Cara Black Books

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Cara Black is an American author that writes mysteries, thrillers, and general fiction. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1951. But the author spent her childhood in California’s Bay area. Cara lived an interesting life. She was not afraid to veer off the beaten path.

Besides studying Chinese history at Sophia University (Tokyo), Buddhism in Dharamsala (Northern India), and getting her teaching credentials from San Francisco State College, the author also worked as a barista at a train station in Switzerland and as a bar girl in Bangkok.

Additionally, she taught English in Japan and contributed her talents to the Head Start Program, which allowed her to engage sweatshop workers and families in dire straights. Cara cherished these opportunities because they taught her so much about the human condition.

Eventually, writing entered the picture and consumed her. Anyone that reads her books is well aware of the author’s love for all things French, which she blames on the French-speaking nuns at the Catholic high school she attended.

The author was still in high school when she wrote a fan letter to Romain Gary. The Prix Goncourt winner was kind enough to respond to Cara, who had already developed an interest in French literature and Romain’s work.

The pair finally met when Cara journeyed to Paris, and Romain took her out for coffee. She has made several trips to Paris since those early days. Each trip teaches her something new because she takes the time to immerse herself in a different aspect of the city.

The author doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty during the research stage, even if it means sneaking into the city’s closed areas by posing as a journalist, descending into the sewers, training at a firing range, and more.

Her popular detective (Aimee Leduc) was not inspired by a real person. Although she interviewed three female Parisian detectives. Aimee appeals to Cara’s readers because she’s a young, contemporary woman with a decent fashion sense.

Like the best detectives, Aimee is unrelenting in her pursuit of justice. When Cara created the character, she never expected ‘Murder in the Marais to become the first in a series. At the time, her only objective was to tell a touching story her friend told her in the Marais.

Her friend’s mother was 14 when her family disappeared. She came home one day, and they were just gone. The teenager tried to maintain her daily routine and even went to school, all the while hoping that her family would return.

Things took a turn for the worst a year later when the girl learned the truth. Her family had gone to Auschwitz. The story touched Cara, and she remembered it years later when she visited Paris. She wanted to write a story exploring the lingering effects of the Second World War on future generations.

Cara Black Awards

Cara’s accolades include several Anthony and Macavity Award nominations.

Best Cara Black Books

The author enjoys visiting the places she writes about because it allows her to capture the nuances of each location. Cara’s best books include:

Murder in the Marais: Aimee Leduc was a competent detective. However, she stayed away from criminal cases. Her late father was a police detective, and she had no interest in meeting a similar fate as him, which is why Aimee prioritized tech investigations.

But she couldn’t ignore the elderly Jewish man’s request. The actual client was a woman at his synagogue. Despite her better judgment, Aimee accepted the top-secret decoding job. She expected her involvement to end once she dropped off the findings at the client’s house.

But then, someone strangled the woman and carved a swastika into her forehead. Now, Aimee and her partner Rene are determined to find the person responsible for the horrendous murder.

Three Hours in Paris: What happened in 1940? Why would Hitler visit Paris following German’s invasion only to leave abruptly three hours later?

Kate Rees was on a mission. After losing her husband and daughter in a Luftwaffe bombing, the American markswoman needed an outlet for her grief. Fortunately for her, British intelligence wanted someone with her talents.

They wanted Rees to kill the Fuhrer. But something was afoot. And after missing her mark, Rees began to wonder whether her mission was a set-up.

When Does The Next Cara Black book come out?

Cara Black doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Murder at la Villette and was released on March, 5th 2024. It is the newest book in the Aimee Leduc Investigations Series.

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