cwt88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Like both Adamsberg books before it, this one isn't your standard murder mystery. The intrigue for the first half of the book, like with Chalk Circle Man, is what the weird, ominous goings-on mean. There's no murder for quite some time. Vargas has a great skill of making us empathise with Adamsberg's misgivings about events that more logical characters write off as silly pranks. And like Seeking Whom He May Devour, there's more focus on other characters for at least the first few chapters (although it's not quite so disconnected from Adamsberg as that novel). This novel also has an interesting ending that's very at odds with your standard 'eureka' moment or climactic action scene where the criminal reveals themselves, which kept it feeling fresh compared to the two previous books. There's a really interesting mix of mystery elements, from backstories to literature and history to the murders themselves.
I did struggle to really care about most of the characters, especially Adamsberg, in this one. I liked him in Chalk Circle Man, in a kind of weird, eccentric way, and Seeking Whom He May Devour gave him quite a heroic entrance where he swooped in and showed his genius. He just seemed a bit unlikeable here. The interplay of methodology demonstrated between him and Danglard, which is what separated Chalk Circle Man from other oddball detectives like Columbo, also felt quite absent, with Danglard basically being relegated to menial tasks while Adamsberg wandered around musing. I thought it was also quite odd that Vargas had gone to such lengths to introduce Camille as a character in the previous book (to the point of seeming like she might be a new main character, after the 8 year gap writing about other detectives after the first Adamsberg novel) to give her basically no voice in this one, despite being present.
There were glimmers of interesting new characters in some of Adamsberg's new team and other colleagues, and I liked some of the characters involved with the mystery (who were generally explored well), but there wasn't a lot of time to develop all of the different things going on: mystery-adjacent cast, new department, Three Evangelists (who seemed like interesting and well-rounded characters, but I haven't read those books so was a little confused), and Adamsberg's personal life. Certain things felt rushed and others felt like they were dwelt on too long and I wanted to get back to the mystery.
To sum up, the mystery bits of the book were great: weird, twisting, intriguing, slightly gothic, interesting cast, and well-paced and structured in an interesting way that isn't just 'murder, investigation, reveal'. But the 'umberella' character work and B-plots that Vargas sets up felt all over the place in quality and pacing.
I did struggle to really care about most of the characters, especially Adamsberg, in this one. I liked him in Chalk Circle Man, in a kind of weird, eccentric way, and Seeking Whom He May Devour gave him quite a heroic entrance where he swooped in and showed his genius. He just seemed a bit unlikeable here. The interplay of methodology demonstrated between him and Danglard, which is what separated Chalk Circle Man from other oddball detectives like Columbo, also felt quite absent, with Danglard basically being relegated to menial tasks while Adamsberg wandered around musing. I thought it was also quite odd that Vargas had gone to such lengths to introduce Camille as a character in the previous book (to the point of seeming like she might be a new main character, after the 8 year gap writing about other detectives after the first Adamsberg novel) to give her basically no voice in this one, despite being present.
There were glimmers of interesting new characters in some of Adamsberg's new team and other colleagues, and I liked some of the characters involved with the mystery (who were generally explored well), but there wasn't a lot of time to develop all of the different things going on: mystery-adjacent cast, new department, Three Evangelists (who seemed like interesting and well-rounded characters, but I haven't read those books so was a little confused), and Adamsberg's personal life. Certain things felt rushed and others felt like they were dwelt on too long and I wanted to get back to the mystery.
To sum up, the mystery bits of the book were great: weird, twisting, intriguing, slightly gothic, interesting cast, and well-paced and structured in an interesting way that isn't just 'murder, investigation, reveal'. But the 'umberella' character work and B-plots that Vargas sets up felt all over the place in quality and pacing.
berthouille's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thegel's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emoust's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
okenwillow's review against another edition
5.0
Fred Vargas est archéologue de métier, spécialisée dans le Moyen-âge. Ce qui explique peut-être une certaine rigueur dans le récit, une précision, un soucis du détail qui nous plongent d’emblée dans son histoire. C’est le premier roman que je lis d’elle, et certainement pas le dernier. Dès les premières pages j’ai accroché au style sec, clair et concis, aux dialogues tout aussi précis, plein d’humour et parfois surréalistes. Les personnages sont vite attachants, l’histoire se met en place habilement, peu à peu, et le dénouement nous réserve quelques surprises. Excellent donc, une découverte qui donne envie de lire ses autres livres.
elisala's review against another edition
4.0
Un excellent livre, où ce qui compte le plus, ce n'est pas vraiment l'intrigue policière, mais bien les personnages et leur bizarre caractère, leurs dialogues tordus mais drôles.
Une écriture à dix milles lieues des polars classiques, se rapprochant des polars-qui-ne-se-prennent-pas-au-sérieux, type Le Poulpe.
C'était mon premier Fred Vargas, et mon seul regret est d'avoir commencé par celui-là, les suivants m'ont paru bien moins renversants, du coup...
Une écriture à dix milles lieues des polars classiques, se rapprochant des polars-qui-ne-se-prennent-pas-au-sérieux, type Le Poulpe.
C'était mon premier Fred Vargas, et mon seul regret est d'avoir commencé par celui-là, les suivants m'ont paru bien moins renversants, du coup...
leasaurusrex's review against another edition
4.0
Voici que j'achève la lecture de mon premier Fred Vargas, alors que le polar n'est ni ma tasse de thé, ni ma zone de confort.
Mais l'autrice réussit là où beaucoup ont échoué selon moi.
Une plume agréable à lire, une histoire aussi sombre et compliquée que simple et émouvante, des personnages qui sortent des clichés, hauts en couleurs, touchants et attachants... Et puis ce souci du détail, ces informations bien distillées, la véracité des faits historiques (sans doute due au premier métier de l'autrice), le tout concorde pour faire de ce roman quelque chose d'agréable à lire.
Contrairement à d'autres livres du genre, celui-ci ne s'embarrasse pas de détails de plus en plus scabreux et de l'escalade dans l'horreur, non, il prend l'enquête presque comme un prétexte pour donner la part belle à tous ces personnages qui gravitent autour, et c'est rafraîchissant.
Une belle découverte.
Mais l'autrice réussit là où beaucoup ont échoué selon moi.
Une plume agréable à lire, une histoire aussi sombre et compliquée que simple et émouvante, des personnages qui sortent des clichés, hauts en couleurs, touchants et attachants... Et puis ce souci du détail, ces informations bien distillées, la véracité des faits historiques (sans doute due au premier métier de l'autrice), le tout concorde pour faire de ce roman quelque chose d'agréable à lire.
Contrairement à d'autres livres du genre, celui-ci ne s'embarrasse pas de détails de plus en plus scabreux et de l'escalade dans l'horreur, non, il prend l'enquête presque comme un prétexte pour donner la part belle à tous ces personnages qui gravitent autour, et c'est rafraîchissant.
Une belle découverte.
stinajohanns's review against another edition
3.0
It was interesting to a read a book that somehow seemed to happen in a totally different time from what it really does. It had a medieval feel and yet it's a contemporary story. Some of the characters are also quite interesting but the book is still lacking something to really drive the story. I was interested to see what was going on but not overly excited. And I didn't quite connect with Adamsberg.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
This is a very enjoyable series set in the streets of Paris with a lead detective Commisaire Adamsberg who defies crime writing conventions.
Here a 'town crier' delivers messages in the local square of which are cryptic references to past plagues whilst in apartments across the city doors are marked with a backwards 4. When Adamsberg is notified his curiosity about an apparent non crime is triggered but as head of newly created murder squad it is unclear why he is involved.
The subsequent story is enjoyable with twists and turns, colourful characters , and an ending that was satisfying. With question marks over the detectives love life and very readable plots I don't think it will be long until I read the next book.
Here a 'town crier' delivers messages in the local square of which are cryptic references to past plagues whilst in apartments across the city doors are marked with a backwards 4. When Adamsberg is notified his curiosity about an apparent non crime is triggered but as head of newly created murder squad it is unclear why he is involved.
The subsequent story is enjoyable with twists and turns, colourful characters , and an ending that was satisfying. With question marks over the detectives love life and very readable plots I don't think it will be long until I read the next book.
jacopocrimi's review against another edition
3.0
Nice, easy to read, and entertaining, with interesting and funny descriptions of the somewhat unconventional main character: Commisssaire Adamsberg