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Book Review: Author Pierre Lemaitre pens another tale for the crime lovers
Translated in English by Frank Wynne, this book is yet another crime novel by author Pierre Lemaitre who is famous for writing the Camille series.
After getting a taste of the fast-paced Camille Crime Series, this comes as quite a slow-paced story. The book is set in 1999, in a small French village Beauval, and revolves around 12-year-old Antoine, his group of friends, his mother, and his unhappiness over a distant father.
Antoine is clearly facing a dilemma of choosing between a path set up by his mother’s uprightness and moral values and the materialistic trail of extravagant gifts from his father. His unhappy childhood is clearly burdened, and little Antoine is not able to get comfortable with his peer group.
Antoine‘s world abruptly changes when his neighbour’s dog, Ulysses is killed and he is unable to overcome this grief. In a fit of momentary rage, Antoine ends up killing Remi — his neighbour’s 6 year-old-son. The subsequent events involve the whole town initiating a manhunt to find the child, even as Antoine clearly struggles to live with the truth.
Eventually, Antoine moves out of his town and life moves on for everyone. But Antoine’s eventual move back to Beauval, once again leaves him in a state of constantly making adjustments with his life and facing his fears.The twists and surprising characteristics of Pierre Lemaitre are somewhat missing in this book. So, the end could leave you wanting for more.
Overall, a one-time read with a glass of nimbu-paani, to relish both the sweetness and saltiness of the plot.
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