"A Rich, Parisian Mystery"

The Sentier -- a blue-collar area of France rich in history. During World War II, Resistance leaders distributed underground newspapers. In the radical 1960's, student revolutionaries plotted and dreamed of an end to capitalism. It is here that our heroine, private investigator Aimee Leduc, comes to meet Jutta Hald, a former terrorist just released from prison. Jutta claims to have information about Aimee's mother, Sydney, who disappeared with Aimee was a child. But she'll only part with the information for a price. When Aimee goes to meet Jutta, she finds the woman murdered. Thus Aimee plunges into a mystery spanning decades as she searches for information on her mother, and her possible involvement with a gang of revolutionary terrorists. Why is someone killing off former members of the gang? What was her mother's part in their activities? Is it possible that she's still alive? And what role did Aimee's late father, a Parisian cop, play?

The pace of the action is fast, at times too fast, not giving the reader time to catch up with Aimee's constant rushing about. Still, Cara Black weaves a beautiful tapestry in the background. Her Paris is genuine; you can almost hear the ghosts of long-ago whispered conversations in recessed doorways and alleys. The interweaving of Paris's history and contemporary crimes will keep the reader engrossed as Aimee tries desperately to find information on her mother and solve the mystery surrounding rumors of her father being a dirty cop.

Readers who are looking for a quick read beware; this is not a one-sitting read. Indeed, to read it in one sitting would rob you of the experience of catching clues in this richly detailed plot. Instead, read it over several days, so as not to miss the subtle nuances of Aimee's story.

Reviewed by Kelly Jones
Posted August 15, 2002