欧宝娱乐

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El adversario

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El 9 de enero de 1993 un hombre mat贸 a su esposa, sus hijos y sus padres, e intent贸 sin 茅xito suicidarse. La investigaci贸n revel贸 que no era m茅dico, tal como pretend铆a. Ment铆a desde los dieciocho a帽os y se hab铆a construido una existencia ficticia. A punto de ser descubierto, prefiri贸 suprimir a aquellos cuya mirada no hubiera podido soportar. Una escalofriante historia real que es un viaje al coraz贸n del horror y ha sido comparada con A sangre fr铆a de Truman Capote.

172 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 31, 2000

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About the author

Emmanuel Carr猫re

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Emmanuel Carr猫re is a French author, screenwriter, and director. He is the son of Louis Carr猫re d'Encausse and French historian .

Carr猫re studied at the Institut d'脡tudes Politiques de Paris (better known as Sciences Po). Much of his writing, both fiction and nonfiction, centers around the primary themes of the interrogation of identity, the development of illusion, and the direction of reality. Several of his books have been made into films; in 2005, he personally directed the film adaptation of his novel La Moustache. He was the president of the jury of the book Inter 2003.

(Wikipedia)

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Profile Image for Orsodimondo.
2,391 reviews2,353 followers
December 6, 2022
A SANGUE CALDO


Jean-Claude Romand, nato l鈥�11 febbraio del 1954.

Il riferimento al libro di Capote non 猫 casuale, ci si muove nello stesso territorio: un romanziere s鈥檌mprovvisa giornalista per scrivere un libro che racconta un fatto di cronaca nera particolarmente raccapricciante.
Ma sia il 鈥榤ostro鈥� che lo scrittore agiscono sull鈥檕nda di emozioni al calor bianco.

Carr猫re conquista la fiducia dell鈥檃ssassino Jean-Claude Romand (e conquista la fiducia del lettore, sicuramente la mia) esprimendo un sentimento che lo accompagna fortissimo per tutte le pagine di questo breve testo: 鈥榩rofonda compassione鈥�.


Jean-Claude Romand 猫 tronato in libert脿 vigilata dopo 26 anni di carcere.

Tuttavia, lo scrittore-giornalista non subisce il fascino del 鈥榤ostro鈥� (che ne ammazza cinque, moglie e figli e i suoi genitori, andando a 鈥榯erminarli鈥� in altro luogo, uccide anche un cane, pi霉 tenta di strangolare una sesta persona, l鈥檃mante, pi霉 si sospetta abbia spinto dalle scale il suocero causandone la morte), Carr猫re non ne 猫 attratto, non si identifica, non gioca sull鈥檕rlo del precipizio.
E鈥� piuttosto spinto da questa compassione, nata forse dall鈥檃ver avvertito dietro l鈥檕rrore del crimine una personalit脿 straziata.
Romand non 猫 un killer a sangue freddo: 猫 un pasticcione, un bugiardo matricolato, un imbroglione, ma anche marito innamorato e padre affettuoso 鈥� oltre a essere un pluriassassino.

description
Aur茅lien Recoing in L鈥檈mploi du temps di Laurent Cantet

Carr猫re procede nell鈥檌ndagine usando molti 鈥榮e鈥�, molti 鈥榝orse鈥�, condizionali, ipotesi e congetture. Nulla 猫 chiaro, nulla 猫 scontato, definito, definitivo.

Il mistero risiede fra questi due momenti del libro: a seguire il processo, tra giornalisti, fotografi e cameramen di tutta la nazione c鈥櫭� anche un vecchio vignettista con la barba bianca che bazzica i tribunali francesi da quarant鈥檃nni e ha l鈥檕cchio acuto, che dice:
Questo individuo 猫 gravemente malato鈥� si controlla, controlla ogni cosa, 猫 l鈥檜nico modo che ha per riuscire a reggere, ma se qualcuno si mette a punzecchiarlo dove non pu貌 pi霉 controllarsi, andr脿 in mille pezzi鈥� Credono di trovarsi davanti a un uomo, ma quello non 猫 pi霉 un uomo, non lo 猫 pi霉 da una vita. E鈥� come un buco nero, e ci esploder脿 in faccia. La gente non sa cosa sia la pazzia. E鈥� terribile. E鈥� la cosa pi霉 terribile che ci sia al mondo.

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G茅raldine Pailhas e Daviel Auteuil nel film omonimo di Nicole Garcia

Pi霉 avanti, invece, 猫 lo stesso Carr猫re a dire:
Il mistero 猫 che non esistono spiegazioni, e che per quanto inverosimile possa sembrare, questo 猫 ci貌 che 猫 accaduto.

脠 un libro dalla parte della follia, della depressione, dalla parte del dolore.
E, per quanto 猫 innegabile che Carr猫re senta una sorta di affinit脿 con Romand, non 猫 certo l鈥檌mpulso omicida che li accomuna, ma una fase della vita in cui domina il dolore. E la depressione.

description

L鈥檃vversario 猫 dentro Romand, 猫 lui stesso, il suo doppio: la contraddizione tra l鈥檌mmagine positiva che propone agli altri (che vuole e cerca di proporre) e la coscienza di essere ben altro, ma non altrettanto degno e positivo.
La paura di deludere gli altri, a cominciare da quelli che ama, lo porta a mentire: e dalla menzogna genera l鈥檕rrore.
Il male 猫 legato strettamente alla paura e al dolore, ed 猫 una situazione pi霉 diffusa di quanto il caso Romand, a suo modo 鈥榰nico鈥�, faccia presumere.

2002: Nicole Garcia ha diretto il film omonimo tratto dal libro: ottimo Auteil, buona ambientazione, ma mira bassa.
2001: Laurent Cantet, regista di altra caratura, s'猫 ispirato allo stesso fatto di cronaca per il bel film L鈥檈mploi du temps-A tempo pieno.

Profile Image for lorinbocol.
262 reviews405 followers
February 12, 2018
leggendo insieme limonov e 濒鈥檃惫惫别谤蝉补谤颈辞 mi sono detta pi霉 volte che mi piacerebbe essere per un giorno lo psicoanalista di emmanuel carr猫re, o per lo meno poter sbirciare i suoi appunti. perch茅 lasciando da parte i dettagli e la evidente diversit脿 di cornice, spolpando fino a tenere solo i protagonisti, la prima cosa che mi resta appiccicata addosso 猫 l鈥檃ttrazione dello scrittore francese per profili psicologici che eufemisticamente definirei borderline.
l鈥檌mpressione che ho ricavato da entrambe le letture 猫 che carr猫re, scrivendo, visiti i propri luoghi oscuri mentre fruga dentro quelli di jean-claude romand e di eduard limonov. e che lo faccia con qualcosa di simile a quel misto di curiosit脿, timore e sconvolgente attrazione che si prova ogni tanto vicino alla linea gialla sulla banchina della metro.
solo cos矛 mi spiego il suo intrecciare nei racconti la finzione e la meticolosa ricostruzione, sovrappronendo sempre - e in modo esplicito - brani della propria autobiografia di scrittore al percorso di uomini che hanno dato alla menzogna e/o alla mitomania un ruolo strutturale nella propria esistenza. carr猫re non racconta solo vite che non sono la sua, ma vite che avrebbero potuto esserlo come potrebbero essere, oggi stesso o domani, la nostra. ecco perch茅, io credo, non resiste a guardare oltre quella linea gialla. nel caso di limonov quasi compiacendosi di lasciar suppurare violenza, sesso crudissimo e pensieri innominabili. e in quest鈥檃ltro tirandone fuori una storia che vuole avere l鈥檌nquietudine come un basso continuo, e ci riesce benissimo.
c鈥櫭� una frase in limonov che mi ha rimandato dritta a quest鈥檃ltro romanzo: quando parlando di se stesso eduard dice di sapere con esattezza 芦cosa passa per la testa di un loser che, esasperato, prende un鈥檃rma e spara nel mucchio. ma, dal momento che 猫 capace di scriverlo, lui non 猫 ancora quel loser, ed 猫 escluso che lo sia il suo doppio su carta禄. con ci貌 non voglio dire, naturalmente, che se non scrivesse romanzi carr猫re imbraccerebbe un fucile semiautomatico. ma che indagare certi enigmi della mente sia per lui una sorta di urgenza mi vien da pensare di s矛.
Profile Image for Steven Godin.
2,752 reviews3,182 followers
June 8, 2025

I promise to give my honest opinion on this book, and not tell a bag of lies.

Jean-Claude Romand turned out to be just about the biggest impostor I have ever come across. And the ultimate question is - How did this lovable family man get away with telling so many fibs about his life for so long? The people closest to him seemed of sound mind, but never aroused suspicion on all the horse pucky he was feeding them. The initial facts are extraordinary enough on what he got away with, that lead up to the murderous antics that would eventually end with his incarceration. It really is like something from a movie or a novel. It's too unbelievable to be real, but it is.

Carr猫re's writes of a French bourgeois implosion, where a respectable doctor (Romand) living near the Swiss border simply goes berserk, killings wife and two children, having previously shot his mother and father and attempted to strangle his mistress. He sets fire to the family home and takes an overdose, only to be rescued, revived and charged with murder, much to the consternation of the local community, which had always regarded him as a solicitous, conscientious and caring husband, father and son. He fooled them all. In spite of everything he had claimed, the killer, Jean-Claude, turns out never to have been a doctor at the World Health Organisation, nor to have any medical qualifications. The whole professional edifice of his life was an elaborate fabrication. This scandalous revelation was followed by local rumours of a romantic surrogate life in drug-running, and so on, but the truth was far more desperate. Days when Romand had said he had been teaching in Dijon, or working at the WHO's Geneva headquarters, he was actually mooching about alone, sitting around in car parks, or wandering around the woods. Romand, the ostensibly successful professional and happy family man, had in fact done nothing with his life, except make it up, and steal large quantities of cash from family and friends. He dug himself into the mother of all holes, and the deeper he went, the less likely it was he would turn back.

One could bemoan that Carr猫re's project, pushes the boundaries too far with taking a true story, and putting it in the blender with too many superior fictions. He also talks up his subject matter, probably making more of a mystery of Romand than is deserved. But he writes in such an addictive fashion, that it's a book to blitz through in as little time as possible rather than drag out.

Carr猫re became a reporter, pursuing the psychological and factual details he would need for a book. At the same time he was looking inward, trying to decipher his own motives. Why was he so preoccupied with this case?, which made him feel ashamed in front of his own children, that their father should be writing about such a monster. But what emerged from this obsession is a fascinating meditation on Jean-Claude Romand and his bizarre and imposturous life. The narrative often holds complete attention, with the most chilling parts being Carr猫re's description of Romand's daily routine. He would dutifully head across the border for Geneva every workday, to the headquarters of W.H.O. Some days he would put on a visitor's badge and pass the time in the library. Sometimes he would take hikes in the Mountains. When his work took him out of town, he'd settle into a hotel near the airport. It was as close to a virtual life as one could get, but how much did it differ from a real one? What is truth?

After Romand's trial, the shrinks had a field day. Romand, centre of attention at last!, flattered by the attendance of an author, and having made the apparently effortless transition from being trapped in life's equivalent to a movie script. What was so astonishing was the fact at no time did Romand ever come across as a monstrous psychopath, he was simply just your average Joe.

That in it's self is the chilling part.
Profile Image for Paul Bryant.
2,370 reviews12k followers
December 1, 2021
TWO REVIEWS

FIRST : FOR PEOPLE THINKING OF READING THIS


You gotta read it. It鈥檚 a true crime classic! Total page-turner!

SECOND, FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY WON鈥橳 READ THIS BUT ARE WONDERING WHAT IT鈥橲 ALL ABOUT

The first thing is, true crime books almost never get translated into English, possibly because the English speaking world is arrogant and parochial, and possibly because it is so cram full of revolting crimes that it doesn鈥檛 need any more accounts of revolting crimes, thank you very much. So since this is a French book that was immediately translated in 2000 and then republished 17 years later, you got to figure this is quite something.

Second thing is this concerns a familicide which is as the name suggests where a guy slaughters his family. In this case it was his mother, father, wife and two children. There have been quite a number of such cases before, such as that of Ronald Gene Simmons who in 1987 murdered all 14 of his large family (including four grandchildren). That was in Arkansas. Compared to that guy, and trying not to be too crass, but five victims doesn鈥檛 sound like it warrants two books, three movies and a couple of tv episodes, which this Jean-Claude Romand case has inspired. So what鈥檚 the story here?

This Jean-Claude Romand was just an ordinary medical school student up until the point where he didn鈥檛 take his second year exams, he just stayed in bed. And lied to his parents. That was the beginning.

In year two and three he carried on being a student even though he wasn鈥檛 one.
He attended classes, used the university library鈥ad the same textbooks and photocopied lectures as the other students鈥e spent as much time and energy pretending to become a doctor as he would have to become one in reality.

(Numerous judges have said similar things to prisoners in the dock before passing sentence.)

He came back home pretending to have graduated. The family lived in France but only a couple of miles from Geneva, and he then set up the next big phase in this world of lies by pretending to get a job at the HQ of the World Health Organisation in Geneva. Over the years this job became a real globe-trotting bigwig-meeting hifalutin affair but nobody ever called him at his non-existent office, for 18 years. Not his parents, not his wife. He set up an answering service and they had to call that.

He lived a nice life for 18 years. You鈥檙e going to ask well, if he didn鈥檛 have a job at all, where did the money come from. And this was the magical part of the story. By innuendo and suggestion, he spun around himself the aura of a man who has some great contacts in a very top Swiss bank 鈥� like a top WHO research consultant might - & so if you鈥檙e looking for some safe investments that鈥檒l get you a much better return than anything mere citizens could find (how does 18% sound?) he was the guy. So his wife, his wife鈥檚 parents, his own parents and his own best friend all regularly supplied him with large amounts of francs to 鈥渋nvest鈥�, and all without any bank statements or interest agreements involved. They just handed over wads of dough to their fine upstanding friendly neighbourhood man of the world.

So you can see how this thing panned out. The thin ice he was standing on came to the point where it was about to melt, so he decided to murder his family before his life of shame was exposed. For some men, fortunately a very small number, it鈥檚 better that their family all die before they find out their son/husband/father was a heartless fraud.

When everyone was dead he made a very half-hearted attempt at suicide. The firemen rescued him out of the burning house and after a couple of years they had a big trial and put him inside for life. By that time he had found religion and was a born again Christian, and everyone was so happy for him, his troubles were over and he had finally found peace in the bosom of Jesus.

I鈥檓 glad to say that our author Emmanuel Carrere doesn鈥檛 buy that sickly bullshit.

Jean-Claude Romand is still alive in his French jail. His wife and little children and his parents are still dead.
Profile Image for BlackOxford.
1,095 reviews69.9k followers
August 29, 2020
Cr猫me de la Crime

Jean-Claude Romand killed his wife, two children and his mother and father in a French village not far from Geneva in 1993. Six years later Emmanuel Carr猫re finished a book about the murders. This is all we know for sure: the dead bodies, the book and the chronology of two sets of events. And therein lies the mystery posed by Carr猫re.

Is the book fact or fiction? Carr猫re makes it purposely ambiguous by telling the reader that his ambitions to write a psychological assessment of Romand were thwarted early on by Romand鈥檚 unreponsiveness. So he wrote the present book instead. As with Truman Capote鈥檚 non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood, actual events are supplemented by conjectures and conjunctions. The boundaries aren鈥檛 clear so that all but the general outlines of the story are in that Borgesian territory in which fictions pose with factual passports and vice versa. The reader is never certain of the literary nationality of any statement. Alien spies could be lurking anywhere.

The implications of Carr猫re鈥檚 technique are clear: Any attempt to understand, to explain, to analyse the behaviour of Jean-Claude Romand inevitably involves fiction. The newspaper accounts of the killings, the forensic medical reports, the psychiatric diagnoses, and even the first person statements of Romand are all fiction in their own way. Carrere鈥榮 book is a sort of meta-fiction which brings all the details together. If he adds a few details here and there, it鈥檚 only to make things flow more smoothly. The rest is incomprehensible without the touch of an accomplished story teller. N'est-ce pas?

And besides, isn鈥檛 such meta-fiction precisely what constituted the life of Jean-Claude Romand. He lived an apparently conventional life, the facts of which - wife, children, house, social involvement - were visible and verifiable to his family, neighbours, and friends. These existential truths were supplemented with other hearsay reports by Romand - about career, travel, qualifications, responsibilities - which were further transmitted by mutual acquaintances until they were part of a shared communal reality. Romand had only to supply some minor narrative connections in the form of tactical name-dropping and the occasional trinket from some foreign place (obtained in cosmopolitan Geneva) to complete his entirely bogus biography.

Meaning requires narrative, which demands a point of view, which cannot by definition be factual. Ergo, meaning is an imposition of fiction on the world of pure existence. It鈥檚 that simple and that complicated. Meaning can鈥檛 be found in events - educational background, family history, economic class, emotional profile or childhood behaviour - or in other minds, or for that matter in one鈥檚 own mind since it doesn鈥檛 exist as a thing until it is communicated, at which point it is in nobody鈥檚 mind and everyone鈥檚 simultaneously. Refusal to recognise this mystery causes a great deal of trouble. Whatever Romand did only has meaning after the fact, which really doesn鈥檛 help to explain why he did it except as a fiction that makes everyone involved, including Romand, feel safer.

Carr猫re recognises the paradox of his undertaking. He is whistling in the dark for the rest of us. Whatever insights he or the others who have been appalled by Romand鈥檚 actions come up with are actually sterile. They are not about the facts of the case, much less truth. The point of his book, as well as all the underlying material which he uses to construct it, is to promote the idea that the world is an orderly place, that it can be trusted even if there are the occasional dangers. Part of this trust is the feeling that we can learn things - like how to spot potential homicidal maniacs - which might expand the realm of order in our lives.

In short, Romand鈥檚 was a haute bourgeois crime, a sort of cr猫me de la crime. And it demanded therefore a suitably haute bourgeois exposition. Carr猫re both does and does not supply it. Teflon was never so slippery.
Profile Image for Justo Martia帽ez.
525 reviews220 followers
August 31, 2021
3/5 Estrellas

El libro empieza de forma poderos铆sima. Un padre de familia aparentemente normal y acomodado, buena persona y sin antecedentes de ning煤n tipo, asesina a su mujer, a sus hijos y a sus padres. Tambi茅n intenta acabar con su vida, pero en esto no tiene tanto "茅xito", sobrevive.
Todo se viene abajo, su familia (la que le queda) y sus amigos comienzan a conocer con estupor detalles de la vida de este personaje, padre de familia, esposo, m茅dico famoso, detalles que ponen de manifiesto un entramado de mentiras, que hab铆a ido sustentando durante casi 20 a帽os, porque todo, todo, salvo su vida familiar, era FALSO. 驴C贸mo ha podido mantenerse este edificio de mentiras tantos a帽os y nadie se dio cuenta? Su trabajo, sus ingresos, sus viajes, sus compa帽eros........

A modo de ensayo novelado, a la manera de sus compatriotas Eric Vuillard o Laurent Binet, Carrere intenta poner luz a estos interrogantes, que se corresponden a acontecimientos REALES, por si alguien se piensa que se trata de una invenci贸n. 驴C贸mo este personaje lleg贸 a desarrollar esta doble vida? 驴C贸mo la pudo sostener? 驴C贸mo desemboc贸 todo en la monstruosidad del asesinato de toda su familia? 驴C贸mo no se desmont贸 todo, si con una simple llamada se pod铆a comprobar que su trabajo era ficticio?.

Como he dicho empieza muy fuerte, vemos los acontecimientos desde el punto de vista de los amigos y del propio Carrere, pero poco a poco se va disolviendo como un azucarillo, navegando hacia el final en aburridas disquisiciones acerca de la deriva religiosa del monstruo (de hecho ingres贸 en un convento a su salida de la c谩rcel en 2019), su compleja personalidad narcisista que se alimenta de mentiras y le permite vivir en un mundo paralelo que le hace insensible a la realidad de su vida y de sus actos, su capacidad de embaucar a la gente con su personalidad suave y educada que le hacen incluso objeto de compasi贸n, pobrecito por lo que ha tenido que pasar, despu茅s de matar a TODA su familia.

En definitiva, que me esperaba m谩s. Te deja a medias con el an谩lisis psicol贸gico del pobrecito, tampoco explica bien y convincentemente sus motivaciones para escribir sobre este tema, cuando est谩 contribuyendo al narcisismo patol贸gico del asesino con esta publicidad gratuita, la deriva religiosa de unos y otros me la suda, as铆 que se queda en 3 estrellas.

PD.: Es cortito y se lee r谩pido, por si os interesa el tema.
Profile Image for Coos Burton.
889 reviews1,520 followers
August 21, 2018
Este libro me impresion贸 much铆simo. Se trata de un tipo que lleva una doble vida con una naturalidad que asusta, un aut茅ntico mit贸mano que construy贸 un perfil y una vida imaginaria durante toda su existencia. Su trabajo, su vida amorosa, su salud, todo una gran mentira. Y lo mejor de todo es que est谩 basado en un caso real. El desenlace de este suceso es igual o m谩s espeluznante. Un librazo, me encant贸.
Profile Image for LolaF.
399 reviews386 followers
September 25, 2022
True crime. A caballo entre la novela, el ensayo o el relato period铆stico.
No esperes encontrar un thriller.

El relato de Carr茅re tiene algo de hipn贸tico, no puedes soltar el libro a pesar de las sensaciones que te provoca. Me quedo con las de horror y repugnancia ante los hechos acontecidos y este personaje espeluznante, me quedo con una sensaci贸n extra帽a cuando pienso en la forma en que lo aborda el autor. Lo siento, yo no puedo ser neutral.

Los hechos:
En 1993 Jean-Claude Romand asesina a sus padres, su mujer y sus dos hijos. 驴Qu茅 pudo provocar que alguien mate a su entorno m谩s cercano?

Emmanuel Carr猫re aborda esta cuesti贸n desde una reconstrucci贸n de los hechos fruto de la investigaci贸n del juicio, las conversaciones con un amigo de su entorno y la correspondencia que mantiene con el autor de los cr铆menes mientras est谩 preso. Es el autor quien se dirige a Jean-Claude Romand, indicando en su primera carta, que a su entender sus actos no son la obra de un criminal ordinario, ni la de un loco, sino la de un hombre empujado hasta el fondo por fuerzas que le superan. Pero 驴realmente existe alguna justificaci贸n para estos actos?

Jean-Claude Romand es un mentiroso, manipulador, narcisista y egoc茅ntrico.

La frase:
"Deber铆an haber visto a Dios y en su lugar hab铆an visto, adoptando los rasgos de su hijo bienamado, a aquel a quien la Biblia llama Sat谩n, el adversario".

La reconstrucci贸n de la vida de Jean-Claude Romand me ha gustado, desde como ha ido forjando una nueva vida de 茅xito a partir de una primera mentira, hasta como ha conseguido "sobrevivir" durante todos esos a帽os. La frialdad, el ego铆smo y la falta de escr煤pulos de sus actos se entremezcla primeramente con esa sensaci贸n de soledad en su mentira, de tener que llenar un hueco vac铆o, de tiempo a rellenar como precio a pagar por su ego en su status social y laboral y posteriormente con la ilusi贸n de otra mentira, una aventura que llenar谩 su ego sentimental basada en una manipulaci贸n y un enga帽o que precipitar谩 el desenlace de ese fat铆dico fin de semana -no me ha parecido cre铆ble el silencio de Corinne-.

La reacci贸n de su amigo Luc s铆 que me ha parecido cre铆ble, como vas pasando de una confianza en mi amigo Jean-Claude al horror de pensar que lo considerabas tu amigo, que cre铆as que lo conoc铆as, de lo que le podr铆a haber ocurrido a tu propia familia. Incluso la forma de superar los hechos, no querer mantener la relaci贸n y la sensaci贸n de desconfianza ante cualquiera.

El perfil psicol贸gico de Jean-Claude est谩 bien construido, se mantiene en la mentira y la distancia incluso cuando en el juicio no reconoce las evidencias y pone distancia a los hechos y su familia -no se refiere a ella por sus nombres hasta casi el final del libro, cuando menciona un perfume que le recordaba a su mujer-, mantiene ese don embaucador hasta en la c谩rcel. Incre铆ble que se libre del trato vejatorio que suelen darle a este tipo de criminales por esa casualidad de un encuentro fortuito previo con un cabecilla que le reconocer谩 y le allanar谩 el camino, que despierte la simpat铆a de visitadores carcelarios y que mantenga un cierto estatus en la misma. Ese casi 隆Pobrecito lo han trasladado y tiene que hacer nuevos amigos!, puede conmigo. 驴隆D贸nde han quedado las v铆ctimas!?

"脡l hubiese preferido sufrir de veras un c谩ncer que la mentira -pues la mentira era una enfermedad, con su etiolog铆a, sus riesgos de met谩stasis, su pron贸stico reservado-, pero el destino hab铆a querido que contrajese la enfermedad de la mentira, y no era culpa suya haberla contra铆do".
Lo siento, pero no puedo compartir esa premisa.


No creo que haya sido un libro f谩cil de escribir para el autor. Yo no podr铆a mantener una relaci贸n, aunque fuese profesional y epistolar, con un criminal de este calibre y menos visitarlo. El monstruo perturbar铆a mis sue帽os.

Valoraci贸n: 8/10
Lectura: septiembre 2022
Profile Image for Mrs.Martos .
155 reviews7 followers
December 27, 2022
"Una mentira normalmente, sirve para encubrir una verdad, algo vergonzoso, quiz谩, pero real. La suya no encubria nada. Bajo el falso doctor Romand no hab铆a un aut茅ntico Jean-Claude Romand."
Profile Image for Martin Iguaran.
Author听3 books342 followers
September 10, 2022
Hace mucho tiempo que quer铆a leer este libro. Cuando lo termin茅, me qued茅 meditando un rato. Tiene un m茅rito que hace rato ning煤n libro consigue obtener en m铆: no pod铆a parar de leer. Aunque se me cansaba la vista, aunque era tarde, no pude parar de leer y lo termin茅 ayer a la noche.
Antes de leerlo, sab铆a el contexto en el que hab铆a sido escrito, de modo que no har茅 ninguna menci贸n de los cr铆menes cometidos por Romand y dar茅 por asumido que todos los lectores de esta rese帽a los conocen.
Aunque muchos lo comparan con "A sangre fr铆a", de Capote, creo que la comparaci贸n es equivocada. No solo por la diferencia de extensi贸n de p谩ginas, sino porque Capote cubri贸 la investigaci贸n y el juicio, cosas que Carrera hace muy pormenorizadamente. Carrera se propone reconstruir lo que pas贸 antes, toda la red de mentiras que Romand cultiv贸 por d茅cadas para llegar a un desenlace monstruoso que 茅l mismo construy贸 y ejecut贸.
Cuando empec茅 a leer este libro, sent铆 una duda, que podemos calificar de 茅tica supongo, que el mismo Carrere experiment贸: al centrar el libro en torno a Romand, 驴No se le est谩 dando una atenci贸n inmerecida a un individuo monstruoso? Todos sabemos que las v铆ctimas siempre son las grandes olvidadas de todos los delitos, mientras que el perpetrador recibe m谩s atenci贸n por parte de los medios y el p煤blico. Por eso me preocupaba que el libro explorara el morbo o realizara una apolog铆a de este hombre. Felizmente, ninguna de esas dos cosas ocurre.
Carrere orient贸 el libro a responder las dudas que muchos se hacen-yo mismo-cuando sucede algo tan espantoso: 驴Qu茅 hay en la mente de este individuo? Si pudi茅ramos abrir su cabeza y leer sus pensamientos, 驴Qu茅 ver铆amos? 驴Locura? 驴Maldad? 驴Psicopat铆a? 驴Un oscuro vac铆o?
Lo s茅 porque yo mismo he experimentado esa-voy a llamarla horrible curiosidad-por un caso mucho m谩s reciente: el de Chris Watts en Estados Unidos, un padre de familia que mat贸 a su esposa embarazada y a sus dos hijas para estar con su amante.
Es probable que esa respuesta sea imposible de encontrar, porque no podemos sondear el interior de la mente de individuos as铆. Pero all铆 radica el intento del autor.
Y tambi茅n busca responder otra duda: 驴C贸mo pudo ser que Romand mantuviera en pie su mentira durante casi veinte a帽os? 驴Una tan endeble, que con apenas unas llamadas o comprobaciones de rutina se hubiera venido abajo?
No hay ninguna apolog铆a de Romand en el libro. Despu茅s de leerlo, me qued贸 en claro que es un egoc茅ntrico narcisista, un mentiroso patol贸gico y muy posiblemente un psic贸pata. Toda la compasi贸n, si es que la tiene, se la reserva para s铆 mismo. Ni siquiera habla de sus delitos como "delitos": se refiere a "la tragedia". Y no habla de sus v铆ctimas por sus nombres. De esta manera, las deshumaniza, se coloca en un plano externo y evita asumir su responsabilidad. Creo que Romand encarna muy bien el concepto acu帽ado por Arendt: el de la "banalidad del mal". Nunca acept贸 de entrada su responsabilidad, hubo que interrogarlo y desmontar todas y cada una de sus mentiras: porque nunca dej贸 de mentir, incluso despu茅s de descubierto.
Si hubiera puesto la mitad del empe帽o que puso en mentir, en estudiar y graduarse, hubiera sido un excelente m茅dico.
S茅 que Romand sali贸 en libertad en 2019, lo le铆 en las noticias mucho antes de leer el libro. A riesgo de emitir una opini贸n personal, deber铆a haber permanecido en la c谩rcel. No porque tuviera posibilidades de reinsertarse en la sociedad o no. Al matar a cinco personas, les rob贸 permanentemente su libertad. Todos los sue帽os y deseos que ten铆an fueron destruidos en aras de su delirio narcisista. Si le quit贸 la libertad de forma perpetua a cinco personas, 茅l jam谩s deber铆a haber recuperado la suya.
Profile Image for Sana.
264 reviews136 followers
November 6, 2023
賲賵賯毓蹖 讴賴 爻亘蹖賱 乇賵 禺賵賳丿賲貙禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳卮 禺賵卮賲 丌賵賲丿.賵 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賴賲賴 爻亘讴 賳賵卮鬲丕乇蹖 丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 乇賵 禺蹖賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲 讴賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 乇丕 鬲丕丌禺乇 賴賲乇丕賴蹖 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲賲 讴鬲丕亘 禺氐賲 讴賴 鬲賵爻胤 賳卮乇 賲丿 賲賳鬲卮乇卮丿賴 乇賵 亘禺賵賳賲.

丕賲丕賳賵卅賱 讴丕乇乇 丿乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘賴 倬乇賵賳丿賴鈥屰� 噩賳丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 跇丕賳賵蹖賴 爻丕賱 郾酃酃鄢 丿乇 賮乇丕賳爻賴 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 賲蹖鈥屬矩必ж藏�.丕蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴賳噩讴丕賵 賲蹖卮賴 賵 鬲氐賲蹖賲 賲蹖鈥屭屫必� 讴鬲丕亘蹖 亘氐賵乇鬲 诏夭丕乇卮 賵丕乇 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屫ж� 亘賳賵蹖爻丿.

倬乇賵賳丿賴 蹖 噩賳丕蹖蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴鈥屰� 賲乇丿蹖 讴賴 趩賴 毓乇囟 讴賳賲責馃う鈥嶁檧锔�
跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿 乇賵賲丕賳 郾鄹爻丕賱 賴爻鬲 讴賴 亘賴 賴賲賴鈥屰� 丿賵爻鬲丕卮 賵 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫ж� 丿乇賵睾 诏賮鬲賴貙賮乇蹖亘 丿丕丿賴 賵 禺蹖丕賳鬲 讴乇丿賴 賵丿乇 丌禺乇 讴賴 賳夭丿蹖讴 亘賵丿 鬲賲丕賲 丨賯丕蹖賯 賵 乇丕夭賴丕卮 亘乇賲賱丕 卮賵丿.賳賯卮賴 賲蹖讴卮賴 讴賴 賴賲賴 乇賵 爻乇亘賴 賳蹖爻鬲 讴賳丿.
丌禺乇 趩乇丕責
亘丕丕蹖賳讴賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 鬲賲丕賲 夭賳丿诏蹖 跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿 丕夭 讴賵丿讴蹖 鬲丕 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱蹖 乇賵 賳賵卮鬲賴.
賵賱蹖 乇丕爻鬲卮 賲賳 賲鬲賯丕毓丿 賳卮丿賲 讴賴 丕蹖賳賯丿乇 禺賵丿禺賵丕賴 亘丕卮賴 賵 亘蹖 乇丨賲丕賳賴 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫ж� 乇賵 亘讴卮丿.
賵丿乇 丌禺乇 讴鬲丕亘 禺蹖賱蹖 賳丕乇丕丨鬲 卮丿賲 讴賴 跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿 丿乇爻賳 鄱鄞 爻丕賱诏蹖 丌夭丕丿 卮丿.
丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 賴賳賵夭 毓丿丕賱鬲 丿乇 丨賯 賯乇亘丕賳蹖丕賳 丕噩乇丕 賳卮丿賴.
跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿 丕蹖賳賯丿乇 亘夭丿賱 亘賵丿 讴賴 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 賳鬲賵賳爻鬲 亘丕 丨賯蹖賯鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖卮 讴賳丕乇 亘蹖丕丿 賵 鬲乇噩蹖丨 丿丕丿 亘丕讴卮鬲賳 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫ж� 丨賯蹖賯鬲 乇賵 賴賲 丕夭 亘蹖賳 亘亘乇丿.
賲賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 禺蹖賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕卮鬲賲鈥� 賵 丕氐賱丕 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 禺爻鬲賴 讴賳賳丿賴 賳亘賵丿 丕夭 丕賵賳鈥屫� 讴賴 賲賳 賴賲 卮蹖賮鬲賴 倬乇賵賳丿賴鈥屬囏й� 噩賳丕蹖蹖 賴爻鬲賲. 禺蹖賱蹖 賱匕鬲 亘乇丿賲.
賵丿乇 丌禺乇 鬲乇噩賲賴 賵 噩賱丿 讴鬲丕亘 毓丕賱蹖 亘賵丿賳.
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1,255 reviews148 followers
February 19, 2024
丕蹖賳 鬲乇爻賳丕讴鈥屫臂屬� 噩丕蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲 亘賵丿馃ゲ

...丿蹖诏乇 賴賲賴鈥屰� 亘趩賴鈥屬囏� 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀池嗀� 讴賴 倬丿乇 丌賳鬲賵丕賳 鈥屬� 讴丕乇賵賱蹖賳 丕賳鈥屬囏� 賵 賲丕丿乇卮丕賳 乇丕 讴購卮鬲賴 賵 亘毓丿 禺丕賳賴鈥屫簇з� 乇丕 亘賴 丌鬲卮 讴卮蹖丿賴 丕爻鬲. 禺蹖賱蹖鈥屬囏й屫簇з� 卮亘 禺賵丕亘 賲蹖鈥屫屫嗀� 讴賴 禺丕賳賴鈥屫簇з� 丿丕乇丿 賲蹖鈥屫迟堌藏� 賵 倬丿乇卮丕賳 賴賲丕賳 讴丕乇蹖 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 倬丿乇 丌賳鬲賵丕賳 賵 讴丕乇賵賱蹖賳 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿.

丿乇 跇丕賳賵蹖賴 爻丕賱 郾酃酃鄢 禺亘乇蹖 賴賵賱賳丕讴 噩丕賲毓賴鈥屰� 賮乇丕賳爻賴 乇丕 丿乇 亘賴鬲 賮乇賵 亘乇丿. 跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿貙 乇賵賲丕賳 倬夭卮讴蹖貙 賯賱丕亘蹖 馗乇賮 蹖讴 乇賵夭 倬丿乇 賵 賲丕丿乇 賵 賴賲爻乇 賵 賮乇夭賳丿丕賳卮 乇丕 亘賴 賯鬲賱 乇爻丕賳丿賴 亘賵丿
丕賲丕賳賵卅賱 讴丕乇乇 亘丕 禺賵丕賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 禺亘乇 丿乇 賲胤亘賵毓丕鬲 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲 讴鬲丕亘蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 丌賳 亘賳賵蹖爻丿. 丕賵 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й屰� 亘乇丕蹖 賯丕鬲賱 賳賵卮鬲 賵 丌賳 乇丕 亘賴 夭賳丿丕賳 賮乇爻鬲丕丿. 丿賵 爻丕賱 亘毓丿 倬丕爻禺 賳丕賲賴 丕夭 乇丕賴 乇爻蹖丿 賵 讴丕乇 丌睾丕夭 卮丿.
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745 reviews541 followers
September 4, 2024
禺氐賲 讴鬲丕亘蹖 丕蹖爻鬲 丕夭 丕賲丕賳賵卅賱 讴丕乇乇貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥� 賮乇丕賳爻賵蹖 貙 讴賴 亘乇 丕爻丕爻 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵丕賯毓蹖 跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿 乇賵賲丕賳 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 毓噩蹖亘 丕賵 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 . 禺氐賲 乇賲丕賳蹖 丕爻鬲 賮乇丕鬲乇 丕夭 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 噩賳丕蹖蹖 爻丕丿賴. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘丕 讴丕賵卮 丿乇 毓賲賯 乇賵丕賳 蹖讴 賯丕鬲賱貙 亘賴 倬乇爻卮鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿蹖賳蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 賲丕賴蹖鬲 丕賳爻丕賳貙 丿乇賵睾貙 賴賵蹖鬲 賵 毓丿丕賱鬲 賲蹖鈥屬矩必ж藏� . 禺氐賲 乇丕 賲蹖 鬲賵丕賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲蹖 賴賵賱賳丕讴 丕夭 丿乇賵睾 賵 噩賳丕蹖鬲 丿丕賳爻鬲 .賵賵
夭賳丿诏蹖 亘乇 倬丕蹖賴 丿乇賵睾

丿乇 禺氐賲 貙 丿乇賵睾 賳賯卮 賲丨賵乇蹖 丿乇 卮讴賱鈥屭屫臂� 卮禺氐蹖鬲 跇丕賳 讴賱賵丿 賵 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 爻乇賳賵卮鬲 丕賵 丕蹖賮丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�. 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿賵诏丕賳賴 乇賵賲丕賳 丕夭 丌睾丕夭 亘乇 丕爻丕爻 丿乇賵睾 卮讴賱 诏乇賮鬲賴 賵 丕蹖賳 丿乇賵睾鈥屬囏� 亘賴 賲乇賵乇 夭賲丕賳 亘賴 蹖讴 爻丕禺鬲丕乇 毓馗蹖賲 鬲亘丿蹖賱 卮丿賴 賵 乇賵賲丕賳 亘乇丕蹖 丨賮馗 丕蹖賳 爻丕禺鬲丕乇貙 丿乇賵睾鈥屬囏й� 噩丿蹖丿蹖 乇丕 亘賴 丿乇賵睾鈥屬囏й� 賯亘賱蹖 丕囟丕賮賴 賲蹖 讴賳丿 . 诏賵蹖蹖 讴賴 丕賵 丿乇 鬲丕乇蹖讴蹖 丿乇賵睾鈥屬囏й� 禺賵丿 睾乇賯 卮丿賴 賵 丿蹖诏乇 乇丕賴蹖 亘乇丕蹖 亘丕夭诏卮鬲 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 賳丿丕乇丿. 讴丕乇乇 丕蹖賳 诏賵賳賴 賳卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 讴賴 丿乇賵睾 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 亘賴 蹖讴 亘蹖賲丕乇蹖 賲賴賱讴 賵 睾蹖乇賯丕亘賱 丿乇賲丕賳 鬲亘丿蹖賱 卮丿賴 賵 夭賳丿诏蹖 賮乇丿 賵 丕胤乇丕賮蹖丕賳卮 乇丕 亘賴 胤賵乇 讴丕賲賱 賳丕亘賵丿 讴賳丿.
蹖讴 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿賵诏丕賳賴

囟丿 賯賴乇賲丕賳 賲禺賵賮 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 貙 蹖毓賳蹖 乇賵賲丕賳 乇丕 亘丕蹖丿 賯賴乇賲丕賳 蹖讴 夭賳丿诏蹖 丿賵诏丕賳賴 丿丕賳爻鬲 貙 賮乇丿蹖 讴賴 亘丕 禺賵賳爻乇丿蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇 賵 亘丕 丕爻鬲毓丿丕丿蹖 亘蹖 賳馗蹖乇 丿乇 噩賱丿 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 爻丕禺鬲賴 賮乇賵 賲蹖 乇賵丿 . 丕賵 趩賳丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 乇賵蹖丕蹖蹖 賵 賲乇賮賴 丕蹖 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿 賮乇丕賴賲 丌賵乇丿賴 讴賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕賵 賲賵乇丿 乇卮讴 賵 丨爻丿 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 丕爻鬲 . 丕賲丕 賮賯胤 禺賵丿 乇賵賲丕賳 賲蹖 丿丕賳丿 讴賴 夭賳丿诏蹖卮 乇丕 亘乇 乇賵蹖 亘爻鬲乇蹖 丕夭 丿乇賵睾 爻丕禺鬲賴 貙 禺丕賳賴 丕蹖 乇賵蹖 丌亘
爻乇丕賳噩丕賲 貙 丿乇賵睾 讴賴 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 賴賵蹖鬲 乇賵賲丕賳 卮丿賴 貙 丕賵 乇丕 亘賴 噩丕蹖蹖 賲蹖 乇爻丕賳丿 讴賴 诏賵蹖蹖 丿蹖诏乇 乇丕賴 亘乇诏卮鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇丿 貙 讴賲亘賵丿 丕毓鬲賲丕丿 亘賴 賳賮爻 貙 鬲乇爻 丕夭 卮讴爻鬲 賵 卮丕蹖丿 賴賲 丕禺鬲賱丕賱丕鬲 乇賵丕賳蹖 貙 賮丕噩毓賴 賲蹖 丌賮乇蹖賳丿 .
丿乇 讴鬲丕亘 禺氐賲 貙 讴丕乇乇 囟賲賳 乇賵丕蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 噩賳丕蹖丕鬲 賮噩蹖毓 跇丕賳鈥屭┵勝堌� 乇賵賲丕賳貙 亘賴 賲賵丕夭丕鬲 丌賳貙 亘賴 卮乇丨 丨丕賱 卮禺氐蹖 禺賵丿 賵 賮乇丕蹖賳丿 禺賱賯 丕蹖賳 丕孬乇 丕夭 胤乇蹖賯 賲讴丕鬲亘丕鬲 亘丕 乇賵賲丕賳 倬乇丿丕禺鬲賴 賵 亘丿蹖賳 鬲乇鬲蹖亘貙 鬲賱丕卮 讴乇丿賴 鬲丕 丕乇鬲亘丕胤蹖 毓賲蹖賯 賲蹖丕賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲 丕蹖噩丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�.
丕诏乇趩賴 讴鬲丕亘 亘丕 賲賵囟賵毓蹖 噩匕丕亘 賵 賯賱賲 鬲賵丕賳賲賳丿 丕賲丕賳賵卅賱 讴丕乇乇貙 賲禺丕胤亘 乇丕 亘賴 禺賵丿 噩匕亘 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 丕賲丕 丿乇 亘禺卮 倬丕蹖丕賳蹖貙 亘賴 禺氐賵氐 丿乇 鬲賵氐蹖賮 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲 賯鬲賱貙 丨丕賱 賵 賴賵丕蹖蹖 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 蹖讴 诏夭丕乇卮 賴蹖噩丕賳鈥屫з嗂屫� 乇賵夭賳丕賲賴鈥屫й� 倬蹖丿丕 讴乇丿賴 . 丕蹖賳 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 賱丨賳貙 丿乇 鬲囟丕丿 亘丕 毓賲賯 乇賵丕賳卮賳丕禺鬲蹖 亘禺卮 賴丕蹖 丕亘鬲丿丕蹖蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賵 鬲丨賱蹖賱鈥屬囏й� 倬蹖卮蹖賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丕爻鬲 賵 讴賲蹖 丕夭 噩匕丕亘蹖鬲 丌賳 讴丕爻鬲賴. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 丨丕賱貙 賲胤丕賱毓賴 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲趩賳丕賳 亘乇丕蹖 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屬呝嗀з� 亘賴 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 貙 乇賵丕賳 卮賳丕禺鬲蹖 賵 噩賳丕蹖蹖 賲蹖 鬲賵丕賳丿 噩匕丕亘 亘丕卮丿 .
Profile Image for El Librero de Valentina.
327 reviews26.2k followers
December 7, 2017
Fue una lectura compulsiva, desesperada, abrumadora, escalofriante, una historia ver铆dica brutal que me deja reflexionando sobre la mente y naturaleza humana.
Profile Image for Adam Dalva.
Author听8 books2,056 followers
March 14, 2017
Compulsive book - I read it like I would a particularly good internet article, staying up late to get to the (somewhat abrupt) end. Carrere's style is understated and good here, and though his occasional digressions into religion disrupt the flow of the action, he knows enough to get out of the way and let the story tell itself. The opening:

"On the Saturday morning of January 9, 1993, while Jean-Claude Romand was killing his wife and children, I was with mine in a parent-teacher meeting at the school attended by Gabriel, our eldest son. He was 5 years old, the same age as Antoine Romand. Then we went to have lunch with my parents, as Jean-Claude Romand did with his, whom he killed after their meal."

is an all-timer, and the narrative itself is irresistible. Romand's life before the murders is given equal focus, which is good because it's so interesting. How could a man spin a fifteen-year lie, a lie that reached into the farthest corners of his life - employment, family, friends, an affair? The smallest details of that lie are worth hearing about, and in giving them, Carrere grants us the space to imagine what Remond was thinking. There's an odd, notable reliability, consciously created by the murderer, here. This is what good true crime should feel like - not just the thrill of scoptophilia, but an illumination of the unwilling accomplices that surround us.
Profile Image for Molinos.
391 reviews692 followers
February 5, 2023
Los reyes me trajeron El adversario, de Emmanuel Carr猫re. 芦驴Todav铆a no lo hab铆as le铆do?禄, me dijo alguien. Pues no, no lo hab铆a le铆do, 驴qu茅 prisa hab铆a? La historia de Jean Claude Rommand es tan incre铆ble que hay que contarla muy mal para que no atrape al lector. Lo sucedido es extraordinario porque es llevar el enga帽o y la mentira a una cumbre que para los que mentimos de una manera vulgar y chapucera resulta casi una obra de arte. La mentira es excelsa y el personaje incomprensible. Cuando se descubre que tras su fachada est谩 hueco, 驴lo que se descubre es la verdad u otra capa de maldad? Veo una l铆nea clara entre A sangre fr铆a, El adversario y La ciudad de los vivos (茅ste 煤ltimo ya est谩is tardando en leerlo y doy por hecho que cualquiera que pasa por aqu铆 ley贸 A sangre fr铆a hace tiempo). Tres historias de cr铆menes narradas por autores competentes que pretenden contarlas sin tocarlas, desde una atalaya de objetividad imposible de mantener. Todos sabemos que Capote termin贸 enamorado de Perry y deseando que le ajusticiaran para poder terminar su novela y, en mi opini贸n y por otras lecturas que he hecho de 茅l, Carr猫re no se enamora de Rommand porque est谩 demasiado enamorado de s铆 mismo. Es una autor, y ya lo he dicho m谩s veces, que siempre entra en sus novelas a codazos, como el que en una discoteca empieza a bailar en los l铆mites de la pista de baile pero poco a poco va empujando y presionando hasta llegar al centro porque necesita ser el foco de atenci贸n: as铆 es Carr猫re.

Por si acaso queda alguien, como yo, que llega 芦tarde禄 a El adversario, me gustar铆a decir que es una novela que hay que leer, con una historia que no voy a destripar, que te deja boquiabierto y que al terminar solo deja una pregunta: 驴c贸mo fue posible?


Profile Image for Cristian Fassi.
107 reviews238 followers
February 21, 2022
Un racconto agghiacciante, una storia vera che ci immerge nello stupore, un viaggio nel cuore dell'orrore.

Il 9 gennaio 1993, Jean-Claude Romand uccise sua moglie, i suoi figli, i suoi genitori e tent貌 senza successo il suicidio. L'indagine ha poi rivelato che non era un medico come sosteneva e, cosa ancora pi霉 difficile da credere, non era nient'altro, non era nessuno. Aveva mentito da quando aveva diciotto anni. Sul punto di essere scoperto, ha preferito uccidere tutta la sua famiglia per non sopportare il loro sguardo. E' stato poi condannato all'ergastolo.

Di norma una bugia serve a nascondere una verit脿, magari qualcosa di vergognoso, ma reale. La sua non nascondeva nulla. Sotto il falso dottor Romand non c鈥檈ra un vero Jean-Claude Romand.


Emmanuel Carr猫re fa auto-fiction in questo bellissimo e forte romanzo misto a reportage giornalistico, narra i fatti dal suo punto di vista con uno stile unico, conquista la fiducia dell鈥檃ssassino e si fa raccontare la sua storia senza subire il fascino del "mostro": "Ho cercato di raccontare accuratamente, giorno dopo giorno, questa vita di solitudine, impostura e assenza. Immaginare cosa gli ribolliva nella mente durante le ore vuote, senza progetti o testimoni, quando doveva essere al lavoro ma in realt脿 era nei parcheggi autostradali o nelle foreste della Giura. Capire cos'猫 un'esperienza umana cos矛 estrema mi ha toccato cos矛 da vicino e che colpisce, credo, ognuno di noi".

Carr猫re cerca sempre di esporre i fatti nel modo pi霉 oggettivo possibile, ma allo stesso tempo riflette profondamente sul caso e, senza poterlo evitare, sulla natura umana.

La fatidica notte della strage viene raccontata da Carr猫re in maniera sobria, magari un altro scrittore avrebbe riempito le pagine di sangue e grida di supplizio, i movimenti dell'assassino sono veramente "a sangue freddo" (in riferimento al romanzo di Truman Capote che si pu貌 considerare genitore di questo), ma il fatto di far capire la natura umana senza mostrare esplicitamente la carne umana macerata, rende l'opera molto pi霉 potente.

"mi sembra anche di cominciare a percepire quella voce interiore carica di senso che finora si 猫 manifestata soltanto attraverso sintomi o azioni. Intuisco fino a che punto sia essenziale sentire dentro di me una parola che trovi conferma nell鈥檃scolto di un altro e di ci貌 che produce un鈥檈co in lui. Il fatto che lei non riesca a parlare della mia storia in prima persona mi sembra in parte legato alla difficolt脿 che ho io a parlare di me stesso in prima persona. (...) ed 猫 terribile pensare che se a suo tempo avessi avuto accesso a quell鈥欌€渋o鈥� e di conseguenza al 鈥渢u鈥� e al 鈥渘oi鈥�, avrei potuto dire loro tutto quello che avevo da dire senza che la violenza rendesse impossibile ogni dialogo."
Jean-Claude Romand, in una lettera a Carr猫re. 1996


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Profile Image for Ali Salehi.
187 reviews16 followers
March 6, 2025
毓賴丿 讴乇丿蹖賲 丿乇亘丕乇賴 芦禺氐賲禄 丕孬乇 芦丕賲丕賳賵卅賱 讴丕乇乇禄 氐丨亘鬲 讴賳蹖賲. 蹖讴 诏夭丕乇卮 亘丕 賮乇賲 丿乇爻鬲 乇賲丕賳 丕夭 噩賳丕蹖鬲蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 讴賴 賲胤賱賯丕 亘蹖 賳馗蹖乇 賵 亘乇 丕爻丕爻 鬲讴賳蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴.
芦禺氐賲禄 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 噩賳丕蹖鬲 賵 亘蹖賵诏乇丕賮蹖 賵 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丨丕賱 噩賱爻賴 丿丕丿诏丕賴 賲丨丕讴賲賴 芦跇丕賳讴賱賵丿 乇賵賵賲丕賳禄 賲乇丿蹖 讴賴 賴賲爻乇 貙 賮乇夭賳丿丕賳 賵 賵丕賱丿蹖賳 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 賲蹖 讴卮賴.
丿乇 氐賮丨賴 丕賵賱 賲丕 賲蹖禺賵賳蹖賲 讴賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 賲乇鬲讴亘 賯鬲賱 賴賲蹖賳 丕賮乇丕丿 卮丿賴. 趩賯丿乇 丕蹖賳 丨乇讴鬲 丿乇爻鬲賴 讴賴 丕夭 賱丨馗賴 丕賵賱 丕蹖賳 乇賵 亘賴 賲丕 賲蹖诏賴 賵 鬲賱丕卮蹖 丿乇 卮賵讴 讴乇丿賳 賲丕 賳賲蹖讴賳賴. 賵 亘噩丕卮 亘丕 禺賵賳丿賳 禺胤 丕賵賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 貙 丿乇 賲丕 鬲毓賱蹖賯 丕蹖噩丕丿 賲蹖卮賴 讴賴 亘丕 趩賴 賴丿賮蹖 丕蹖賳 賯鬲賱 賴丕 氐賵乇鬲 诏乇賮鬲賴責 趩噩賵乇蹖 丕蹖賳 賯鬲賱 賴丕 丕鬲賮丕賯 丕賮鬲丕丿賳責 賯丕鬲賱 讴蹖 賴爻鬲責 丕夭 讴噩丕 丕賵賲丿賴責 賵... 丕蹖賳 賳卮賵賳 賲蹖丿賴 讴賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賮乇賲 乇賵 賲蹖賮賴賲賴 賵 鬲賱丕卮蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 讴賴 亘乇 丕爻丕爻 丕蹖賳 賲丕噩乇丕 丿乇 丕鬲丕賯 賮讴乇 禺賵丿卮 賲孬賱 禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 亘賳賵蹖爻賴 讴賴 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賲丕噩乇丕 乇亘胤蹖 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賴. 賳賴貙 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 鬲賲丕賲丕 亘丕 賳馗丕乇鬲 賵 亘乇 丕爻丕爻 賲氐丕丨亘賴 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 亘丕 芦乇賵賵賲丕賳禄 丿丕卮鬲賴 賳賵卮鬲賴 賵 亘乇乇爻蹖 卮丿賴.賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丨賯蹖賯鬲 賳賵卮鬲賳 貙 賱丨賳 诏夭丕乇卮 诏賵賳賴 賳賲蹖賳賵蹖爻賴 賵 丕蹖賳 毓賱鬲蹖賴 讴賴 丕孬乇 乇賵 亘乇丕蹖 賲丕 禺賵賳丿賳蹖 賲蹖讴賳賴.禺賵丕賳卮 丕孬乇 乇賵 亘賴 丿丕賳卮噩賵賴丕 賵 賲鬲禺氐氐蹖賳 乇賵丕賳卮賳丕爻蹖 鬲賵氐蹖賴 賲蹖讴賳賲 趩乇丕 讴賴 丿乇 毓蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 亘賵丿賳 貙 诏夭丕乇卮蹖鈥屫池� 丕夭 夭禺賲 蹖讴 乇賵丨.
讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿丕乇賴(丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵亘蹖 賴賲 丿丕乇賴)
卮禺氐蹖鬲 丿丕乇賴 讴賴 禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵亘 賵 亘乇 丕爻丕爻 丕賵賳 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 亘賵丿賳 亘賳丕 賲蹖卮賳 賳賴 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賲蹖禺賵丕丿.
賮囟丕 丿丕乇賴 賵 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖卮賴 賲丕 亘賴 賮讴乇 賮乇賵 亘乇蹖賲.
丿乇 毓蹖賳 丨丕賱 丿賵 賳賯丿 賴賲 丿丕乇賴. 丿賵 賳賯丿 禺蹖賱蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 賲賴賲 讴賴 賲蹖卮賴 诏賮鬲 丿乇 丕讴孬乇蹖鬲 丌孬丕乇 噩賳丕蹖蹖 - 鬲乇蹖賱乇 賳賲蹖亘蹖賳蹖賲 :
1.賳賯丿 亘賴 芦丿乇賵睾禄 賵 芦丿乇賵睾诏賵蹖蹖禄
2.賳賯丿 芦禺卮賵賳鬲禄
亘乇 毓讴爻 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 丌孬丕乇 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 丕賲乇賵夭蹖 貙 丕蹖賳 丕孬乇 亘賴 丨丿蹖 禺賵亘賴 讴賴 禺卮賵賳鬲 乇賵 亘賴 夭亘丕賳蹖 丿乇爻鬲 賵 爻乇 丨丕賱 貙 賳賯丿 賲蹖讴賳賴.
賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賲蹖禺賵丕丿 讴賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 亘乇倬丕蹖賴 芦丿乇賵睾禄 禺賱賯 賲蹖卮賳 乇賵 賴賲 賳賯丿 讴賳賴. 賵 丕蹖賳 讴丕乇 乇賵 禺蹖賱蹖蹖 禺賵亘 丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖丿賴.
芦禺氐賲禄 乇賵 亘禺賵賳蹖丿 賵 丕夭卮 賱匕鬲 亘亘乇蹖丿.
爻倬丕爻 亘蹖 讴乇丕賳 丕夭 丿賵 賳賮乇
蹖讴蹖 芦丕亘賵丕賱賮囟賱 丕賱賱賴 丿丕丿蹖禄 讴賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 亘蹖 賳馗蹖乇蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳 丕孬乇 丕乇丕卅賴 讴乇丿賴 賵 蹖讴蹖 賲丿蹖乇蹖鬲 賳卮乇 芦賲賻丿禄 讴賴 亘丕 趩丕倬 丌孬丕乇 禺賵亘 丿丕乇賴 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 丿乇 亘蹖賳 丿賴 賳卮乇 亘乇鬲乇 丕蹖乇丕賳 貙 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 噩丕蹖 賲蹖丿賴.
Profile Image for Beatriz.
952 reviews847 followers
September 20, 2021
Un libro que va de m谩s a menos. El autor nos ofrece una versi贸n muy personal y literaria del caso real de Jean-Claude Romand, quien sostuvo una vida ficticia durante 18 a帽os a trav茅s de mentiras y estafas a sus familiares, amigos y conocidos, hasta que finalmente en 1993 asesin贸 a su esposa, sus hijos y sus padres.

Precisamente el estilo de la primera parte del libro es el que atrapa y estremece, primero narrando desde la perspectiva de su m谩s 铆ntimo amigo (quien por supuesto tambi茅n era v铆ctima del enga帽o) y luego recorriendo la vida de Romand desde su infancia hasta los tr谩gicos hechos de enero del 鈥�93. Lo anterior est谩 muy bien construido, ya que el autor complement贸 su investigaci贸n manteniendo correspondencia con Romand cuando estaba en la c谩rcel, permiti茅ndole plantear el complejo perfil con el que enfrentaba las diferentes situaciones.

Lo que no me gust贸 tanto fue la 煤ltima parte, abocada al juicio y a la vida en la c谩rcel despu茅s de la condena: cansadora, sobre todo porque aqu铆 Carr猫re se dedica a exponer el devenir de su proceso como autor del libro, lo que realmente no despert贸 mi inter茅s. Adem谩s, me choc贸 el hecho de que en la c谩rcel, Romand fuera considerado un preso modelo por sus compa帽eros y los funcionarios de la prisi贸n, situaci贸n a la que el autor dedica unos cuantos cap铆tulos en un tono casi de redenci贸n.
Profile Image for Beverly.
946 reviews429 followers
January 31, 2023
Although this slim little book tells you what happened and who did it, its main purpose seems to be, does Jean Claude Romand really know himself? This is a true crime story with a psychopathic killer. He fooled everyone for years about who he was, when the truth threatened to be revealed, he killed his whole family in a brutal fashion.

The author was able to meet and interview him. Jean Claude Romand is a dumpy loser who was able to pretend that he was a big shot. He lied, cheated and stole from his own family and friends. He killed five people, his wife, two children and his parents. He may have killed his father-in-law too, earlier, but that was never proven.

In prison and on trial, he continued to get good, decent people to believe his outrageous lies and the author believes he lives in a fantasy world and believes them himself. Romand is a physical and mental coward who would rather kill his own family, rather than let them learn the truth about him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ezequiel Bustos.
22 reviews22 followers
May 5, 2024
Bueno, esta novela es una joya. La le铆 en una tarde, pr谩cticamente sin referencias previas. No supe que se trataba de una obra de no ficci贸n hasta que termin茅 de leerla y me puse a investigar. Una bestialidad lo que hace Carriere. El que sepa de su obra d铆game por donde sigo, por favor!
Profile Image for i.
42 reviews21 followers
April 6, 2024
丕賵 丿乇賵睾 賲蹖诏賵蹖丿 貙 乇丕賴 賵 乇爻賲 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕卮 賴賲蹖賳 丕爻鬲 賵 鬲賵丕賳 丕賳噩丕賲 賴蹖趩 讴丕乇 丿蹖诏乇蹖 乇丕 賳丿丕乇丿.亘賴 賳馗乇 賲賳 丕賵 亘蹖卮鬲乇 亘賴 賯氐丿 賮乇蹖亘 禺賵丿卮 丿乇賵睾 賲蹖诏賵蹖丿 鬲丕 丿蹖诏乇丕賳.

鬲丕 賯亘賱 丕夭 丕蹖賳 丕诏乇 蹖賴 賳賮乇 亘賴賲 賲蹖诏賮鬲 丿乇賵睾 诏賵蹖蹖 賵 睾乇賯 卮丿賳 亘蹖賲丕乇诏賵賳賴 丿乇 丿乇賵睾 賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 禺賵丿鬲 賲蹖亘丕賮蹖 賲蹖鬲賵賳賴 亘丕毓孬 丕蹖賳 亘卮賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 爻乇 亘趩賴 鬲 鬲蹖乇 禺賱丕氐 卮賱蹖讴 讴賳蹖 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳爻鬲賲 賯亘賵賱 讴賳賲 趩賵賳 賴蹖趩 倬賱 丕乇鬲亘丕胤蹖 丕蹖 亘蹖賳 丿乇賵睾 诏賮鬲賳 賵 讴卮鬲賳 亘趩賴 倬蹖丿丕 賳賲蹖讴乇丿賲! 賵賱蹖 丕賱丕賳 賲蹖鬲賵賳賲!
Profile Image for Marcello S.
621 reviews276 followers
February 1, 2016
Essenzialmente il racconto di una solitudine.

Bugie impossibili come mosse nervose a shangai.
Pomeriggi inquieti a vagare nel vuoto.

Una storia che 猫 stata un lavoro ostico e complesso per chi l鈥檋a scritta (qualche anno con pause di riflessione nel mezzo) ma che 猫 diventata un resoconto abbastanza fluido per chi legge.

Alla base c鈥櫭� la ricerca di uno stile credibile, lontano dai sensazionalismi facili.
Carr猫re se la cava con la sua solita eleganza, con bracciate farfalla tra udienze e vita vissuta.
Per i suoi standard si tiene abbastanza in disparte, meno protagonista del solito.

La sintesi di un monolite. [76/100]
Profile Image for La opinion lectora.
107 reviews17 followers
November 9, 2024
Aunque soy una persona muy feliz y totalmente equilibrada, los dramas y el true crime me fascinan, y no es morbo, es la desconocida mente humana y sus capacidades las que me atraen. Son estas historias las que me llegan, las que me remueven, las que me dejan la mente trabajando para buscar explicaciones a los actos que son capaces de hacer algunas mentes retorcidas e inhumanas.

Y lleg贸 a mis manos esta cr贸nica novelada de la vida de Jean Claude Romand, en la que la realidad supera la ficci贸n, en la que un hombre tras iniciarse con una peque帽a mentira, se inventa una vida como el que elige el men煤 en un restaurante, en donde todo, salvo su familia, es mentira. Una vida falsa, pero real a ojos de todos, que creci贸 como una gran bola de nieve durante 18 a帽os sin que ninguna de las personas que viv铆an a su alrededor y con las que se relacionaba a diario, se dieran cuenta. C贸mo es posible? Es la confianza ciega de su familia y amigos la que hizo que nadie sospechara? A煤n as铆 la bola de nieve empez贸 a hacer aguas y como un castillo de naipes Jean Claude vio como toda su vida se iba a desmoronar, entonces, pudo el ego铆smo y su narcisismo exaltado frente a los pensamientos suicidas y cometi贸 de forma fr铆a y calculadora los cr铆menes m谩s atroces inimaginables, su familia鈥�

Una mente narcisista, calculadora y muy inteligente capaz de mantener una mentira global sin cometer errores, sin tener un desliz que lo delatara, que acab贸 convirti茅ndose en un criminal sin dudar, sin arrepentirse, sin piedad鈥�

Estuvo 20 a帽os en la c谩rcel, desde 2019 est谩 libre. Es justo?
Profile Image for Michela De Bartolo.
163 reviews87 followers
June 25, 2018
Cosa spinge un uomo a mentire per 18 lunghissimi anni ?? Jean Claude Romand un folle , un depresso un uomo senza personalit脿, 猫 riuscito ad ingannare chiunque, persino i suoi genitori. Un uomo ammirato da tutti , perch茅 nonostante la sua incredibile carriera , ovviamente inesistente, 猫 rimasto una persona semplice .. un mostro . Chi l鈥檃vrebbe mai immaginato che avrebbe sparato senza piet脿 alle spalle del padre e al petto sua madre , colei che l鈥檋a messo a questo mondo, lo stesso mondo che l鈥檋a ignorato . E poi sua moglie Florence vittima della sua incredibile follia insieme ai figli , innocenti , Caroline e Antoine. Un falso medico , un truffatore di poveri pensionati . Una bestia . Chi l鈥檃vrebbe mai Amato per quello che realmente 猫, un uomo che si vergogna di se stesso . Una richiesta sbagliata di amore , un essere malato senza via d鈥檜scita..鈥漰er poi crogiolarsi nel suo letto umido ,bagnato di sudore , nel suo cattivo odore 鈥� . I soldi rubati ai suoi genitori, allo zio , alla famiglia di Florence ed infine anche alla sua ipotetica amante , che non l鈥檃vrebbe mai amato . Un uomo contorto , alla ricerca di compassione non di amore . Lo stesso amore che ha dichiarato di avere , l鈥檜nica cosa autentica , forse , verso la sua famiglia. 脠 amore quello che spinge ad uccidere ???
Profile Image for Saman.
272 reviews106 followers
October 3, 2024
丿乇賵睾貨 賵 鬲賵 趩賴 丿丕賳蹖 丿乇賵睾 趩蹖爻鬲責!
Profile Image for Come Musica.
1,982 reviews591 followers
December 18, 2020
Cosa succede quando ci si addentra nei meandri della psiche di un pluriomicida?
Lo racconta Emmanuel Carr猫re ne L鈥橝vversario: un libro che mi ha scossa e commossa.

La luce che Carr猫re getta sulla vita di Romand non giudica: espone i fatti, 猫 come un raggio luminoso che incide su un prisma ottico per decomporlo in pi霉 colori.


鈥淟a mattina del sabato 9 gennaio 1993, mentre Jean-Claude Romand uccideva sua moglie e i suoi figli, io ero a una riunione all鈥檃silo di Gabriel, il mio figlio maggiore, insieme a tutta la famiglia. Gabriel aveva cinque anni, la stessa et脿 di Antoine Romand. Pi霉 tardi siamo andati a pranzo dai miei genitori, e Romand dai suoi. Dopo mangiato ha ucciso anche loro. Ho trascorso da solo, nel mio studio, il pomeriggio del sabato e l鈥檌ntera domenica, in genere dedicati alla vita familiare, perch茅 stavo finendo un libro al quale lavoravo da un anno: la biografia dello scrittore di fantascienza Philip K. Dick. L鈥檜ltimo capitolo raccontava i giorni che lo scrittore aveva passato in coma prima di morire. Ho finito il marted矛 sera, e il mercoled矛 mattina ho letto il primo articolo di 芦Lib茅ration禄 sul caso Romand.鈥�

Un romanzo crudo e profondamente umano, che spinge il lettore alla compassione.

鈥溌玈coprendo che la Grazia non consiste nella realizzazione dei miei desideri, per quanto generosi e altruisti, ma nella forza di accettare tutto con gioia, dal fondo di questa cella il mio De profundis si trasforma in un Magnificat, e tutto diventa Luce禄. Mentre tornavo a Parigi per rimettermi al lavoro, non vedevo pi霉 ombra di mistero nella sua lunga impostura, ma solo una misera commistione di cecit脿, disperazione e vigliaccheria. Ormai sapevo che cosa accadeva nella sua testa durante le lunghe ore vuote trascorse nelle aree di servizio o nei parcheggi dei bar, era una cosa che in qualche modo avevo vissuto anch鈥檌o, e che mi ero lasciato alle spalle. Ma mi chiedevo: che cosa accade, adesso, nel suo cuore durante le ore notturne di veglia e di preghiera? Ho svuotato il bagagliaio e, mentre sistemavo per i prossimi diciassette anni gli scatoloni dell鈥檌struttoria in un armadio del mio studio, ho capito che non li avrei pi霉 aperti. Aperta sulla mia scrivania rimaneva, invece, la testimonianza che Bernard gli aveva chiesto di scrivere. Questa s矛, con la sua retorica cattolica, mi sembrava davvero misteriosa. Indecidibile, nell鈥檃ccezione matematica del termine. Sono sicuro che non stia recitando per ingannare gli altri, mi chiedo per貌 se il bugiardo che c鈥櫭� in lui non lo stia ingannando. Quando Cristo entra nel suo cuore, quando la certezza di essere amato nonostante tutto gli fa scorrere sulle guance lacrime di gioia, non sar脿 caduto ancora una volta nella rete dell鈥橝vversario? Ho pensato che scrivere questa storia non poteva essere altro che un crimine o una preghiera.

Parigi, gennaio 1999鈥�



Amo Carr猫re, la sua capacit脿 narrativa.
Di nuovo, per貌, la voce del lettore dell鈥檃udiolibro, ha smorzato il piacere della lettura.

[Gli audiolibri mentre si pulisce sono una benedizione. Recupero cos矛 romanzi che non ho ancora letto e avrei voluto leggere.]
Profile Image for Cardenio.
196 reviews158 followers
February 23, 2020
Este libro es inc贸modo. Primero, por el crimen horroroso que se relata; segundo, por la confidencialidad establecida entre el autor de los asesinatos y el autor del texto. Mientras le铆a, me surg铆an muchas dudas con respecto a esta 煤ltima cuesti贸n. No lograba entender, por ejemplo, la motivaci贸n de Carr猫re para contar una historia como esta, o me descolocaba un poco al tratar de comprender la relaci贸n de mutuo respeto entre este y Romand, el criminal. El gran 'pero...' es que, a pesar de esta base de incomodidad con la que est谩 construido el texto, hay algo en la pluma de Carr猫re que amortigua esa perturbaci贸n inicial y la transforma en un sentir m谩s ameno e, incluso, en un sentimiento de curiosidad. Mentir铆a si dijera que no pod铆a leer la historia por el horror que se narraba; por el contrario, necesitaba saber detalladamente lo ocurrido. Y creo que es ah铆 donde se halla el talento de su autor, en hacer que el lugar del horror sea un sitio al que podamos acceder como lectores sin mucha dificultad.

Con esta lectura confirmo que la realidad puede ser aun m谩s ficcional que la misma literatura.
Profile Image for Jeanette.
3,917 reviews812 followers
July 9, 2017
What a psychological inquiry! OMG.

This was read in a two sit down frenzy. I slowed down at certain points. Not only because it was so mesmerizing but because it was an ILL book that someone had underlined and star highlighted with incredible precision. ABSOLUTELY sure it was a Psychology Major or someone that was using this for a paper or case study.

It is. Incredible history for this man and what he pulled off for a period of 18 years would not be considered possible in nearly any other scenario I can envision. And believe me, I thought about this for an entire hour. For instance he was known as a successful physician working for the World Health Organization and had a wide and numerous number of associated groups of "fine fellow well met" in church, neighborhood, wider country community etc.

The only other cases I have heard that approach this ability to lie and attract association for trust and good intent have been within the class of phony job record gigs or confederate job copiers or confidence men or spies. None that have this eventual outcome either. And I can't think of even one who did it in one place for such a long time.

The trial is fascinating for several points of French and Swiss laws and other emotive slants toward the defendant that I find nearly appalling. To me, the voice of the victims is nearly nil or completely nil. Take your pick.

But what truly got me to read this straight away (WHAT!) the author admits it-(that the original idea and proposition rather made his stomach turn and yet he did this book) was not only the sequence of the murderer's acts themselves but how his best friend and another comply to "TAKE HIS PART" so artfully for the $$$ they could get out of it in the afterwards (not that long afterwards on top of it)of writing this book for the "eyes" that they had held. As they literally stood by the front door- HOW COULD THEY! The same ones (both writer and door) where they carried out the small grey body bags. And where Luc saw the blackened face behind the thrown coat. Incredible what people will do for money. Luc has this guy as GODFATHER to one of the kids! Kids who played at his house weekly, at the least.

Madness truly has some thick layers of masking and mannerisms of grand eloquence and affinity which can and do display erudite, knowledgeable, current, trustful kindness "know better" concern and can carry it all off for decades. Nary a slip. Nothing offensive and perfect congeniality- never called crass or bombastic in his words or manner. And then it is not even called the madness that it is.

But then it becomes all too much for Jean-Claude. On this one bad day.

What I can't get over is that he can remember all his dogs, their illnesses, their demise- their essential memories in core to full emotion when the humans are little more but names to him now.

Or so he says?

I find the fact that this much can be done and this quality of life can be lived in these places and with this level of the material without paying an income tax. EVER. That's despicable. What a total unit of users.

And someone needs to impart to the Swiss and the French in their schooling structures that you cannot fail to investigate a "student" who has registered as active for his 2nd or 3rd medical year for 12 consecutive years. That medical school in Lyons??? HORRIBLE admins.

And his wife, Florence? And all the people who signed their accounts to him for investment with his name only on them in end stage. But essentially his wife, Florence. Did she EVER look at a banking statement or not think that the phone system they used was unusual? There is not one woman I have ever met that would fall for that buzzer and I call you back thing. And she was a pharmacist??? OMG!

1993 in France Jean-Claude Romand had a very bad day. Prevessin, France which is just across the border from Geneva Switzerland. If it was fiction you would find this hard to believe- the plot too contrived. The nature of all the friends, family and closest humans to this man- naive beyond any era's possibility to pull off with so little questioning.
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