Murder in the Marais

Rating:
Summary: Murder in the Marais - My favorite read of 1999
Review: My favorite read of 1999! Murder in the Marais took me to Paris: the smells, the sounds and the food evoked a wonderful atmosphere -- cheaper than a plane ticket and no lines at Charles de Gaulle airport. Aimée Leduc, the thoroughly modern Parisienne gets pulled into criminal investigation by an old Nazi hunter and finds intrigue in the Marais, the old Jewish section. The parallel story of a old German veteran drew me in, along with the authentic political depiction of immigrant tensions in Paris. The skillfull weaving of several story lines and points of view worked for me. Very well, in fact. And at the end I shook my head and said why didn't I figure that out. Fast paced and with intriguing characters especially Aimée, her partner, René and crusty Police commisaire Morbier. When is the next in the Aimée Leduc investigation? I can't wait to read more

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good (if slightly flawed) Debut
Review: Pretty nifty series debut set in the old Jewish quarter of Paris. PI Aimée Leduc is unbelievably tough, occasionally foolish, and sometimes weak willed over the course of this mystery which involves events concerning the Nazi occupation, collaborators, survivors, modern day neo-Nazis, and a somewhat unclear EU agreement. The atmosphere is excellent, and the mystery pretty solid, although it's a shade too fantastical for my taste, with too many coincidences and the unmasked villain at the end is kind of unlikely. And despite the premise that the hero and her dwarf partner (Why a dwarf? smacks of trying to be clever in a throwaway manner.) are computer security experts, I found many of the computer hi-jinks unlikely at best, and a weak way of advancing the plot. The other main flaw was that there were a number of French errors throughout, which is a pretty silly mistake to make in a book set in France. Those minor caveats aside, it's a pretty strong mystery that will make you want to visit the Marais on your next trip to Paris.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good (if slightly flawed) Debut
Review: Pretty nifty series debut set in the old Jewish quarter of Paris. PI Aimée Leduc is unbelievably tough, occasionally foolish, and sometimes weak willed over the course of this mystery which involves events concerning the Nazi occupation, collaborators, survivors, modern day neo-Nazis, and a somewhat unclear EU agreement. The atmosphere is excellent, and the mystery pretty solid, although it's a shade too fantastical for my taste, with too many coincidences and the unmasked villain at the end is kind of unlikely. And despite the premise that the hero and her dwarf partner (Why a dwarf? smacks of trying to be clever in a throwaway manner.) are computer security experts, I found many of the computer hi-jinks unlikely at best, and a weak way of advancing the plot. The other main flaw was that there were a number of French errors throughout, which is a pretty silly mistake to make in a book set in France. Those minor caveats aside, it's a pretty strong mystery that will make you want to visit the Marais on your next trip to Paris.

Rating:
Summary: Sorry, but...
Review: Sorry, I hate to pan anyone's first effort, but I couldn't get beyond the first couple of chapters of this book because of what I felt was poor writing. The premise was certainly interesting, but I found the author's choice of words sloppy and the characterizations wooden. (Now, I can practically hear my dad saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.") I think the author shows talent, but she could have benefitted from a more discriminating editor.

Rating:
Summary: The female equivalent to the traditional macho gumshoe
Review: The plot is quite fascinating, bringing together strands from history, contemporary politics and a love for the streets of Paris. But Aimee Leduc is too good to be true: a brilliant sleuth, with wide connections in French politics, physically tough, beautiful, resourceful, imaginative and a talented computer hacker. Not quite believable.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting idea, Poor Research
Review: This book has interesting elements, Paris, computer cryptograhy,
Hasidic Jews, Nazis and the plot synopsis sounds intriguing.
Unfortunately this book seems to be poorly researched, perhaps
with the exception of the description of the neighborhoods of
Paris. The description of the Parisian Hasidic Jews is totally
implausible, they are described as if they were American Reform
Jews. It seems highly unlikely that a Hasidic man would go into
a bedroom alone with a woman who is not his wife while his wife
and family is mourning for this mother.
The description and usage of the computer terminology is poor
and the character development of the central characters Aimee
and Renee is wanting. This is not a book to read if you are
interested in learning more about any of these topics.

Rating:
Summary: Name dropper
Review: This might have been an average mystery but it is like someone thought up a gimick. Let's sprinkle references to Paris throughout. It is just plain silly. Every other sentence has the author making some irrelevant reference to one Paris landmark or another. Definitely a niche market book -- people who really do not care for good mystery writing and are in Paris for the first time. Shame on website Bonjour Paris for pushing it.

Rating:
Summary: A great story without leaving your favorite chair
Review: We all love a great mystery, and Murder in the Marais has all the elements. However, this book has the addition of the atmosphere of Paris; the sights, the sounds and the intrigue. Move over Kinsey Milhouse, I can hardly wait for Cara Black's next book!