Murder on the Ile Saint Louis

By: Cara Black

Narrated by: Carine Montbertrand

Facing a tight deadline on a computer security contract, Aimée responds to a telephone call from a stranger that leads her to an abandoned infant in a courtyard on the Ile Saint-Louis. She brings the baby home with her, calls her Stella, and awaits contact from the mother. But days pass, and no one reclaims the infant.

Meanwhile, a group of environmental protestors is trying to stop the government from entering into a contract with an oil company notorious for pollution. As Aimée attempts to identify the baby’s mother, two murders and an abortive bombing involving the protestors lead her—and little Stella—into danger. On the run in the sewers beneath the Seine, Aimée finally finds the woman she has been looking for, only to discover that the man she has fallen in love with is not who she thought he was.

©2007 Cara Black (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Gripping.... A wonderfully complex plot is lent immediacy by environmental activists agitating against a proposed oil agreement....This Paris has a gritty, edgy feel, and Black’s prose evokes the sound of the Seine rising with the spring thaw. Aimée makes an engaging protagonist." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Another taut, well-observed, and thoroughly entertaining Aimée Leduc mystery, this book continues the series’ blend of suspense and attitude engagé while nicely developing our heroine’s character." ( Library Journal)

"Black again makes the most of her setting, drawing on the juicy history of the Ile Saint-Louis.... This series remains must reading for fans of the jauntier side of European crime fiction." ( Booklist)

Highly enjoyable

Set in February, 1995 (about a month after the previous book concludes). And apparently published in 2011? I have to admit, it tickles me to hear all the casual references to using floppy disks, and backing up an entire HDD to a few 3.5" floppies &/or Zip disks, lol. And other things like a blinking green cursor on the screen, using an instant Polaroid camera (not one mention of digital cameras yet, let alone being built into phones!), and computer security passcodes could still be 3 or 4 characters (all lower case, no number, no special symbols, heh). Ah, the old days... anyway...

The previous couple of installments were less than Stella(r) [ha, see what I did there? Read this one baby, you'll get what I mean, heh heh]

Bad puns aside, the murder mystery here was quite interesting. The eco-hysteria angle aside, experiencing Aimee' when a sudden & unexpected baby is dropped into her life by someone she doesn't know (but who is running for her life!) was very engaging. Also, the way Rene' was portrayed was *so* well done, I could visualize every action and emotion he had, and so vividly! The best portrayal of him since the first book.

My only gripe this time is again, so many French phrases, signs read, and casual comments made are not translated into English. Yes, most are, but not all. Mildly irritating for a 7-10 word phrase, place name, or who knows what, not to be explained for the English translation dependent.

disappointed

i've listened to most of the 'aimee' books by cara black and while they weren't great books they were at least good. this one though was so disappointing i almost didn't finish. it was slow and boring.
if i listen to another one of her books i'll get it through the online library like i did her others and not waste one of my credits on audible.