Book Review : "Un peu plus loin sur la droite" (F. Vargas)

Ok, now I found back the fun of reading Vargas. After a bit disappointment with "Those who are about to die salute you" (See previous book review), I jump (literally) to the next book. "A bit more on the right" sounded quite fun actually for a title (therefore my acquisition!). After reading s few pages I regretted a bit my purchase as I was expecting Adamsberg. BUT BUT BUT the suspense is SOOOOOO great, I found my purchase being a great investment!
A recently dismissed inspector (Kehlweiler or "The German")makes a new exciting discovery in a little piece of bone found on a tree in Paris. The action brings him miles away from there where a clear strange story has happened.
Yes, I won't say no more. This book is ingeniously written, drive you crazy so that you cannot leave it until finished. The author drops now and then some hints, and the help provided to Kehlweiler in the figures of Saints is just great. You fall attached to them and really appreciate their participation to the action. Sometimes it feels that real life could never be this way. And indeed it is not real life, it is pure action-fantasy-polar-roman. The intrigue is followed as a red line throughout the book and F.Vargas does a great job in using short/relatively short chapters, keeping us/me/the reader on the edge.

As you notice, I am not too keen this time in giving much more details. This book is just to be read! I strongly recommend it with a strong 8.5/9 out of 10. The other books will follow, hopefully being cast in the same mould. Just enjoy!

Book Review : "Ceux qui vont mourir te saluent" (F. Vargas)

Have finished this book a while ago actually. But the review is coming a bit late. Now good/bad excuse for it. Here it comes: "Those who are about to die salute You" (in English):A sketch signed Michel Angelo appear on the market. A recognised connoisseur suspects it comes from the archives of the Vatican (Rome). He is suddenly murdered during a pagan party outdoors in Rome. First in line for the suspect, his son and his two special friends. The trio always presents themselves as three Roman emperors. Add to this a still young and attractive widow with secrets and a cardinal sharing part of those secrets... You get it : a well-written crime novel from Fred Vargas.

After one third of the book, the story sounded quite "déjà vu" (or "déjà lu" : ) Indeed I bought this book in February while waiting for my fligth in Paris and after starting it (back home then) I made a break and search in my library: Here it was the very examplar borrowed to my youngest sister! So you may say that this book is not quite something to remember. Indeed the story is a bit long and the end well if you think of it, you may have guessed some of it at half the book. Still I liked the written style, but a bit disappointed after the breath-taking "Have Mercy of Us All". The trio-vira is a bit superficial, the intrigue -still great- could have been a bit longer to end, so the final result is definitely not on the same level of other masterpieces of Fred Vargas.

So my recommendation is: Well take it for what it is. It may be read quick or slow. . If I recall well it is one of the first novel she wrote and you can see that her style has evolved considerably since (Good for us!). Read it for the fun (but follow it by another Fred Vargas in the Adamsberg's serie). An overall 6/10.