Two books revisit the unsolved 1949 murder of Louise Cansot

Louise Cansot, a Paris artists’ model whose 1949 murder was quickly left unsolved, has become the subject of two books. Philippe Jaenada’s novel about her won this year’s Prix Goncourt, bringing renewed attention to a case in which police and newspapers judged Cansot’s character instead of pursuing the investigation thoroughly.

Luc Corlouër had researched Cansot for decades and shared his material with Jaenada in an agreement that both writers could publish their very different books. Cansot moved from Brittany to Paris at 16, modelled for Montparnasse artists and later worked as a film extra, waiter and dancer; she was also raising a young daughter. Her body was found on the Quai du Javel on 7 September 1949, and police closed the case four months later without identifying her killer.