Random House are really pushing Dagger winner Vargas' next book, 'Wash this Blood Clean from My Hand', including a promotion through Book2Book.com.Synopsis from amazon.co.uk:
"Between 1943 and 2003, nine people have been stabbed to death with a most unusual weapon: a trident. In each case, arrests were made, suspects confessed their crime and were sentenced to life in prison. One slightly worrying detail: the presumed murderers lost consciousness during the night of the crime and have no recollection of it. Commissaire Adamsberg is convinced all the murders are the work of one person, the terrifying Judge Fulgence. Years before, Adamsberg's own brother had been the principal suspect in a similar case and avoided prison only thanks to Adamsberg's help. History repeats itself when Adamsberg, who is temporarily based in Quebec for a training mission, is accused of having savagely murdered a young woman he had met. In order to prove his innocence, Adamsberg must go on the run from the Canadian police and find Judge Fulgence."
If you can't wait until 4 Jan 2007, you can try and order an advance reading copy here (UK only) and I'm also hoping to have a competition on the blog/website.
Incidentally the Continental Crimewave site I posted about recently has now been updated.
If you've not come across the fab Fred Vargas before, I've reviewed two of the three titles currently available in English on the Euro Crime website: 'The Three Evangelists' and 'Seeking Whom He May Devour'.
'The Three Evangelists' won the inaugural Duncan Lawrie International Dagger earlier this year.
7 comments:
Thanks for the reading copy tip, Karen, have attempted it!
Fred Vargas was recommended to me in my "10 favourite detective novels" comments, so I am definitely interested in reading her. Thanks for the review and info about her other books.
You won't regret trying Vargas. Also Dead Horsemeat by Dominique Manotti is well worth seeking out.
Just to say thanks again - I did get the reading copy the other day. Norman of Crime Scraps did too, and has posted a review.
Thanks again.
I've looked at your reviews but am a bit confused as to which order to read them in -- is this one a standalone? Can you recommend a reading order for the translated books so far?
Thanks!
The order of the books is, I believe:
Superintendent Adamsberg series -
Seeking Whom He May Devour (no.2)
Have Mercy on Us All (no.3)
Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand (no.5)
The Three Evangelists can be read as a standalone but it may be the middle of a loosely linked trilogy. According to a French website - "et si vous avez apprécié ses trois historiens, vous pouvez les retrouver dans Ceux qui vont Mourir te Saluent ainsi que dans Un peu plus Loin sur la Droite."
Thanks, Karen, very helpful.
all best
Maxine.
What is the French title of "
Wash this blood clean from my hand"
Thanks
Hi Laura - it's "Sous les Vents de Neptune". The original titles and the translated versions are listed on Euro Crime's Fred Vargas page.
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