Murder in the Marais
Author:  Cara Black
Publisher: Soho Press
Publish Date: 1999
Pages:  354
ISBN No.: 978-1-56947-212-5
Genre:  Mystery/Crime
Sub Genre: Detective
Reader’s Annotation:
A standout first novel introduces the projected series of mysteries set in Paris in which we meet dauntless private investigator Aimee Leduc.
Summary:
In Cara Black's first installment in this series we are introduced to Aimee Leduc, a Parisian private investigator, who has always vowed to stick with what she loves and does best, computer investigation. Criminal cases  are not for her, especially since her father, the late police detective, was killed in the line of duty. It is 1993 and the French prime ministerial candidate is about to sign a treaty with Germany that will severely restrict immigrations, reminiscent of the Vichy laws.  Aimee is approached an elderly man, Soli Hect, to decipher a fifty-year-old encrypted photograph and place it in the hands of Lili Stein, a woman in his synagogue.  Upon arriving at the client's house in the Marais, the historic Jewish quarter of Paris, she finds the old woman strangled to death with a swastika carved on her forehead.with a top-secret decoding job on behalf of a woman in his synagogue, Aimee unwittingly takes on more than she was expecting. With the able assistance of her partner, Rene, a dwarf, with amazing computer hacking skills, Aimée sets out to solve this horrendous crime, but finds herself in an increasingly dangerous web of ancient secrets and buried war crime.
Evaluation:
When I discovered this series I thought what a find!  The reader can travel , exploring the sights and sounds of Paris and at the same time enjoy a good mystery.  Murder in the Marais is an excellent start to the series and sets the tone for the continuing saga of Aimee Leduc and her partner Rene. 
Why I Would Include It:
I would include this book and recommend the entire series for it is not only a great mystery read but gives the reader some insight into the different arrondisements in Paris.  This book is not a hard read but easy to get into and the characters are likable plus who could resist the backdrop of Paris. 
Rating: 4
Read Alikes:  A few in the Aimee Leduc series includes the following:
Murder in Belleville, Murder in the Sentier, Murder in the Bastille, and Murder in Clichy.