Murder in Pigalle by Cara Black

Reviewed by Kristin

Aimee Leduc Investigation series spoiler alert—Aimee had a major life circumstance change at the end of Murder Below Montparnasse.  Murder in Pigalle (and any single title in this series) could be read as a stand-alone, but if you prefer to read series in order, don’t read this review!  (Review of Murder Below Montparnasse here:  http://bristol-library-bookblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/murder-below-montparnasse-by-cara-black.html )

Private Investigator Aimee Leduc is back in Murder in Pigalle.  With her life changing circumstances revealed at the end of the last book, Aimee is trying to adapt her fast paced career to the physical limitation of being five months pregnant.  Aimee is drawn into an investigation through her young friend Zazie when a series of young girls are attacked.  Zazie wants to imitate Aimee by investigating the crimes, even at the risk of peril to herself.  When Zazie disappears, her frantic parents implore Aimee to help, even as the police refuse to consider the 13-year-old a missing person before 24 hours have passed.  Because a child is involved, Aimee cannot say no.

While searching for Zazie, Aimee takes more risks than she should.  Not only does she have to be concerned with her own safety, but with that of her unborn child.  Nevertheless, Aimee is compelled by her budding maternal instinct to do whatever she can to find Zazie.  Between morning sickness, worrying about fitting into her clothes and the bad guys with guns, Aimee has her hands full.

Aimee’s business partner Rene is more than willing to do whatever he can to keep Aimee out of danger.  Rene shows his devotion by printing baby information and accompanying Aimee to her doctor’s appointments.  Of course Rene pushes past the physical discomfort of his disabilities to be there for Aimee, no matter the cost.  Despite the repetitive nature of Rene’s mooning over Aimee, I think that most readers will feel sympathy for him as he pursues what may be an impossible dream; I just can’t imagine a scenario where Aimee actually falls in love with him.

Aimee also must deal with the father of her child, Melac, whom she has been ignoring for months as he continues to deal with his ex-wife and ill daughter.  Once he does discover that Aimee is carrying his child, Melac believes that he can whisk Aimee away to the countryside and live a fairytale life.  Aimee, however, chafes at the thought of leaving Paris and her detective agency.  One of Aimee’s most delightful qualities is her independence amidst the beauty and the grittiness of Paris, so I cannot see her settling down to a quiet life in the country.

This is a fast moving tale with the story spread over only a few days.  Black has once again written a captivating story that draws in the reader and pulls them along through the adventure.  I always enjoy seeing the neighborhoods of Paris through Aimee’s eyes, and can almost feel the cobblestones under my feet and smell the pleasant odors wafting out of the cafes.  I’m not sure that Pigalle would be on the top of my list for scenic Parisian locales, because it has a bit of a dangerous reputation as an edgy area, perhaps a place where tourists might take in a risqué show.  I was surprised that the parents of the young girls in this book allowed their children to walk in this district at night, therefore putting them in danger.  I will just have to put my American cultural differences aside and sigh “c’est la vie” theatrically, and continue reading the Aimee Leduc adventures as soon as each one is published.

Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black

Reviewed by Kristin

Set in Paris in 1998, Murder Below Montparnasse is the thirteenth installment in the Aimee Leduc series.  Private investigator Aimee Leduc carries on the detecting family tradition, as did her father and grandfather before her.  The series is sprinkled with French phrases and flavors of particular Parisian neighborhoods.  Loyal readers can always count on Aimee to throw on a little black dress, a Hermes scarf, or disguising sunglasses, hop on her Vespa, and zip down the cobblestones of centuries-old Paris streets.

Russian Yuri Volodya calls Aimee to ask for protection for what may be a priceless Modigliani painting.  Before she can see him, Yuri is dead and the painting is missing.  Aimee embarks on an investigation to see if the painting actually exists, and what its significance may be.  Just a little hint: the Modigliani represents a bit of Soviet history that some Russians might prefer forgotten.

Aimee’s business partner and best friend, Rene Friant, has jetted off to Silicon Valley riding on the excitement of the dot com explosion.  Rene quickly finds out that America is a strange and different country, from their eating habits to the long distances that Americans are accustomed to navigating.  Rene has a little excitement himself, departing America in an unexpected manner and returning to Paris to set right what he had unknowingly set amiss.

As always, Aimee is tracking down hints of her long-gone mother, who left when Aimee was only eight years old.  Aimee is continually drawn into investigations throughout the series where she hopes to find her American-born mother.

Online reviews of Murder Below Montparnasse were mixed. Some reviewers felt that the first half of the book dragged on but was redeemed by the faster moving second half.  I enjoyed the story and figured out bits and pieces of the coming revelations.  Because the story is set in the not-too-distant past, it was interesting to read references to cutting edge technology, such as a prototype flash drive.

Although a bit predictable, the ending of the book reveals a story arc twist that will probably change Aimee’s life.

If you’re new to Cara Black’s books and would like to start at the beginning of the Aimee Leduc series, Murder in the Marais is the first title.