The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas
As the books I’d put on hold at the library hadn’t arrived yet, I scoured the new books shelf and saw this one. I thought, Well, Vargas. I’ve heard of her. A number of book bloggers like her. It was just translated into English in 2009, but it is the first of the Adamsberg dectective novels, and was published in French in 1991. If I’m reading the chronology right, that’s her second novel. I had avoided Vargas even though she sounded interesting because the plots sounded rather bloody. But in fact the book isn’t, at least not to me. This novel wasn’t like any detective fiction I’ve read before. I don’t know if that’s because it’s by a French writer or just that Vargas is original, but the interest in the book isn’t about thrills (I’m kind of a no-vampire gal), nor is it primarily about twists and turns though I only half-guessed the end. It’s the conversations and thoughts of unusual characters that I found totally engaging. I don’t know if I’d want a steady diet of Vargas. But every so often, oh yes. The book was an interesting, unusual dessert with an unexpected flavour. Good. Different. Surprising.
Oh, you make me want to read her! Perhaps she might be a choice for my mystery book group, particularly since she does something different from what others do. I’m very curious to see what I think of her.
Thanks Dorothy. I think she’d make a fascinating author for a book group.