Rating: 
Summary: Franglais delight
Review: Having lived in France, I enjoyed the setting and story of Cara Black's Murder in the Marais. Her characters were interesting and her tale was gripping and realistic. The only thing that drove me crazy was that there were numerous errors in the french words she used, giving her main character away as a phony. Case in point "Mademoiselle le editeur" instead of "Mademoiselle l'editeur." I will definitely read her new book, but I hope in the future she will get a french speaker to check over her manuscript for glaring errors.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating novel, but weak ending
Review: I fell in love with this novel primarily because while reading it I felt that I really was in my beloved Paris. Been to the Marais, L'Ilse de Louis, and even the Chateau de Blois! I also got caught up in the complex, historical and fast-moving plot. While admiring Aimee Leduc, however, I sometimes wondered if any sleuth had her gumption -- leaving me to feel that some of her actions (ie getting primary antagonists, to show up on command) were unrealistic, even in fiction. Nonetheless, I had only one real disappointment: after detailed exposition of the plot and characters, the book ends so suddenly as to make one wonder, "What really happened to all these people?" Was it just time to end the story...or is there a second Aimee Leduc Investigation on the way?
Rating: 
Summary: Just plain bad...
Review: I had every intention of liking this book. I liked the premise (a woman gumshoe in Paris), the setting (Paris - who can screw that up?) even the book cover. But alas, no amount of good marketing can save poor writing. The first two sentences should be a clue to just how bad it will get later on: "Aimee Leduc felt his presence before she saw him. As if ghosts floated in his wake in the once elegant hall." The "once elegant hall" is never explained or even aluded to as we discover that Aimee is in fact in her office. Half a page down the chocolate croissant makes its first appearance, only to reappear several pages later "... she dunked a buttery croissant in a steamy bowl of cafe au lait." Fodor's does the "French atmosphere" much better - but then Fodor's hires professional writers who do not employ cliches.
Sentences are clipped and often make no sense within the context of a paragraph. (These are English 1A level mistakes). Characters (including Aimee herself) are poorly developed and cartoon-like, Paris is a city straight out of a poorly written tourist throwaway brochure, the plot meanders and in the end does not make sense.
Stay away from this or other Cara Black books!
Rating: 
Summary: Like Paris itself--exciting and complex
Review: I just read Murder in the Marais. What a wonderful book! I started reading it on the train during my daily commute, then finished it on the weekend. What an intriguing, well told story. Several times during the rest of the weekend, I thought of continuing reading it and realized sadly that I had finished it.Everything worked. A complex, interesting detective. A compelling plot. A great ensemble of characters. And a fascinating setting extremely well described--I haven't been to Paris since 1977, but I felt I was right there. I look forward to Aimee's next case!
Rating:
Summary: kept me reading and kept me guessing
Review: i liked this book alot. i liked the main character and i liked the minor characters as well. some of the computer stuff was a bit over the top but hey its fiction right. the marais is a very interesting place and the book is able to convey this along with giving us a bit of history too. the jewish deportation story interwoven with the murder is interesting and thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: My Mom Rocks!
Review: I remember when my mom was writing this book, she'd wake at 5:00 am and I wouldn't see her until dinner time. But it was worth all the work and sacrifice because I think it's one the best murder mysterys ever written.
Rating:
Summary: couldn't put this book down
Review: I took this book to Paris with me and felt transported not only to Paris but to another time and era. Powerfully engrossing and wonderfully written. I loved this book and was bleary eyed over my morning croissants and cafe au lait...with its strong sense of setting, intriguing characters and spunky Aimee as protagonist, I can't wait to find the next one and hope the series carries through to all the charming quartiers of Paris
Rating: 
Summary: Much potential, little payoff.
Review: I wanted to like this book. I TRIED to like it. Alas, I could not. More ridiculous scenarious unfold in just one day of the narrative than should appear in the entire book. The plot devices seem contrived (e.g., Jew-hater discovers he's half Jewish), and the action laughable. The main character, despite all her swashbuckling chutzpah, could not hold my interest. The writing seems amateurish, and while I enjoy the Parisian references, they seem forced and gimmicky. I'm one Francophile who couldn't stomach it.
Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like this book
Review: I wanted to like this book. It had all the right characters, settings & historical venues, but it took advantage of none of these. The young female protagonist zips from one unbelievable scenario to another (I mean honestly, clammoring across slippery Paris roof tops in spike high heels? I can barely walk on a flat street in those puppies). And, what's with the dwarf assistant? That addition is just pure silliness. As with any plot set in Paris, the City itself must be a character, but this plot could have been executed in just about any city in Europe. It's not enough to drop the names of a couple of "Rues" & fancy cigarettes. I don't know if I'll read the sequels to this, her first, book.
Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: I was asked to read this book by her publicist because they wanted to schedule a book signing at Capital Crimes & Coffee. She did a great job with her main character, very beleivable. I had a hard time putting this book down, even when I was on the stair master at the gym.
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