Praise for Cara Black’s Aimée Leduc series:
“Charming. . . . Aimée is one of those blithe spirits who can... read full description
“Charming. . . . Aimée is one of those blithe spirits who can... read full description
reviews
Dec 16, 2009
Celeste
rated it: 
I approached this book with skepticism after stumbling upon it while shelving books at my volunteer job at the Multnomah County Library (it's practice -- I'm going to library school next fall. YAY NERDS!), and I was pleasantly surprised. After my initial snarky reaction to reading the book jacket -- an American? Writing a mystery novel set in France? With a (half) French heroine? Oh, ce n'est pas vrai! Quel horreur!
But actually, it was quite enjoyable. Fast-paced, engaging, with More...
But actually, it was quite enjoyable. Fast-paced, engaging, with More...
Jun 26, 2011
Nancy
rated it: 
As an avid mystery fan, I relish finding a new series to explore (if one book is good, ten or twenty more might await me!). So, I held out great hope for Black's young Parisian detective, Aimee Leduc.
The one-sentence raves quoted on the book's cover heightened my expectations, but something just didn't click for me. The plot was very complex and I'll confess that I hadn't sorted out who the characters were as I reached the book's final pages. Maybe I wasn't an attentive reader, but I More...
The one-sentence raves quoted on the book's cover heightened my expectations, but something just didn't click for me. The plot was very complex and I'll confess that I hadn't sorted out who the characters were as I reached the book's final pages. Maybe I wasn't an attentive reader, but I More...
Sep 29, 2011
Catherine
rated it: 
Indo-China war vets, missing and valuable jade, politics, and murder--and the accidental involvement of Aimee in several different aspects, made this fifth book in the Aimee Ludec Investigations series an exciting page-turner. In an attempt to keep the characters straight, I made a list as new characters were introduced (30+) as Black tends to change narrators and offer different points of view. Glad that I did as many of the characters were interconnected, and one of the clues involved an unna
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Mar 07, 2011
Donna
rated it:
Aimee and Rene are back in the 5th in this series and Paris again comes alive in this complex mystery set in the Clichy neighborhood. French involvement in Indochina may have been decades ago but old crimes resurface and valuable historic jade is the prize. Absolutely everyone wants the missing jade – Indochina war veterans, the French secret service, wealthy ex-colonials, drug runners, and international oil companies – and Aimee reluctantly but desperately must find it.
Readers new More...
Readers new More...
Oct 25, 2011
Monty
rated it:
I really enjoyed reading this book, maybe a little more than the others in the series so far. I think I am getting to know Aimee Leduc better in each book and I am liking how, in spite of her being brilliant, she has so many human frailties. As usual, there are many characters, an evolving story line, poorly matched love life, needing to heal from injuries from the last book, getting new injuries in this book, and more. There is a map of the Clichy district in Paris in the front of the book.
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Nov 27, 2011
Elli
rated it:
Enjoyable and worthwhile. All the Aimee Leduc mysteries have a certain recurring theme of Aimee trying to find out more about her lost parents and each new mystery provides another clue. Radical movements of another time; how deep was each parent involved? Her mother simply disappeared one day when she was a small child, but there is some concern about details, and is she alive? This one has given a clue through another old acquaintance of her father's offering potentially more about his lif
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Jan 02, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
Maybe I need more female friends, but LeDuc is starting to grow on me and I missed her the other day and thought about getting the next book in the series just to see what she is up to now. And I am not a crazy cat lady yet, so I'd like to claim that the way the character was written--consistent, with some interesting interior dialog--which has created this sense of familiarity and longing. Or maybe it is the dearth of female lead characters who have a strong point of view which rated three sta
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Sep 03, 2007
LJ
rated it:
MURDER IN CLICHY (Private Investigator-Paris-1990s) – Ok
Black, Cara – 5th in series
SOHO, 2005- Hardcover
Aimée Leduc is a Paris computer security expert with a partner, René. Aimee agrees to do a favor for a Vietnamese nun and deliver an envelope to Thadée Baret. Thadée gives Aimée a bag of precious jade. Thadée is then gunned down and René kidnapped with the jade being the required ransom. When a government surveillance team threatens Aimée, she knows someone more is involve More...
Black, Cara – 5th in series
SOHO, 2005- Hardcover
Aimée Leduc is a Paris computer security expert with a partner, René. Aimee agrees to do a favor for a Vietnamese nun and deliver an envelope to Thadée Baret. Thadée gives Aimée a bag of precious jade. Thadée is then gunned down and René kidnapped with the jade being the required ransom. When a government surveillance team threatens Aimée, she knows someone more is involve More...
Dec 30, 2011
Alice
rated it:
I only have the odd-numbered books in the series, but I didn't feel too disjointed, despite the occasional references to the previous story. For someone who's supposed to be taking things easy, Aimée sure gets into some hot water. This one was replete with drug dealers and users and even kidnapping. An uneven love story and multiple suspects were almost too distracting, but I will most likely finish the series.
Mar 04, 2011
Soho
rated it: 
The fifth installment in the Aimee Leduc mystery series, set in Paris. In this book, Aimee is trying to do a favor for a Vietnamese nun at the Buddhist temple where she's learning to meditate when she ends up with a priceless cache of jade that a lot of dangerous people seem to want. I love this book because of the post-colonial themes in it.
May 27, 2010
Concetta
rated it:
Loved it! Another murder mystery in Paris. I could see, taste, hear and smell everywhere Aimee went. C. Black knows how to weave a mystery that keeps my attention. I had to finish reading this one in my car in the park/ride this evening before I could drive home!
Nov 30, 2009
Renee
rated it:
I finished this book today on the plane to Nashville. Although I continue to be fascinated with Aimee and Paris, somehow this one fell short for me. I am not certain if the novelty is wearing off or if it really was not as good as the four previous works. Hmmm...at any rate, I will take a break from Aimee before reading the next.
Sep 12, 2009
The Library Lady
rated it:
The one thing I keep asking myself throughout these books--was France really that much more technologically ahead of us in 1994? Laptop computers? Cellphones being fairly commonplace? The use of the Web?
Jul 15, 2010
Remy
rated it:
I usually like this series. It is a sort of fFrench Kinsey millhone mystery. The Murder in Clichy did not hold up. I thought the plot was weak and I really had to make myself finish it.
Dec 28, 2008
Reading the whole series of Cara Black murder mysteries set in Paris. Already read Marais, Belleville, Sentier, and Bastille. After Clichy there will be 3 or 4 more as of now.
Apr 13, 2009
E
rated it:
Good beginning then turning very predictable. You could see the ending before you got half way through it. Lost it's 'suspension of disbelief' too when the protagonist turned out to be incredibly lucky and virtually indestructible.
Jul 05, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
I love this series. Sure, there are too many things going on and maybe the characters aren't that well developed but I still can't put them down!
Jul 29, 2011
Catherine
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Aimee Leduc is a complex character who almost seems to swirl in these books--they are very atmospherically written and wonderful to read
Sep 16, 2010
Carole
rated it:
Great setting - Paris. Weak writing....repetition of descriptions, sporadic development of story line. I will however read another book in this series. Hmmmm.
Jun 19, 2009
Laurel
rated it:
This is the first in the series I haven't really enjoyed. Confusing and not as fastpaced as the ones that came before it. Will continue to read the series though.
Dec 28, 2009
Lynne-marie
rated it:
We've come up in French history to be dealing with the veterans of Dien Bien Phu and the mystery of this story lies in Cambodia though of course it is acted out in the arrondisement of the outcasts. Aimee has regained her sight, but too much hard-boiled detecting may lose it for her as it loses her the love of Guy, the gentle doctor, who cannot sanction her "wildness." The theme of losing and being afraid as against forcing herself forward neamoins plus is a constant one. I like Aim
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Oct 13, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I actually liked this one better than the previous three books. So far, the only one I really liked was the first book, Murder in the Marias.
Another reviewer wrote that she decided to suspend her technology disbelief and I will go with that too. Although I will add I will also suspend my medical disbelief, such as when Aimee was up and walking around Paris 1 or 2 days after have major brain surgery.
Another reviewer wrote that she decided to suspend her technology disbelief and I will go with that too. Although I will add I will also suspend my medical disbelief, such as when Aimee was up and walking around Paris 1 or 2 days after have major brain surgery.
Nov 04, 2007
Jactitation
rated it:
She's good at dialogue and description, and I liked the press of the French colonial past against neocolonial futures, but the ending was chaotic, muddy, and nearly incomprehensible. Plus, the big surprise wasn't a surprise at all. Eh. I'm starting to lose interest in the series.
Dec 19, 2007
Nadia
rated it:
Aimee Leduc is a private investigator in Paris. Each of the books focuses on a different neighborhood of Paris. The "crimes" and investigation are very contemporary and sometimes brutal. Not for the weak-kneed mystery reader.
May 31, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
Another fantastic book in the Aimee Leduc series! Cara Black describes a Paris that is not for tourists or the faint of heart! I can hardly wait to read the next one and I don't have to.
Jul 31, 2008
Patrinka
rated it:
Interesting. not great, but somehow I can't stop reading the series. this is the 5th book so far all based in various neighborhoods of paris.
