What do you think?
Rate this book
An American in Paris aka Claire Baskerville #12
Murder Carte Blanche
When the City of Light goes very dark...
Claire Baskerville and her expat book club are accustomed to diving into thrilling narratives, but nothing could prepare them for a field trip into the shadowy depths of the Paris catacombs that ends in the murder of one of their members.
Once the Parisian police arrest the leader of the book club as their prime suspect, Claire knows she has to do what she can to make sure the police aren’t wrong. In a race against time, Claire will need to navigate the intricate maze of underground tunnels and confront her own fears, even as she grapples with the shocking revelation that the killer is someone she knows well.
This tale of murder and betrayal will keep you turning pages late into the night as you explore beneath the streets of Paris into its heart-stopping underworld.
Claire Baskerville and her expat book club are accustomed to diving into thrilling narratives, but nothing could prepare them for a field trip into the shadowy depths of the Paris catacombs that ends in the murder of one of their members.
Once the Parisian police arrest the leader of the book club as their prime suspect, Claire knows she has to do what she can to make sure the police aren’t wrong. In a race against time, Claire will need to navigate the intricate maze of underground tunnels and confront her own fears, even as she grapples with the shocking revelation that the killer is someone she knows well.
This tale of murder and betrayal will keep you turning pages late into the night as you explore beneath the streets of Paris into its heart-stopping underworld.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
312 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 10, 2024
Claire Baskerville is not fond of the dark or creepy enclosed spaces so when her ex-pat book club decides to explore the Catacombs in Paris - miles of skeletons underground - she is certain that she will not have a grand time. And Claire is correct; barely inside, one of the book club members is brutally stabbed. With the police settled on a suspect, Claire feels certain that a miscarriage of justice is about to occur and sets out to uncover the truth, but her investigation is hampered by family matters that threaten to divert her attention.
Sleep or read? I tried to be sensible and get some well-needed rest, but the siren of Murder Carte Blanche sang to me and I spent the night breathlessly following Claire on her adventures. I loved how the author danced her characters in danger - just enough to spice up the action, but not so much that it was unbelievable. When the final curtain fell, I felt rewarded many times over. Gosh, how I love this series!
Recommended for cosy lovers who are willing to step into the dark shadows of the night.
Sleep or read? I tried to be sensible and get some well-needed rest, but the siren of Murder Carte Blanche sang to me and I spent the night breathlessly following Claire on her adventures. I loved how the author danced her characters in danger - just enough to spice up the action, but not so much that it was unbelievable. When the final curtain fell, I felt rewarded many times over. Gosh, how I love this series!
Recommended for cosy lovers who are willing to step into the dark shadows of the night.
April 30, 2024
Loved it!!
Great story line and characters!!! Please keep writing them and let us continue to keep up with Claire and her family!!!
Great story line and characters!!! Please keep writing them and let us continue to keep up with Claire and her family!!!
December 15, 2023
An amazing and unusual mystery series set in France
I am madly in love with Claire "Grammy", Jean-Marc "Papí", Genevieve "Mèmé", and Robbie, one big mostly happy family. But Claire and Jean-Marc have a private investigation business to run so are always in the middle of some mystery or another. Who would expect someone in Claire's ex-pat bookclub to get murdered in the Paris Catacombs and then who would expect another bookclub member could be suspected of the murder?! Well, naturally Claire couldn't resist the challenge and jumped right in. At the same time she is surreptitiously continuing to track down the grandson conceived by surrogate from the last viable egg of Claire's daughter Catherine whose frozen eggs were stolen by a Middle Eastern bad guy in a prior book. I know this all seems completely improbable but trust me, read the series and it will all make sense. I love all of this author's mystery series but this may be my favorite because Claire is now in her late 60s (nice to have a smart woman PI who is not 20-something). And Paris! I can't wait for the next installment.
I am madly in love with Claire "Grammy", Jean-Marc "Papí", Genevieve "Mèmé", and Robbie, one big mostly happy family. But Claire and Jean-Marc have a private investigation business to run so are always in the middle of some mystery or another. Who would expect someone in Claire's ex-pat bookclub to get murdered in the Paris Catacombs and then who would expect another bookclub member could be suspected of the murder?! Well, naturally Claire couldn't resist the challenge and jumped right in. At the same time she is surreptitiously continuing to track down the grandson conceived by surrogate from the last viable egg of Claire's daughter Catherine whose frozen eggs were stolen by a Middle Eastern bad guy in a prior book. I know this all seems completely improbable but trust me, read the series and it will all make sense. I love all of this author's mystery series but this may be my favorite because Claire is now in her late 60s (nice to have a smart woman PI who is not 20-something). And Paris! I can't wait for the next installment.
November 19, 2024
Exciting Events
I ordered this book from a special deal not knowing if it was good or bad. As it turned out, I loved it. The characters were likable folks and the setting was perfect. I am older than many main characters in action books so it is refreshing to have a heroine who has life experience. I recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries and a gutsy person leading the way.
I ordered this book from a special deal not knowing if it was good or bad. As it turned out, I loved it. The characters were likable folks and the setting was perfect. I am older than many main characters in action books so it is refreshing to have a heroine who has life experience. I recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries and a gutsy person leading the way.
January 10, 2024
Wow! Just Wow!
The Claire Baskerville Mysteries are my favorites and this time Susan Kiernan-Lewis knocked it out of the park! Talk about twists and turns and happy ever after all rolled into one! I just adore these characters and the landscape of Paris! Thank you, Ms Kieran-Lewis, for such great storytelling and unmatched character development!
The Claire Baskerville Mysteries are my favorites and this time Susan Kiernan-Lewis knocked it out of the park! Talk about twists and turns and happy ever after all rolled into one! I just adore these characters and the landscape of Paris! Thank you, Ms Kieran-Lewis, for such great storytelling and unmatched character development!
August 14, 2024
I love this murder mystery series that takes place in Paris and this 12th book I read in an afternoon! Claire is on a tour of the catacombs with her book club when one member is stabbed to death. Who did it and why? Claire never gives up and finds the culprit in the end. The story of her grandson in Dubai continues in this saga.
February 12, 2025
When I finally finished this I read some of the reviews. I agree with several folks who used the term "twists and turns." I agree, but for a different reason. Good writers have a beginning, a middle, and an end prior to sitting down and sharing the story. This author seemed to have no clue at the beginning. I gave it two stars because I managed to finish it despite the twists and turns.
September 17, 2025
Sometimes a series continues too long. Claire is 67 in this book, living in a 700 sq ft apartment, in the
following book she’s 65, living in a 900 sq ft apartment?? Someone isn’t paying attention. And, annoyingly, the author can’t get over talking about the fact that Claire is an “old woman”?? Sometimes a series continues too long.
following book she’s 65, living in a 900 sq ft apartment?? Someone isn’t paying attention. And, annoyingly, the author can’t get over talking about the fact that Claire is an “old woman”?? Sometimes a series continues too long.
January 4, 2024
another good one!
I actually guessed the murderer this time! I didn’t know the motive though. This is the first time and I’ve read all of Susan’s books!! The characters are,as usual, wonderful. I’m liking that Jean-Marc more and more…..and that little Robbie❤️
I actually guessed the murderer this time! I didn’t know the motive though. This is the first time and I’ve read all of Susan’s books!! The characters are,as usual, wonderful. I’m liking that Jean-Marc more and more…..and that little Robbie❤️
January 11, 2024
lots of Twists and Turns
Another great book in this series. So many suspects and so little time to narrow them down. Murder in the catacombs of Paris….frightening enough without murder.
Another great book in this series. So many suspects and so little time to narrow them down. Murder in the catacombs of Paris….frightening enough without murder.
February 10, 2024
Thankfully,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
murder carte Blanche
Excellent book great plot ,twists & turns .I would have never guessed the murderer . And I’m so happy how it turned out in the end. Can’t wait for book 13. Excellent again I love this author.
Excellent book great plot ,twists & turns .I would have never guessed the murderer . And I’m so happy how it turned out in the end. Can’t wait for book 13. Excellent again I love this author.
November 21, 2024
Murder carte blanche
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a huge fan of the Maggie Newberry series and now I have another. The author has a way of bringing her characters to life. The are smart and funny amidst some very serious situations.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a huge fan of the Maggie Newberry series and now I have another. The author has a way of bringing her characters to life. The are smart and funny amidst some very serious situations.
December 11, 2023
As always, this book did not disappoint. Even though the hour was late, I couldn't stop reading it. So exciting and also brought a few tears. Love reading this series!
July 3, 2024
Wonderful read. This was an exciting story with twists and turns. I could not even guess what was going to happen next.
Read
November 13, 2024It was an okay book it wasn't all that t
It's an ok book it.wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be . There were grammar mistakes. A lot of grammar mistakes.
It's an ok book it.wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be . There were grammar mistakes. A lot of grammar mistakes.
November 14, 2024
Not really happy.
Too incredible to be honest. Probably the worst book I have ever read. What a waste of time and money.
😥🤔😮
Too incredible to be honest. Probably the worst book I have ever read. What a waste of time and money.
😥🤔😮
November 29, 2024
First class read
Excellent book from start to finish full of twists and turns ,definetly recommend enjoy . I can't wait to read the next book .😊
Excellent book from start to finish full of twists and turns ,definetly recommend enjoy . I can't wait to read the next book .😊
December 19, 2024
The story was pretty good, I had not figured out the ending, but there were several typos even a section repeated in the kindle version of the book.
December 27, 2024
Well written and a satisfying read. Loved the French setting in this book, regular references to landmarks and streets in Paris so that, even if you don't know the city, you have a sense of the setting. Enough 'suspects' to keep you curious without feeling that you couldn't keep track of them, and enough background to keep you engaged with the action. Lots of female characters, and I appreciated the realistic portrayal of having to balance your family responsibilities alongside whatever you might be working on, even when you're a detective!
September 17, 2025
Could not finish this! Apparently I am one of the few who did not think it is well written. Finally finished this while traveling in France. Upgraded to a 3 but still did not love it
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews