Review: Murder at the Lanterne Rouge: An Aimee Leduc Investigation (Aimee Leduc Investigations) by Cara Black

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2160 KB
• Publisher: Soho Crime (March 6, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0055PIPP2

Product Description

Aimée Leduc is happy her long-time business partner René has found a girlfriend. Really, she is. It’s not her fault if she can’t suppress her doubts about the relationship; René is moving way too fast, and Aimée’s instincts tell her Meizi, this supposed love of René’s life, isn’t trustworthy. And her misgivings may not be far off the mark: Meizi disappears during a Chinatown dinner to take a phone call and never comes back to the restaurant. Minutes later, the body of a young man, a science prodigy and volunteer at the nearby Musée, is found shrink-wrapped in an alleyway—with Meizi’s photo in his wallet.

Aimée does not like this scenario one bit, but she can’t figure out how the murder is connected to Meizi’s disappearance. The dead genius was sitting on a discovery that has France’s secret service keeping tabs on him. Now they’re keeping tabs on Aimée. A missing young woman, an illegal immigrant raid in progress, botched affairs of the heart, dirty policemen, the French secret service, cutting-edge science secrets and a murderer on the loose—what has she gotten herself into? And can she get herself—and her friends—back out of it all alive? 

About the Author

Cara Black is the author of eleven previous books in the bestselling Aimée Leduc series, all of which are available from Soho Crime. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and son and visits Paris frequently.

My Review

I love being transported to Paris in each Aimee Leduc Investigation novel by Cara Black.  Cara explores a different neighbourhood of Paris in each novel.  In Murder at the Lanterne Rouge we are transported to one of Paris's Chinatowns.   Very illuminating as I had no idea that illegal Chinese immigrants who were virtual slaves to those who brought them into the country.

I have read this entire series and this latest book is an excellent example of what makes this series by Cara Black exceptional.  The reader is transported to 1998 Paris. It is a special author who can make a novel's setting come alive to the reader.

We are given more hints in this novel about Aimee's mother.  I love how Cara has provided hints in each of her novels.  And I hope that Aimee is finally reunited with her mother one day.  This time out Rene has a new love who is at the center of this Chinatown based novel. Of course he still has feelings for Aimee which she is clueless about.  Loved the Google reference.

Excellent story that brings together fourteenth century discoveries with cutting edge modern technology.  Must read for mystery lovers.  I cannot wait for the next one.