Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black

The latest offering in Cara Black’s Aimee Leduc series takes place in the 5th arrondissement of Paris and, as in all the titles in this series, Paris itself is as much a character as security expert and investigator, Aimee Leduc.  If the reader has visited Paris, Black’s maps and descriptions will bring a Parisian’s eye to the little café where you stopped for coffee after wandering aimlessly through the narrow streets of Latin Quarter or remind you of the peculiar light breaking off the Seine at night.  If you’ve never been to Europe’s most romantic city, these books will give you an intimate look at the Paris tourists don’t see. 

In Murder in the Latin Quarter, Leduc, searching for a woman claiming to be her sister, becomes involved the Paris’ Haitian community, political corruption, and, of course, murder. Unfortunately, the book does not live up to its promise. The mystery doesn’t quite take off, the characters are blurred or formulaic, and Black has her protagonist tearing through Paris streets and alleys in a confusing tangle of chase scenes and suppressed emotions.  Clouding the already obscure plot is Aimee’s relationship with her godfather and her ongoing search for information about the mother who abandoned her. 

The series itself is worth the read.  The earlier books introduce a range of brilliantly drawn criminals and a set of returning characters both sympathetic and interesting. By the time you get to Murder in the Latin Quarter, keeping up with the travails and loves of Aimee Leduc will have become so addictive you’ll forgive Black this less than stellar outing.

Vicky – York                             ISBN  9781569475416