Reviews

Have Mercy on Us All by Fred Vargas

lnatal's review

3.0

Review is pending...

offmessage's review

3.0

It's not often that the translation gets in the way, but it does in this one. So much so that I was convinced this was a different translator from books 1 and 2, so sloppy and ill-formed is the English. Which is a shame, because Commissaire Adamsberg continues to be a fascinating character and Fred Vargas' weirdly metaphysical wanderings around tightly plotted Parisian police procedurals continue to be right up my street.

Despite being huge sellers in France these aren't making the leap to English that perhaps they deserve. But then, it's not like we're short of native English-speaking crime writers, is it?

rogerb's review

4.0

H got this 2nd hand and gave it to me as the point size was too small for her.

I've always liked Vargas, who seems to survive translation from the French really very well. n fact, her plot lines are decidedly far-fetched (IMHO) but she carries you with her. Overlooking the odd serial killer, her characters are plausible and likeable. She seems very conscious of human frailties.

I read it very quickly, and it won't be my last.

athelas's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another great Commissionaire Adamsberg book but not as well translated as the ones by Siân Reynolds.
The Black Plague makes an appearance which felt all too 2020.

bengines's review

4.0

tw: rape. that aside, this is a good one.