Murder in Saint-Germain by Cara Black
| Murder in Saint-Germain by Cara Black | |
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| Category: Crime | |
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Reviewer: Denise Ramsay
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| Summary: This latest offering in the Aimee Leduc series would make for perfect summer reading. Utterly absorbing and ultimately satisfying. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 336 | Date: June 2017 |
| Publisher: Soho Press Inc | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781616957704 | |
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Who is Aimee Leduc? I have to be honest and say that though this novel may be seventeenth in series from the best-selling Cara Black, it is in fact my first outing with the deft Parisienne detective. And so, if I'm honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. How does a character with so many investigations under her belt retain the gusto we've come to expect from all good literary detectives? Moreover, how does an author with so well established a character as Aimee Leduc keep her interesting enough for those of us coming late to the party? After reading Murder in Saint-Germain I would suggest that Black manages it quite easily.
The scene is quickly set with Aimee already immersed in a huge case and juggling the demands of single motherhood with a new baby, when a friend from her past approaches her with the request to help find a dangerous war criminal who may or may not be in Saint-Germain. So far, so formulaic. However, Black writes brilliantly for her character and the resultant wry wit of Aimee matched with her frustration at managing the dull practicalities of every day life soon endear you to this energetic and resourceful woman. I found myself effortlessly settling into the rhythm of the book and felt secure in the hands of an author who clearly knows what they're doing. Though the story does tend to move backwards and forwards between Aimee's multiple investigations, it is never so fast-paced that we can't keep up with the adventure.
I enjoyed Black's portrayal of the multifaceted Leduc and although there was no real twist in the tail so far as the plot was concerned, I quite enjoyed following the progress of the investigation. Black's writing takes on an immersive quality when describing Saint-Germain and this turned out to be the highlight of the book for me. I am not so fortunate as to have visited this wonderful place but after reading this book I feel like I have walked down the Rue Du Louvre and drank espresso in the Jardin Du Luxembourg! The descriptions of Saint-Germain and its populace are rich and plenty and a picture of it emerges like a beautiful watercolour viewed through hazy summer sunshine. Reading at times, I could even feel the sweat on my collar as I held my breath with Aimee in the unyielding heat. These seductive pictures of Saint-Germain alongside the tension of the mystery and nod to unfulfilled domesticity come together like the perfect mille-feuille with layer upon rewarding layer for the reader to digest. My only complaint would be that I wished some of those layers had been explored a little more in depth such as a fuller account of the war criminal's past or the consequences faced by some of the characters as revelations are made. Within the context of a successful series I can see that leaving some questions unanswered is a given - after all, we need somewhere to start for the next book. Nevertheless as a greedy first time reader, I would have liked a fuller overview of events.
I would definitely recommend Murder in Saint-Germain as perfect summer reading, whether you want to read it in the sunshine of your own summer holiday or if like me you want to settle down in your favourite chair and let others do the legwork!
For a more noir Parisian mystery I would recommend Hard-Hearted by David Barrie.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Murder in Saint-Germain by Cara Black at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Murder in Saint-Germain by Cara Black at Amazon.com.
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