Book Review - Irène by Pierre Lemaitre
Title: Irène (originally Travail soigné)
Author: Pierre Lemaitre
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Pages: 398 pages
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Buy It Now: https://amzn.to/2K94IeY
(note: this is an affiliate link)
Goodreads Blurb:
For Commandant Verhoeven life is beautiful: he is happily married, expecting his first child with the lovely Irène.
But his blissful existence is punctured by a murder of unprecedented savagery. Worse still, the press seem to have it in for him – his every move is headline news. When he discovers that the killer has killed before – that each murder is a homage to a classic crime novel – the fourth estate are quick to coin a nickname…The Novelist…
With both men in the public eye, the case develops into a personal duel, each hell-bent on outsmarting the other. There can only be one winner – whoever has the least to lose…
My Thoughts:
If you had asked me before I picked this novel up what the most brutal book I've ever read was, my answer would have been immediate: American Psycho. And I would have thought it would be nearly impossible to top it. What could possibly be devastatingly gruesome than Bret Easton Ellis' detailed and violent depiction of the murders of prostitutes and colleagues? Turns out, a novel that pays homage to some of the most grisly murders in literature is a good starting point. Lemaitre manages to take one of Easton Ellis's most disturbing scenes, and turns the brutality dial up to 11. This book is dark, horrifying and disgusting, yet I couldn't put it down.
The cat and mouse game between Verhoeven and "The Novelist" is tense and anxiety-inducing from the very beginning. Verhoeven is a smart, captivating protagonist and one the reader can't help but rooting for, even when he missteps. Every character is distinct and interesting, both on their own and in their relationships with Camille. The writing manages to be wryly humorous at times despite the horrific backdrop, in a way that makes everything that much more shocking. Every part of this love letter to crime fiction is perfectly crafted to keep the reader glued to the page.
As much as I could rave about this book for ages, this really is a novel that's best enjoyed with as little information as possible. There are so many delicious, unique twists and turns. This is definitely one of the most compelling thrillers I've read recently, and going in with no knowledge of what to expect made it that much harder to put down. Suffice to say that this novel is absolutely worth picking up, though reader beware: you're in for a grisly ride.
Author: Pierre Lemaitre
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Pages: 398 pages
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Buy It Now: https://amzn.to/2K94IeY
(note: this is an affiliate link)
Goodreads Blurb:
For Commandant Verhoeven life is beautiful: he is happily married, expecting his first child with the lovely Irène.
But his blissful existence is punctured by a murder of unprecedented savagery. Worse still, the press seem to have it in for him – his every move is headline news. When he discovers that the killer has killed before – that each murder is a homage to a classic crime novel – the fourth estate are quick to coin a nickname…The Novelist…
With both men in the public eye, the case develops into a personal duel, each hell-bent on outsmarting the other. There can only be one winner – whoever has the least to lose…
My Thoughts:
If you had asked me before I picked this novel up what the most brutal book I've ever read was, my answer would have been immediate: American Psycho. And I would have thought it would be nearly impossible to top it. What could possibly be devastatingly gruesome than Bret Easton Ellis' detailed and violent depiction of the murders of prostitutes and colleagues? Turns out, a novel that pays homage to some of the most grisly murders in literature is a good starting point. Lemaitre manages to take one of Easton Ellis's most disturbing scenes, and turns the brutality dial up to 11. This book is dark, horrifying and disgusting, yet I couldn't put it down.
The cat and mouse game between Verhoeven and "The Novelist" is tense and anxiety-inducing from the very beginning. Verhoeven is a smart, captivating protagonist and one the reader can't help but rooting for, even when he missteps. Every character is distinct and interesting, both on their own and in their relationships with Camille. The writing manages to be wryly humorous at times despite the horrific backdrop, in a way that makes everything that much more shocking. Every part of this love letter to crime fiction is perfectly crafted to keep the reader glued to the page.
As much as I could rave about this book for ages, this really is a novel that's best enjoyed with as little information as possible. There are so many delicious, unique twists and turns. This is definitely one of the most compelling thrillers I've read recently, and going in with no knowledge of what to expect made it that much harder to put down. Suffice to say that this novel is absolutely worth picking up, though reader beware: you're in for a grisly ride.
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