On a short tour around the City of Lights before he begins his investigation, Blackie becomes quite taken with a beautiful young woman, who despite her neat, clean appearance, is begging on the steps of St. Germain-des Pres. Almost impulsively, Blackie asks Marie-Bernadette to be his translator and guide through the social intricacies of the city. Luckily for Blackie, he is a good, quick judge of character. Marie Bernadette proves not only to be an excellent translator and guide, but an enthusiastic gumshoe detective. Together, the two navigate the Roman Catholic beauracracy, the suspicious French police and witnesses no more anxious to talk to Blackie than they are the authorities. Nonetheless they quickly and rather easily piece together the very unusual mystery.

The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain may not be the charismatic Bishop's finest hour, yet Blackie remains an endearing hero. Marie-Bernadette is a very likable young lady that readers will take a shine to as quickly as Blackie does. She is very genuine and modest, yet she is more than willing to roll up her sleeves and dig right into the investigation alongside Blackie.

The plot is very clever and includes several unexpected twists and turns and a very controversial topic in the Catholic Church today. The story is a little too short, the ending a little too rushed, leaving the reader wishing for more detail. The city is well drawn, proving a thoroughly researched backdrop. Fans of Blackie's Ryan will not want to miss this outing which will tide them over until the next, but newcomers to the series would do well to start with an earlier outing.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry