The Messenger

A Novel

Megan Davis

A stylish, mind-racing literary thriller set in the dark heart of Paris, by a break-out new talent in crime fiction.

After moving back to Paris to live with his French dad, Alex Giraud is struggling to fit in among the kids of the rich elite at his exclusive school and he feels stifled by the expectations of his overbearing father. Eddy Giraud used to be one of the most fearless journalists in Paris, but his professional and personal disappointments have made him a cynical, opportunistic man who has little patience for his son’s lack of ambition.

Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere at home, Alex seeks freedom in the French metropolis where his new-found friend Sami teaches him the rules of the street. But everything has a price—and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever. A simple plan for a robbery takes a sinister turn when Alex’s father is found dead.

Despite protesting their innocence, Alex and Sami are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later, Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: discover who really killed his father.

As he searches for answers, Alex is tormented by his sense of guilt for his father (and for Sami) and, as he begins to uncover the truth about his father’s killer, other shocking revelations with far-reaching consequences come to light. Will Alex be able to survive his own personal demons and, after all this time, bring the murderer to justice?

Megan Davis has worked in the film industry and her credits include Atonement, In Bruges, Pride and Prejudice, and the Bourne films. Megan is also a lawyer at Spotlight on Corruption. Her debut The Messenger, won the Bridport Prize for a first unpublished novel, judged by Kamila Shamsie, as well as the Lucy Cavendish Prize. She has lived in many places, including France, but now lives in London.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"A conspiracy thriller with strong Catcher in the Rye vibes, The Messenger is so evocatively written it transported me to Paris and tore up my return ticket. A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars." Sunday Times bestselling author Janice Hallett

Praise for The Messenger:

"A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place.” Kamila Shamsie, bestselling author of Home Fire

"An elegantly written, compelling thriller, baked into a rich Paris of riots, sex and excitement. A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets." Dominic Nolan, author fo Vine Street

"Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable.” Elizabeth Macneal, author of Circus of Wonders

"An intelligent, gripping, and stylish literary thriller—I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent.” Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple at the Table

“The Messenger stood out to me for its style and confidence, as well as its compelling portrait of family relations. It is a gripping and cool literary thriller that cleverly manages to be both a why- and who-dunnit.” Lucy Cavendish Prize Judge