Murder in Montmartre

Black continues her peregrinations around Paris' most history-drenched neighborhoods ( Murder in Clichy, 2005) with this sixth in the series, this time set in Montmartre. Aimee Leduc, the intrepid computer-security analyst who can't keep her nose out of murder investigations, smells fresh blood after a childhood friend, now a policewoman, is accused of shooting her partner. Aimee doesn't buy it and takes to the streets and alleys of Montmartre in search of the real story. The trail leads to a group of Corsican separatists, aimed at achieving their political goals by any means necessary. As always, Black uses landscape for far more than window dressing, incorporating details of Montmartre history into the fabric of the plot and never missing an opportunity to connect, say, a Metro station named for a Communist Resistance fighter to the struggles of contemporary Corsicans. A common theme running throughout Black's consistently engaging series, in fact, is the frustration of various immigrant groups trying to live in and around Paris, a topic of ever more urgent concern. --Bill Ott Copyright 2005 Booklist

Intrepid Aimee Leduc strives to clear the name of a childhood friend, policewoman Laure Rousseau, who's charged with shooting her partner to death, in Black's chilling sixth novel to feature the Paris PI (after 2005's Murder in Clichy). Aimee knows the solution to proving Laure's innocence lies somewhere in the hilltop maze of the seedy Montmartre neighborhood-perhaps with a boy who says he witnessed the murder, or an aging prostitute, or any of a number of toughs or even Corsican separatists. Set in January 1995, the book vividly depicts a gritty, working-class part of Paris where rents don't always get paid and not everyone has a bed for the night. Black succeeds in making the reader feel the damp, the snow, the fear. In the process of helping Laure, Aimee not only resolves a past police scandal involving her dead father but gains in compassion and wisdom. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In the opening pages of this latest addition to Black trenchantly entertaining Aimée Leduc Investigation series (e.g., Murder in Clichy), Aimée is being dumped by her latest boyfriend--not a new event for this edgy and wayward sleuth. Bereft, she attends the retirement party of one of her deceased father colleagues in the Commissariat at the behest of friend Laure, also the daughter of a cop. But Laure, now on the force herself, disappears from the party with partner Jacques, and when Aimée finally locates them on a Montmartre rooftop, Laure is gravely wounded and Jacques is dying--from wounds inflicted by Laure gun. After escaping suspicion herself, Aimée takes all manner of risks to clear Laure name. Her efforts lead her to Corsican musician Lucien, who not a member of the Armata Corsa separatist ring, though that violent underground group does figure largely in the plot. Meanwhile, Aimée business partner, René, is nurturing his own love life--and learning to become a detective himself. This is a classic Leduc mystery: taut, vivid, atmospheric, and poignant, as Aimée continues uncovering secrets about her past; Black trademark coverage of crucial political events also figures in the mix. Highly recommended.--Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.