The novel begins with two apparently unrelated plotlines. Guerin, a Parisian detective, is investigating what he believes to be suspicious circumstances relating to a string of suicides, all the while struggling with (not unfounded) accusations from colleagues that these links exist only in his troubled mind. Meanwhile John Nichols, an American hippy with an academic past, is called to Paris to identify the body of Alan Mustgrave, who died during his own S&M routine. Inevitably the two men collide, as Guerin turns his attention to Mustgrave’s suspicious demise.
The novel, translated by Sian Reynolds, is brisk and well written, making up in detail what it lacks in humour. There are plenty of fascinating characters here, not least the two leads, but also an ex-con Parisian park keeper and an apparently dim-witted junior officer. Varenne doesn’t worry too hard about making these figures likeable, but he does make them morbidly believeable.
