor, Audrey Hepburn, and Evelyn Waugh. Jackie, no longer a pampered debutante, draws on her quick intelligence, equestrian skills, and even her Chanel No. 5 atomizer as a weapon to stay alive in the shadowy world of international intrigue-and to keep her date with a certain up-and-coming, young Congressman from Massachusetts . . .
Young Jacqueline Bouvier's first CIA assignment was supposed to be simple: Meet with a high-ranking Russian while he's in Paris and help him defect. But when the Comrade ends up dead, and Jackie-in her black satin peep-toe stiletto heels-barely escapes his killer, it's time to get some assistance. Enter Jacques Rivage, a French photographer and freelance CIA agent who seems too brash and carefree to grapple with spies, though he's all too able to make Jackie's heart skip a beat.
Together the two infiltrate 1951 high society in the City of Lights, rubbing shoulders with the likes of the Duchess of Windsor, Audrey Hepburn, and Evelyn Waugh. Jackie, no longer a pampered debutante, draws on her quick intelligence, equestrian skills, and even her Chanel No. 5 atomizer as a weapon to stay alive in the shadowy world of international intrigue-and to keep her date with a certain up-and-coming, young Congressman from Massachusetts . . .
355 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 23, 2011
I don't even know how to start. I thought this book would be a fun story, a distracting late-summer read. Wow, was I disappointed.
First, Jackie was an atrocious main character. Why? Because she never fails to talk herself up. While saying how inexperienced she is and how she wants to find something more in her life...she is simultaneously saying that she is gorgeous, thin, smart, a good writer, a horseback rider, a quick thinker and has an eye for fashion. All in the same breath. And the author has NO subtlety either - every single character around Jackie comes right out and says how gorgeous/smart/wonderful she is. It was enough to make me gag. And the character "flaws" that the author attempted? Please. Don't patronize me. You wanted us to think your character was perfect (historical accuracy be damned)...well, we got the picture. Loud and clear.
Speaking of the author, Maxine Kenneth really needs to read a little bit more before deciding to write a book. Instead of letting the reader figure ANYTHING out for themselves, she presents a situation that could potentially be mysterious/complicated...and then has the characters sit down and hash it out two seconds later. Which, for me personally, is incredibly boring.
Also, the name-dropping of famous people/places/whatever was SO unbelievably obnoxious. Yes, we get it, you've read a lot about Paris. Please, comment on the Belle Epoche architecture some more. It really adds to the story. Also, the number of famous people Jackie bumped into over her few days in Paris was wholly unbelievable and just completely ridiculous.
I was just wildly unimpressed with this book.
First, Jackie was an atrocious main character. Why? Because she never fails to talk herself up. While saying how inexperienced she is and how she wants to find something more in her life...she is simultaneously saying that she is gorgeous, thin, smart, a good writer, a horseback rider, a quick thinker and has an eye for fashion. All in the same breath. And the author has NO subtlety either - every single character around Jackie comes right out and says how gorgeous/smart/wonderful she is. It was enough to make me gag. And the character "flaws" that the author attempted? Please. Don't patronize me. You wanted us to think your character was perfect (historical accuracy be damned)...well, we got the picture. Loud and clear.
Speaking of the author, Maxine Kenneth really needs to read a little bit more before deciding to write a book. Instead of letting the reader figure ANYTHING out for themselves, she presents a situation that could potentially be mysterious/complicated...and then has the characters sit down and hash it out two seconds later. Which, for me personally, is incredibly boring.
Also, the name-dropping of famous people/places/whatever was SO unbelievably obnoxious. Yes, we get it, you've read a lot about Paris. Please, comment on the Belle Epoche architecture some more. It really adds to the story. Also, the number of famous people Jackie bumped into over her few days in Paris was wholly unbelievable and just completely ridiculous.
I was just wildly unimpressed with this book.
October 23, 2014
This novel was just too far fetched. According to the novel, Jackie Kennedy in her early 20s worked with the CIA in Paris. She had one life and death encounter after another. I typically love books that take place in Paris and so that's why I bought it. The locations described and the French words thrown in now and then were fun for me. The story was too unbelievable.
August 12, 2020
I wanted to like this way more than I did, because it was a really fun concept, and I especially loved the idea of a newbie spy in Paris in the 40s/50s (and inspired by Jackie O! FUN!!!).
But it was mostly really aggravating to read. So many of the descriptions were unnecessary and over the top. Ex. instead of saying she ate an omelet at breakfast, we're treated to sentences like:
"Mmmmmm," she said, as she tasted her omelet stuffed with perfectly cooked onion, green pepper, zucchini, chopped tomato, and mild, creamy chevre cheese and bit into the bistro's signature poppy roll slathered with homemade strawberry comfiture.
THAT'S ONE SENTENCE.
So much of it made me want to stop and rewrite it instead of getting lost in the story. It felt like the author(s) were aggressively showing off every bit of research they did in every way - from constant famous name dropping, to food and location and history, character backstories (which were often ultimately not important??), tech, and all. WE GET IT, YOU DID RESEARCH. It ended up reading like they're shoving every single thing down your throat instead of creating a natural setting.
And somehow Jackie managed to be both great at everything yet inexperienced at everything. Some of it made sense, some of it was just convenient, and just about any real tension, mystery, or foreshadowing was always over explained or blatantly pointed out. So much time was spent explaining and in thought processes that it slowed everything down. By thew last few chapters, I was full on skipping down paragraphs (which I literally never do) so I could finish faster...
There were some good bits of action, humor, and character, and implausible spy stuff worthy of a Hollywood movie, so it truly wasn't completely terrible - if it could be edited some more it honestly would improve it by a good star and a half. There's a fun story buried in a lot of mundane nonsense. 🤷♀️
But it was mostly really aggravating to read. So many of the descriptions were unnecessary and over the top. Ex. instead of saying she ate an omelet at breakfast, we're treated to sentences like:
"Mmmmmm," she said, as she tasted her omelet stuffed with perfectly cooked onion, green pepper, zucchini, chopped tomato, and mild, creamy chevre cheese and bit into the bistro's signature poppy roll slathered with homemade strawberry comfiture.
THAT'S ONE SENTENCE.
So much of it made me want to stop and rewrite it instead of getting lost in the story. It felt like the author(s) were aggressively showing off every bit of research they did in every way - from constant famous name dropping, to food and location and history, character backstories (which were often ultimately not important??), tech, and all. WE GET IT, YOU DID RESEARCH. It ended up reading like they're shoving every single thing down your throat instead of creating a natural setting.
And somehow Jackie managed to be both great at everything yet inexperienced at everything. Some of it made sense, some of it was just convenient, and just about any real tension, mystery, or foreshadowing was always over explained or blatantly pointed out. So much time was spent explaining and in thought processes that it slowed everything down. By thew last few chapters, I was full on skipping down paragraphs (which I literally never do) so I could finish faster...
There were some good bits of action, humor, and character, and implausible spy stuff worthy of a Hollywood movie, so it truly wasn't completely terrible - if it could be edited some more it honestly would improve it by a good star and a half. There's a fun story buried in a lot of mundane nonsense. 🤷♀️
February 8, 2021
Pure entertainment! The premise may be far-fetched, but fun to imagine. The racecourse scene is hysterically funny, and there are other humorous scenes as well. Russian thugs, an assassin, and two MI-6 agents are all after Jackie, but she thwarts them all with the help of a sexy French photographer/CIA informant and spy who calls her “Jacque-LEEN”. (Sigh.)
The two authors (Ken Salikof and Maxine Schnall) capture the mood in America and Paris during the 1950s (replete with cigarettes and booze), the growing menace of the Cold War, and the incestuous relationship between politics and society life in Washington, D.C. I.e., young and ambitious Yale and Harvard grads recruited by alums already in high positions in the federal government, the grads marrying debutantes with society connections. (Think “The Good Shepherd”, starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie.)
Along the way, the reader is supplied with interesting details about the real Jackie’s family and upbringing. There is a fair amount of name-dropping, because her family had Connections with a capital C. Jackie is the epitome of Class and Style, her brains and beauty the icing on the cake. Jackie may have majored in French literature at Vassar, but she also has a world-class knowledge of art history and dance. Great fun to read.
The two authors (Ken Salikof and Maxine Schnall) capture the mood in America and Paris during the 1950s (replete with cigarettes and booze), the growing menace of the Cold War, and the incestuous relationship between politics and society life in Washington, D.C. I.e., young and ambitious Yale and Harvard grads recruited by alums already in high positions in the federal government, the grads marrying debutantes with society connections. (Think “The Good Shepherd”, starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie.)
Along the way, the reader is supplied with interesting details about the real Jackie’s family and upbringing. There is a fair amount of name-dropping, because her family had Connections with a capital C. Jackie is the epitome of Class and Style, her brains and beauty the icing on the cake. Jackie may have majored in French literature at Vassar, but she also has a world-class knowledge of art history and dance. Great fun to read.
June 18, 2017
I agree with a lot of other reviews in that this book does a lot of "telling" instead of "showing." There were so many instances where the authors explained a moment of foreshadowing or a subtle connection between characters or events outright, not giving the chance for the reader to figure it out for themselves, which I think really ruined what is one of the rewarding experiences of reading a new piece of literature.
While the name dropping didn't annoy me as much as it did others (although sometimes it was frustrating to stop in the middle of a page and Google who exactly the authors were talking about), what did annoy me was the main character's perfection. Society already has this image of Jackie Kennedy as the perfect woman. Just think of Camelot. So it would have been nice to see a different side to her and a few character flaws. After all, no one is perfect.
While the name dropping didn't annoy me as much as it did others (although sometimes it was frustrating to stop in the middle of a page and Google who exactly the authors were talking about), what did annoy me was the main character's perfection. Society already has this image of Jackie Kennedy as the perfect woman. Just think of Camelot. So it would have been nice to see a different side to her and a few character flaws. After all, no one is perfect.
July 28, 2022
I needed something light after reading an intense book, and this fit the bill. It's a well-written novel casting Jackie Bouvier as a CIA spy. There are several over-the-top, improbable scenes, but I just went with them and enjoyed the story. This is well-paced and the Paris setting made it even more enjoyable.
December 4, 2020
Don't waste your time on this one.
August 28, 2022
It sounds so true!
April 18, 2024
This was a fun read with Jackie O.
October 4, 2012
2.5 Stars. Jackie Kennedy is a legendary icon of style, fashion, and class. But what if a young Jacqueline Lee Bouvier had been able to leverage her natural grace, poise, and societal connections into the life of a secret agent? That possibility may not be as far-fetched is it might seem at first blush, as Maxine Kenneth (the writing team of Maxine Schnall and Ken Salikof) takes an actual letter from the JFK Library, wherein Jackie reveals she received an offer of employment from the newly-formed CIA, and imagines what might have happened if she'd said yes. Blending actual history with the intriguing supposition of Jackie working as a spy, Paris To Die For is the story of her first mission -- facilitating the straightforward defection of a high-level Russian asset. But when the mission goes sideways, the inexperienced Jackie finds herself alone in Paris, unsure whom to trust, caught in a quickly-closing web of danger and intrigue.
The concept behind Paris To Die For is a fascinating one, replete with dramatic and nostalgic possibilities (this concept is tailor-made for fans of the short-lived television series Pan Am). The authors do a serviceable job of presenting the youthful Jackie as a woman longing to make her mark on the world, dreaming of more than life as "just" a society wife, longing to explore the increasing options available to women in a post-war world. The novel touches on Jackie's short engagement to John Husted, the complicated family dynamics attendant with her parents' divorce and mother's subsequent remarriage, and her idolization of her notorious father, "Black Jack" Bouvier -- suggesting the latter may be responsible for some of her maverick tendencies, carefully hidden beneath the veneer of social respectability. The Jackie presented here is a younger version of the woman immortalized as the First Lady of the Camelot White House -- passionate about art, literature, and film, unafraid to explore her creative side and in so doing become a style icon.
Placing such an iconic figure in the romance of 1950s Paris, with a dash of early Cold War political tensions, should be a foolproof recipe for success. Sadly this novel falls short on that front. While all the puzzle pieces are present necessary to create a frothy, engaging slice of alternate history -- a glamorous heroine, a glittering, romantic backdrop, high stakes games of espionage -- the end result falls flat rather than fizzling like the bubbles in champagne. The narrative falls all too often into the "showing versus telling" trap, opting to tell. us. EVERYTHING. rather than let events unfold in an organic -- and therefore more engaging -- manner. The narrative is regularly bogged down by information dumps, pages of recaps at the height of life-or-death moments, paragraphs of description instead of dialogue or action sequences propelling the plot forward. And perhaps most grating of all is the authors' tendency to name-drop. I get the temptation of having a pre-Kennedy Jackie meet famous individuals in her youth, like Audrey Hepburn or the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. One or two anecdotes can enliven the narrative, but after the fourth or fifth occurrence -- followed by the reveal that (SPOILER) a pre-James Bond Ian Fleming is involved -- by that point the any charm in the encounters has become ridiculous and contrived.
While Paris To Die For possesses a charming concept, its execution in the Schnall/Salikof debut leaves much to be desired with its plodding prose and over-reliance on forcing famous names into the narrative. There's promise in this concept, though, and since I have the sequel -- Spy in a Little Black Dress -- waiting on my Kindle thanks to NetGalley, I'll give this series a second chance. The promise of Jackie dating JFK at the behest of the CIA is fairly irresistible... :)
The concept behind Paris To Die For is a fascinating one, replete with dramatic and nostalgic possibilities (this concept is tailor-made for fans of the short-lived television series Pan Am). The authors do a serviceable job of presenting the youthful Jackie as a woman longing to make her mark on the world, dreaming of more than life as "just" a society wife, longing to explore the increasing options available to women in a post-war world. The novel touches on Jackie's short engagement to John Husted, the complicated family dynamics attendant with her parents' divorce and mother's subsequent remarriage, and her idolization of her notorious father, "Black Jack" Bouvier -- suggesting the latter may be responsible for some of her maverick tendencies, carefully hidden beneath the veneer of social respectability. The Jackie presented here is a younger version of the woman immortalized as the First Lady of the Camelot White House -- passionate about art, literature, and film, unafraid to explore her creative side and in so doing become a style icon.
Placing such an iconic figure in the romance of 1950s Paris, with a dash of early Cold War political tensions, should be a foolproof recipe for success. Sadly this novel falls short on that front. While all the puzzle pieces are present necessary to create a frothy, engaging slice of alternate history -- a glamorous heroine, a glittering, romantic backdrop, high stakes games of espionage -- the end result falls flat rather than fizzling like the bubbles in champagne. The narrative falls all too often into the "showing versus telling" trap, opting to tell. us. EVERYTHING. rather than let events unfold in an organic -- and therefore more engaging -- manner. The narrative is regularly bogged down by information dumps, pages of recaps at the height of life-or-death moments, paragraphs of description instead of dialogue or action sequences propelling the plot forward. And perhaps most grating of all is the authors' tendency to name-drop. I get the temptation of having a pre-Kennedy Jackie meet famous individuals in her youth, like Audrey Hepburn or the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. One or two anecdotes can enliven the narrative, but after the fourth or fifth occurrence -- followed by the reveal that (SPOILER) a pre-James Bond Ian Fleming is involved -- by that point the any charm in the encounters has become ridiculous and contrived.
While Paris To Die For possesses a charming concept, its execution in the Schnall/Salikof debut leaves much to be desired with its plodding prose and over-reliance on forcing famous names into the narrative. There's promise in this concept, though, and since I have the sequel -- Spy in a Little Black Dress -- waiting on my Kindle thanks to NetGalley, I'll give this series a second chance. The promise of Jackie dating JFK at the behest of the CIA is fairly irresistible... :)
May 30, 2012
Basically, this book was just fun. It was exactly what it was supposed to be; a bit cheesy, a bit mysterious, and a bit retro. The basis, of course, is slightly ridiculous. As much as we love to imagine our debutantes have secret lives and secret goals the thought that a young Jacqueline Bouvier was in the CIA in 1951 is sort of stupid. And that they would send her on a mission to Paris with no training and no notice. But, who cares. I didn't want realism, I wanted to be amused.
'Paris to Die For' takes place in the early fifties. Jackie Bouvier has just graduated from a smattering of fabulous colleges (Vassar, the Sorbonne in exchange through Smith, and George Washington), she's had her debut and is lauded in the press for her classic look and grace, and she's bored with dating John Husted who her mother wants her to marry. So when Allen Dulles invites her to help out the fledgling CIA by cozying up to a Russian defector in Paris she jumps at the change. But, naturally, it's not as simple as all that and as the bodies start piling up Jackie must turn to her only contact in the City of Lights, a dashing photographer named Jacques Rivage. Through in an overzealous assassin, the displaced Princess of a small Middle Eastern country, a pair of annoying British hangers on, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and you have a simmering pot of just plain fun.
There were, of course, the moments that were just too precious. Such as, for instance, when Jackie, escaping her would be assassin, enters the House of Dior and runs into a waifish Belgian model named Audrey Hepburn. Or when she visits the bathroom at the Cinematheque Francaise and runs into Truffaut waxing poetic about Hitchcock. Yes, we get it, and there were bound to be these interludes, but they continually left me groaning. Especially Ian Fleming.
This book isn't going to be winning any awards, it's not going to change your life. It's not even especially that good, but that's not really the point, now is it? It was a quick read, fun for a little while. A great beach read. I may pick up the sequel, 'Spy in a Little Black Dress', but it wont rush to the top of my list.
'Paris to Die For' takes place in the early fifties. Jackie Bouvier has just graduated from a smattering of fabulous colleges (Vassar, the Sorbonne in exchange through Smith, and George Washington), she's had her debut and is lauded in the press for her classic look and grace, and she's bored with dating John Husted who her mother wants her to marry. So when Allen Dulles invites her to help out the fledgling CIA by cozying up to a Russian defector in Paris she jumps at the change. But, naturally, it's not as simple as all that and as the bodies start piling up Jackie must turn to her only contact in the City of Lights, a dashing photographer named Jacques Rivage. Through in an overzealous assassin, the displaced Princess of a small Middle Eastern country, a pair of annoying British hangers on, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and you have a simmering pot of just plain fun.
There were, of course, the moments that were just too precious. Such as, for instance, when Jackie, escaping her would be assassin, enters the House of Dior and runs into a waifish Belgian model named Audrey Hepburn. Or when she visits the bathroom at the Cinematheque Francaise and runs into Truffaut waxing poetic about Hitchcock. Yes, we get it, and there were bound to be these interludes, but they continually left me groaning. Especially Ian Fleming.
This book isn't going to be winning any awards, it's not going to change your life. It's not even especially that good, but that's not really the point, now is it? It was a quick read, fun for a little while. A great beach read. I may pick up the sequel, 'Spy in a Little Black Dress', but it wont rush to the top of my list.
August 1, 2013
I mean, really, how could I not be pulled into a book in which chapter one begins, “Jacqueline Lee Bouvier wasn’t exactly dressed for discovering a corpse.”? A big fan of the James Bond novels with their suspense and dry wit, and various motion picture romps through Paris and other European capitals (think Hitchcock films; think Hepburn and Grant)I found this book – the first of two novels starring the intrepid, Givenchy-clad, Chanel 5-scented pre-JFK Jacqueline – in possession of all those elements and an excellent plot to boot.
The adventure, not to mention the romantic tension between Jacques and Jacqueline (he pronounces her name Jacque-LEEN, which I love) had me staying up late en route to the back cover. I love that Jackie’s fancy was captured by Jacques, and that Jack (F. Kennedy) was just entering the picture (though of course I knew, smugly, that, in real life, she’d marry him eventually…). So many jacks-of-hearts!
This book was outrageously satisfying to me, and cleverly woven with real-people characters of that time frame, including a young Francois Truffaut. I loved the descriptions of the Paris setting and the inclusions of some French in the dialogue. In fact, the only bad thing about the book was that it ended too quickly. But I’m still chuckling over the line, “As terrifying as being chased by the assassin had been, the exercise had proven to be a serendipitous calorie burner.” Oh, Jackie, you’ve made my daily workout class seem très boring!
The adventure, not to mention the romantic tension between Jacques and Jacqueline (he pronounces her name Jacque-LEEN, which I love) had me staying up late en route to the back cover. I love that Jackie’s fancy was captured by Jacques, and that Jack (F. Kennedy) was just entering the picture (though of course I knew, smugly, that, in real life, she’d marry him eventually…). So many jacks-of-hearts!
This book was outrageously satisfying to me, and cleverly woven with real-people characters of that time frame, including a young Francois Truffaut. I loved the descriptions of the Paris setting and the inclusions of some French in the dialogue. In fact, the only bad thing about the book was that it ended too quickly. But I’m still chuckling over the line, “As terrifying as being chased by the assassin had been, the exercise had proven to be a serendipitous calorie burner.” Oh, Jackie, you’ve made my daily workout class seem très boring!
January 13, 2012
I can't beleieve I read the whole thing. Well read is a stretch. I actually skimmed it as fast as my eyes would move. I think it was meant to be an elegant, high spirited Audrey Hepburnesque romp, but it was more of a stumble than a romp. The writing was bad, the story line ridiculous in a not good way and Jackie herself comes across as vain, pretentious and a bit dim.
Here's a few examples:
"By day, the bustling station was filled with the bittersweet romance of lovers parting and the unbound joy of lovers reuniting."
"The large space was filled with the kind of lonliness that arises like a miasma from the collective weariness of travellers anxious to return home."
"His adoring gaze travelled like an arrow down deep to her very core."
And the first two are even in the same paragraph!
I'm trying to analyze why I stuck with it. In a moment of weakness I paid full price. I couldn't believe that something like that was actually published (it actually made me consider writing a mystery). It was a bit like watching an accidnt unfold and not being able to close your eyes. But I have no real excuse.
Here's a few examples:
"By day, the bustling station was filled with the bittersweet romance of lovers parting and the unbound joy of lovers reuniting."
"The large space was filled with the kind of lonliness that arises like a miasma from the collective weariness of travellers anxious to return home."
"His adoring gaze travelled like an arrow down deep to her very core."
And the first two are even in the same paragraph!
I'm trying to analyze why I stuck with it. In a moment of weakness I paid full price. I couldn't believe that something like that was actually published (it actually made me consider writing a mystery). It was a bit like watching an accidnt unfold and not being able to close your eyes. But I have no real excuse.
August 25, 2011
I gave this book 3 stars because I thought the overall premise of Jacqueline Bouvier being a part-time CIA operative was quite interesting. That said, I feel the author Maxine Kenneth could have done much more with this book. For example, she portrays Jackie as a pampered rich girl who is approached by her stepfather's friend (who happened to be the head of the CIA) with an opportunity to travel to Paris on a mission, because of her looks and fashion sense, to be a bit shallow. Also, though Kenneth admits to her main characters intellect and ability to think quickly on her feet when presented with a deadly situation, the reader is made to feel as if this all was accidental. And lastly, Jackie is portrayed as more concerned about when her French contact will bed her than being involved in a dangerous situation that could get her killed.
That said, I do have to admit that I enjoyed the majority of this book, as it described the various areas of Paris, gave some insight of how the rich of the 1950s entertained, and a glimpse of how the world of counter-intelligence works.
That said, I do have to admit that I enjoyed the majority of this book, as it described the various areas of Paris, gave some insight of how the rich of the 1950s entertained, and a glimpse of how the world of counter-intelligence works.
March 19, 2012
"Paris to Die For" is fun, sassy, fast-paced intrigue laced with people, places and things that were unique to 1950's Paris seen through the eyes of two protagonists that keep you guessing from start to finish. A young, pre-First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier is cleverly conceived and portrayed as the woman the reader can imagine she would have been and certainly the woman the young Senator Kennedy would have fallen for. But the relationship between Jacqueline and the charming and complex character of her handsome cohort in Paris suggested that history might have been rewritten if a certain twist in their fate hadn't ultimately sent them in different directions. This story focuses on their spy games and brushes with disaster while keeping a keen eye on the detail of a post-war Paris. All in all, it's a great read and the sequel looks just as interesting as Ms. Bouvier's journey continues in Havana.
August 17, 2011
Overall, I really did like it. Its cleverly written, but some things are slightly built up and not as satisfactorily resolved as you may like, but knowing that you need to preserve the character of Jackie Bouvier, I understand. I mean, she was a real person! I do like that she met a few famous people throughout the story in some very clever ways. At some points, didnt like that she was so obviously "blond", but made up for it overall. I can totally see this book being made into a movie and I can totally see myself watching and enjoying it!
There is a sequel which put me off slight. I think that one book would have been enough, with it ending at a point in history that we already know the continuation of. Dont think I'll read the sequel but great book overall. A fun read!
There is a sequel which put me off slight. I think that one book would have been enough, with it ending at a point in history that we already know the continuation of. Dont think I'll read the sequel but great book overall. A fun read!
November 2, 2011
I love Paris in the springtime. And I love this book, which takes place in Paris in the spring of 1951. Its main character is a 21-year-old Jacqueline Bouvier, and she makes for quite a resourceful heroine. Apparently, Jackie really had the chance to go to work for the CIA after she graduated from college, and Ms. Kenneth really takes this premise and runs with it. Jackie spends a lot of the novel on the run from one glamorous Paris location to the next. It's like taking a Paris vacation without having to leave your living room. Jackie rubs shoulders with a lot of famous people and gets in and out of a lot of trouble. The book ends with a couple of real surprises, and paves the way for the sequel, which will be out next year. I can't wait to read it!
October 7, 2011
A premise as elegant as its protagonist.
I thought that what makes this book so remarkable is its high concept. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was a young woman with the right background, family connections and milieu to have been recruited to spy for the CIA.
After all, Jackie was the "Girl Photographer" for the Washington Post, as well as an interpreter for the UN - positions that she was patronized for, yet they would have made the perfect background/cover for the work that this novel suggests.
I don't normally think this way but I did spend time wondering who would play her in the movie. It would be a very different role than the usual Jackie-in-the-White House thing.
I thought that what makes this book so remarkable is its high concept. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was a young woman with the right background, family connections and milieu to have been recruited to spy for the CIA.
After all, Jackie was the "Girl Photographer" for the Washington Post, as well as an interpreter for the UN - positions that she was patronized for, yet they would have made the perfect background/cover for the work that this novel suggests.
I don't normally think this way but I did spend time wondering who would play her in the movie. It would be a very different role than the usual Jackie-in-the-White House thing.
December 16, 2011
I'd give this 1.5 stars. This book was not good. I'm a huge Jackie fan and have read about the CIA links before. I can even believe them. But I cannot imagine her saying or thinking a word of this book. After pretending the main character is just girl X the book is still lacking. Some of the mystery is not mystery at all and other parts are just who cares. Honestly, there was a lot of skimming at the end. Dan Brown and Jack Paterson this is not. I will not be reading the next installment even though I was slightly intrigued as JFK will be a character. I am really disappointed.
March 20, 2012
God bless my book club for making me read pieces of shit like this. I'm completely convinced that these two authors (my god, the thought that it took two people to achieve such heights of idiocy) made up their rather illustrious-sounding bios. I don't know what makes me bristle more, the tossed-in bits of italicized French ("plats de fruits de mer"), the dopey name-dropping, the gross inconsistencies in character portrayal or the weird anachronism in the characters' mindsets. In any case, best used for kindling.
October 8, 2012
More credible than "Spy in a Little Black Dress". I like this story more than the sequel. A great way to start off this concept. Of course, the premise that before she became the first lady, Jackie was a CIA Operative is just outlandish. That's what makes the story so fun. I still find it so out of character, that it is ridiculous, but that is when you are supposed to suspend your preconceived notions and just go with the story. It is a fun ride as you stumble your way through history, meeting many famous persons. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
November 3, 2011
My wife and I visited Paris a couple of years ago for her 50th birthday. She saw this book recently and bought it, not knowing what to expect. She loved it and then urged me to read it. I was a little reluctant, thinking it was more of a woman's book. But after starting it, I literally couldn't put it down. Lots of great Paris imagery, lots of twists and turns – and lots of fun. I highly recommend Paris To Die For. My wife and I are now planning our next trip to Paris.
March 23, 2012
What a ludicrous idea for a book. So bad on every level. The characters were grating and the mystery-centric storyline bored me to tears. I read the entire book and I still wouldn't be able to explain to you how it concluded (besides the unnecessary and numerous jabs about Jack Kennedy being a womanizer). We get it. Also, do we really need a book where the two main characters are named Jackie and Jacques? Couldn't have picked any other french name?
May 30, 2012
Was a little disappointed with the ending. Fairly predictable and campy - sexual tension between two lead characters was very prevalent throughout the story and then never brought to fruition. (I mean, I know that's how it goes in "real life", but I didn't like it happening that way in my novel.)
Really loved every other aspect of this book, though I don't know if I'll read the next one. Might read again after my trip to France so that I can better recognize all the settings in the book.
Really loved every other aspect of this book, though I don't know if I'll read the next one. Might read again after my trip to France so that I can better recognize all the settings in the book.
October 14, 2011
One of the worst books I've ever read. It is completely unrealistic, lacks subtlety, drops names right and left, and condescends the reader by explaining every little thing. The book is nothing but an excuse for the author to show off her mediocre knowledge of Paris. It reads like it was written by a high school French student. The only reason I'm still reading is because I paid $9.99 for it.
October 15, 2011
The premise was soooooo promising. Unfortunately it fell flat throughout. Jackie is portrayed as more concerned about when her French contact will bed her than her life being in danger. She bumbles through from one narrow escape to another. It was painful to keep reading truthfully and the story is strung out like a scavenger hunt. I am so disappointed.
November 23, 2011
What a page-turning, breezy read! Paris in the 1950's and an iconic, pre-Kennedy Jackie Bouvier dabbling in adventure. Don't look too deeply, just immerse yourself in the time and place, the glamour and style, and you will have a good time. I'm baffled by some of the more hostile reviews of this book. It's fun!
January 25, 2012
Enchanting Read. Reading this book is like being on an exciting and dangerous trip through Paris. I couldn't put it down. The fascinating, yet relatable, characters, the marvelous descriptions of every location, and the unexpected twists kept me on the edge of my seat. Filled with intrigue, romance, travel and excitement PARIS TO DIE FOR has something for everyone. Very enjoyable!
March 10, 2012
The one thing I really didn't like was the incessant (and most of the time inane) name dropping. That said, the story was entertaining enough and if I forgot entirely that the protagonist was supposed to be Jackie O. I liked her too. Definitely not more than a two-star book... but that doesn't mean I'm not going to read the next one.
March 21, 2012
Usually pretty entertaining, with a lot of fluff and some forced dialogue in between. I admit, I started skimming a bit towards the end. I had higher hopes for this one, but I guess the cover should have given it away when I first saw it on a shelf. You'll enjoy the allusions and the celebrities, though the story's a bit lacking.
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