Very good mystery from an author who is new to me. Lots of thrills and forensic details in a quality read. don't start this unless you plan to stay up all night. Highly recommended.

This book translates into a powerful thriller, engaging in any language. The descriptions are spot-on, and help to create a strong mental image. The emotional grasp grows through the story as the police apply all their resources while the killer continues his ritual slayings. The characters are portrayed as real people, with some depth. While the French approach to criminal investigation may be a little unfamiliar to Americans, the author does an outstanding job of explaining what goes on, including the petty rivalries that plague all bureaucracies. The ending was completely tense, and could have played out in many ways. This book is emotionally grabbing right up to the last word.

With the crime-solving tenacity of “CSI” and the bold profiling moves of “Criminal Minds”, “The 7th Woman” takes back from television what was once the purview of books – cerebral crime-solving thriller that hooks you from the first moment on.

Set in Paris, “The 7th Woman” introduces us to La Crim, France’s top criminal investigation division and Nico Sirsky, who at 38 is the youngest Chief of Police in recent history. Except for a doctor’s appointment, it was supposed to be an ordinary crime solving week for Chief Sirsky. But that changed drastically when late afternoon, a brutal murder was reported. What followed was a journey to a rabbit hole of a criminal’s mind where Nico Sirsky was placed on a starring role by the killer.

Forensic science taking center at “The 7th Woman” is a given. Yet as Nico Sirsky and his team pursue the killer, the reader also sees Paris not through the eyes of a tourist but through the eyes of native. And though the crime scenes might be gruesome, the city of Paris remains beautiful and untouched by the brutality of the scenes.

And that is what makes this book standout! In this era of CSI and Law & Order, a good crime story is just a remote control away. Yet, Frédérique Molay as an author was able to separate the horrific side of the story from the beauty of the locale. It takes a special kind of storytelling to be able to achieve it! Even from a reader’s point of view, it was easy to see that Frédérique Molay loves Paris!

I have definitely found a new favorite author! And though I have read the English translation and loved it, I will definitely pick up the original French version.

Though I have been to France a number of times over the years and know quite a bit about the french culture, I admit to not knowing almost anything about their judicial and police system(come to think of it, I am kind of grateful for not having any first hand experience with the french police). Even though this is my favorite genre and I am frequently drawn to works of the authors from non-English speaking countries, again it dawned on me that I have not read much in terms of french crime/murder mystery novels. These are just some of the reasons I still feel the thrill of discovering this series by Frédérique Molay.

Chief of Police Nico Sirsky, may very well be one of my favorite male protagonists, right along with Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache. Though I had to wade my way through the complex (or simply new to me) police system (and Molay did a fantastic job explaining it), intricate and intriguing story in combination with fascinating characters completely won me over. Nico is a dedicated and brilliant policeman under a lot of stress and with a lot to prove, having become a Head of his unit at the age of 38. While juggling the never ending demands of his professional life and at the same trying to be there for his son, ex-wife and his family, Nico ends up having to play the game of cat and mouse with a devious and determined killer. The killer is on a mission to torture and in a gruesome way kill (not for the faint of heart) 7 women in 7 days. Nico and his team (my favorite being the criminal psychologist Dominique Kreiss) are forced to race against the clock to stop him.

This book is a must read for true lovers of psychological thrillers/murder mysteries/police procedurals, especially the ones who look to broaden their horizons past the north American writers and the predictability of the bestseller lists. The only drawback of this series (besides the fact that Nico is too dreamy to be 'true') is the fact that the English speaking market (a.k.a. me) will be continuously forced into patiently waiting for the translation of each new book published in France. Book #2, Crossing the line, is already on my "to read" list.

for me, the atmosphere and writing took time to settle into - it just felt derivative, but then, wow, it picked up steam and i was engrossed with the eerie mystery and the policemen who tracked it - there is a twist right up to the end, and we are engaged with the lead - i hope another one in the series will emerge.

This is a well-written, enjoyable book. I was slightly concerned at the beginning that the grim subject matter might be described too graphically. Molay, however, cleverly only gives broad details, but still manages convey to the reader the awfulness of the crimes. I am now looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Really enjoyed this police thriller. Didn't guess the killer until the end. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Le French Book have released some excellent French crime fiction, translated into English, of which THE 7TH WOMAN by Frédérique Molay is already an international bestseller. As the blurb puts it "Winner of France's prestigious Prix du Quai des Orfèvres prize for best crime fiction, named Best Crime Fiction Novel of the Year, and already an international bestseller with over 150,000 copies sold."

A police procedural built around Chief of Police Nico Sirsky, there is a serial killer stalking and killing women in a macabre and vicious manner. The connection between these woman is obscure, and seems to be pointing towards some highly specialised knowledge. Right into the heart of Sirsky's family. The pressure is further ramped up because this killer is leaving messages that indicate he's going to kill 7 women in 7 days. And it's up to Sirsky to catch him.

Despite the serial killer storyline having been done to death, there's aspects here that help lift it - the personal grudge of killer against cop isn't that surprising, although the pathways into making this a very personal investigation are unusual. The new love under threat aspect again isn't that new, but the complication of the ex-wife and the teenage son make for something a little different. The character of Sirsky is your classic divorced, lonely, suddenly smitten older man, who is balancing a complicated relationship with his ex-wife and teenage son. His attraction to a new love interest is touching and nicely balanced, even with some obvious threats and implications.

This is now sounding like there wasn't a lot to like about THE 7TH WOMAN which is very far from the truth. Around the predictable elements, this was a strong character study, and a solid procedural with a really involving and interesting supporting cast, and a very strong, central investigator of the rumpled, slightly lost type. For anybody interested in crime fiction from other locales, then the Paris Homicide series would be well worth looking for. THE 7TH WOMAN is the first book, followed by CROSSING THE LINE and, due for release in 2015, THE CITY OF BLOOD.

Fast paced and credible. There was an atmospheric feeling to the whole book - lots of easily formed visuals for me. Translation was seamless - it I didn't know better, I would have thought it was originally written in English. Crime fiction is not my genre' of choice, but the books I've gotten from Le French Book might just change my mind.

A disturbing story, with some macabre treatment of women by the serial killer. Believable characters and the author keeps the killers identity undisclosed for most of the book. As well, numerous red herrings point to other characters, so you are kept guessing and wanting to finish.
Authentic feel to the police procedures as well as the science and medical parts of the story.
Thoroughly recommended and as always seamlessly translated, such that you would never know this was an original French story.

The first in a series, so far of 3. I read this last, and am glad I did. I could not stop reading, way past bed time to finish! But it was a little to violent and descriptive for my tastes. There are good descriptions of Paris.

For this novel we have Anne Trager the translator to thank in a way. The book was set in Paris and originally written in French. Anne woke up one morning and decided that there were way too many good books written in French that needed to reach a broader audience. She therefore set up her own company with the motto "If we love it, we translate it".

This book has won several awards. If you love police procedurals then this book is for you.

It is well written and fast paced. I struggle to put it down and could easily have read it in one sitting. There are so many twists and turns and you are constantly left guessing. It is violent and gruesome but not in a way that would turn you away from reading it.

Nico Sirsky is the Head of the Paris Criminal Investigation Division. I warmed to him immediately; a strong character; good work ethics and a great investigator. There are a lot of strong characters in this book. If you have been to Paris before, which I have several times, you will be able to picture a lot of the settings in the book too. The book was well translated and nothing seems to have been lost in translation.
It is a nail biting thriller that will leave you guessing as to who the serial killer is until almost at the very end. I kept changing my mind on who I thought it would be. I look forward to reading more by this author. This is just book one in the series.