Murder in Passy

Samdi 16 fevrier Murder in Passy

When Paris mystery author Cara Black contacted me about featuring her newest book, Murder BELOW Montparnasse because there was a Paris trip sweepstakes I jumped at the chance to review it. But hadn't I better immerse myself in her character Aimee Leduc to get familiar with the genre?

Fortunately there's a free Aimee Leduc Companion iBook/kindle to help out with background info on places, people, French expressions bla bla bla.

And of course info on Aimee's pup, Miles Davis (who looks an awful lot like author Cara's own darling hound...

If a tad fuzzier ahem...

Fancy-shmancy Passy in the 16th, the setting for the murder, is just a few stops over the Seine for me on the Metro, though another world completement. Tres riche, tres chere, tres upper-crusty compared to my villagie part of Paris.

I love that Black names names of specific places in Passy and notes the architecture which is particularly gorge in the 16th...

Aimee is a big cafe-goer and I intend to copycat her and get a few lecons. Cafe du Troc you might remember from Woody Allen's Mightnight in Paris. Was he reading Cara?

You can count on Black to throw in some museums in the quartier like musee Marmotton plus an artist or two. Sennelier gets a mention (the artist's brand of paints bien sur).

At one point Aimee pops into musee Balzac to do some tough problem solving while contemplating Balzac's writing desk. I'm crazy for these local details. It makes you want to throw on your red hightops(Aimee's chaussure of choice) and trail after her.

There are Basque terrorists in the plot so natch plenty of gateau Basque cerises. Miam miam (a must-taste when I get back).

Feisty, fierce Aimee reminds me a lot of French comic book character Adele Blanc-Sec. I could easily see Aimee in a graphic novel.

I would definitely Love to wear Aimee's Tintin watch she keeps checking (Cara please open an Aimee-Amazon popup store?) I barely told you about the plot but natch it's full of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge if your chaise je te promis.
Do plunge in and get a big taste of Passy.