Book Review : "Le cercle de Sang" (J. Delafosse)

OK, this one is again a Wow-book in the thriller area. Don't misunderstand me here: I am no great fan of thriller (especially not movies!) but here I am: two thrillers devoured within 48 hours! (I believe it being my record so far!).

"The Blood Circle" starts with an amnesia. Nathan Fahl wakes up in a hospital in Norway without even knowing who he is. When he gets his doubts about his place in his whole diving accident story. No family, but still he feels hunted. Same time in Italy an old manuscript is getting its secrets reveiled uncovering a strange story mixing curse, old-fashion witchcraft and hate. This Nathan seems to have the keys to this whole mystery... the problem is that he has lost his memory. Throughout the book, Nathan will find clues and one leading to the other the scary secret of the blood circle will be unveiled...

Really cool story. The author keeps it simple, short chapters enabling us to breathe and swallow the whole intrigue and keeping us alert to the next move. A bit too close to "The bourne identity" story which is a bit disappointed as the intrigue may let the reader guess a bit what will happen at the end. However it has been really well written, with great descriptions of all the countries where the hero travels to get more pieces of his memory. The decription of the Rwanda and its horror clearly opposite to the calm and quietness of the Arctiv and Norwegian land. The action will bring you to Italy, Netherland, Belgium, Rwanda, Norway, Egypte and finally to the heart of the Blood circle secrets.

So well written, easy reading. No reall great best-seller I am afraid (at least not in the level of Da Vinci Code or S. Larsson's trilogy!) but still. For a first roman, the author makes a great deal of it.
Recommended with a 6.5-7 out of 10 (it would have received a higher mark if I would not have seen "the trilogy of the Bourne movies". no real copycat- Hey! What do you make me say! but a bit too much correlation with the Bourne's to get a free ticket to my top ratings!)