The Aimee Leduc Companion

as a Frenchwoman she never reveals her age), 5 feet 8 inches tall. She owns and sometimes carries an unlicensed Glock 9mm and also owns a Beretta. Her father raised her after her mother disappeared. Aimee was with her father when he was killed and has a burn scar on her hand to prove it. She was an exchange student in New York for a year of high school. She also has close to a year of premed to her credit.

    Sydney Leduc: Aimée’s missing American mother. Aimée bears an uncanny resemblance to her. She disappeared when Aimée was 8 years old. She left a note, so foul play is not suspected. She doesn’t appear in any book (except for a possible sighting and visit in Île Saint-Louis), but is mentioned in them all, as Aimée is obsessed with trying to find out more about her. Although Aimée feels she will never learn the whole truth, it seems Sydney may have left to join a radical leftist group, or perhaps even part of a terrorist cell. If she is still alive, she is mostl likely wanted.

    Jean-Claude Leduc: Aimée’s late father, who raised Aimée on his own and whom she misses desperately. A private detective and former policeman. Inherited Leduc Detective from his father. Killed in a plastic-bomb explosion while he and Aimée were together on a stakeout about five years ago. He is mentioned in all the books, as Aimée yearns to find out more about his death.

    Sebastian Leduc: Aimée’s younger cousin. Reformed addict. Six feet tall, dresses like a biker, bushy black beard, wears an earring. He owes Aimée big for her help getting him into and through rehab, and Aimée often cahses in on this debt by dragging Sebastien along on some of her dirtier jobs, particularly breaking and entering or going through people’s trash.

    Inspecteur Morbier: Through the first eleven books, we never learn his first name. Does he even have one? The world wonders. Aimée’s godfather, and her father’s first partner on the beat. As Commissaire and sometime member of Brigade Criminelle, Morbier often has information Aimée needs -- and sometimes he needs her help, though not that he dmits it. He’s a bit of a curmudgeon, about 60, stocky (wears suspenders to keep his pants up) and jowly, with salt-and-pepper hair, bags under his eyes, bushy eyebrows, moustache. Lives in the Bastille quartier of the 11 th arrondissement.

    René Friant: Aimée’s partner, a computer wizard. Four feet tall; large green eyes, black hair, goatee. René and Aimée met when they were both students at the Sorbonne, where, in their first year, he helped her with a hacking project. They soon both dropped out to work together, and hav been inseparable ever since. Lives in a tiny studio apartment in the 4 th arrondissement at 19, rue de la Reynie, very near the Beaubourg area. Drives a classic 1968 Citroën DS. Martial arts expert. His mother was a full-sized juggler in the circus.

    Martine Sitbon: Aimée’s friend since high school; magazine editor and investigative journalist. Martine often helps Aimée track down information using her journalist connections, but her favors don’t come cheap: Aimée is forever owing Martine bottles of champagne or expensive dinners. Martine appears in each book and has a different job or male companion in almost every one.

    Maurice: One-armed Algerian war vet who runs newspaper kiosks. Sometimes takes care of Miles Davis.

    Serge Léaud: Criminologist, the Luminol expert. Father of twins who Aimée sometimes helps babysit. Serge performs autopsies in the public morgue, and Aimée often relies on him for the inside scoop on how a victim actually died. He may be a genius, but he’s also known for his macabre sense of humor and exceptionally strong stomach -- he eats his lunch right in the morgue.

    Edith Mésard: The state prosecutor, or “La Proc.” Mésard is tough and no-nonsense, and does not look kindly on broken proceedure. But she does appreciate Aimée’s work.

    Zazie (real name Juliette): Redheaded 10-year-old daughter of the owners of Café Magritte, right below Leduc Detective. Works in the café before and after school. Her mother’s name is Virginie; Zazie has a baby sister named Lise.

    Miles Davis: (pronounced Meels Daveez) Aimée’s well-mannered bichon frisé puppy. Appears in all the books. Fresh horsemeat is his favorite. Not only well-behaved but courageous, Miles Davis receives the canine badge of honor in Murder in the Palais Royal .
    Ça va? —How are you?; How’s it going?; Are you