The Last Dress from Paris

By: Jade Beer

Narrated by: Tamsin Topolski

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The secret is hidden within a collection of Dior dresses...

London, 2017. There’s no one Lucille adores more than her grandmother. So when her beloved Granny Sylvie asks for Lucille’s assistance with a small matter, she’s happy to help. The next thing she knows, Lucille is on a train to Paris, tasked with retrieving a priceless Dior dress. But not everything is as it seems, and what Lucille finds in a small Parisian apartment will have her scouring the city for answers to a question that could change her entire life.

Paris, 1952. Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, Alice’s job is to see and be seen—even if that wasn’t quite what she signed up for. Her husband showers her with jewels, banquets, and couture Dior dresses, but his affection has become distressingly elusive. As the strain on her marriage grows, Alice’s only comfort is her bond with her trusted lady’s maid, Marianne. But when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself yearning to follow her heart...no matter the consequences.

The City of Light comes alive in this lush, evocative tale that explores the ties that bind us together, the truths we hold that make us who we are, and the true meaning of what makes someone family.

©2022 Jade Beer (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Beer peels back layers of the story slowly, keeping readers guessing. For fans of fabulous historical settings with a modern parallel narrative." —Booklist

"A delightful fashion treasure hunt involving some of my favorite Dior gowns made this book a winner for me! The present day and 1950s narratives weave seamlessly together, the dresses dance from the pages, and Paris is resplendently depicted.” — Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret

“After finishing Beer’s latest, it was all I could do to not book the next plane to France and head straight for the House of Dior. Offering a whirlwind tour through Paris, both past and present, the novel is a rich exploration of the power of female friendships and the true meaning of family. Moving and utterly enjoyable." — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

The full package

This book has it all... part mystery, part love story, part historical fiction, part women's fiction, this well-crafted and beautifully written story spans decades of life, love and couture in Paris and in London. The weaving together of these elements creates a delightful and heartwarming tale.

Fun trip to Dior!

Just finished The Last of the Moon Girls, which is now a Favorite! This was great, I’ve just read too many Paris books lately, at least it was different and not WW11 which is running a lot of books together in my memory. Thank you!

Meaningful

It was easy for me to identify the truth of this very complex story.

The Last Dress from Paris

There have been many books written about fashion in Paris. Being that my degree is in fashion and I was a designer and my love of Paris, I have read many of them. This one is a standout. This is more than a story about fashion. If you enjoy plots which go between the past and the present you will enjoy this. I’ve never read a book by this author but I will look forward to others especially if narrated by this exceptional storyteller.

Really enjoyable

This was a good story that was pretty well written. The reader was a little dull but not horrible. I looked up the dresses online and it helped bring them to life for me. I liked it a lot

Loved the story,

Very real and captivating. I loved being in Paris. Narration was excellent and easy to listen to.

Great story!!

I really loved this book! Well done! I enjoyed this complex, interesting story. Very memorable.

An enjoyable listen.

A wonderful story from beginning to end. I enjoyed the pacing and narration as well. It did feel as though the storyline could have happened even prior to the 1950’s.

Fabulous book

Great story, loved this book. Beautiful nod to amazing Dior . Highly recommended to all lovers of a good family story

Amazing Read- narrator fabulous

The story, the narrator and everything about this story is just perfect! One of my very favorites! A must read!!