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A review by andrew61
Dirty Snow by Georges Simenon
4.0
I can't remember on what blog or podcast I was made aware of this book as a recommendation and whilst I was well aware of the status of the author on the crime writing wall of fame I had until now never picked up one of his books but this was certainly a great introduction and I'm definitely pleased to have learnt about this story.
The book itself is a tale of a town in occupied France and the main character Frank Friedmaeir felt like a combination of Pinky from Brighton Rock and Tom Ripley as he emerges from life in a brothel owned by his mother Lottie into a world where he wants to make his mark as a criminal via the seedy bar Timo's . In a France under occupation crime , including murder does not seem to carry much scrutiny from the police so his crimes expand until like Raskolnikov he does something of which even he is ashamed. When he comes to the attention of the occupying forces it is for something he doesn't expect and the secon part of the book involves a chess like interrogation which took this book into the realms of a Crime and Punishment reflection on guilt and the individual so like Pinky and Ripley I wondered what Pathology could be pinned on this unlikeable but interesting character.
A really interesting piece of work, with some great characters , and a fascinating picture of occupied France. Certainly every time it snows now and I walk past those piles stained by mud, oil or other waste I will immediately think of this book.
I will definitely now read more including the classic Maigret.
The book itself is a tale of a town in occupied France and the main character Frank Friedmaeir felt like a combination of Pinky from Brighton Rock and Tom Ripley as he emerges from life in a brothel owned by his mother Lottie into a world where he wants to make his mark as a criminal via the seedy bar Timo's . In a France under occupation crime , including murder does not seem to carry much scrutiny from the police so his crimes expand until like Raskolnikov he does something of which even he is ashamed. When he comes to the attention of the occupying forces it is for something he doesn't expect and the secon part of the book involves a chess like interrogation which took this book into the realms of a Crime and Punishment reflection on guilt and the individual so like Pinky and Ripley I wondered what Pathology could be pinned on this unlikeable but interesting character.
A really interesting piece of work, with some great characters , and a fascinating picture of occupied France. Certainly every time it snows now and I walk past those piles stained by mud, oil or other waste I will immediately think of this book.
I will definitely now read more including the classic Maigret.