A body is found that belongs to a suicide. The man had willed his body to science. When working on the head, a dental student finds that along with other well taken care of teeth, one has a poorly done filling. The filling looks like it was done by an amateur and sticks out like “a sour thumb”. While probing the tooth the student finds that it contains a piece of plastic. On the plastic is written “I was murdered”.

Chief Nico Sirsky and his team of CID detectives are called in by the coroner. This is no longer a suicide, but a murder investigation. Painstakingly peeling away one layer at a time the detectives of CID begin to see a pattern. But one of the clues led them to a man who is supposed to be dead. So is this a student practical joke? The question that keeps coming from everyone involved in the case is how did the man know that someone would try to kill him? That is what makes this case so difficult for everyone.

At the same time Nico and his lover are just getting to know each other as they spend more and more time together. Nico’s fourteen year old son is thrilled with his dad’s new girlfriend, she even helps him with his homework. Nico is also worried about his ex-wife who seems to have disappeared. He’s afraid that she may have done something drastic, and he fears the effect that her death would have on their son.

Molay is slowly building the major and minor characters who will appears in each of the books in the series. She’s molding them into separate people who have lives, loves and families. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series that’s do-out this fall.

Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com

Crossing the Line by Frederique Molay. Published by La French Book.

June 16, 2014 by cayocosta72 Leave a comment

It may be Christmas in Paris, but police chief Nico Sirsky is back hard at work, after recovering from a gunshot. His most pressing case involves the discovery of a tooth with a message in it, found in a severed head. Could this all be some elaborate hoax? Unfortunately for Sirsky it’s no joke, it’s cold blooded murder, and if he can’t untangle this one, there will be more death for the Yuletide.
This series just gets better as Sirsky continues to grow and evolve. Highly recommended.

Frederique Molay along with the excellent translation by Anne Trager has scored another success in this wonderful police procedural featuring Nico Sirsky. While I still prefer the first book in the Paris Homicide Mystery series THE 7th WOMAN and suggest that it be read first (but not absolutely necessary ), this book, the second in the series has an ingenious original plot. A body donated for research is discovered to contain a statement from the dead , the man that in life inhabited this corpse. The deceased states from the grave states that he was murdered. The death had been attributed to suicide. It is up to Nico Sirsky and his associates to determine what the truth is.

The first book in the series was one of my top ten reads of 2013 and this book will most likely be among the outstanding mysteries on my list for 2014.

Writing/Translation 5 out of 5 Plot 5 out of 5 Character Development 4.5

Book Average 4.8

Full Disclosure :ARC was provided by publisher gratis without any expectations or recompense

awesome book

Crossing the Line is the second in the Inspector Nico Sirsky, Paris Homicide, series, following on from “The 7th Woman.” When we meet up with Inspector Sirsky again he is still recovering from the gunshot wound he received three months before, at the end of “The 7th Woman.” Now happily involved with Caroline, the woman of his dreams who he also met in the first book, Nico also has sole custody of his son, Dimitri. However, his ex-wife Sylvie, who also featured in the first novel , has now disappeared. One of the things I enjoy about this series is now Nico, and his colleagues, have normal human lives and problems – one member of the team has recently become a father for the first time, another is widowed, Christmas is looming and people are thinking of the holiday season.

However, Nico’s plans for Christmas are about to be disrupted by a new, and complex, case. Dental students are working on donated body parts at the Paris Descartes University – a flagship medical school - when a piece of plastic is found in the filling of a subject. On it are the words, “I was murdered.” Is it a bizarre prank by medical students or a real crime? Nico is currently investigating a jewellery heist of eighty five million euro’s of booty, plus he has to turn his attention to this surreal case. It appears the victim committed suicide, but did he, or was he actually killed? This really is a well plotted and fast moving mystery, with a really original ending.

I found the first book in this series concentrated a little too much on Nico’s personal life. Although that is, obviously, still part of the story – this book seems to concentrate more on the crime aspect of the plot and is much the better for it. This is certainly a series I will continue reading – great location, characters and original crimes. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

A very good book that is even better than the first in the series 'the Seventh Woman'. Can't wait to read the one in the series.

Sorry forgot to add star review!

Another fascinating case for Nico Sirsky with an original and engaging opening. Perhaps not as immediately gripping and stomach-churning as The Seventh Woman, the first in the series, this novel evolves and interests in a more subtle way and keeps the reader turning the pages to discover the next twist and turn of the plot. I look forward to reading more of the Parisian detective in this engrossing series.

Crossing the Line by Frédérique Molay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received Crossing the Line as an eArc through NetGalley. It is the 2nd in a series based in Paris that follows a police officer, Nico Sirsky. In this book we get more of a glimpse into Nico's everyday life but our introduction to him and his family happens in the first novel, The 7th Woman. We meet his great team and follow each of the members as they investigate a great mystery. In Crossing the Line a group of dental students in Paris find a note under a tooth and this leads us to a great mystery that unfolds into something the reader does not see coming. Although we get to see a bit into the lives of the other officers on Nico's team I wish we had more character development for Nico and at least 1 or 2 of the other team members. I am especially interested in seeing more of Anya's life and hopefully one of the future books will allow us to see them in Russia.

In Crossing the Line we are faced with a question. We have to ask ourselves the same question that the antagonist is faced with to see if we would come up with the same answer. How far is too far? Do we know the answer or does it change if we are put in the position and have to face it ourselves? I still had the feeling of not being in the place with the story. It might be that this is a translation to American English but there does not seem to be the feeling that I am in Paris walking along the streets with Nico and his team. It feels more like only being told about it. I'm hoping the next book gives more of a feeling of being there and I look forward to reading it!

Top-notch police procedural. Tight writing, instantly engrossing. This is book 2 in a series; for the most part book one isn't "needed" to read this one, but there are echoes of book 1 that would make the details here all fit nicely. The characters are well-drawn, the relationships complex yet clear, and of course, the knowledge of Paris is absolute. The Chief of Police is our protagonist. First, a jewel-thieving ring must be brought down, then the oddest thing you have ever heard: a man who donated his body to science has a false, very ugly crown in place that reveals a message: "I was murdered." Of course, the owner of the tooth does not name his killer. As it unwinds, this crazy mystery and its unlikely clues does indeed become compelling, and odd details crop up, leading the fingers point towards a suspect. Good stuff.

Loaded with suspense the plot immediately snares the readers attention. All the behind the scenes movement brilliantly brought to the readers fingertips allowing plausibility and authenticity to add impact to a wonderful narrative. We are privy to the minute workings of the French police with complete procedural details depicted in combination with the coroner's office. Interesting to see how France operates compared to other novels set in different countries. The impeccable details, well developed characters and a stellar narrative all create a suspenseful thrilling series. Molay certainly demonstrates his gift of riveting authorship.

Outstanding translation on Anne Trager's part. Her contribution and talent stole zilch away from Molay's prose and intent. You felt nothing was lost in translation as most works suffer. The team of Molay and Trager works well and I hope it continues long after the series concludes.

You feel warmth towards Police Chief Nico Sirsky. A man with a heart, caring for those he interacts with - personally and professionally. Molay gives a very intimate glimpse into Sirsky's personal life and strife. You can't help developing an emotional relationship with this well structured and exposed character.

Highly recommend this fast paced exciting thriller full of suspense and intrigue. Will be adding Molay's future books in this series without a doubt to my reading list. Well presented all the way around, no surprise it's not immune to acclaim in France, excellent.

I enjoyed Crossing the Line. It’s an English translation of a French mystery published in 2011. The translator did a very good job. Everything flows nice and smoothly. It doesn’t read like a translation, but it still has the feel of a French book. The description of life in Paris is very authentic, and it makes you want to visit and experience the streets, shops, sights, and everyday events.

The story also flows very smoothly. It starts with a message found buried inside an intentionally badly filled molar. This is discovered by dental students learning surgery. They were working on a head from a body that was recently donated to science. The body was an apparent suicide, but the message said “I was murdered”. Nico Sirsky and his team of detectives start with this puzzle and slowly follow a trail of evidence, information from interviews, and other clues. They discover murders that were ruled accidents and suicides. The closer they get, the more bodies they find. Everything is very logical and reasonable. There are plot twists and surprises, but nothing feels implausible.

The characters are interesting and believable. Ms. Molay is building a base of appealing characters. As this series continues, I expect that she will fill them out even more. Chief of Police, Nico Sirsky, is a multifaceted person. He is an injured policeman trying to return to his job, a divorced father with a son living with him, and a man who is in love with a woman. He has to combine his work and home-life. and keep everything moving forward.

I give Crossing the Line 4 Stars out of and a Thumbs Up. If you would like a glimpse of Parisian life, combined with a good, logical police procedural, this is the book for you. Everything works, nice and smooth.

I received this book for free from NetGalley and the publisher, Le French Book, in return for an honest review.

**3.5 Stars**

Overall, Crossing the Line was an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes! I look forward to picking up the first book in this series and The City of Blood which comes out January 18th, 2015! If you want to read a great mystery book that isn't extremely predictable than I suggest picking this up!

Full review can be found on my blog: Bookish Wanderlove

The second book in the Paris Homicide series, Crossing the Line was a can't-wait-for-next-page read! Chief Niko Sirsky is in the middle of the action once again. With the help of his new love interest, Caroline, he is slowly recuperating from a leg injury. Although he is not a 100% he is thrown in the middle of a jewel heist and investigate the meaning behind body parts that appear. This book gave me the chills, the pace was so quick and the mystery was scary.

Molay is a very good writer. She knows how to keep the readers anticipating and intrigued with the mystery. Molay really keeps readers intrigued as Nico has a talent for balancing all the mishaps, making them seem believable and keeping the reader wanting to turn the next page. Fast-pace, scary and exciting

I didn't read the first in the series, but it is not necessary. It's a very good book, a well written story from the beginning to the end.

Read my review of the first book in the Paris Homicide series, The 7th Woman, here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I was pleasantly surprised by Frédérique Molay's second entry in her Paris Homicide series, Crossing the Line. Molay's writing flowed much more smoothly and was more assured, and the jarring word choices I noted in the first book were happily missing from this one. The mystery, launched when dental students discover a message hidden in the tooth of a cadaver, was riveting, and, unlike The 7th Woman, the identity and motivation of the killer were not readily apparent.

Overall, Crossing the Line was a good mystery which left me interested in reading the next in the series, The City of Blood.

I received a free copy of Crossing the Line through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An unusual idea for a story but as it is a homicide story then anything goes. Although the plot is a bit fanciful and the story takes some bizarre twists and turns the deductions were reasonably logical to follow and ultimately believe, In saying all of that I enjoyed the book and it was a fairly 'easy' read that passed a couple of hours.

The second in the series is even better than the first. This is a great read.

Crossing the Line (Paris Homicide #2)
by Frédérique Molay, Anne Trager Translation from the original French... this seamlessly translated novel is as good as the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Set in Paris with significant cultural markers and historical artifacts. A circumstantial body find takes place in a medical school in Paris. The donated body has it secrets which were not found until numerous classes and procedures were done to the body. The dismembered body hides the clues to two other murders. Chief Nico has to work through the evidence to find his murderer.

It is a trilling adventure in a world people spend a life time dreaming about. The city of love, the historical ambiance adds significantly to the story.

4 STARS

"It's Christmas in Paris. Chief of Police Nico Sirsky returns to work after recovering from a gunshot wound. He's in love and raring to go. His first day back has him overseeing a jewel heist sting and taking on an odd investigation. Dental students discovered a message in the tooth of a severed head. Is it a sick joke? Sirsky and his team of crack homicide detectives follow the clues from an apparent suicide to an apparent accident to an all-out murder as an intricate machination starts breaking down. Just how far can despair push a man? How clear is the line between good and evil?" (From Amazon)

I am really enjoying this suspense series set in Paris. The second book had me from the beginning and I followed all the twists and turns and loved this books. Molay is great at weaving suspense and Nico's personal life. Ready for book three.

Now all of my friends will tell you that I am way more likely to end up infatuated with a book (or occasionally a film) character then an actual celebrity. I know, it's a problem. One I actually enjoy and do not plan on trying to get rid of. Frédérique Molay's first book in the Paris Homicide series, the 7th Woman, left me me not only incredibly infatuated with Chief of Police Nico Sirsky but also overwhelmed with impatience and anticipation of the second book. Le French Book, fabulous as they are, put me out of my misery by providing me with a review copy, so now I promise to love them forever and ever. (though that doesn't mean that my book feedback will be anything but completely honest) I devoured the book as soon as I got it but ended up waiting a little bit to share my thoughts on it because I didn't want to expose goodreads members to that level of my hyperactivity.

So Chief Sirsky (or Mr. Dreamy to me) and his team are back. Still recovering physically and emotionally from the complications of the case from [book:The 7th Woman|17452986], Nico is back at it full force both on the work and home fronts. While his romantic life is blossoming(oh lucky Caroline), his professional one will leave him once again trying to balance between the demands of the investigative work and the delicate act of keeping the "big bosses" happy. While trying to master the techniques of a wisdom tooth surgery in one of their classes, a group of dental students make an unexpected discovery - a message hidden in the tooth they are working on. Now it's up to Nico and his team to figure out whether it's only a prank or something much more sinister. Once the police start pulling on that thread what ends up unraveling will leave you on the edge of your sit and unable to put this book down.

It's not just because this is my favorite genre that I am so taken with this book and the series so far. (nor is it because Mr. Dreamy) Molay knows how to create intriguing mind puzzle style cases but she also has an uncanny ability to make you emotionally invested and attached to the main character. Each book teaches a bit more about the investigative and forensic procedures in France but it also shares just enough of Nico's private life and his relationship with each one of his family members. The only drawback of allowing myself to get hooked on the Paris Homicide series is the fact that once again I find myself frustrated because now I'll probably have to wait for quite a while for the book number three. In the meantime I'm considering starting a support group for all the other incurable series' addicts.

Firstly, I have to say that I preferred this book that I find better than the first one. And how is it better you may ask? I thought it was better mastered. The plot that I found a little too easy in The 7th Woman, is more complicated here. The story is more original. Admittedly, the message "I was killed" in the tooth of a severed head is pretty original, thank you!

I also appreciated that the mystery of Sirsky's ex-wife disappearance is elucidated. She disappeared at the end of The 7th Woman and I was wondering what happened to her (even though her ​​character quickly becomes secondary and that her disappearance allows Nico to delve into his relationship with Caroline). This speaks for the attention to detail of the author that I really appreciate.

Let's talk details, Crossing the Line is full of it and it's Frédérique Molay's strength who knows how to provide us with a maximum of details without weighting down the story. We follow and understand the investigation and the different procedures either if they relate to autopsies or to the relationship between the different branches of justice. This attention to detail allows me to understand the French system, much more complex than I thought. For those who have seen the excellent series Engrenages (or Spiral in Canada), we can find the same atmosphere, the same conviviality, the same quality of detail. I also enjoyed getting to know the landscape of Paris and the (open) secret passages in the buildings.

The team is as friendly as before, the characters always as well written and vivid. We follow their evolution, as if we were part of the team. One is a new dad, the other seeks his Christmas presents. It's nice, as when we have some news about friends we haven't seen for some time. Nico's family is less present (even if we meet them back over a nice dinner) and the story focuses more on Nico's son and his girlfriend Caroline but do not mind, it's the next step, after the presentation of the characters in the first book.

In a nutshell

A story that reads very quickly, a quality of detail that gives us the impression of being in the heart of the investigation, a staff as friendly as before whom we enjoy to spend some time with, it's a 4/5 for me.

Really good read with wonderful details of Paris ,France.
Imaginative police procedural.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review which I'm happy to provide. Crossing the Line is translated from the French perfectly; absolutely nothing is lost in the translation. The setting of Paris at Christmas time is beautifully done and well-depicted in English; there is absolutely no awkwardness or clunkiness about the text. The premise of the story is fascinating: a cadaver at a medical college is found with a message inserted in a tooth that precipitates a police investigation. The book starts out slowly, perhaps because it is the second in a series and is updating the reader about characters met, and known well, from the first book. In any event by about a third of the way into the book, the story becomes really good. Readers will find it impossible to put the book down. I accomplished little else on the Sunday that I read this book and would gladly read another in this series. Highly recommend!

Nico Sirsky is back and hits the ground running (literally and figuratively) after his protracted leave while recovering from a gunshot. A touch restless and ready to reclaim his position in the Chief’s office at the Parisian headquarters. Life is better now than it was in our first encounter, his relationship with his ex-wife is settled, and his teenaged son is now living with him full-time, giving him a sense of family and connection to the boy that he worried was damaged irreparably during the divorce.

Caroline is also much more of a presence in this book, and her character is far more developed: the relationship with Nico is developing and solidifying: she still has her own residence, but she spends more time with Nico and Dmitri. While the relationships take a less prominent role than in the previous book, they are used to great effect to ground Nico, keep him a bit more ‘real’, showing the layers and worries that often interrupt his thoughts.

It is coming up on Christmas, and dental students who use donated cadavers for practice and learning come upon a note in a filling. Simply etched on the plastic are the words, “I was murdered”. Not sure if this was a prank or portent of more, the toothy note pushes the current investigation of a massive jewel theft to the back burner. Determining if the message was actually truth, or simply a strange suicide, Nico begins to uncover a series of clues that seem to connect several murders, and the twists just keep on coming.

Molay does manage to keep readers intrigued with increasingly unusual clues, twists and some tension back in the office with other members of Nico’s team. Life has continued on, despite a new baby for one officer and a spouse’s death, scrambling for moments to prepare for the holiday, and the ever-present search for a killer. Honest and gritty descriptions are not always for the faint of heart, and for readers who enjoy procedurals, this mystery will keep them satisfied. Most certainly a read in one sitting title, but I did need the lights on later.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I liked this police procedural set in Paris. Paris was well portrayed as was the differences in police work in France and the U.S. It is the second in series, and I recommend reading The 7th Woman first. I just stared reading The 7th Woman. The crimes are also interesting.

French police procedural set in Paris. Very authentic background and comprehensive understanding of their justice system.

Enjoyable, fast paced and, for once , the hero is not a Jack Reacher type superman, but seems to actually behave like a real policeman!

Recommended reading and I would definitely read more work by this author.

I have read all three of Ms. Molay's books and I enjoyed this one the most. All of them are intriguing, fast paced and have very interesting plot lines. The translation is excellent. The wording is never stilted.

This is excellent writing for a good police story. It's not hard boiled like many American policiers but it is straightforward and moves along at a great clip. I find them hard to put down. And, as with all good series, one begins to have a fondness for the main characters. The love story is just enough and doesn't overwhelm or distract from the plot line or become the plot line.

At the moment I live in Paris and happen to live right across the river from 36, Quai des Orfevres. I have walked by it several times and thought of Nico and his love of the history of the Paris police and his pride at being a good policeman. Anyone who loves Paris is going to enjoy a good story but also find it wonderful to recognize all the streets and places mentioned in the book.

I am hoping Ms Molay continues this Paris Homicide series.

Crossing the Line was just the kind of mystery to curl up and binge read ... it's that good. Looking forward to more from this author.

I have really enjoyed this book which I could not put down. It has a plot that keeps you guessing to the end. It has been very sympathetically translated into English.

I received this ebook free from the publisher through NetGalley.com. I enjoyed reading this mystery. It started with an interesting clue--found in the tooth of a dead man. Chief of "La Crim"--Criminal Investigative Division, Nico Sirsky gets the case and proceeds to unravel the mysterious death using his skilled team. While Sirsky is the main character, solving the crime is very much a team effort, unlike Harry Bosch in Michael Connelly's Bosch series. There is a blurb on the front cover calling the author "The French Michael Connelly." In reality, police investigations are more of a team effort than lone detectives like Bosch..
I thought that the translation into English was very good. According to a book end note, the translator, is the founder of a company specializing in publishing translations of French. books. This book was a good pick, and I will have to read book 1 of the series. This read ok as a stand alone