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A review by khairun_atika
The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain, Emily Boyce, Jane Aitken
4.0
"From initial idea to finished book, novels have lives of their own which elude even their authors." - The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain
Brilliantly crafted, intelligent and beguiling, The Readers' Room is an example of masterful storytelling and intriguing prose. It is one of those books that you would be compelled to finish in one sitting, a mystery you would yearn to be solved immediately.
This is the story of a manuscript review department of a Parisian publishing house, fondly called the readers' room, which deals with the sudden arrival of a debut crime novel. The book is sure to be a hit, and the staff of the readers' room predicted that it might win a highly touted literary prize. What they did not count on is for the events of the book to clearly reveal the details of the real-life murders of prominent figures in the community.
With the police involved in the publishing of the book, Head of Manuscript Services Violaine Lepage is forced to examine the life of the elusive author, and also the events of her past. Violaine soon realises that there are details reminiscent of her past that are laid out in the book. As she attempts to fill in the gaps of her own history, the police starts to link the murders in the book - and in real life - with the only person who has communicated with the author, Violaine herself.
I have always been a huge fan of mysteries, and I was very intrigued by the way the story unfolds. Laurain ingeniously scattered the twists and turns, making the reader process and fit each piece of the story gradually, as though solving an actual mystery. I loved how everything was cryptic, which brings to mind Hemingway's iceberg theory. I am eager to read more of Laurain's works.
Brilliantly crafted, intelligent and beguiling, The Readers' Room is an example of masterful storytelling and intriguing prose. It is one of those books that you would be compelled to finish in one sitting, a mystery you would yearn to be solved immediately.
This is the story of a manuscript review department of a Parisian publishing house, fondly called the readers' room, which deals with the sudden arrival of a debut crime novel. The book is sure to be a hit, and the staff of the readers' room predicted that it might win a highly touted literary prize. What they did not count on is for the events of the book to clearly reveal the details of the real-life murders of prominent figures in the community.
With the police involved in the publishing of the book, Head of Manuscript Services Violaine Lepage is forced to examine the life of the elusive author, and also the events of her past. Violaine soon realises that there are details reminiscent of her past that are laid out in the book. As she attempts to fill in the gaps of her own history, the police starts to link the murders in the book - and in real life - with the only person who has communicated with the author, Violaine herself.
I have always been a huge fan of mysteries, and I was very intrigued by the way the story unfolds. Laurain ingeniously scattered the twists and turns, making the reader process and fit each piece of the story gradually, as though solving an actual mystery. I loved how everything was cryptic, which brings to mind Hemingway's iceberg theory. I am eager to read more of Laurain's works.