A review by ceeceerose
Murder at the Lanterne Rouge by Cara Black

3.0

Once again, author Cara Black brings Paris to life with her Aimee Leduc mysteries. I’ve read Black and her Leduc mysteries before but I read this one while in Paris on vacation. And let me tell you -- Black has the atmosphere of the city spot-on. For me, the mystery itself (this time, involving the HUGE mess her business partner’s new girlfriend gets tangled up into) is not the real draw with the Leduc stories. It is the way Paris sparkles and vibrates as Aimee wanders, chases and races through the city to find clues. I liked this story, though, because unlike some of Black’s other tales, this one had more of an ethnic vibe since her partner’s girlfriend is Chinese and much of the action takes place in Paris’ active, yet sometimes seedy Chinatown. For any mystery reader, this is a must read…but also for those Francophiles out there, if you have not stumbled onto Aimee Leduc and her special brand of Parisian charm.