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Eddie Giral #1
螣喂 伪谓蔚蟺喂胃蠉渭畏蟿慰喂 谓蔚魏蟻慰委
螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 螤伪蟻伪蟽魏蔚蠀萎, 14 螜慰蠀谓委慰蠀 1940. 螚 渭苇蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 螡伪味委 渭蟺伪委谓慰蠀谓 蟽蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 魏伪喂 纬委谓慰谓蟿伪喂 蟺蟻蠅蟿慰蟽苇位喂未畏 蔚委未畏蟽畏 伪谓维 蟿畏谓 蠀蠁萎位喂慰. 螣 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈蟼 螘谓蟿委 螙喂蟻维位, 蔚蟺喂味萎蟽伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 螒蝿 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰蠀 螤蠈位蔚渭慰蠀, 蟺伪蟻伪魏慰位慰蠀胃蔚委 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 蟿慰蠀 谓伪 伪位位维味蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟺维谓蟿伪, 伪谓萎渭蟺慰蟻慰蟼 谓伪 蔚位苇纬尉蔚喂 蟿畏 蠁蟻喂魏喂伪蟽蟿喂魏萎 蟿蟻慰蠂喂维 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 伪蟻蠂委蟽蔚喂 谓伪 未喂伪纬蟻维蠁蔚喂 畏 谓苇伪 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪. 违蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 魏维蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂: 谓伪 尾蟻蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蠀蟺蔚蠉胃蠀谓慰 纬喂伪 蟿畏 未慰位慰蠁慰谓委伪 蟿蔚蟽蟽维蟻蠅谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁蠉纬蠅谓 - 蟿蠅谓 伪谓蔚蟺喂胃蠉渭畏蟿蠅谓 谓蔚魏蟻蠋谓, 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 慰蟺慰委慰蠀蟼 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 未蔚谓 谓慰喂维味蔚蟿伪喂, 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 未蔚谓 蟺蟻慰尾维位位蔚喂 伪尉喂蠋蟽蔚喂蟼. 螕喂伪 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 谓伪 尾蟻蔚喂 蟿慰谓 苇谓慰蠂慰, 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 魏喂谓畏胃蔚委 蟺蟻慰蟽蔚魏蟿喂魏维 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿蠅谓 未蠀谓维渭蔚蠅谓 蟿畏蟼 螝伪蟿慰蠂萎蟼 魏伪喂 螒谓蟿委蟽蟿伪蟽畏蟼, 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 伪位萎胃蔚喂伪蟼 魏伪喂 蠄苇渭伪蟿慰蟼, 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀 维谓蟿蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 维谓蟿蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 萎蟿伪谓 魏维蟺慰蟿蔚. 韦伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪, 伪谓 胃苇位蔚喂 谓伪 蔚蟺喂尾喂蠋蟽蔚喂, 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 纬委谓蔚喂 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 维位位慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蟻蠂萎.
520 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2020
117 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lloyd
6听books41听followersAfter graduating in Spanish and French, I lived in Catalonia, where I worked in educational publishing and as a travel writer and translator. I鈥檝e also lived in Grenoble, researching the French Resistance movement.
The result of my lifelong interest in World War 2 and resistance and collaboration in Occupied France, The Unwanted Dead (Orion) is my first novel set in Paris, featuring Detective Eddie Giral. I鈥檓 also the author of the Elisenda Dom猫nech crime series (Canelo), featuring a police officer with the newly-devolved Catalan police force.
The result of my lifelong interest in World War 2 and resistance and collaboration in Occupied France, The Unwanted Dead (Orion) is my first novel set in Paris, featuring Detective Eddie Giral. I鈥檓 also the author of the Elisenda Dom猫nech crime series (Canelo), featuring a police officer with the newly-devolved Catalan police force.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 21, 2024
On the day the Germans invaded Paris - 14th June 1940, four men (thought to be Polish refugees) were found gassed in a railway truck, and across the city, there were people so desperate, and unable to see a future, that they ended up taking the ultimate and tragic step of committing suicide. One of these was another Polish refugee, Fryderyk Gorecki, who stepped off his balcony, falling to the pavement below, and sadly, his death turns out to be even more heartbreaking than it already was.
Paris police detective, Eddie Giral is determined to find out who killed the men in the railway truck, and why, and he also wants to track down any next of kin of the Polish refugee Fryderyk.
Giral is very much your old school detective, and gives scant regard to orders given by the occupying German officers, indeed he takes much joy in treating them with disdain, and taking pleasure in acts of defiance - quite a brave yet dangerous attitude to take, and he doesn鈥檛 come out of it unscathed, but of course it makes him immensely likeable!
Giral is a professional, though not always ethical cop, however, his tenacity is to be applauded, and he has a wicked sense of humour, but he also has a dark and unpredictable side - a result of the shell shock that he still suffers after serving in the First World War.
Giral鈥檚 search for answers is conducted among so many lies and distortions, against a background of a city trying to adjust to a new normal, under German rule, its citizens鈥� liberty savagely curtailed. And it results in him being caught between doing his job and trying to remain true to himself, while around him circulate his colleagues (both good and bad) the resistance, foreign journalists and the German establishment made up of the army, the Gestapo and the SS.
Though fictional, The Unwanted Dead does have its basis in fact, which makes the reading of it even more harrowing, and, with a closing chapter that finally brings some long awaited answers, it鈥檚 a conclusion that you may find difficult to read, and even more difficult to forget.
Well written, well researched and highly recommended.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Paris police detective, Eddie Giral is determined to find out who killed the men in the railway truck, and why, and he also wants to track down any next of kin of the Polish refugee Fryderyk.
Giral is very much your old school detective, and gives scant regard to orders given by the occupying German officers, indeed he takes much joy in treating them with disdain, and taking pleasure in acts of defiance - quite a brave yet dangerous attitude to take, and he doesn鈥檛 come out of it unscathed, but of course it makes him immensely likeable!
Giral is a professional, though not always ethical cop, however, his tenacity is to be applauded, and he has a wicked sense of humour, but he also has a dark and unpredictable side - a result of the shell shock that he still suffers after serving in the First World War.
Giral鈥檚 search for answers is conducted among so many lies and distortions, against a background of a city trying to adjust to a new normal, under German rule, its citizens鈥� liberty savagely curtailed. And it results in him being caught between doing his job and trying to remain true to himself, while around him circulate his colleagues (both good and bad) the resistance, foreign journalists and the German establishment made up of the army, the Gestapo and the SS.
Though fictional, The Unwanted Dead does have its basis in fact, which makes the reading of it even more harrowing, and, with a closing chapter that finally brings some long awaited answers, it鈥檚 a conclusion that you may find difficult to read, and even more difficult to forget.
Well written, well researched and highly recommended.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
August 27, 2020
Chris Lloyd's WW2 historical fiction is set in Paris from the moment in June 1940 that German occupation forces arrived, a city that so many Parisians have fled, leaving behind only the elderly, the poor and the desperate. Many commit suicide, unable to face life under Nazi rule, the streets are empty, a virtual ghost town as the Germans impose a curfew. Detective Edouard 'Eddie' Giral, is a survivor of WW1 whose life was destroyed, war which makes strangers of us all, living a life he accords no value to, constantly entertaining thoughts of ending it all. He finds himself observed by German soldiers, at a crime scene at a railway yard, where four Polish refugees have been discovered tortuously gassed to death, one victim from Bydgoszcz, a town in Poland.
It is soon clear that Giral is not going to be able to conduct a normal police murder investigation amidst the chaos and new order of the Germans taking hold of the reins of power, establishing control, such as imposing Berlin time. Commissioner Dax becomes only a nominal police chief, their guns being removed initially, although they are returned eventually. The police are overseen by an Abwehr officer, Major Hochstetter, who takes a close interest in a determined Giral intent on looking into the murder of the Polish refugees. By what seems to be an apparent coincidence, Giral finds himself outside a hotel and the tragic suicide of the Polish Frederyk Goreski, who had stepped off a balcony with his young son, Jan, sheltered in his coat. Goreski was from Bydgoszcz as well, and despite being an impoverished refugee, had acquired a safe which strangely contains only 3 books, whilst his passport is carelessly left outside in the flat, all of which makes little sense to Giral.
In a narrative that includes a strand from 1925, where Eddie's life with his wife, Sylvie, and young son, Jean-Luc is falling apart, Eddie tries to protect his son, getting beaten up and assaulted constantly, tangling with the murderous Gestapo who are not supposed to be in Paris, becoming close to an American journalist. He remains relentless in pursuing his inquiries into the death of the Polish refugees and what lay behind Goreski's despairing suicide, but is unable to avoid being caught up in German machinations, the different factions and the rivalries between them. This is a wonderful historical read with its blend of fact and fiction, set in a atmospheric wartime Paris with its famous landmarks, jazz clubs and cafes that Lloyd evokes beautifully. Giral makes for a fascinating protagonist, a man with severe PTSD, who cares little if he lives or dies, volatile, estranged from his French soldier son but desperate to protect him, irrespective of the cost to him. Many readers who love their historical fiction set in WW2 will find this a terrifically appealing novel. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
It is soon clear that Giral is not going to be able to conduct a normal police murder investigation amidst the chaos and new order of the Germans taking hold of the reins of power, establishing control, such as imposing Berlin time. Commissioner Dax becomes only a nominal police chief, their guns being removed initially, although they are returned eventually. The police are overseen by an Abwehr officer, Major Hochstetter, who takes a close interest in a determined Giral intent on looking into the murder of the Polish refugees. By what seems to be an apparent coincidence, Giral finds himself outside a hotel and the tragic suicide of the Polish Frederyk Goreski, who had stepped off a balcony with his young son, Jan, sheltered in his coat. Goreski was from Bydgoszcz as well, and despite being an impoverished refugee, had acquired a safe which strangely contains only 3 books, whilst his passport is carelessly left outside in the flat, all of which makes little sense to Giral.
In a narrative that includes a strand from 1925, where Eddie's life with his wife, Sylvie, and young son, Jean-Luc is falling apart, Eddie tries to protect his son, getting beaten up and assaulted constantly, tangling with the murderous Gestapo who are not supposed to be in Paris, becoming close to an American journalist. He remains relentless in pursuing his inquiries into the death of the Polish refugees and what lay behind Goreski's despairing suicide, but is unable to avoid being caught up in German machinations, the different factions and the rivalries between them. This is a wonderful historical read with its blend of fact and fiction, set in a atmospheric wartime Paris with its famous landmarks, jazz clubs and cafes that Lloyd evokes beautifully. Giral makes for a fascinating protagonist, a man with severe PTSD, who cares little if he lives or dies, volatile, estranged from his French soldier son but desperate to protect him, irrespective of the cost to him. Many readers who love their historical fiction set in WW2 will find this a terrifically appealing novel. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
December 12, 2022
This is a crime novel with an interesting setting. It begins on the 14th June, 1940, the very day that the German army reached Paris and occupied the city. Detective Eddie Giral is a WWI veteran, who is still damaged from his time in the trenches. With Paris overrun with German troops, he is sent to investigate four dead men in a railway yard and then a man, his young son wrapped in his coat, who steps off a balcony and kills himself. He finds a link 鈥� the suicide and, at least one of the men in the railway, came from Bydgoszcz in Poland.
Of course, Giral鈥檚 investigation is hampered by the German鈥檚. Commissioner Dax is in charge in name only and the French police force have their guns first removed, then returned. Giral is overseen by Major Hochstetter, who involves himself in the two cases that he is investigating. Meanwhile, Giral鈥檚 son, who he has not seen for fifteen years, suddenly appears and complicates Giral鈥檚 life still more. Giral is a man beset by demons, who flirts with death and violence. He has immense guilt for what he sees as his failure as a husband, and his father, and does his best to keep his son out of trouble.
I do enjoy novels set in the Second World War and I found the setting of occupied Paris an interesting one. Should this become a series, there are some good characters, including Kate Ronson, an American journalist, and Major Hochstetter, who worked really well. He was urbane and charming, but it is obvious who is in charge and not all of Giral鈥檚 colleagues resent the Germans equally. The author explores all of those political affiliations; of those who resisted the occupation and those who collaborated, as well as many Parisians left behind 鈥� many elderly - who simply wanted to survive. A good novel and, hopefully, the first in a series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGally, for review.
Of course, Giral鈥檚 investigation is hampered by the German鈥檚. Commissioner Dax is in charge in name only and the French police force have their guns first removed, then returned. Giral is overseen by Major Hochstetter, who involves himself in the two cases that he is investigating. Meanwhile, Giral鈥檚 son, who he has not seen for fifteen years, suddenly appears and complicates Giral鈥檚 life still more. Giral is a man beset by demons, who flirts with death and violence. He has immense guilt for what he sees as his failure as a husband, and his father, and does his best to keep his son out of trouble.
I do enjoy novels set in the Second World War and I found the setting of occupied Paris an interesting one. Should this become a series, there are some good characters, including Kate Ronson, an American journalist, and Major Hochstetter, who worked really well. He was urbane and charming, but it is obvious who is in charge and not all of Giral鈥檚 colleagues resent the Germans equally. The author explores all of those political affiliations; of those who resisted the occupation and those who collaborated, as well as many Parisians left behind 鈥� many elderly - who simply wanted to survive. A good novel and, hopefully, the first in a series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGally, for review.
September 18, 2020
The Unwanted Dead is an intriguing and gripping police procedural, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris in 1940. The first instalment in a brand new historical crime series, it is centred around the murders of four Polish refugees slain on June 14 in a railway siding, the day the Germans invaded and occupied Paris. Enter Detective Eddie Giral, an individual weighed down by his worries and whose wife has long left him. The four dead Poles, poisoned by what appears to be phosgene gas, were discovered in the rail yard near the Gare D鈥橝usterlitz. Then another Pole jumps to his death from a balcony still holding his young son and leaving behind a slew of strange documentation. Giral becomes obsessed with the cases and draws parallels between them and the atrocities committed by Nazis in Poland. Unfortunately, because of the war, nobody can be trusted to be who he appears, as the distortions and lies perpetuated cannot be easily distinguished from the truth making Giral鈥檚 job all the more difficult. Caught between a strong sense of duty and trying to not to lose himself in the process makes for an additional and engaging facet to the story.
This is a captivating, compelling and superb read, rich in accurate historical detail and an absolute pleasure to pick up. Reminiscent of Alan Furst, this top-notch procedural not only has the intrigue of the murder investigation to keep you feverishly turning the pages but also the danger of being caught between the occupation and the resistance too. The Unwanted Dead is the result of Chris Lloyd鈥檚 lifelong interest in World War 2 and resistance and collaboration in Occupied France. Lloyd鈥檚 keen interest in WWII allowed the book to have its history grounded in reality whilst telling an engrossing fictional tale. The plot itself is beautifully wrought as well as intelligent and credible, the writing flows from page to page, the characters are developed soundly and there is a thoroughly convincing atmosphere throughout. Protagonist Detective Giral is an intuitive and tenacious investigator who is determined to get to the bottom of the killings but who also has an edgier side. I'm already eagerly anticipating the next instalment. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
This is a captivating, compelling and superb read, rich in accurate historical detail and an absolute pleasure to pick up. Reminiscent of Alan Furst, this top-notch procedural not only has the intrigue of the murder investigation to keep you feverishly turning the pages but also the danger of being caught between the occupation and the resistance too. The Unwanted Dead is the result of Chris Lloyd鈥檚 lifelong interest in World War 2 and resistance and collaboration in Occupied France. Lloyd鈥檚 keen interest in WWII allowed the book to have its history grounded in reality whilst telling an engrossing fictional tale. The plot itself is beautifully wrought as well as intelligent and credible, the writing flows from page to page, the characters are developed soundly and there is a thoroughly convincing atmosphere throughout. Protagonist Detective Giral is an intuitive and tenacious investigator who is determined to get to the bottom of the killings but who also has an edgier side. I'm already eagerly anticipating the next instalment. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
February 1, 2021
Maybe I鈥檝e just overdone WWII fiction, but I really couldn鈥檛 get into this book. Nothing against the writing- that in itself was quite good, but I struggled to really get into this. Possibly just not my cup of tea.
March 18, 2023
Absolutely brilliant.Great characters, intricate and clever plot,wonderful and oppressive sense of time and place.
March 22, 2024
韦畏 渭苇蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 螡伪味委 蔚喂蟽尾维位位慰蠀谓 蟽蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 慰 伪蟽蟿蠀谓蠈渭慰蟼 螘谓蟿委 螙喂蟻伪位, 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蟿伪 蟺蟿蠋渭伪蟿伪 4 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁蠉纬蠅谓 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 螤慰位蠅谓委伪, 慰喂 慰蟺慰委慰喂 未慰位慰蠁慰谓萎胃畏魏伪谓 蟽蟿慰 尾伪纬蠈谓喂 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟿蟻苇谓慰蠀, 伪蟺蠈 未畏位畏蟿畏蟻喂蠋未畏 伪苇蟻喂伪. 螆蠂慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟺慰位蔚渭萎蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿慰谓 螒螤螤, 慰 螙喂蟻伪位, 胃苇位蔚喂 谓伪 渭维胃蔚喂 蟿喂 蟽蠀谓苇尾畏. 螌渭蠅蟼, 蟿慰 谓苇慰 魏伪胃蔚蟽蟿蠋蟼 蟿慰谓 未蠀蟽魏慰位蔚蠉蔚喂 魏喂 蠈位慰喂 蠁伪委谓慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽伪谓 魏维蟿喂 谓伪 魏蟻蠉尾慰蠀谓. 螠喂伪 伪谓伪蟺维谓蟿蔚蠂畏 伪蟺慰魏维位蠀蠄畏 蟽蟿慰 蟽蟺委蟿喂 蔚谓蠈蟼 维位位慰蠀 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠁蠀纬伪 蟺慰蠀 伪蠀蟿慰魏蟿蠈谓畏蟽蔚, 蟺蔚蟻喂蟺位苇魏蔚喂 蟿伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿伪.
螠蔚 魏蔚谓蟿蟻喂魏蠈 萎蟻蠅伪 苇谓伪谓 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈 蔚蟺喂味萎蟽伪谓蟿伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀, 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 未喂魏慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀 未伪委渭慰谓蔚蟼 谓伪 蟿慰谓 魏伪蟿伪蟿蟻苇蠂慰蠀谓, 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 纬蟻维蠁蔚喂 苇谓伪 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿畏渭苇谓慰 蠂蟻慰谓喂魏维 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 未蠉蟽魏慰位畏 蟺蔚蟻委慰未慰 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂伪蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼. 螔伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓慰 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼, 渭喂伪 位委蟽蟿伪 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 蔚委蟿蔚 谓伪 蔚尉慰蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀谓 蔚委蟿蔚 谓伪 伪蠁伪谓喂蟽蟿慰蠉谓, 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚喂未喂魏萎蟼 未委蠅尉畏蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 螤慰位蠅谓委伪 蠈蟺蠅蟼 慰谓慰渭维蟽蟿畏魏蔚, 蟿慰 螒谓蔚蟺喂胃蠉渭畏蟿慰喂 螡蔚魏蟻慰委, 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰, 纬蔚渭维蟿慰 未慰位慰蟺位慰魏委蔚蟼, 委谓蟿蟻喂纬魏伪 渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪谓维纬魏畏 蟿慰蠀 螙喂蟻伪位 谓伪 伪蟺慰未蠋蟽蔚喂 未喂魏伪喂慰蟽蠉谓畏!
3,5 伪蟽蟿苇蟻喂伪
螠蔚 魏蔚谓蟿蟻喂魏蠈 萎蟻蠅伪 苇谓伪谓 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈 蔚蟺喂味萎蟽伪谓蟿伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟺慰位苇渭慰蠀, 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 未喂魏慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀 未伪委渭慰谓蔚蟼 谓伪 蟿慰谓 魏伪蟿伪蟿蟻苇蠂慰蠀谓, 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼 纬蟻维蠁蔚喂 苇谓伪 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿畏渭苇谓慰 蠂蟻慰谓喂魏维 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 未蠉蟽魏慰位畏 蟺蔚蟻委慰未慰 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂伪蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼. 螔伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓慰 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼, 渭喂伪 位委蟽蟿伪 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 蔚委蟿蔚 谓伪 蔚尉慰蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀谓 蔚委蟿蔚 谓伪 伪蠁伪谓喂蟽蟿慰蠉谓, 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚喂未喂魏萎蟼 未委蠅尉畏蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 螤慰位蠅谓委伪 蠈蟺蠅蟼 慰谓慰渭维蟽蟿畏魏蔚, 蟿慰 螒谓蔚蟺喂胃蠉渭畏蟿慰喂 螡蔚魏蟻慰委, 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰, 纬蔚渭维蟿慰 未慰位慰蟺位慰魏委蔚蟼, 委谓蟿蟻喂纬魏伪 渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪谓维纬魏畏 蟿慰蠀 螙喂蟻伪位 谓伪 伪蟺慰未蠋蟽蔚喂 未喂魏伪喂慰蟽蠉谓畏!
3,5 伪蟽蟿苇蟻喂伪
April 18, 2021
Am 14. Juni 1940 marschieren die Nationalsozialisten in Paris ein und 眉bernehmen die Kontrolle. Ausgangssperre, massive Eingriffe in das 枚ffentliche Leben, Sanktionen. Fluchtartig verlassen die Einwohner die Stadt, nur wenige bleiben zur眉ck. Unter ihnen Eddie Giral, Kommissar der Pariser Polizei, der sich in seinem aktuellen Fall mit den neuen Machthabern in Gestalt des ambitionierten Major Hochstetter auseinandersetzen muss. Auf dem Gel盲nde des Gare d鈥橝usterlitz werden vier Tote in einem Eisenbahnwaggon gefunden, offenbar polnische Fl眉chtlinge, vergiftet mit Gas. Kurze Zeit sp盲ter setzt ein weiterer Pole seinem Leben durch einen Sprung aus dem Fenster seinem Leben ein Ende und nimmt seinen kleinen Sohn mit in den Tod. Beiden F盲llen gemeinsam ist die Verbindung zu der polnischen Stadt Bydgoszcz, in der die Nazis 1939 unvorstellbare Gr盲ueltaten begangen haben.
Lloyd arbeitet mit zwei Erz盲hlstr盲ngen. Da ist zum einen die 1940er Gegenwart, die sich mit Girals Ermittlungen und seiner Suche nach Antworten auseinandersetzt. Gleichzeitig zeichnet er das authentische Bild einer Metropole, deren Alltag von vielerlei Einschr盲nkungen, Schikanen und Erniedrigungen gepr盲gt ist. In der die Besatzer unmissverst盲ndlich zeigen, wer das Sagen hat. Aber Giral hat seinen eigenen Kopf, schert sich wenig um Befehle und bringt sich so immer wieder in die Bredouille. Er scheut kein Risiko, was wohl auch seiner latenten Todessehnsucht geschuldet ist. Das bringt uns zur zweiten Zeitebene im Jahr 1925. Der Erste Weltkrieg ist vorbei, in dem Giral Soldat war. Zwar hat er 眉berlebt, kann sich aber von den peinigenden Erinnerungen nicht befreien. Sie zerst枚ren seine Familie, nehmen ihm alles, was ihm wichtig ist. Aber vielleicht hat er ja doch noch eine Chance zur Wiedergutmachung.
Ein lesenswerter historischer Kriminalroman zwischen Besatzung und Widerstand, gekonnt mit Fakten und Fiktion spielend, atmosph盲risch in Szene gesetzt, der einmal mehr den Fokus auf ein dunkles Kapitel der deutschen Geschichte richtet.
Lloyd arbeitet mit zwei Erz盲hlstr盲ngen. Da ist zum einen die 1940er Gegenwart, die sich mit Girals Ermittlungen und seiner Suche nach Antworten auseinandersetzt. Gleichzeitig zeichnet er das authentische Bild einer Metropole, deren Alltag von vielerlei Einschr盲nkungen, Schikanen und Erniedrigungen gepr盲gt ist. In der die Besatzer unmissverst盲ndlich zeigen, wer das Sagen hat. Aber Giral hat seinen eigenen Kopf, schert sich wenig um Befehle und bringt sich so immer wieder in die Bredouille. Er scheut kein Risiko, was wohl auch seiner latenten Todessehnsucht geschuldet ist. Das bringt uns zur zweiten Zeitebene im Jahr 1925. Der Erste Weltkrieg ist vorbei, in dem Giral Soldat war. Zwar hat er 眉berlebt, kann sich aber von den peinigenden Erinnerungen nicht befreien. Sie zerst枚ren seine Familie, nehmen ihm alles, was ihm wichtig ist. Aber vielleicht hat er ja doch noch eine Chance zur Wiedergutmachung.
Ein lesenswerter historischer Kriminalroman zwischen Besatzung und Widerstand, gekonnt mit Fakten und Fiktion spielend, atmosph盲risch in Szene gesetzt, der einmal mehr den Fokus auf ein dunkles Kapitel der deutschen Geschichte richtet.
February 23, 2023
Edouard Giral is a Paris police officer, known as Eddie from his time moonlighting at jazz clubs where many musicians were former US servicemen from World War I. The story begins in June, 1940, as the German army seizes Paris. Paris police are allowed to continue in their jobs, but only subject to oversight and often oppression by the occupiers. Those putting the arm on Eddie might be in the Abwehr, the SD, the SS, or even the Gestapo.
On that fateful day for Paris, Eddie is investigating the death of four Polish refugees in a rail car. Mysteriously, they have been gassed with what appears to be leftover military chlorine and/or phosgene gas. The same day, Eddie also feels compelled to look into the death of another Polish refugee, who apparently committed murder/suicide by jumping out his apartment window with his beloved young son in his arms. Are there connections between these events? Not just because the victims are Polish鈥攖here are many Polish refugees in Paris鈥攂ut because they all seem to have links to a Polish city called Bydgoszcz, where Eddie learns the Germans committed atrocities when they invaded.
Over two decades after his horrific experiences in the trenches of World War I, Eddie still suffers from bad dreams and memories. He left his wife and young son, Jean-Luc, not long after the war, because of his trauma. But that doesn鈥檛 mean Eddie is a coward. He鈥檚 a little bit like the Mel Gibson character in Lethal Weapon, in that his experiences have made him always barely in control of his rage, and often self-destructive. His attitude means he is beaten up and has his life threatened on a regular basis during his investigations. And it deters him not one little bit.
Even aside from these investigations and dealing with the new German overlords, Eddie鈥檚 life is complicated. His estranged son, Jean-Luc, shows up, having had to flee from his army unit. Jean-Luc is burning to fight the Germans, but first he needs to get out of Paris, which means he might have to accept help from Eddie. Eddie also meets a young American reporter, Kate Ronson, who is sniffing around Eddie鈥檚 investigations, sensing a story. She, and some refugees Eddie meets in his investigations, also have heard that the Germans committed atrocities in Poland, and want to find confirmation so that the US might be persuaded to enter the war. While trying to help/corral all of those people, Eddie must also watch his back at work, where there are old enemies who are now happy to collaborate with the Germans, and if that means they can mess with Eddie, so much the better.
The book includes flashbacks to Eddie鈥檚 World War I experiences and in the years soon after the war. The contemporary story focuses more on how Eddie鈥檚 work and life are affected by the new order than on the nuts and bolts of his investigations. His solution to the gassing murders is revealed fairly hurriedly at the end of the book.
Eddie Giral is an intriguing character, and Chris Lloyd depicts the time and place vividly. I鈥檓 looking forward to reading the next book in the series, which has just come out.
On that fateful day for Paris, Eddie is investigating the death of four Polish refugees in a rail car. Mysteriously, they have been gassed with what appears to be leftover military chlorine and/or phosgene gas. The same day, Eddie also feels compelled to look into the death of another Polish refugee, who apparently committed murder/suicide by jumping out his apartment window with his beloved young son in his arms. Are there connections between these events? Not just because the victims are Polish鈥攖here are many Polish refugees in Paris鈥攂ut because they all seem to have links to a Polish city called Bydgoszcz, where Eddie learns the Germans committed atrocities when they invaded.
Over two decades after his horrific experiences in the trenches of World War I, Eddie still suffers from bad dreams and memories. He left his wife and young son, Jean-Luc, not long after the war, because of his trauma. But that doesn鈥檛 mean Eddie is a coward. He鈥檚 a little bit like the Mel Gibson character in Lethal Weapon, in that his experiences have made him always barely in control of his rage, and often self-destructive. His attitude means he is beaten up and has his life threatened on a regular basis during his investigations. And it deters him not one little bit.
Even aside from these investigations and dealing with the new German overlords, Eddie鈥檚 life is complicated. His estranged son, Jean-Luc, shows up, having had to flee from his army unit. Jean-Luc is burning to fight the Germans, but first he needs to get out of Paris, which means he might have to accept help from Eddie. Eddie also meets a young American reporter, Kate Ronson, who is sniffing around Eddie鈥檚 investigations, sensing a story. She, and some refugees Eddie meets in his investigations, also have heard that the Germans committed atrocities in Poland, and want to find confirmation so that the US might be persuaded to enter the war. While trying to help/corral all of those people, Eddie must also watch his back at work, where there are old enemies who are now happy to collaborate with the Germans, and if that means they can mess with Eddie, so much the better.
The book includes flashbacks to Eddie鈥檚 World War I experiences and in the years soon after the war. The contemporary story focuses more on how Eddie鈥檚 work and life are affected by the new order than on the nuts and bolts of his investigations. His solution to the gassing murders is revealed fairly hurriedly at the end of the book.
Eddie Giral is an intriguing character, and Chris Lloyd depicts the time and place vividly. I鈥檓 looking forward to reading the next book in the series, which has just come out.
March 28, 2024
螁蟻蠂喂蟽伪 渭蔚 伪蟻谓畏蟿喂魏萎 未喂维胃蔚蟽畏 谓伪 未喂伪尾维味蠅 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 胃苇位慰谓蟿伪蟼 谓伪 伪蟺慰蠁蠉纬蠅 纬喂伪 维位位畏 渭委伪 蠁慰蟻维 谓伪 尉蔚蟿蠀位喂蠂胃慰蠉谓 渭蟺蟻慰蟽蟿维 渭慰蠀 慰喂 蠁蟻喂魏伪位蔚蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 蟿蠅谓 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓蠋谓 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 螕' 巍维喂蠂 蔚谓伪谓蟿委慰谓 蟿畏蟼 蔚蠀蟻蠋蟺畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼. 螝维蟿喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 渭蔚 魏蟻维蟿畏蟽蔚 魏慰谓蟿维 蟿慰蠀... 螝伪喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 萎蟿伪谓 畏 伪蟺蠈位蠀蟿畏 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏. 危蟿蟻蠅蟿萎, 魏伪位慰纬蟻伪渭渭苇谓畏, 喂蟽慰蟻蟻慰蟺畏渭苇谓畏 , 伪蟺位萎 伪位位维 渭蔚 蔚蟽蠅蟿蔚蟻喂蟽渭蠈 魏伪喂 蟽蠅蟽蟿萎 蠂蟻萎蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 纬位蠋蟽蟽伪蟼.
螚 蟺位慰魏萎 蔚尉蔚位委蟽蟽蔚蟿伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 渭委伪 维蟻蟿喂伪 未慰渭萎 魏伪喂 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁喂魏萎 未蔚喂谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蔚 渭蔚蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 渭蔚 蠈位蔚蟼 蟽慰蠀 蟿喂蟼蟼 伪喂蟽胃萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿蠈蟺慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蠀蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪蠁畏纬萎渭伪蟿慰蟼.
螣 伪蟽蟿蠀谓蠈渭慰蟼 螆谓蟿喂 螙喂蟻伪位 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 萎蟻蠅伪蟼 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏慰蠉 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 尾伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓慰 蟽蔚 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪.
螚 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 渭伪蟼 蟿慰谓 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 14 喂慰蠀谓委慰蠀 1940, 畏渭苇蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 螡伪味喂 魏伪蟿伪位伪渭尾维谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 谓伪 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 伪谓蟿喂渭苇蟿蠅蟺慰蟼 渭蔚 渭委伪 慰尉蠉渭蠅蟻畏 魏伪蟿维蟽蟿伪蟽畏: 魏伪位蔚委蟿伪喂 谓伪 蔚尉喂蠂谓喂维蟽蔚喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠁蠈谓慰蠀蟼 蟿蔚蟽蟽维蟻蠅谓 伪谓蠋谓蠀渭蠅谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁蠉纬蠅谓 蔚谓蠋 慰喂 蠁蠈谓慰喂 蔚魏伪蟿慰谓蟿维未蠅谓 蠂喂位喂维未蠅谓 胃蠀渭维蟿蠅谓 蟿慰蠀 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏慰蠉 谓伪味喂蟽渭慰蠉 渭苇谓慰蠀谓 伪蟿喂渭蠈蟻畏蟿慰喂...
螠蔚 蟺维胃慰蟼 魏伪喂 蟺蟻慰蟽萎位蠅蟽畏 蔚魏蟿蔚位蔚委 蟿慰 苇蟻纬慰 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蠋谓蟿伪蟼 谓伪 喂蟽慰蟻蟻慰蟺萎蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟿维尉蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓慰蠉 魏伪蟿伪魏蟿畏蟿萎.
螣 螙喂蟻伪位 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺蠈位蠀蟿伪 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰蟼 渭蔚 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻慰 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻 萎 蟺喂慰 蟽蠅蟽蟿维 魏伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏萎 蔚喂蟻蠅谓蔚委伪 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蠋谓蟿伪蟼 苇蟿蟽喂 蟽蟿喂纬渭苇蟼 伪蟺慰蟽蠀渭蟺委蔚蟽畏蟼 蟿蠈蟽慰 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 萎蟻蠅伪 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏.
螤伪位蔚蠉蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 未伪委渭慰谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺位蔚蠀蟻维 伪谓伪魏伪位蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟿喂蟼 蟿蟻伪纬喂魏苇蟼 伪谓伪渭谓萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟽蠀渭渭蔚蟿慰蠂萎 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟿慰谓 螒' 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰.
螆谓伪蟼 蟺慰位蠉 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蔚委 蟺蟻慰蟽未慰魏委伪 魏伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿伪 维位位伪 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬萎渭伪蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 Lloyd.
螆谓伪 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠀蟿喂魏蠈 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏维 魏伪喂 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 蟺慰蠀 伪尉委味蔚喂 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟺慰 谓伪 未喂伪尾伪蟽蟿蔚委
"... 螒谓 未蔚谓 胃苇位慰蠀渭蔚 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蟻蟻蔚蠉蟽蔚喂 慰 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼, 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委蟽慰蠀渭蔚 谓伪 蟿喂渭蠅蟻慰蠉渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠁蠈谓慰蠀蟼 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蠈蟿伪谓 蠂喂位喂维未蔚蟼 谓苇慰喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蟽魏慰蟿蠋谓慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟽蠁伪委蟻蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蔚蠂胃蟻慰蠉 魏伪胃畏渭蔚蟻喂谓维..."
螚 蟺位慰魏萎 蔚尉蔚位委蟽蟽蔚蟿伪喂 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 渭委伪 维蟻蟿喂伪 未慰渭萎 魏伪喂 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁喂魏萎 未蔚喂谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蔚 渭蔚蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 渭蔚 蠈位蔚蟼 蟽慰蠀 蟿喂蟼蟼 伪喂蟽胃萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 蟿蠈蟺慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蠀蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪蠁畏纬萎渭伪蟿慰蟼.
螣 伪蟽蟿蠀谓蠈渭慰蟼 螆谓蟿喂 螙喂蟻伪位 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 萎蟻蠅伪蟼 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏慰蠉 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚委谓伪喂 尾伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓慰 蟽蔚 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪.
螚 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 渭伪蟼 蟿慰谓 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 14 喂慰蠀谓委慰蠀 1940, 畏渭苇蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 慰喂 螡伪味喂 魏伪蟿伪位伪渭尾维谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 谓伪 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 伪谓蟿喂渭苇蟿蠅蟺慰蟼 渭蔚 渭委伪 慰尉蠉渭蠅蟻畏 魏伪蟿维蟽蟿伪蟽畏: 魏伪位蔚委蟿伪喂 谓伪 蔚尉喂蠂谓喂维蟽蔚喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠁蠈谓慰蠀蟼 蟿蔚蟽蟽维蟻蠅谓 伪谓蠋谓蠀渭蠅谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁蠉纬蠅谓 蔚谓蠋 慰喂 蠁蠈谓慰喂 蔚魏伪蟿慰谓蟿维未蠅谓 蠂喂位喂维未蠅谓 胃蠀渭维蟿蠅谓 蟿慰蠀 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏慰蠉 谓伪味喂蟽渭慰蠉 渭苇谓慰蠀谓 伪蟿喂渭蠈蟻畏蟿慰喂...
螠蔚 蟺维胃慰蟼 魏伪喂 蟺蟻慰蟽萎位蠅蟽畏 蔚魏蟿蔚位蔚委 蟿慰 苇蟻纬慰 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蠋谓蟿伪蟼 谓伪 喂蟽慰蟻蟻慰蟺萎蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟿维尉蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓慰蠉 魏伪蟿伪魏蟿畏蟿萎.
螣 螙喂蟻伪位 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺蠈位蠀蟿伪 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓慰蟼 渭蔚 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻慰 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻 萎 蟺喂慰 蟽蠅蟽蟿维 魏伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏萎 蔚喂蟻蠅谓蔚委伪 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蠋谓蟿伪蟼 苇蟿蟽喂 蟽蟿喂纬渭苇蟼 伪蟺慰蟽蠀渭蟺委蔚蟽畏蟼 蟿蠈蟽慰 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 萎蟻蠅伪 蠈蟽慰 魏伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏.
螤伪位蔚蠉蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 未伪委渭慰谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺位蔚蠀蟻维 伪谓伪魏伪位蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟿喂蟼 蟿蟻伪纬喂魏苇蟼 伪谓伪渭谓萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟽蠀渭渭蔚蟿慰蠂萎 蟿慰蠀 蟽蟿慰谓 螒' 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰.
螆谓伪蟼 蟺慰位蠉 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻慰谓 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻伪蟼 蟺慰蠀 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蔚委 蟺蟻慰蟽未慰魏委伪 魏伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿伪 维位位伪 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬萎渭伪蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 Lloyd.
螆谓伪 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠀蟿喂魏蠈 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏维 魏伪喂 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿蠈蟻畏渭伪 蟺慰蠀 伪尉委味蔚喂 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟺慰 谓伪 未喂伪尾伪蟽蟿蔚委
"... 螒谓 未蔚谓 胃苇位慰蠀渭蔚 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蟻蟻蔚蠉蟽蔚喂 慰 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭蠈蟼, 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委蟽慰蠀渭蔚 谓伪 蟿喂渭蠅蟻慰蠉渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠁蠈谓慰蠀蟼 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蠈蟿伪谓 蠂喂位喂维未蔚蟼 谓苇慰喂 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰喂 蟽魏慰蟿蠋谓慰谓蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟽蠁伪委蟻蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蔚蠂胃蟻慰蠉 魏伪胃畏渭蔚蟻喂谓维..."
January 24, 2021
The Unwanted Dead by Chris Lloyd is the first book featuring Detective Eddie Giral. On the day that Germany takes over Paris, Detective Eddie Giral is called to the death of 4 Polish refugees who have been gassed in a railway carriage. The book was well written but not what I enjoy. I found the back and forth between the two wars confusing and I did not like any of the characters. It is a wonder that Detective Eddie Giral is able to carry out his job with all his demons and flaws. It may appeal to readers who have an interest in the wars.
April 20, 2021
Die Ungewollten
Im Juli 1940 wird Paris von den Deutschen besetzt. Zuvor war der Krieg noch nicht ganz so nah, doch nun muss man bei jedem Schritt Obacht geben. Der noch vom ersten Weltkrieg gezeichnete Polizist 脡douard Giral wird zum Gare d鈥橝usterlitz gerufen. Vier M盲nner sind dort tot aufgefunden worden. Kaum hat er mit den Ermittlungen begonnen tauchen auch schon die ersten Deutschen auf, unter ihnen der Major Hochstetter, der in Giral eine Art Verbindungsoffizier sehen m枚chte. Doch nicht nur Hochstetter, auch die Wehrmacht, die Gestapo und eine geheime Feldpolizei stecken ihre Nasen in den Fall.
Giral ist schon seit langen Jahren bei der Polizei und immer war es ihm ein Anliegen, T盲ter zu finden, damit Opfern Gerechtigkeit widerfahren kann. Und so geht er auch hier mit vollem Einsatz an die Untersuchung. Er will wissen, wieso die vier M盲nner sterben mussten. Und w盲hrend der Suche nach der Wahrheit geht er seinen eigenen Weg. Dass er sich mit den Besatzern auseinandersetzen muss, st枚rt ihn schon sehr. Angenehmer ist der Kontakt mit Mitgliedern des Widerstands, doch Giral ist nicht sicher, ob er da jedem trauen kann. Und Giral ist auch einer, der mitunter an sich selbst zweifelt.
In diesem interessanten historischen Kriminalroman wird ein Kriminalfall beschrieben, der unter der deutschen Besatzung gel枚st werden muss. Der franz枚sische Ermittler Giral will sich selbst treu bleiben und wird doch verpflichtet mit den verhassten Feinden irgendwie zu kooperieren. Unklar bleibt lange, wer da welche Ziele verfolgt und wer wem wieso in die Parade f盲hrt. Der eigentliche Fall geht vor den verzwickten halbpolitischen Verwicklungen etwas in den Hintergrund. Doch mit gro脽en Interesse verfolgt man die Spannungen und Intrigen, die vor allem zwischen den deutschen Diensten herrschen. Eddie Giral ist von fr眉heren Erlebnissen, 眉ber die teilweise in R眉ckblenden berichtet wird, gezeichnet. Auch wenn seine Handlungen nicht immer leicht nachzuvollziehen sind, ist er doch ein sehr gewissenhafter und ehrenvoller Polizist, dem seine Familie ausgesprochen wichtig ist. Mal wieder ein Kriminalroman vor historischem Hintergrund, der gleichzeitig lehrreich und fesselnd ist.
Im Juli 1940 wird Paris von den Deutschen besetzt. Zuvor war der Krieg noch nicht ganz so nah, doch nun muss man bei jedem Schritt Obacht geben. Der noch vom ersten Weltkrieg gezeichnete Polizist 脡douard Giral wird zum Gare d鈥橝usterlitz gerufen. Vier M盲nner sind dort tot aufgefunden worden. Kaum hat er mit den Ermittlungen begonnen tauchen auch schon die ersten Deutschen auf, unter ihnen der Major Hochstetter, der in Giral eine Art Verbindungsoffizier sehen m枚chte. Doch nicht nur Hochstetter, auch die Wehrmacht, die Gestapo und eine geheime Feldpolizei stecken ihre Nasen in den Fall.
Giral ist schon seit langen Jahren bei der Polizei und immer war es ihm ein Anliegen, T盲ter zu finden, damit Opfern Gerechtigkeit widerfahren kann. Und so geht er auch hier mit vollem Einsatz an die Untersuchung. Er will wissen, wieso die vier M盲nner sterben mussten. Und w盲hrend der Suche nach der Wahrheit geht er seinen eigenen Weg. Dass er sich mit den Besatzern auseinandersetzen muss, st枚rt ihn schon sehr. Angenehmer ist der Kontakt mit Mitgliedern des Widerstands, doch Giral ist nicht sicher, ob er da jedem trauen kann. Und Giral ist auch einer, der mitunter an sich selbst zweifelt.
In diesem interessanten historischen Kriminalroman wird ein Kriminalfall beschrieben, der unter der deutschen Besatzung gel枚st werden muss. Der franz枚sische Ermittler Giral will sich selbst treu bleiben und wird doch verpflichtet mit den verhassten Feinden irgendwie zu kooperieren. Unklar bleibt lange, wer da welche Ziele verfolgt und wer wem wieso in die Parade f盲hrt. Der eigentliche Fall geht vor den verzwickten halbpolitischen Verwicklungen etwas in den Hintergrund. Doch mit gro脽en Interesse verfolgt man die Spannungen und Intrigen, die vor allem zwischen den deutschen Diensten herrschen. Eddie Giral ist von fr眉heren Erlebnissen, 眉ber die teilweise in R眉ckblenden berichtet wird, gezeichnet. Auch wenn seine Handlungen nicht immer leicht nachzuvollziehen sind, ist er doch ein sehr gewissenhafter und ehrenvoller Polizist, dem seine Familie ausgesprochen wichtig ist. Mal wieder ein Kriminalroman vor historischem Hintergrund, der gleichzeitig lehrreich und fesselnd ist.
July 26, 2024
Kommissar Edouard 鈥濫ddie鈥� Giral befindet sich in einer heiklen Lage. Just an dem Tag, an dem die deutsche Wehrmacht in Paris einmarschiert, werden vier polnische Fl眉chtlinge tot - durch Gas erstickt - in einem G眉terwaggon auf dem Gare d鈥楢usterlitz gefunden. Kurz darauf begeht ein weiterer Pole mit seinem kleinen Sohn Selbstmord. Au脽er ihm scheint sich niemand f眉r die Aufkl盲rung zu interessieren, doch in Giral werden alte traumatische Erinnerungen geweckt. Seltsamerweise l盲sst ihm der undurchschaubare Major Hochstetter, Verbindungsmann der Abwehr zur Pariser Polizei, verh盲ltnism盲脽ig freie Hand. Offenbar spielt Hochstetter ein eigenes Spiel, das f眉r Giral allerdings sehr gef盲hrlich wird.
Ein historischer Krimi mit interessantem Setting zum Zeitpunkt des deutschen Einmarschs in Paris im Juni 1940. Autor Chris Lloyd vermag es die verschiedenen Facetten der mehrdimensionalen Figuren herauszuarbeiten und legt eine spannende Story vor, bei der es auch um den Machtkampf innerhalb der deutschen Organisationen, franz枚sische Kollaborateure und den Versuch geht, Beweise f眉r deutsche Kriegsverbrechen international zu ver枚ffentlichen. Ein vielversprechender Reihenauftakt.
Ein historischer Krimi mit interessantem Setting zum Zeitpunkt des deutschen Einmarschs in Paris im Juni 1940. Autor Chris Lloyd vermag es die verschiedenen Facetten der mehrdimensionalen Figuren herauszuarbeiten und legt eine spannende Story vor, bei der es auch um den Machtkampf innerhalb der deutschen Organisationen, franz枚sische Kollaborateure und den Versuch geht, Beweise f眉r deutsche Kriegsverbrechen international zu ver枚ffentlichen. Ein vielversprechender Reihenauftakt.
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September 6, 2024Eine Entt盲uschung ist dieser Thriller gewesen, auf den ich mich vor allem wegen des zeitlichen Rahmens sehr gefreut habe. Leider hat Autor Chris Lloyd seine Hauptfigur, den Inspecteur 脡duard (Eddie) Giral, als irrlichternden Polizisten gestaltet, der allzu oft die F盲uste fliegen l盲sst, nicht kommunizieren kann, den selbstmitleidigen einsamen Wolf mimt und unglaubw眉rdig agiert.
Das gilt auch f眉r seine Mitstreiter, Widersacher und neutrale Personen, gleichg眉ltig ob es sich um Fl眉chtlinge, Franzosen oder Deutsche handelt. Der Sohn der Hauptfigur gleicht eher einer grotesk verzerrten Karikatur. Ab der Mitte des Romans ging auch die Spannung verloren, die vielen abrupten Wendungen erm眉den. Schade, denn aus der Idee h盲tte etwas Gro脽artiges entstehen k枚nnen.
Das gilt auch f眉r seine Mitstreiter, Widersacher und neutrale Personen, gleichg眉ltig ob es sich um Fl眉chtlinge, Franzosen oder Deutsche handelt. Der Sohn der Hauptfigur gleicht eher einer grotesk verzerrten Karikatur. Ab der Mitte des Romans ging auch die Spannung verloren, die vielen abrupten Wendungen erm眉den. Schade, denn aus der Idee h盲tte etwas Gro脽artiges entstehen k枚nnen.
August 15, 2020
This is a fantastic historical crime novel. The plot is expertly conceived and occupied Paris brought vividly to life - I was gripped from start to finish!
May 20, 2021
Chris Lloyd has succeeded brilliantly on two fronts with this novel, location and character.听
The cover of the book is great in that it truly conveys the situation. It is Paris but it is upside down. It's Paris but not as Eddie (our anti-hero) knows it. The majority of the population has fled, leaving old folks, crooks and refugees. Into this mix add the German occupying army and nazi enforcers and it makes for an explosive cocktail. It's dark, it's empty, it's moody. It has commandeered hotels and sleazy clubs where German Officers and organised crime rub shoulders. It's not a matter of who he can trust, Eddie knows he can trust no-one but he has to distrust some more than others. The author sets the scene beautifully.听
The author has also created a tough, vulnerable, relentless, thug of an honest cop in Eddie Giral. Eddie is a war veteran with all that entails. Eddie is determined to track down the killer of four Polish refugees. His investigations lead him to Wermacht Officers, the Gestapo, the Resistance, corrupt police officers and an听 American journalist. The tightrope Eddie has to walk becomes smaller and smaller听 Everyone has a dark secret and Eddie's got a couple that he keeps his close to his chest. He is so self destructive that he had to leave the woman and child he loves in case they caught in his explosive perimeter. Another quality that Eddie posseses is durability, the poor bloke has had more pastings than Mike Tyson' s sparring partner. Everyone wants a pop at him.
The author has obviously done his research with regards to the occupation of Paris (also has an interesting piece re research at the end of the book.) and听 has slotted the murder mystery neatly into the historical background like a hand into a glove.
This book has got a bit of everything, murder mystery, crime fiction, spy thriller but its driving force is the location, the history and Eddie.听
The cover of the book is great in that it truly conveys the situation. It is Paris but it is upside down. It's Paris but not as Eddie (our anti-hero) knows it. The majority of the population has fled, leaving old folks, crooks and refugees. Into this mix add the German occupying army and nazi enforcers and it makes for an explosive cocktail. It's dark, it's empty, it's moody. It has commandeered hotels and sleazy clubs where German Officers and organised crime rub shoulders. It's not a matter of who he can trust, Eddie knows he can trust no-one but he has to distrust some more than others. The author sets the scene beautifully.听
The author has also created a tough, vulnerable, relentless, thug of an honest cop in Eddie Giral. Eddie is a war veteran with all that entails. Eddie is determined to track down the killer of four Polish refugees. His investigations lead him to Wermacht Officers, the Gestapo, the Resistance, corrupt police officers and an听 American journalist. The tightrope Eddie has to walk becomes smaller and smaller听 Everyone has a dark secret and Eddie's got a couple that he keeps his close to his chest. He is so self destructive that he had to leave the woman and child he loves in case they caught in his explosive perimeter. Another quality that Eddie posseses is durability, the poor bloke has had more pastings than Mike Tyson' s sparring partner. Everyone wants a pop at him.
The author has obviously done his research with regards to the occupation of Paris (also has an interesting piece re research at the end of the book.) and听 has slotted the murder mystery neatly into the historical background like a hand into a glove.
This book has got a bit of everything, murder mystery, crime fiction, spy thriller but its driving force is the location, the history and Eddie.听
February 15, 2023
Beware the overly 鈥渓iterary鈥� mystery/thriller that tries too hard for artistic effect. Overwritten and floridly repetitive with a mopey hero. If someone is described as looking like Mussolini but with a full head of hair and without the pugnacious jaw they don鈥檛 look like Il Duce at all. Genre: honest copper working under the Nazis a la the Philip Kerr 鈥淏ernie Gunther鈥�.
November 16, 2023
I really loved the book itself - something I didn't expect to say after the first few chapters. I didn't warm up to Eddie Giral at all; I remember texting my friends that I was surprised to feel sympathy and have actually interest in his character after 90 pages. Until then, I was very much ready to give up.
But I'm glad I didn't. I truly fell in love with the complicated sides of Eddie Giral, and Chris Lloyd managed to surprise me even 300 pages into the book with more and more details of Giral's past. It truly felt like Giral was telling a story - his own story - and started to trust the reader more and more with information about his past. As the trust grows, the reader gets to know him on a deeper level, which explains many of his actions.
And don't get me started on the plot. I had my suspicions where the story would end - Needless to say, my suspicions were more than wrong. There was one twist after the other, and I truly didn't figure out what happened until the last few pages - and even now, I'm not sure about every character's motives.
I am very much looking forward to finally reading the second book.
But I'm glad I didn't. I truly fell in love with the complicated sides of Eddie Giral, and Chris Lloyd managed to surprise me even 300 pages into the book with more and more details of Giral's past. It truly felt like Giral was telling a story - his own story - and started to trust the reader more and more with information about his past. As the trust grows, the reader gets to know him on a deeper level, which explains many of his actions.
And don't get me started on the plot. I had my suspicions where the story would end - Needless to say, my suspicions were more than wrong. There was one twist after the other, and I truly didn't figure out what happened until the last few pages - and even now, I'm not sure about every character's motives.
I am very much looking forward to finally reading the second book.
October 27, 2022
This was a story about the murder of some unknown Polish refugees in Paris in 1940. It was also about the inspector, his past, WWI and his son. It was also about the German occupation of Paris - the experience of everyday people, the terror of some and the machinations of different German authorities. And all the time it is very readable. Highly recommended.
June 16, 2021
The Nazis have just invaded Paris, Eddie Giral detective still has cases to solve, his latest is the murder of four refugees. But as the Nazis take control, crime fighting becomes harder and Eddie has to negotiate his way through the politics and the smoke and mirrors that surround the case.
A really interesting historic crime novel, as Paris life changes quite dramatically as the Nazis take control and the horrors of their crimes are starting to leak out.
A really interesting historic crime novel, as Paris life changes quite dramatically as the Nazis take control and the horrors of their crimes are starting to leak out.
March 2, 2024
This should have been an interesting story. But, I just couldn't get into it. I gave up about 1/3 of the way.
March 20, 2023
On June 14, 1940, the German army marched into Paris beginning an occupation that would last for four years. The arrival of the Germans was the culmination of a six week invasion that saw French forces melt away in defeat and the French government agreeing to an armistice on June 22, 1940. The French government would move to Vichy in the south where they set up a collaborative regime under World War I hero, Marshal Philippe Petain. The new government would defer to the Nazis who set up their occupation regime in the north, beginning a period of limited freedom for Parisians, greatly reduced food supplies, and an overall sense of fear as to what would come next.
With the occupation serving as a backdrop British author Chris Lloyd who held a lifelong interest in World War II, including resistance and collaboration in occupied France has embarked on a series of novels centering on French Investigator Eddie Giral. The first in the series is THE UNWANTED DEAD set in Paris which earned the HWA Gold Crown Award. Giral would spend the war trying to navigate the occupation, seeking a road between resistance and collaboration, all the time transforming himself into becoming who he needs to be to survive.
Lloyd begins the novel with the arrival of the German army in Paris on June 14. Immediately the German High Command orders all French citizens to be disarmed and to remain in their houses for the next few days. Giral, has other concerns as a sealed railway car is discovered with four dead bodies probably killed with chlorine or some other gas. Giral decides it is his obligation as a 鈥淔rench cop鈥� to investigate the deaths and determine who was responsible. The four dead bodies turn out to be Polish refugees, one of which is from the Polish village of Bydgoszcz. The situation becomes even more complicated when Fryderyk Gorecki, another Polish refugee from the same village jumps from the roof of his home with his young son Jan committing suicide as the Nazis enter Paris.
For Giral the smell of the gas returns him to the trenches of World War I and introduces a character reminiscent of the late Philip Kerr鈥檚 Bernie Gunther, oozing with attitude and a conflicted morality that powers a complex, polished plot. At the same time Lloyd develops the Giral character he successfully frames the French experience under the Nazis. The Germans who have just conquered most of Europe in a few weeks mostly are haughty, arrogant, and have little respect for the French. Lloyd accurately conveys the internal politics of the Nazi occupation including the competition between the German army, the Gestapo, and SS for controlling Paris. The duplicity and infighting among the Germans is on full display in Lloyd鈥檚 rendition of the early Nazi occupation and it appears quite accurate.
The Parisian ambiance is clear as Lloyd takes the reader into the underside of Paris and the conflicting feeling of the French many of whom are right wingers like Detective Auban who works with Giral that believe the French government was weak and led them astray fostering a deep respect for German efficiency and in some cases racial beliefs leading to French collaborations to the detriment of the French resistance.
The desperation of the French people is evident through suicides, attempts to escape the city, locking themselves in their homes, and abandoning their previous lives by fleeing the Germans. As the Germans arrive 2/3 of Parisians flee the city, leaving only the poor, the old, and the police. As Giral puts it, 鈥淧aris was still there, but it was no longer Paris.
Lloyd has created an interesting character in Giral, a man with tremendous personal baggage dating back to WWI. Giral survived the war but did not survive the metal anguish of life in the trenches. Unbeknownst to him he develops post-traumatic stress disorder which will destroy his family as he leaves his wife, Sylvie, and their five year old son Jan-Luc to survive on their own. Giral is also guilt ridden because his parents blame him for his older brother鈥檚 death as he joined the French army in 1916 following in his brothers鈥� footsteps and was killed at Verdun. Lloyd integrates the year 1925, at times alternating chapters dealing with 1940 to dig into Giral鈥檚 personal issues which seem to percolate throughout the novel. For Giral, once a respected policeman, his methods and own baggage at times reduce him to a weak figure who in 1925 seeks refuge in an American jazz club and cocaine. Giral manifests his personal issues with a nasty habit of 鈥減utting his foot in his mouth鈥� especially when it comes to his son who he is trying to protect from the Germans at the same time he is trying to make amends for deserting his family.
Lloyd鈥檚 grasp of history is strongly exemplified by Giral鈥檚 conversations with former Black Harlem Hell fighters who fought for the United States in World War I. Giral is shocked that these men do not want to live in their home country, but he understands when they describe the racial situation in the United States and how they were better off in France. Another interesting example is Lloyd鈥檚 description of the French surrender to the Germans at Compiegne using the same railway car used by the allies in 1918. This time with Hitler present.
Lloyd鈥檚 plot lines are well conceived. What does the gassing of the refugees and the suicide of a man and his son have to do with each other. When American reporters become involved Giral鈥檚 eyes are opened to a larger issue 鈥� how to get across to the world the atrocities the Nazis have committed in Poland and other areas in order to convince the United States to join the war and for the Soviet Union to break its pact with the Hitlerite regime. More and more Giral becomes obsessed with learning the truth and balancing that truth with the larger goal of defeating the Nazis. In so doing an interesting series of characters become important. Major Hochstetter, an Abwehr Nazi officer who is the liaison to the French police who plays a duplicitous role throughout. Lucja and Janek, members of the Polish resistance whose main goal is to tell the truth to the world. Katherine Ronson, a freelance American journalist looking for a Pulitzer Prize. Hauptmann Karl Weber, an officer in the 87th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht, and a series of others.
How these diverse personalities and storylines come together make the novel an excellent read. For Giral how many sacrifices must he make as he navigates the Nazi obstacle course in his quest for the truth, while at the same time holding onto his moral compass and seeing the larger issues that may be more important than his own murder investigation. For Giral it is a constant question as to who he can trust. Journalists, colleagues, certain Germans, union workers, but in the end he must rely on his own instincts. The next book in the series is PARIS REQUIEM and I look forward to continuing to follow Eddie Giral鈥檚 career and life story.
With the occupation serving as a backdrop British author Chris Lloyd who held a lifelong interest in World War II, including resistance and collaboration in occupied France has embarked on a series of novels centering on French Investigator Eddie Giral. The first in the series is THE UNWANTED DEAD set in Paris which earned the HWA Gold Crown Award. Giral would spend the war trying to navigate the occupation, seeking a road between resistance and collaboration, all the time transforming himself into becoming who he needs to be to survive.
Lloyd begins the novel with the arrival of the German army in Paris on June 14. Immediately the German High Command orders all French citizens to be disarmed and to remain in their houses for the next few days. Giral, has other concerns as a sealed railway car is discovered with four dead bodies probably killed with chlorine or some other gas. Giral decides it is his obligation as a 鈥淔rench cop鈥� to investigate the deaths and determine who was responsible. The four dead bodies turn out to be Polish refugees, one of which is from the Polish village of Bydgoszcz. The situation becomes even more complicated when Fryderyk Gorecki, another Polish refugee from the same village jumps from the roof of his home with his young son Jan committing suicide as the Nazis enter Paris.
For Giral the smell of the gas returns him to the trenches of World War I and introduces a character reminiscent of the late Philip Kerr鈥檚 Bernie Gunther, oozing with attitude and a conflicted morality that powers a complex, polished plot. At the same time Lloyd develops the Giral character he successfully frames the French experience under the Nazis. The Germans who have just conquered most of Europe in a few weeks mostly are haughty, arrogant, and have little respect for the French. Lloyd accurately conveys the internal politics of the Nazi occupation including the competition between the German army, the Gestapo, and SS for controlling Paris. The duplicity and infighting among the Germans is on full display in Lloyd鈥檚 rendition of the early Nazi occupation and it appears quite accurate.
The Parisian ambiance is clear as Lloyd takes the reader into the underside of Paris and the conflicting feeling of the French many of whom are right wingers like Detective Auban who works with Giral that believe the French government was weak and led them astray fostering a deep respect for German efficiency and in some cases racial beliefs leading to French collaborations to the detriment of the French resistance.
The desperation of the French people is evident through suicides, attempts to escape the city, locking themselves in their homes, and abandoning their previous lives by fleeing the Germans. As the Germans arrive 2/3 of Parisians flee the city, leaving only the poor, the old, and the police. As Giral puts it, 鈥淧aris was still there, but it was no longer Paris.
Lloyd has created an interesting character in Giral, a man with tremendous personal baggage dating back to WWI. Giral survived the war but did not survive the metal anguish of life in the trenches. Unbeknownst to him he develops post-traumatic stress disorder which will destroy his family as he leaves his wife, Sylvie, and their five year old son Jan-Luc to survive on their own. Giral is also guilt ridden because his parents blame him for his older brother鈥檚 death as he joined the French army in 1916 following in his brothers鈥� footsteps and was killed at Verdun. Lloyd integrates the year 1925, at times alternating chapters dealing with 1940 to dig into Giral鈥檚 personal issues which seem to percolate throughout the novel. For Giral, once a respected policeman, his methods and own baggage at times reduce him to a weak figure who in 1925 seeks refuge in an American jazz club and cocaine. Giral manifests his personal issues with a nasty habit of 鈥減utting his foot in his mouth鈥� especially when it comes to his son who he is trying to protect from the Germans at the same time he is trying to make amends for deserting his family.
Lloyd鈥檚 grasp of history is strongly exemplified by Giral鈥檚 conversations with former Black Harlem Hell fighters who fought for the United States in World War I. Giral is shocked that these men do not want to live in their home country, but he understands when they describe the racial situation in the United States and how they were better off in France. Another interesting example is Lloyd鈥檚 description of the French surrender to the Germans at Compiegne using the same railway car used by the allies in 1918. This time with Hitler present.
Lloyd鈥檚 plot lines are well conceived. What does the gassing of the refugees and the suicide of a man and his son have to do with each other. When American reporters become involved Giral鈥檚 eyes are opened to a larger issue 鈥� how to get across to the world the atrocities the Nazis have committed in Poland and other areas in order to convince the United States to join the war and for the Soviet Union to break its pact with the Hitlerite regime. More and more Giral becomes obsessed with learning the truth and balancing that truth with the larger goal of defeating the Nazis. In so doing an interesting series of characters become important. Major Hochstetter, an Abwehr Nazi officer who is the liaison to the French police who plays a duplicitous role throughout. Lucja and Janek, members of the Polish resistance whose main goal is to tell the truth to the world. Katherine Ronson, a freelance American journalist looking for a Pulitzer Prize. Hauptmann Karl Weber, an officer in the 87th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht, and a series of others.
How these diverse personalities and storylines come together make the novel an excellent read. For Giral how many sacrifices must he make as he navigates the Nazi obstacle course in his quest for the truth, while at the same time holding onto his moral compass and seeing the larger issues that may be more important than his own murder investigation. For Giral it is a constant question as to who he can trust. Journalists, colleagues, certain Germans, union workers, but in the end he must rely on his own instincts. The next book in the series is PARIS REQUIEM and I look forward to continuing to follow Eddie Giral鈥檚 career and life story.
November 14, 2022
This is an extremely fast-paced detective story set in Paris in 1949, just as the Germans have invaded Paris and taken control. Our very flawed hero is Inspector Eddie Giral: and he's flawed and deeply damaged thanks to his experiences as a soldier in WWI. His complex character brings grit and substance to this book, as do the vivid descriptions of a city shocked and bruised by the shame and fear engendered by its capture. But as the book moved on, I got increasingly left behind. So many characters. So many plots, sub-plots and characters who were not what they had seemed. I accept that in wartime Paris, it must have been very difficult to know who you could rely upon, but I rather lost the thread. I liked that the characters were not one-dimensional, that Lloyd made clear that there really was no one who was a 'baddie' because he fought for the enemy, or 'goodie' because he was on the side of the angels. In fact it's not simply Giral who's complex, and we, like him, really don't know who to trust. If only the plot hadn't tumbled twist upon twist, I'd have enjoyed it more. Will I read more from this series? I don't know. I need time to digest this one first, that's for sure. And anyway, the next one's not been written - yet.
July 28, 2024
The Nazis role into Paris in WW2 but Eddie Giral is determined
to continue carrying out his role as a police detective in the
city. He feels hindered by an acquiescent police dept and the various conflicting branches of the Nazi machine he encounters. He meets a glamorous American journalist
who helps him enormously and also tries to rebuild bridges with his estranged son
But NB this is not Le Foyle鈥檚 War, Eddie is a mess. He has severe PTSD from his time on the front bench in WW1. He has a drink problem and is prone to extreme violence, Relationships are difficult for him. And I found it difficult to form one with him.
A great premise for a book but sadly it didn鈥檛 work for me
to continue carrying out his role as a police detective in the
city. He feels hindered by an acquiescent police dept and the various conflicting branches of the Nazi machine he encounters. He meets a glamorous American journalist
who helps him enormously and also tries to rebuild bridges with his estranged son
But NB this is not Le Foyle鈥檚 War, Eddie is a mess. He has severe PTSD from his time on the front bench in WW1. He has a drink problem and is prone to extreme violence, Relationships are difficult for him. And I found it difficult to form one with him.
A great premise for a book but sadly it didn鈥檛 work for me
October 8, 2021
2.5 stars
A "my book club made me do it" book. The writing was pretty good, the characters fully fleshed out, but the story really wasn't for me. Not my kind of genre: the crime fiction part, yes; the historical/WWII fiction part, not so much. Not a time period/setting I feel drawn to, and this book wasn't the book to change my mind about that.
A "my book club made me do it" book. The writing was pretty good, the characters fully fleshed out, but the story really wasn't for me. Not my kind of genre: the crime fiction part, yes; the historical/WWII fiction part, not so much. Not a time period/setting I feel drawn to, and this book wasn't the book to change my mind about that.
March 5, 2023
disappointing
Setting and plot are quite interesting but characters and detail unrealistic. The amount of gratuitous violence the protagonist endures and dishes out is ludicrous. The usual flashback to the compulsory tortured past is clumsy and repetitive. The book is obviously well researched but is very reminiscent of Babylon Berlin.
Setting and plot are quite interesting but characters and detail unrealistic. The amount of gratuitous violence the protagonist endures and dishes out is ludicrous. The usual flashback to the compulsory tortured past is clumsy and repetitive. The book is obviously well researched but is very reminiscent of Babylon Berlin.
March 27, 2024
I nearly DNF this one but I persevered to the end. I struggled to get into this book and there were too many characters. Could never remember what had happened! It鈥檚 a shame as it sounded promising.
February 21, 2024
螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 蟿慰 review 蟽蟿慰 site 渭伪蟼:
韦慰 "螣喂 伪谓蔚蟺喂胃蠉渭畏蟿慰喂 谓蔚魏蟻慰委", 蟺慰蠀 魏蠀魏位慰蠁蠈蟻畏蟽蔚 蟺蟻喂谓 伪蟺蠈 位委纬蔚蟼 畏渭苇蟻蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蔚魏未蠈蟽蔚喂蟼 螠蔚蟿伪委蠂渭喂慰, 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼 "Eddie Giral", 渭蔚 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎 蟿慰谓 慰渭蠋谓蠀渭慰 萎蟻蠅伪, 魏伪喂 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟽胃苇蟽蔚喂 苇谓伪谓 伪魏蠈渭伪 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀蠂畏渭苇谓慰 蟿委蟿位慰 蟽蟿畏谓 魏伪蟿畏纬慰蟻委伪 蟿慰蠀 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏慰蠉 胃蟻委位蔚蟻, 蟽蟿畏 渭伪魏蟻维 位委蟽蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚魏未慰蟿喂魏慰蠉, 慰 慰蟺慰委慰蟼 苇蠂蔚喂 伪蟺慰未蔚委尉蔚喂 蟺慰位位维魏喂蟼 蟺蠅蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓慰 蔚委未慰蟼 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿伪 畏谓委伪 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 尉苇蟻蔚喂 蟺慰位蠉 魏伪位维 蟺蠅蟼 谓伪 蟿伪 未喂伪蟿畏蟻萎蟽蔚喂, 蠁苇蟻谓慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 魏维胃蔚 蠁慰蟻维 谓苇蔚蟼 魏伪喂 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻蔚蟼 蟺蟻慰蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼, 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 喂魏伪谓慰蟺慰喂萎蟽慰蠀谓 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺喂慰 伪蟺伪喂蟿畏蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿蔚蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 谓伪 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠉蟽慰蠀谓 蔚魏蔚委谓慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 畏 魏伪蟿畏纬慰蟻委伪 伪蠀蟿萎 未蔚谓 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 魏慰蟻蠀蠁萎 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻慰蟿喂渭萎蟽蔚蠋谓 蟿慰蠀蟼. 螝伪喂 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蠀蟿蠈, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 委蟽蠅蟼 萎未畏 谓伪 苇蠂蔚蟿蔚 伪谓蟿喂位畏蠁胃蔚委, 未蔚谓 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 蔚尉伪委蟻蔚蟽畏 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺伪蟻伪蟺维谓蠅 魏伪谓蠈谓伪.
14 螜慰蠀谓委慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 1940, 畏 畏渭苇蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 慰 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏蠈蟼 蟽蟿蟻伪蟿蠈蟼 渭蟺萎魏蔚 蟽蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蟿维蟻伪尉蔚 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 魏伪喂 苇纬喂谓蔚 蟺伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂伪 蔚委未畏蟽畏. 螣 螘谓蟿委 螙喂蟻维位, 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈蟼 魏伪喂 尾蔚蟿蔚蟻维谓慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螒' 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀, 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 纬伪位位喂魏萎 蟺蟻蠅蟿蔚蠉慰蠀蟽伪 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪魏位蠉味蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏维 蟽蟿蟻伪蟿蔚蠉渭伪蟿伪, 蟽蟿苇位谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 蔚蟻蔚蠀谓萎蟽蔚喂 蟿慰谓 胃维谓伪蟿慰 蟿蔚蟽蟽维蟻蠅谓 伪谓蟿蟻蠋谓 蟽蔚 苇谓伪谓 蟽喂未畏蟻慰未蟻慰渭喂魏蠈 蟽蟿伪胃渭蠈, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪蠀蟿慰魏蟿慰谓委伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 谓蔚伪蟻慰蠉 维谓蟿蟻伪, 蟺慰蠀 苇未蠅蟽蔚 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟽蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺苇蠁蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 渭蟺伪位魏蠈谓喂. 违蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 魏维蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓未苇蔚喂 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠈位慰蠀蟼 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 胃伪谓维蟿慰蠀蟼; 螝喂 伪谓 谓伪喂, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟿慰 伪蟺慰未蔚委尉蔚喂, 蠈蟿伪谓 委蟽蠅蟼 蟺委蟽蠅 伪蟺' 蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维 谓伪 魏蟻蠉尾慰谓蟿伪喂 未蠀谓维渭蔚喂蟼 蟺喂慰 喂蟽蠂蠀蟻苇蟼 伪蟺蠈 蔚魏蔚委谓蠅谓, 蟺慰蠀 胃苇位慰蠀谓 谓伪 魏伪位蠉蠄慰蠀谓 蟿伪 委蠂谓畏 蟿慰蠀蟼; 螠伪 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺' 蠈位伪, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 慰 委未喂慰蟼 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂 蠈,蟿喂 蠂蟻蔚喂维味蔚蟿伪喂, 苇蟿蟽喂 蠋蟽蟿蔚 谓伪 伪位位维尉蔚喂 魏伪喂 谓伪 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟺维位喂 伪蟺' 蟿慰 渭畏未苇谓;
螤蟻蠋蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿慰蠀 Chris Lloyd 蟺慰蠀 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿伪 蠂苇蟻喂伪 渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 谓慰渭委味蠅 蟺蠅蟼 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 尾伪蟽喂魏维. 螒蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠋蟿伪 魏喂蠈位伪蟼 魏蔚蠁维位伪喂伪, 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 伪谓蟿喂位畏蟺蟿萎 畏 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁喂魏萎 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿维 蟿慰蠀, 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 魏伪位慰纬蟻伪渭渭苇谓慰, 渭蔚 维蟻蟿喂伪 未慰渭萎, 渭伪 魏伪喂 渭蔚 渭喂伪 伪谓维蟺蟿蠀尉畏 蟺位慰魏萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 未委谓蔚喂 蟽畏渭伪蟽委伪 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟺喂慰 渭喂魏蟻苇蟼 位蔚蟺蟿慰渭苇蟻蔚喂蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 慰位慰魏位畏蟻蠋谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 伪蠁畏纬畏渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蠄畏蠁喂未蠅蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀, 尾蠀胃委味慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 蟽蔚 苇谓伪谓 蔚蟺喂魏委谓未蠀谓慰, 尾委伪喂慰 魏伪喂 维纬蟻喂慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰, 蟺慰蠀 蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰蠀渭蔚, 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 谓喂蠋胃慰蠀渭蔚 蟿慰 蟽蟿慰渭维蠂喂 渭伪蟼 谓伪 蟽蠁委纬纬蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪纬蠅谓委伪, 伪位位维 魏喂 蔚尉伪喂蟿委伪蟼 蠈位蠅谓 蠈蟽蠅谓 纬喂谓蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 渭维蟻蟿蠀蟻蔚蟼, 蟿伪 慰蟺慰委伪 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚蠉魏慰位慰 谓伪 蟿伪 未喂伪蠂蔚喂蟻喂蟽蟿蔚委蟼, 喂未委蠅蟼 蠄蠀蠂慰位慰纬喂魏维 -蠂蠅蟻委蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 谓伪 蟽畏渭伪委谓蔚喂, 蟽蔚 魏伪渭委伪 蟺蔚蟻委蟺蟿蠅蟽畏, 蟺蠅蟼 未蔚谓 伪尉委味蔚喂 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻维蟽蔚喂蟼 蠈位畏 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓伪喂蟽胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟽蠉纬蠂蠀蟽畏.
螝维蟿喂 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟺慰蠀 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 伪蠀蟿萎 谓伪 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻委味蔚喂, 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼, 慰 慰蟺慰委慰蟼 胃伪蟻蟻蠋 蟺蠅蟼 伪尉委味蔚喂 谓伪 蟽蠀味畏蟿畏胃蔚委 魏伪喂 谓伪 蟿慰蠀 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟻喂蟽蟿蔚委 畏 渭慰谓伪未喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿维 蟿慰蠀 -魏伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟽蠀渭尾维位位蔚喂 魏伪喂 畏 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟺慰蠀 未蟻伪. 螒蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪位喂维蟼 蟽蠂慰位萎蟼, 慰 螘谓蟿委 未蔚谓 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃蔚委 蟺维谓蟿伪 蟿伪 蟺喂慰 畏胃喂魏维 渭慰谓慰蟺维蟿喂伪, 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻伪 魏伪位萎 -胃伪 蟿畏谓 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味伪渭蔚 苇蠅蟼 魏伪喂 魏伪魏萎- 伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 未喂伪胃苇蟿蔚喂 渭喂伪 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻畏 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎 魏喂 伪蟺蟻蠈尾位蔚蟺蟿畏 蟺位蔚蠀蟻维, 蠁苇蟻蔚喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻魏蔚蟿维 魏伪蟿维位慰喂蟺伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟽蠀渭渭蔚蟿慰蠂萎 蟽蟿慰谓 螒' 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰 螤蠈位蔚渭慰, 蠈渭蠅蟼, 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪蟼 伪谓蟿喂蟽蠀渭尾伪蟿喂魏蠈蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻伪蟼, 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰位渭维蔚喂, 蟺伪委蟻谓蔚喂 蟻委蟽魏伪, 伪谓蟿喂蟿委胃蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蔚谓蟿慰位苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 位伪渭尾维谓蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 螕蔚蟻渭伪谓慰蠉蟼 伪尉喂蠅渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼, 蠈蟽慰 蔚蟺喂魏委谓未蠀谓畏 魏喂 伪谓 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓' 伪蟺慰未蔚喂蠂胃蔚委 畏 蟺蔚蟻喂蠁蟻蠈谓畏蟽萎 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺苇谓伪谓蟿委 蟿慰蠀蟼, 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蟽蟿伪渭伪蟿维蔚喂 蟺慰蠀胃蔚谓维 魏伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蟻蠈胃蠀渭慰蟼 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 维魏蟻伪, 伪蟻魏蔚委 谓伪 蠁苇蟻蔚喂 蔚喂蟼 蟺苇蟻伪蟼 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 蟿慰蠀, 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏喂 伪谓 未蔚谓 尾纬蔚喂 伪位蠋尾畏蟿慰蟼 伪蟺' 蠈位慰 伪蠀蟿蠈, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 渭畏谓 蟽蔚 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠉蟽慰蠀谓 魏伪喂 谓伪 渭畏谓 蟿伪 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟻委蟽蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟿蟽伪纬伪谓蠈 蟺慰蠀 魏蟻蠉尾慰蠀谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟿慰蠀蟼.
螣 Lloyd 伪蠁畏纬蔚委蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 渭蔚 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻畏渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟺位慰魏萎 渭蔚谓, 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿喂蟼 蟻委味蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 未蔚, 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀纬蠂维谓慰谓蟿伪蟼 谓' 伪蟺伪位蠉谓蔚喂 蟿喂蟼 位蔚蟺蟿苇蟼 蔚魏蔚委谓蔚蟼 纬蟻伪渭渭苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 蠂蠅蟻委味慰蠀谓 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪, 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蔚委蟽伪喂 尾苇尾伪喂慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 尉蔚魏喂谓维蔚喂 畏 渭委伪 魏伪喂 蟺慰蠀 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 畏 维位位畏, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟽慰蠀 蔚蟺喂蟿蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 尾蠀胃喂蟽蟿蔚委蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰. 螠喂伪 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委伪 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 伪蟺慰未蔚喂魏谓蠉蔚蟿伪喂 蔚蠉魏慰位畏, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 慰 蠅渭蠈蟼 蟻蔚伪位喂蟽渭蠈蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺慰蟿苇 蔚蠉魏慰位慰蟼, 蠅蟽蟿蠈蟽慰 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委蟼 谓' 伪蠁畏纬畏胃蔚委蟼 渭蔚 蔚喂位喂魏蟻委谓蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 蔚蠀胃蟻伪蠀蟽蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪 渭喂伪 蟿苇蟿慰喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪, 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿蔚委蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓慰 蠂蟻慰谓喂魏蠈 蟺位伪委蟽喂慰, 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 谓伪 蔚委蟽伪喂 未喂伪蟿蔚胃蔚喂渭苇谓慰蟼 谓' 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蠄蔚喂蟼 蟿喂蟼 蟺喂慰 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓苇蟼 伪位萎胃蔚喂蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼. 螝伪喂 慰 Lloyd 蟿慰 魏维谓蔚喂, 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 苇谓伪 慰未蠀谓畏蟻蠈, 蟽蔚 渭蔚纬维位慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀, 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽渭伪, 伪位位维 魏喂 苇谓伪 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽渭伪 蟺慰蠀 未蠉蟽魏慰位伪 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 谓伪 尉蔚蠂维蟽蔚喂.
韦慰 "螣喂 伪谓蔚蟺喂胃蠉渭畏蟿慰喂 谓蔚魏蟻慰委", 蟺慰蠀 魏蠀魏位慰蠁蠈蟻畏蟽蔚 蟺蟻喂谓 伪蟺蠈 位委纬蔚蟼 畏渭苇蟻蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蔚魏未蠈蟽蔚喂蟼 螠蔚蟿伪委蠂渭喂慰, 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼 "Eddie Giral", 渭蔚 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎 蟿慰谓 慰渭蠋谓蠀渭慰 萎蟻蠅伪, 魏伪喂 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟽胃苇蟽蔚喂 苇谓伪谓 伪魏蠈渭伪 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀蠂畏渭苇谓慰 蟿委蟿位慰 蟽蟿畏谓 魏伪蟿畏纬慰蟻委伪 蟿慰蠀 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏慰蠉 胃蟻委位蔚蟻, 蟽蟿畏 渭伪魏蟻维 位委蟽蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚魏未慰蟿喂魏慰蠉, 慰 慰蟺慰委慰蟼 苇蠂蔚喂 伪蟺慰未蔚委尉蔚喂 蟺慰位位维魏喂蟼 蟺蠅蟼 蟽蟿慰 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓慰 蔚委未慰蟼 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿伪 畏谓委伪 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 尉苇蟻蔚喂 蟺慰位蠉 魏伪位维 蟺蠅蟼 谓伪 蟿伪 未喂伪蟿畏蟻萎蟽蔚喂, 蠁苇蟻谓慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 魏维胃蔚 蠁慰蟻维 谓苇蔚蟼 魏伪喂 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻蔚蟼 蟺蟻慰蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼, 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 喂魏伪谓慰蟺慰喂萎蟽慰蠀谓 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺喂慰 伪蟺伪喂蟿畏蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿蔚蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 谓伪 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠉蟽慰蠀谓 蔚魏蔚委谓慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 畏 魏伪蟿畏纬慰蟻委伪 伪蠀蟿萎 未蔚谓 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 魏慰蟻蠀蠁萎 蟿蠅谓 蟺蟻慰蟿喂渭萎蟽蔚蠋谓 蟿慰蠀蟼. 螝伪喂 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蠀蟿蠈, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 委蟽蠅蟼 萎未畏 谓伪 苇蠂蔚蟿蔚 伪谓蟿喂位畏蠁胃蔚委, 未蔚谓 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位蔚委 蔚尉伪委蟻蔚蟽畏 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺伪蟻伪蟺维谓蠅 魏伪谓蠈谓伪.
14 螜慰蠀谓委慰蠀 蟿慰蠀 1940, 畏 畏渭苇蟻伪 蟺慰蠀 慰 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏蠈蟼 蟽蟿蟻伪蟿蠈蟼 渭蟺萎魏蔚 蟽蟿慰 螤伪蟻委蟽喂, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蟿维蟻伪尉蔚 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰 魏伪喂 苇纬喂谓蔚 蟺伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂伪 蔚委未畏蟽畏. 螣 螘谓蟿委 螙喂蟻维位, 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈蟼 魏伪喂 尾蔚蟿蔚蟻维谓慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螒' 螤伪纬魏慰蟽渭委慰蠀 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀, 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 纬伪位位喂魏萎 蟺蟻蠅蟿蔚蠉慰蠀蟽伪 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪魏位蠉味蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏维 蟽蟿蟻伪蟿蔚蠉渭伪蟿伪, 蟽蟿苇位谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 蔚蟻蔚蠀谓萎蟽蔚喂 蟿慰谓 胃维谓伪蟿慰 蟿蔚蟽蟽维蟻蠅谓 伪谓蟿蟻蠋谓 蟽蔚 苇谓伪谓 蟽喂未畏蟻慰未蟻慰渭喂魏蠈 蟽蟿伪胃渭蠈, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪蠀蟿慰魏蟿慰谓委伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 谓蔚伪蟻慰蠉 维谓蟿蟻伪, 蟺慰蠀 苇未蠅蟽蔚 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟽蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 蟺苇蠁蟿慰谓蟿伪蟼 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 渭蟺伪位魏蠈谓喂. 违蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 魏维蟿喂 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓未苇蔚喂 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠈位慰蠀蟼 伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 胃伪谓维蟿慰蠀蟼; 螝喂 伪谓 谓伪喂, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟿慰 伪蟺慰未蔚委尉蔚喂, 蠈蟿伪谓 委蟽蠅蟼 蟺委蟽蠅 伪蟺' 蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维 谓伪 魏蟻蠉尾慰谓蟿伪喂 未蠀谓维渭蔚喂蟼 蟺喂慰 喂蟽蠂蠀蟻苇蟼 伪蟺蠈 蔚魏蔚委谓蠅谓, 蟺慰蠀 胃苇位慰蠀谓 谓伪 魏伪位蠉蠄慰蠀谓 蟿伪 委蠂谓畏 蟿慰蠀蟼; 螠伪 蟺维谓蠅 伪蟺' 蠈位伪, 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 慰 委未喂慰蟼 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂 蠈,蟿喂 蠂蟻蔚喂维味蔚蟿伪喂, 苇蟿蟽喂 蠋蟽蟿蔚 谓伪 伪位位维尉蔚喂 魏伪喂 谓伪 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟺维位喂 伪蟺' 蟿慰 渭畏未苇谓;
螤蟻蠋蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿慰蠀 Chris Lloyd 蟺慰蠀 苇蟻蠂蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿伪 蠂苇蟻喂伪 渭慰蠀 魏伪喂 谓慰渭委味蠅 蟺蠅蟼 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 尉蔚魏喂谓萎蟽蠅 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 尾伪蟽喂魏维. 螒蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺蟻蠋蟿伪 魏喂蠈位伪蟼 魏蔚蠁维位伪喂伪, 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 伪谓蟿喂位畏蟺蟿萎 畏 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁喂魏萎 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿维 蟿慰蠀, 渭苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏维 魏伪位慰纬蟻伪渭渭苇谓慰, 渭蔚 维蟻蟿喂伪 未慰渭萎, 渭伪 魏伪喂 渭蔚 渭喂伪 伪谓维蟺蟿蠀尉畏 蟺位慰魏萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 未委谓蔚喂 蟽畏渭伪蟽委伪 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏伪喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟺喂慰 渭喂魏蟻苇蟼 位蔚蟺蟿慰渭苇蟻蔚喂蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 慰位慰魏位畏蟻蠋谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 伪蠁畏纬畏渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蠄畏蠁喂未蠅蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀, 尾蠀胃委味慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 蟽蔚 苇谓伪谓 蔚蟺喂魏委谓未蠀谓慰, 尾委伪喂慰 魏伪喂 维纬蟻喂慰 魏蠈蟽渭慰, 蟺慰蠀 蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 蟿慰谓 伪谓伪魏伪位蠉蟺蟿慰蠀渭蔚, 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰 谓喂蠋胃慰蠀渭蔚 蟿慰 蟽蟿慰渭维蠂喂 渭伪蟼 谓伪 蟽蠁委纬纬蔚蟿伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪纬蠅谓委伪, 伪位位维 魏喂 蔚尉伪喂蟿委伪蟼 蠈位蠅谓 蠈蟽蠅谓 纬喂谓蠈渭伪蟽蟿蔚 渭维蟻蟿蠀蟻蔚蟼, 蟿伪 慰蟺慰委伪 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蔚蠉魏慰位慰 谓伪 蟿伪 未喂伪蠂蔚喂蟻喂蟽蟿蔚委蟼, 喂未委蠅蟼 蠄蠀蠂慰位慰纬喂魏维 -蠂蠅蟻委蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 谓伪 蟽畏渭伪委谓蔚喂, 蟽蔚 魏伪渭委伪 蟺蔚蟻委蟺蟿蠅蟽畏, 蟺蠅蟼 未蔚谓 伪尉委味蔚喂 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻维蟽蔚喂蟼 蠈位畏 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓伪喂蟽胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟽蠉纬蠂蠀蟽畏.
螝维蟿喂 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟺慰蠀 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 伪蠀蟿萎 谓伪 尉蔚蠂蠅蟻委味蔚喂, 蔚委谓伪喂 慰 蟺蟻蠅蟿伪纬蠅谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼, 慰 慰蟺慰委慰蟼 胃伪蟻蟻蠋 蟺蠅蟼 伪尉委味蔚喂 谓伪 蟽蠀味畏蟿畏胃蔚委 魏伪喂 谓伪 蟿慰蠀 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟻喂蟽蟿蔚委 畏 渭慰谓伪未喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿维 蟿慰蠀 -魏伪喂 蟽蔚 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟽蠀渭尾维位位蔚喂 魏伪喂 畏 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟺慰蠀 未蟻伪. 螒蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺伪位喂维蟼 蟽蠂慰位萎蟼, 慰 螘谓蟿委 未蔚谓 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃蔚委 蟺维谓蟿伪 蟿伪 蟺喂慰 畏胃喂魏维 渭慰谓慰蟺维蟿喂伪, 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻伪 魏伪位萎 -胃伪 蟿畏谓 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味伪渭蔚 苇蠅蟼 魏伪喂 魏伪魏萎- 伪委蟽胃畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 蠂喂慰蠉渭慰蟻, 未喂伪胃苇蟿蔚喂 渭喂伪 喂未喂伪委蟿蔚蟻畏 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎 魏喂 伪蟺蟻蠈尾位蔚蟺蟿畏 蟺位蔚蠀蟻维, 蠁苇蟻蔚喂 渭苇蟽伪 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻魏蔚蟿维 魏伪蟿维位慰喂蟺伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟽蠀渭渭蔚蟿慰蠂萎 蟽蟿慰谓 螒' 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰 螤蠈位蔚渭慰, 蠈渭蠅蟼, 蔚委谓伪喂 苇谓伪蟼 伪谓蟿喂蟽蠀渭尾伪蟿喂魏蠈蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻伪蟼, 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰位渭维蔚喂, 蟺伪委蟻谓蔚喂 蟻委蟽魏伪, 伪谓蟿喂蟿委胃蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蔚谓蟿慰位苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 位伪渭尾维谓蔚喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 螕蔚蟻渭伪谓慰蠉蟼 伪尉喂蠅渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼, 蠈蟽慰 蔚蟺喂魏委谓未蠀谓畏 魏喂 伪谓 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓' 伪蟺慰未蔚喂蠂胃蔚委 畏 蟺蔚蟻喂蠁蟻蠈谓畏蟽萎 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺苇谓伪谓蟿委 蟿慰蠀蟼, 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蟽蟿伪渭伪蟿维蔚喂 蟺慰蠀胃蔚谓维 魏伪喂 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蟻蠈胃蠀渭慰蟼 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 维魏蟻伪, 伪蟻魏蔚委 谓伪 蠁苇蟻蔚喂 蔚喂蟼 蟺苇蟻伪蟼 蟿畏谓 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 蟿慰蠀, 伪魏蠈渭伪 魏喂 伪谓 未蔚谓 尾纬蔚喂 伪位蠋尾畏蟿慰蟼 伪蟺' 蠈位慰 伪蠀蟿蠈, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 渭畏谓 蟽蔚 纬慰畏蟿蔚蠉蟽慰蠀谓 魏伪喂 谓伪 渭畏谓 蟿伪 伪谓伪纬谓蠅蟻委蟽蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟿蟽伪纬伪谓蠈 蟺慰蠀 魏蟻蠉尾慰蠀谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟿慰蠀蟼.
螣 Lloyd 伪蠁畏纬蔚委蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 渭蔚 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻畏渭伪蟿喂魏萎 蟺位慰魏萎 渭蔚谓, 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿喂蟼 蟻委味蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 未蔚, 蔚蟺喂蟿蠀纬蠂维谓慰谓蟿伪蟼 谓' 伪蟺伪位蠉谓蔚喂 蟿喂蟼 位蔚蟺蟿苇蟼 蔚魏蔚委谓蔚蟼 纬蟻伪渭渭苇蟼 蟺慰蠀 蠂蠅蟻委味慰蠀谓 蟿畏谓 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪, 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蔚委蟽伪喂 尾苇尾伪喂慰蟼 蟺慰蠀 尉蔚魏喂谓维蔚喂 畏 渭委伪 魏伪喂 蟺慰蠀 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 畏 维位位畏, 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟽慰蠀 蔚蟺喂蟿蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 尾蠀胃喂蟽蟿蔚委蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰. 螠喂伪 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委伪 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 伪蟺慰未蔚喂魏谓蠉蔚蟿伪喂 蔚蠉魏慰位畏, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 慰 蠅渭蠈蟼 蟻蔚伪位喂蟽渭蠈蟼 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺慰蟿苇 蔚蠉魏慰位慰蟼, 蠅蟽蟿蠈蟽慰 未蔚谓 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委蟼 谓' 伪蠁畏纬畏胃蔚委蟼 渭蔚 蔚喂位喂魏蟻委谓蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 蔚蠀胃蟻伪蠀蟽蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪 渭喂伪 蟿苇蟿慰喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪, 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蟺慰胃蔚蟿蔚委蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟽蠀纬魏蔚魏蟻喂渭苇谓慰 蠂蟻慰谓喂魏蠈 蟺位伪委蟽喂慰, 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 谓伪 蔚委蟽伪喂 未喂伪蟿蔚胃蔚喂渭苇谓慰蟼 谓' 伪蟺慰魏伪位蠉蠄蔚喂蟼 蟿喂蟼 蟺喂慰 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓苇蟼 伪位萎胃蔚喂蔚蟼 蟿畏蟼. 螝伪喂 慰 Lloyd 蟿慰 魏维谓蔚喂, 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁苇蟻慰谓蟿维蟼 渭伪蟼 苇谓伪 慰未蠀谓畏蟻蠈, 蟽蔚 渭蔚纬维位慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀, 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽渭伪, 伪位位维 魏喂 苇谓伪 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽渭伪 蟺慰蠀 未蠉蟽魏慰位伪 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 魏伪谓蔚委蟼 谓伪 尉蔚蠂维蟽蔚喂.
November 11, 2020
One of the best books I've read in a very long time! Chris Lloyd's first book in a new series has absolutely everything you could want from a crime novel - a captivating and complex protagonist, a vivid setting, an intriguing mystery, dark humour, emotion, and tension by the bucketload. But none of this does justice to what an excellent read it is - it's just good. REALLY good!
Opening on the day the Nazis march into Paris, Inspector Eddie Giral is trying to ignore the city's new occupiers while he investigates the apparent murder of four people in a railway yard as well as the suicide of a fifth man who stepped from a balcony. A connection to an obscure town in Poland links the two cases, but nobody other than Eddie seems keen on getting to the bottom of what happened.
Eddie Giral is a fascinating character who is still suffering the effects of fighting in the last world war and who has no interest in giving in to the occupying forces who are taking control of his city, yet at the same time he knows that fighting them is futile. He finds himself caught between the various factions of the German army, his colleagues in the French police, members of the resistance, and even members of his own family as he stubbornly pushes on with his investigation, never really taking anyone's side. And for me this is what makes this book so gripping - every single character is complex with their own motivations independent of whichever "side" they're on. Chris avoids simplistic black and white distinctions of the German soldiers being the bad guys while everyone else is good - everyone in this story has their demons, not least Eddie, which adds incredible mounting tension to the story but also increases the intrigue as to who is behind the book's central crime. Every single character in this book could have their own spin-off, it's a novel packed with protagonists - even the blind old safe cracker who gets no more than a few pages in the story could have a whole series dedicated to him and it would be a fantastic story.
This complexity and realism to the characters brings the setting and era to life. This is a period in history which features in countless books and films and yet with this brilliant cast of characters Chris somehow manages to make it feel fresh and original, and certainly extremely relevant to the modern day. What it also does is deliver an emotional punch which for me is as good as any book in any genre - we all know the atrocities of the Second World War and what the Nazis did in Poland, and yet somehow Chris manages to make the reader feel as though they are discovering these terrors for the very first time along with the characters. As Eddie learns the awful truth of what happened in this one small town in Poland, I was brought to tears. The touching descriptions of the tiny acts of bravery in the face of the obscene violence which we know took place are what for me sets this book apart from other crime novels and make it not just a brilliant read, but an important one too.
I read a lot of crime fiction and often I see the twists coming, or the endings don't quite live up to the premise of the original hook, but in this case I didn't guess who committed the crime (even though there's a massive clue!) and the only disappointment I had with the ending was that I could have happily read another 400 pages about Eddie. Luckily this is the first in a series so soon I'll be able to - get writing faster, Chris!
Opening on the day the Nazis march into Paris, Inspector Eddie Giral is trying to ignore the city's new occupiers while he investigates the apparent murder of four people in a railway yard as well as the suicide of a fifth man who stepped from a balcony. A connection to an obscure town in Poland links the two cases, but nobody other than Eddie seems keen on getting to the bottom of what happened.
Eddie Giral is a fascinating character who is still suffering the effects of fighting in the last world war and who has no interest in giving in to the occupying forces who are taking control of his city, yet at the same time he knows that fighting them is futile. He finds himself caught between the various factions of the German army, his colleagues in the French police, members of the resistance, and even members of his own family as he stubbornly pushes on with his investigation, never really taking anyone's side. And for me this is what makes this book so gripping - every single character is complex with their own motivations independent of whichever "side" they're on. Chris avoids simplistic black and white distinctions of the German soldiers being the bad guys while everyone else is good - everyone in this story has their demons, not least Eddie, which adds incredible mounting tension to the story but also increases the intrigue as to who is behind the book's central crime. Every single character in this book could have their own spin-off, it's a novel packed with protagonists - even the blind old safe cracker who gets no more than a few pages in the story could have a whole series dedicated to him and it would be a fantastic story.
This complexity and realism to the characters brings the setting and era to life. This is a period in history which features in countless books and films and yet with this brilliant cast of characters Chris somehow manages to make it feel fresh and original, and certainly extremely relevant to the modern day. What it also does is deliver an emotional punch which for me is as good as any book in any genre - we all know the atrocities of the Second World War and what the Nazis did in Poland, and yet somehow Chris manages to make the reader feel as though they are discovering these terrors for the very first time along with the characters. As Eddie learns the awful truth of what happened in this one small town in Poland, I was brought to tears. The touching descriptions of the tiny acts of bravery in the face of the obscene violence which we know took place are what for me sets this book apart from other crime novels and make it not just a brilliant read, but an important one too.
I read a lot of crime fiction and often I see the twists coming, or the endings don't quite live up to the premise of the original hook, but in this case I didn't guess who committed the crime (even though there's a massive clue!) and the only disappointment I had with the ending was that I could have happily read another 400 pages about Eddie. Luckily this is the first in a series so soon I'll be able to - get writing faster, Chris!
March 27, 2023
The novel commences with the fall of Paris. Great change is to sweep France as lives are turned upside down. This feeling is captured so well by the author. We see the callous and drunken German soldiers, for whom victory was easy, treating people and the opulent buildings with distain. There is the fear of ordinary people, a first taste for the French but prolonged suffering for the Poles who have already fled once and are central to the plot. Those in power in French establishment face the dilemma of how to react, how much to cooperate with the occupiers, as Eddie soon discovers. It is also a period of adaptation for the Germans as there are territorial and jurisdictional disputes between the Wehrmacht (army), Schutzstaffel (SS) and Sicherheitsdienst (SD) which proves vital to Eddie鈥檚 ability to function as an officer.
The plot is one of hidden secrets vital to the war effort. Four Polish refugees trying to escape Paris are gassed in a cattle truck whilst another commits suicide with his young son rather than face interrogation. There is an American journalist keen for the evidence of atrocities necessary to bring the US into the war. The evidence from these events keep pointing back to a small town in Poland. Obstacles are placed in Eddie鈥檚 path, but he remains determined to investigate in the name of truth and justice, the only things he has left worth fighting for. These dead people may be unwanted by the Nazi occupiers and by some of the occupied French, but they are individuals, part of humanity, deserving of compassion and respect.
Eddie Giral is a man who has been damaged by events, who survives on a day to day basis but who tries to do the right thing, because his morality is all he has left. Dreams of university were shattered by the First World War and being called up into the army. A war that left him damaged physically and mentally, with a future he is unable to cope in. Hospitalisation from shell shock and remaining disturbed by what he saw, his behaviour is erratic and ultimately leads to estrangement from his wife and son, for their own safety and piece of mind. Taking one day at a time Eddie is looking for something, some internal peace or salvation, but maintains an unhealthy obsession with a Luger and dud bullet. When his now adult son Jean-Luc appears, after fifteen years apart, despising his father and hell bent on finding personal glory at any cost he must confront his past to ensure Jean-Luc鈥檚 future. A complex character with clearly more to him than one novel.
The storyline presses on relentlessly, steady rather than fast as there is a lot of incidents packed in along with great descriptions of life in Paris. The tone is sober and sombre, this is not a wisecracking hard-boiled protagonist, though he does get some great lines. The messages are clear, war brutalises and someone needs to stand up against tyranny, a timely reminder, as eighty years on nothing seems to have changed. There are seeds of hope though as the reader will see the totemic power of books. Long may authors write thought provoking books and people read them.
The plot is one of hidden secrets vital to the war effort. Four Polish refugees trying to escape Paris are gassed in a cattle truck whilst another commits suicide with his young son rather than face interrogation. There is an American journalist keen for the evidence of atrocities necessary to bring the US into the war. The evidence from these events keep pointing back to a small town in Poland. Obstacles are placed in Eddie鈥檚 path, but he remains determined to investigate in the name of truth and justice, the only things he has left worth fighting for. These dead people may be unwanted by the Nazi occupiers and by some of the occupied French, but they are individuals, part of humanity, deserving of compassion and respect.
Eddie Giral is a man who has been damaged by events, who survives on a day to day basis but who tries to do the right thing, because his morality is all he has left. Dreams of university were shattered by the First World War and being called up into the army. A war that left him damaged physically and mentally, with a future he is unable to cope in. Hospitalisation from shell shock and remaining disturbed by what he saw, his behaviour is erratic and ultimately leads to estrangement from his wife and son, for their own safety and piece of mind. Taking one day at a time Eddie is looking for something, some internal peace or salvation, but maintains an unhealthy obsession with a Luger and dud bullet. When his now adult son Jean-Luc appears, after fifteen years apart, despising his father and hell bent on finding personal glory at any cost he must confront his past to ensure Jean-Luc鈥檚 future. A complex character with clearly more to him than one novel.
The storyline presses on relentlessly, steady rather than fast as there is a lot of incidents packed in along with great descriptions of life in Paris. The tone is sober and sombre, this is not a wisecracking hard-boiled protagonist, though he does get some great lines. The messages are clear, war brutalises and someone needs to stand up against tyranny, a timely reminder, as eighty years on nothing seems to have changed. There are seeds of hope though as the reader will see the totemic power of books. Long may authors write thought provoking books and people read them.
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