December Newsletter
Bonjour Everyone,

To me Paris is loveliest when it's cold. The grays are deeper, the browns are richer, streetlights are moodier, and the roasted chestnuts taste a lot better. Last month I stayed In Montmartre (camping on the couch) with my friend Anne-Francoise who gave birth to a beautiful new bèbe girl, Gabrielle. Now her Montmartre apartment is more crowded by a bassinet and her five year old daughter Zouzou's art work. Space is tight these days. But at least I remembered how to change diapers.
A big highlight was touring the police Prefecture at 36 Quai des Orfévres, Inspector Maigret's 'office' and the attic room where scene of the crime clothing is hung to dry. Then stored in these 'hi-tech' sealed evidence bags.



Topping it off the captain of the Brigade Criminelle took me up on the roof for a vista of Paris...a thrill to see Paris 360 degrees spread below us. Afterwards with some of the counter terrorist unit we went drinking at a bar overlooking the Seine. They did the drinking, I did the listening. Amazing stories. A few evenings later during a thunderstorm I accompanied the captain and a counter terrorist specialist from his unit to the police firing range on the Left Bank for target shooting practice. Well, target practice for them and for me, hitting the target a few times. Firing a Sig Sauer, their regulation hand gun, packed quite a  punch. The firing range instructor grinned 'Now you can write that in your book..."
These men are the ones you want on your side, not against you. They were so generous with their time, their expertise and answering so many, many of my questions that I'm thanking them all in the next book. But confidentiality and uhm...unofficial visits to a firing range need to stay off the page. But I let you in on the secret so please let's keep it between us.
Fashion wise in Paris; some ballet flats and boots, boots, boots, sweater dress tunics over leggings and winter white.





Foodwise apart from boulangerie heaven below I ate street food from crepe stands and felafel in the Marais. Some suggestions: Mèmère au Piano, 63 rue Jean Pierre Timbaud in the 11th for 'french old style' cooking and Cafe Livre,a wonderful wifi friendly cafe lined with books, where we had a Paris tweet up at 10, rue Saint Martin 75004 near Chatelet.
If you're looking for book and film suggestions try Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris by Graham Robb - I loved his previous book The Discovery of France. The movie classic - An Army of Shadows with Lino Ventura - moody, atmospheric and another side of the Resistance. OSS 117 Lost in Rio - a satirical spy spoof, Monsieur Bond move over.



I'm excited that this January MURDER IN THE MARAIS, the FIRST book in the Aimée Leduc  investigation series, is being reissured with a new cover - like it? This gave me the chance to revise a few details and finally bury Baudelaire in the proper cematary. An error pointed out to me years ago by a very sweet and erudite Baudelaire scholar. So now Monsieur, we've corrected Baudelaire's final resting place!
In March I'm thrilled that Aimée Leduc's next investigation, MURDER IN PASSY, Aimée's 11th, yes hard to believe, will hit the bookstores. Library Journal calls it "your passport to Paris next spring."
For the online world accompanying MURDER IN PASSY we'll have an Aimée Leduc Companion - a go along guide to EACH book in the 11 books in the series with characters, a French-English glossary, summary of each book and an interactive map - very cool - to each arrondissement including plot points in the books, a good resto or off the beaten place you shouldn't miss.
More to come on that and my book tour schedule (10 + cities) in March and April. I hope if I'm coming your way you'll come by the bookstore, say Bonjour hear about Aimée's latest investigation and my research in Paris.
Meanwhile join me on Facebook. Twitter me at @carablack. Visit http://www.murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com where I blog on Tuesdays
Do check my website http://www.carablack for the latest EVENTS
Wishing you a good book to curl up with and warm, wonderful holidays,
Cara
"Forever young, forever stylish, forever in love with Paris — forever Aimée."- New York Times Book Review on "Murder in the Palais Royal"


Receive Cara's Newsletter