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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
gavreads's review against another edition
Firstly I have to say I’m ashamed of myself. No, I really am. When do you think I read the last book in this series? JUNE 2009! Let me say that another way. It’s been over 14 months. I know time flies but that’s terrible. You know that it is right?
Should I have left it another 14 months? God no and I’m not waiting 14 months before reading Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand. I hope not at least as I ordered it as soon as I finished this one.
You know what I like about Eurocrime, at least the Eurocrime I’ve been reading, is that they focus in on the characters and give everything a foundation and a reason for happening. There isn’t drama for drama sake like guns and gangsters. These are ordinary people who have been twisted enough to kill.
And the method of killing in Have Mercy on Us All is certainly twisted and if I’m honest quite dramatic. The killer brings plague to the French capital but before he does he paints symbols on the door of those who are protected. At the same time he makes cryptic messages that are read out by a town crier though it takes a while for these ‘specials’ to reveal their intentions.
Again, Vargas leads the dance showing us all the events but somehow missing the right bits at the right time to end up surprising you at the end.
We find out more about Adamsberg’s character in this book and I’m not sure I like the revelation. It fits perfectly as he is a bit odd. He thinks and allows events to lead him. It’s like he’s an archaeologist slowly putting bits back together until he has enough to come to a decision on what he’s looking at. Though how he works it all out is a bit of a mystery. But he doesn’t care in the sense the he doesn’t make the emotional attachments that others would and this gets in him into trouble.
But the personal revelations show that Vargas has plans to keep his love life as complicated as the crimes he investigates.
I do need to say that I’m not sure if it’s the translation or Vargas’s writing style but this one feels a little rougher and flatter than the first two I’ve read. I think it might be the pacing or it might the that the translation has lost a little life somewhere. It was just enough to take the shine off the story.
But I’m invested and I enjoyed the crime and the solution and the mix of characters so what more can I ask?
Should I have left it another 14 months? God no and I’m not waiting 14 months before reading Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand. I hope not at least as I ordered it as soon as I finished this one.
You know what I like about Eurocrime, at least the Eurocrime I’ve been reading, is that they focus in on the characters and give everything a foundation and a reason for happening. There isn’t drama for drama sake like guns and gangsters. These are ordinary people who have been twisted enough to kill.
And the method of killing in Have Mercy on Us All is certainly twisted and if I’m honest quite dramatic. The killer brings plague to the French capital but before he does he paints symbols on the door of those who are protected. At the same time he makes cryptic messages that are read out by a town crier though it takes a while for these ‘specials’ to reveal their intentions.
Again, Vargas leads the dance showing us all the events but somehow missing the right bits at the right time to end up surprising you at the end.
We find out more about Adamsberg’s character in this book and I’m not sure I like the revelation. It fits perfectly as he is a bit odd. He thinks and allows events to lead him. It’s like he’s an archaeologist slowly putting bits back together until he has enough to come to a decision on what he’s looking at. Though how he works it all out is a bit of a mystery. But he doesn’t care in the sense the he doesn’t make the emotional attachments that others would and this gets in him into trouble.
But the personal revelations show that Vargas has plans to keep his love life as complicated as the crimes he investigates.
I do need to say that I’m not sure if it’s the translation or Vargas’s writing style but this one feels a little rougher and flatter than the first two I’ve read. I think it might be the pacing or it might the that the translation has lost a little life somewhere. It was just enough to take the shine off the story.
But I’m invested and I enjoyed the crime and the solution and the mix of characters so what more can I ask?
richardhannay's review against another edition
3.0
Esta es la mejor novela que he leido hasta ahora de Fred Vargas. Tiene un inicio intrigante, un personaje, el del "pregonero" Joss muy atractivo y un desarrollo magnífico. La "peste Negar" es una cuestión que, siete siglos después de su primera aparición en Europa sigue generando, y con buena razón, una suerte de terror atávico. El otro acierto de la Vargas es hacer renacer a los añorados "Evangelistas". Lástima que no aprovechara para establecer una colaboración habitual aunque me da la impresión de que Vandoosler habría dejado rápidamente sin trabajo al sufrido Danglard. Por eso es una pena que el final sea tan embrollado y tan inelegante. Como esos futbolistas que comienzan a caracolear al borde del área sin decidirse a chutar a puerta Adamsberg o Vargas acumulan las explicaciones de explicaciones y dejan demasiados cabos sueltos. El principal el de un experto en la peste con formación cinetífica superior que no es capaz de identificar los síntomas de la peste ni conoce sus periodos de incubación o modo de matar.
delilah_ws's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
naimfrewat's review against another edition
3.0
A disappointment, so far.
The opening was decent. I enjoyed the writing, the description of objects in their relation to our everyday interaction with them. It was funny and smart. I thought the book was going to proceed in this vein. Then there came the setting of one of the characters and his backstory, and I also enjoyed reading that.
From then on, the book didn't pick up. I suppose it also has to do with what I'm expecting of it. That's the problem with genre books; one formulates assumptions and wants to see them realized.
I thought there was a pleasant shrouding of the mystery that got me asking where is the crime? I also liked that words, ancient words relayed to a random audience were part of that mystery.
When the actual resolution of the cases started and when the detective-hero was introduced, the writer lost me. I wasn't attracted, I couldn't understand his character, I wondered if some of the traits were supposed to be funny or repulsive - I mean, when dressing up portraits in crime series, it seems to me that stripped-down descriptions are not really welcome, particularly, when there's an element of humor or of rosy story telling going on.
I was missing some technical flavoring, a bit of ambience maybe, some minor reasoning as opposed to intuition.
I'll finish the book in a bit; I'm reading because Vargas came to me highly recommended and so maybe, something might pick up towards the end (not something, I particularly enjoy, but it may increase the rating form 2 to 3)
The opening was decent. I enjoyed the writing, the description of objects in their relation to our everyday interaction with them. It was funny and smart. I thought the book was going to proceed in this vein. Then there came the setting of one of the characters and his backstory, and I also enjoyed reading that.
From then on, the book didn't pick up. I suppose it also has to do with what I'm expecting of it. That's the problem with genre books; one formulates assumptions and wants to see them realized.
I thought there was a pleasant shrouding of the mystery that got me asking where is the crime? I also liked that words, ancient words relayed to a random audience were part of that mystery.
When the actual resolution of the cases started and when the detective-hero was introduced, the writer lost me. I wasn't attracted, I couldn't understand his character, I wondered if some of the traits were supposed to be funny or repulsive - I mean, when dressing up portraits in crime series, it seems to me that stripped-down descriptions are not really welcome, particularly, when there's an element of humor or of rosy story telling going on.
I was missing some technical flavoring, a bit of ambience maybe, some minor reasoning as opposed to intuition.
I'll finish the book in a bit; I'm reading because Vargas came to me highly recommended and so maybe, something might pick up towards the end (not something, I particularly enjoy, but it may increase the rating form 2 to 3)
anatta's review against another edition
4.0
Это один из тех детективов, в которых собственно загадка и её решение становятся фоном для людских портретов. А так как мне стала очень симпатична вся эта пестрая чудаковатая братия с площади Кине и из комиссариата, то от меня ей полновесная четверка. (упс, а ведь четверка играет большую роль в сюжете)
lumbermouth's review against another edition
5.0
All the Adamsberg books are pretty delightful, but this one is REALLY delightful. Plague outbreak! OR IS IT? Also, detailed discussion of God's mood when he built Adamsberg (it is well known God hadn't had a good night's sleep).
I think I've exhausted all the translated Adamsbergs now, which is sad, but this was a pretty good note to go out on.
I think I've exhausted all the translated Adamsbergs now, which is sad, but this was a pretty good note to go out on.
jeyjeyyy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre ! Pourtant pas très habituée aux polars, j’ai tout de suite été prise dans l’histoire et j’ai beaucoup aimé le mélange entre le côté enquête et le côté personnage/sentiments du livre. Ce petit groupe de quartier m’a énormément touchée, au point où j’ai presque pleuré à la fin, et c’est l’une des raisons pour laquelle j’ai vraiment apprécié cette histoire. Et bien sûr, comme d’habitude, j’ai adoré toutes les références historiques et la recherche derrière ce mystère policier, qui apportent une nouvelle dimension à l’enquête.