[.ca] Blood Red Rivers (ISBN 0099449021)

From Amazon.com:
The roman policier, or detective novel, has long been popular in France, but few works by French authors have received much attention in other countries. Jean-Christophe Grange's Blood-Red Rivers enjoyed considerable success in France (film rights have already been sold), and has arrived to test American waters. When a mutilated corpse is discovered wedged in an isolated crevice on a rock face outside Guernon, a university town in the French Alps, Pierre Niémans--a brilliant Parisian detective given to uncontrollable fits of violence--arrives to investigate. Eager to escape the cloud of an official inquiry into his behavior (beating a hooligan so violently that the man is in a coma), Niémans swaggers into the tiny town, torn between outrage at being exiled and determination to prove himself to the superiors he detests. The body hints at a long history of animosity between the university and the townspeople; when another body is found frozen in a glacier, Niémans' investigation becomes linked to that of another maverick policeman, Karim Abdouf, who has a chip on his shoulder even bigger than Niémans's. Abdouf is attempting to discover why a child's tomb has been desecrated, and why all official traces of that child's existence have disappeared. When he discovers that the child's mysterious, beautiful mother comes from Guernon, Abdouf realizes that the antagonism between town and gown is not a matter of philosophy, but of life and death. Blood-Red Rivers possesses the seeds of an interesting concept, but its promise is overwhelmed by a plot that lurches from one absurdity to another, clumsy characterization, a tedious reliance on clichéd dialogue, and a too-literal translation. It was touted by a review in Le Figaro as "the best thriller since Silence of the Lambs," but there's no comparison between Grange's novel and Thomas Harris's skilled plotting, concise language, and disturbingly sympathetic portrait of a madman. Given the number of truly talented French mystery and thriller authors, one hopes that more promising works will soon be sent across the Atlantic. --Kelly Flynn

The ups & downs of French specificity:
It is very refreshing to read a modern detective story that uses its French setting so well. The story sends the characters from modern Paris to small villages and from glacial mountains to the coast. The parallel enquiries being carried out by Niemans and Abdouf give the book a good pace and manage to keep the reader inquisitive. In addition, the dark, unsettling atmosphere that prevails adds to the reader's apprehension. Having read the book both in French and in English, it is fair to say that the translation does not do justice to the dialogues, leading to some conversations sounding clichéd (this is always a risk when translating modern, more coarse French). However, this should not spoil the overall pleasure of the book. The film, directed by the talented Mathieu Kassovitz (la Haine)stars Jean Reno in the role of Niemans. If it manages to reproduce the atmosphere and the momentum of the book, it will be a big success.

Great read:
I only read this book in the original French so far as it has not arrived yet at my house in English. It really kept my interest alive in what would happen next all through the book. I was toying with the idea of translating it for my boyfriend so that he could enjoy it too, but now I don't have to. It really surprised me in a pleasant way as how much it read like many American detective novels. I haven't found that quality in French writing much. I really liked the brooding atmosphere as well. I hope the translation lives up to the original.

French Alps Crime Thriller:
Blood Red Rivers is a first rate crime thriller set in and around a college campus in the French Alps. The story takes place over a 24 hour period as a tired and on the edge police lieutenant, Pierre Niemans, tries to piece together the clues left behind by a gruesome serial killer. The book is basically two stories which slowly merge into one, becoming an absolutely rivetting read along the way. The characters and locations are superb and the story is plotted in such a manner that it's almost impossible to put down as the two policeman reach their conclusion. Some people have criticised the ending however at no time did I feel let down by this novel, ending included. If you like action packed, and at times violent, police procedurals then this is truly the book for you.

Blood-Red Rivers:
I read this book in the original during a recent French holiday and as it has become a best seller in France I planned to do an English translation. However, I now find that Mr. Monk has beaten me to it ! A pity as I think that this easily matches the action and suspense of, for example, "The Day After Tomorrow" or similar, at least for the first two hundred pages. I found the two lead characters engaging if relatively stereotypical and the plot is initially intriguing as it promises to involve neo-nazis, genetics, cloning, mad scientists etc. However,the novel runs out of steam about half way through,becomes muddled and over long and the ending, or "denouement" if you will, is a total anti-climax. In a way,in retrospect, I am rather glad I didn't have to translate it after all !....END

A good write, and a good read.:
Blood-red Rivers is a well written thriller. Not just a storytellers exercise, it is the product of a good writer. If youy did not know the author you would say it is more likely to have come from the pen of a James Lee Bourke than the word processor of John Grisham. As a thriller it works. Half way through I was unable to see where it was going, and I was still interested and intrigued enough to want to read on and not put it down. With most books of this type, it is better to travel than to arrive. Often they do not have as satisfactory and consistent an ending as the start and middle. If I have a reservation with the book it is that there is a slightly "deus ex machina" quality to the conclusion. However, this does not take away from the enjoyment of the book. Would I read it again? I probably would, and that it is not common with many detective novels. I will watch out for M. Grange's works in the future. I do not buy novels on the attractions of the cover. I buy on the quality of the authors and Jean-Christophe Grange is a quality author.