Murder in the Latin Quarter (Aimee Leduc Investigations, No. 9)

It is always a joy to re-visit Paris with stylish sleuth Aimee Leduc. I can see the buildings and characters she describes perfectly in my mind's eye. In this book, Aimee is visted by a woman who says she is her sister from Haiti and the chase never lets up from there. But who is chasing whom? I found this one of the most exciting and intriging Leduc mysteries. My curiousity was always up and I delayed reading the ending for a few days which I like to do when I am really enjoying a book. I have read all the Leduc books and always find Aimee an interesting combination of chic and strength.

Très chic Aimée Leduc is the most overdressed private investigator ever to prowl the backstreets of Paris. Although wearing stylish heels and haute couture, she knows every secret place where the underworld hides. From the catacombs below to the laboratories above, there is no way to escape from France's ultimate sleuth. What starts out as an ordinary day takes an unexpected turn for the worse when a striking woman name Mireille breathlessly enters Aimée's office. Despite her better judgment, Aimée reluctantly agrees to hear her out, primarily to satisfy her own curiosity. Little did she know Mireille's shocking connection to her past would frightfully unleash Aimée's most terrifying and personal case to date. Just as quickly as Mireille reveals her alleged identity, she vanishes into the streets sending Aimée on a wild goose chase. With unanswered questions and a thread of hope, Aimée agrees to a secret rendezvous, not realizing she's walked into a trap. With only seconds to spare, Aimée barely escapes leaving an unidentified murdered victim behind and her own safety at risk. Why has this mysterious woman put Aimée's life on the line? Is she truly an innocent victim or has Aimée fallen prey to the mastermind of evil? Léonie Obin is running out of time. She knows that her involvement with the Haitian Trade Delegation has its risks, but it's worth the price if it will save her people of Haiti. The clock is ticking as the world awaits the findings of the renowned scientist, Professor Benoît, who unbeknownst to the ladies holds both their futures in his hands. MURDER IN THE LATIN QUARTER is the ninth installment of Cara Black's highly acclaimed Aimée Leduc Investigation series. Through her vivid descriptions and command of the French culture, Black takes the reader to places only a real patriot should know. With nail-biting scenes of suspense peppered with unexpected twist and turns, Black's latest release is nothing shy of magnifique!

Fascinating geography & history. Gripping plot so far. Haven't finished it yet. I need to tell my out-of-towners to go home.

I haven't been to Paris in several years but Murder in the Latin Quarter took me there again. All the Parisian atmosphere the sounds, texures and intriguing story pulled me in. This shows another side to the ancient Latin Quarter that's rarely explored and I loved this fresh take on the Sorbonne and the intellectual elite. Aimée Leduc's a modern Parisienne hip, yet vulnerable, and I loved the personal side of her story. It made the story come alive even more and she's a great character, human, chic and with faults I can relate to...especially the bad boys!

In 1997 the world remains stunned with the recent death of Princess Di; especially shook is Paris where the car accident occurred. Soon after the tragedy, illegal Haitian Mireille enters the office of private investigator Aimee Leduc proclaiming they are half sisters; having the same biological father Jean-Claude; her mother was tortured and murdered soon after giving birth by Duvalier's thugs. Aimee still grieving the recent death of her fiance (see Murder in the Rue de Paradis) needs to know if the woman is pulling a sham and why or is she telling her the truth. Soon after her stunning proclamation, Mirelle vanishes. She leaves behind an odd mysterious note with an address in the Latin Quarter. Aimee goes there to learn what she can about her maybe half sister. She finds the building houses an anatomy research facility that includes a corpse of a black male missing an ear who she learns is Professor Azacca Benot. Others associated with the late professor are also murdered while a Haitian trade delegation argue over a water deal with a French company. This is an excellent entry in one of the best series around as the tale plays out on multiple fronts to include the Mireille mystery, the impact of economic globalization colliding with post-colonial nationalism politics and their convergence at the homicide of a Haitian expatriate professor in the Left Bank. The story line is vintage Leduc as she desperately seeks her missing maybe sister to learn whether they truly are siblings. Though for the most par her sleuthing partner Rene plays an even lesser role than usual, Cara Black provides a strong look at late 1999s Paris where the past and the then present crash resulting in MURDER IN THE LATIN QUARTER. Harriet Klausner