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A review by staghunters
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not the genre I go to most of the time, but Dicker surely knows how to write a compelling murder mystery.
The first thought that comes to mind is the resemblance with Twin Peaks. Not only in the murder of a teenage girl, but particularly in the focus on the small town and the people in it. As the book progresses and we come to know a bit more about Nola Kellergan, the threads that connect her to various side characters.
Marcus, however, is not a good-natured Dale Cooper. His bloated ego shines through till well into the second act, where an incident confronts him with his fame-seeking nature. Though a change in character is not dramatic, he does improve in smaller ways.
The plot has an interesting structure. The chapters count down instead of up, Marcus' storyline is intercut with scenes that take the place of someone's monologue, and what seems to be the end actually isn't.
The latter is also one of my critiques of the book. It is quite slow-paced for all but the last 2 or 3 chapters. Here, the events really rake up and gain speed. It answers questions, sure, but in my opinion, there were a bit too many rug-pulls. Maybe they will make more sense on a reread.
This certainly made me curious about Dicker's other books.
The first thought that comes to mind is the resemblance with Twin Peaks. Not only in the murder of a teenage girl, but particularly in the focus on the small town and the people in it. As the book progresses and we come to know a bit more about Nola Kellergan, the threads that connect her to various side characters.
Marcus, however, is not a good-natured Dale Cooper. His bloated ego shines through till well into the second act, where an incident confronts him with his fame-seeking nature. Though a change in character is not dramatic, he does improve in smaller ways.
The plot has an interesting structure. The chapters count down instead of up, Marcus' storyline is intercut with scenes that take the place of someone's monologue, and what seems to be the end actually isn't.
The latter is also one of my critiques of the book. It is quite slow-paced for all but the last 2 or 3 chapters. Here, the events really rake up and gain speed. It answers questions, sure, but in my opinion, there were a bit too many rug-pulls. Maybe they will make more sense on a reread.
This certainly made me curious about Dicker's other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Mental illness and Racism