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gglazer's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this mystery -- undercover neo-Nazi infiltrators! cool lady detective in Paris! -- but some of the plot twists were too ridiculous to be believed. Still, decent escapist stuff.
ladyofways's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly typical crime story with plenty of beating up the PI and a respectably tightly-knit mystery. The author does a great job of having a badass and simultaneously feminine protagonist, without resorting to rape or damseling to force sympathy and while still holding to traditional noir tropes like the morally dubious love interest. (Can I get away with using "homme fatal" as a phrase? Is that accepted yet?) In any case, I do wish her homme fatal had ever showed up for more than a sex scene or been important to the plot at all.
Unfortunately the characterization fell flat overall, which cheapened the secondary characters' emotional climax, but I did like the handling of Aimée as a female PI. I liked the setting as well (the Marais is one of my favourite districts in Paris) and thought the focus on the aftereffects of the Occupation were cool, although the French she throws liberally around isn't necessarily accurate. I wouldn't turn down the chance to see what she does with the other arrondissements in later books!
Unfortunately the characterization fell flat overall, which cheapened the secondary characters' emotional climax, but I did like the handling of Aimée as a female PI. I liked the setting as well (the Marais is one of my favourite districts in Paris) and thought the focus on the aftereffects of the Occupation were cool, although the French she throws liberally around isn't necessarily accurate. I wouldn't turn down the chance to see what she does with the other arrondissements in later books!
mohogan2063's review against another edition
3.0
Good historical info. The main character never seems to sleep. Her body takes more abuse than the most ferocious prizefighter and keeps on ticking.
missstarlamae's review against another edition
2.0
The book didn't grab me, but it was interesting. Predictable in some places, surprises in another. I am happy I read it.
rkk104's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining. Could have used plot depth in certain places a bit more than others, but it was an interesting read, and I enjoyed the integration of WWII/history. Some of the French felt a bit forced, as if the author was trying to remind us that the novel does indeed take place in Paris. Other than that, I thought the author was witty and creative with the writing.
cdbellomy's review against another edition
2.0
I finished it, but it was tough. It did not keep my interest. I didn't know enough about her to care about her. When she & her partner were working together near the end of the book, it got more intriguing, but why was she suddenly working so closely with her partner? I didn't understand her decision-making.
pescarox's review
2.0
Using the best 90s tech, private detective Aimee Leduc and her partner, dwarf Rene, work to uncover a murder with connections dating back to the Nazi occupation of Paris in the 1940s. Passwords are a little too conveniently cracked and outfits are always awesome, especially on the run, in this Girl With a Dragon Tattoo lite.
thejenstamps's review
3.0
France during WW2 is one of my favorite topics to read about. There are so many stories there that one cannot even think about uncovering them all. While this book does not take place in Nazi occupied France, it does peak into the past of those who lived in Paris during the war and ties the characters and storyline in with modern day (well, 1990's Paris).
The author keeps you entertained throughout. It can be difficult to follow at times with all the characters she introduces, but if you keep with it, it all pieces together fairly nicely (although there are a few loose ends that left me wondering). This is book 1 of (so far) am 18 book detective series. I'm excited to pick up the second book and dive in.
The author keeps you entertained throughout. It can be difficult to follow at times with all the characters she introduces, but if you keep with it, it all pieces together fairly nicely (although there are a few loose ends that left me wondering). This is book 1 of (so far) am 18 book detective series. I'm excited to pick up the second book and dive in.
jgn's review
3.0
One reviewer called Cara Black's detective Aimee Leduc "Kinsey Milhone [Sue Grafton's detective] in Paris," and that has some truth to it. But the canvas here is larger than Grafton's, encompassing French politics and the long hangover of collaboration.
The evocation of everyday life in Paris was ok but maybe a little thin - but what can one expect for the American reader?
There is a lot of computer security forensics in the book, almost all of which was ridiculous, even for 1993 (the setting of the novel). But that was one of the "donnees" of the book, so I'll just accept it as the price of admission.
This was the first one in the series and had a really hard plot -- I hope the later ones are a bit easier to follow. On the other hand, the conclusion was plausible (at least in terms of the mystery). I'm probably going to skip to Murder in the Latin Quarter which seems to have gotten the best reviews. If that one doesn't impress me, then I'll stop reading Black.
The evocation of everyday life in Paris was ok but maybe a little thin - but what can one expect for the American reader?
There is a lot of computer security forensics in the book, almost all of which was ridiculous, even for 1993 (the setting of the novel). But that was one of the "donnees" of the book, so I'll just accept it as the price of admission.
This was the first one in the series and had a really hard plot -- I hope the later ones are a bit easier to follow. On the other hand, the conclusion was plausible (at least in terms of the mystery). I'm probably going to skip to Murder in the Latin Quarter which seems to have gotten the best reviews. If that one doesn't impress me, then I'll stop reading Black.