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Lola Jost & Ingrid Diesel #1
El Pasadizo del Deseo
Dos hechos simultáneos en el tiempo: tres atracadores –Jean-Luc, Farid y Noah– roban de madrugada una oficina de cambio de divisas, situada en los Campos Elíseos, por el método del «alunizaje», logrando un botín de un millón y medio de euros. En un apartamento, en el pasadizo del Deseo, que comparten tres jóvenes –Jadiya, Cloé y Vanessa–, aparece muerta Vanessa, estrangulada y con los pies cortados. Estos dos hechos, aparentemente sin relación alguna entre ellos, van imbricándose uno con otro, como las piezas de un puzle, hasta quedar resuelto.
El tema principal es el esclarecimiento de un asesinato a través de una investigación policial basada en la observación, la acumulación de datos, la constancia y tenacidad y la aplicación de la psicología. Todo ello encuadrado en la ciudad de París, que tiene un gran protagonismo, y rodeado de los componentes que definen la sociedad actual: la comunicación cibernética, los sin techo, los niños rumanos explotados por los albanos, el cine gore, los masajes reparadores, el psicoanálisis, el robo con alunizaje, la actualidad política; junto con las pasiones humanas, los celos, el amor, el rencor, la venganza…
El tema principal es el esclarecimiento de un asesinato a través de una investigación policial basada en la observación, la acumulación de datos, la constancia y tenacidad y la aplicación de la psicología. Todo ello encuadrado en la ciudad de París, que tiene un gran protagonismo, y rodeado de los componentes que definen la sociedad actual: la comunicación cibernética, los sin techo, los niños rumanos explotados por los albanos, el cine gore, los masajes reparadores, el psicoanálisis, el robo con alunizaje, la actualidad política; junto con las pasiones humanas, los celos, el amor, el rencor, la venganza…
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 23, 2023
El pasadizo del deseo (The dark Angel)
Primera entrega de la serie Lola Jost e Ingrid Diesel. No me pareció nada del otro mundo. El estilo de la autora es bueno, pero la trama no consiguió engancharme. Tiene buenas pinceladas de humor, que hacen la lectura más llevadera, pero la supuesta “química” entre sus dos protagonistas me resulta bastante falsa. La autora no logra convencerme de por qué personajes tan dispares entre sí consiguen llevarse a la perfección. No me encaja. Por otra parte, el personaje de Maxime tampoco me resulta convincente.
Resumiendo, lectura ligera, a ratos incluso divertida, pero que no me ha dejado deseos de seguir con la serie.
Lectura: Agosto 2015.
2 🌞🌞
Primera entrega de la serie Lola Jost e Ingrid Diesel. No me pareció nada del otro mundo. El estilo de la autora es bueno, pero la trama no consiguió engancharme. Tiene buenas pinceladas de humor, que hacen la lectura más llevadera, pero la supuesta “química” entre sus dos protagonistas me resulta bastante falsa. La autora no logra convencerme de por qué personajes tan dispares entre sí consiguen llevarse a la perfección. No me encaja. Por otra parte, el personaje de Maxime tampoco me resulta convincente.
Resumiendo, lectura ligera, a ratos incluso divertida, pero que no me ha dejado deseos de seguir con la serie.
Lectura: Agosto 2015.
2 🌞🌞
December 22, 2014
Well, here's something new and different! There's something to be said for a crime novel where one of the lead characters is a kind of crusty, overweight middle-aged woman who smokes and wears a hideous bathrobe when she's hanging out at home. The Dark Angel is the introduction to a series (I think/hope) featuring retired Commissaire of the Paris police department Lola Jost and her very worldly, beautiful and American masseuse crime-solving partner. Ingrid Diesel. While the mystery is pretty good, these two characters, most especially Lola, steal the show in this book. If for no other reason, you should read this book on the basis of Lola's character alone. Whenever she wasn't in the picture, I was eagerly awaiting her return.
Set in Paris, two roommates come home one day to discover the third girl dead. Not only has she been murdered, but her feet have been chopped off and someone has left behind a Bratz doll, the kind with the feet that come completely off the doll's body. Any hope of forensic evidence is gone -- the vacuum cleaner, which may have contained evidence, is soaking in the bathtub. Police soon come to suspect that Maxime, the local ladies' man and restauranteur along the Passage du Désir, may have had something to do with the young woman's murder. Enter our dynamic duo, Lola and Ingrid, who want more than anything to keep their good friend Maxime from going to jail -- so with the help of one of Lola's favorite policemen, they do everything they can to prove his innocence. Not such an easy task: everyone, it seems, is hiding something, so getting to the truth behind the murder will be a definite challenge.
The Dark Angel is on the lighter side of crime -- not that murder's not serious, but the novel has a very uncomplicated feel to it compared to a lot of other, more intense translated crime fiction. There are also more than a few moments of wry humor to be encountered -- especially through the character of Lola. She steals the show in this novel -- something in her past led her to leave the force, but she is still totally on the ball when it comes to investigating. Her policeman friend who helps the two women in their investigation is in awe of her talents and wishes she'd never retired, because she left him with an inept bumbler as a superior. Ingrid, while full of surprises, is less big on the page, not as well rounded as Lola with her constant flow of caustic wit; however, it is perhaps the wide range of differences that allow them to work so well together. Considering that they probably wouldn't have met otherwise, the way they take to each other makes for fun reading. They even view Paris quite differently from each other -- understandable since Lola is French and Ingrid is viewing the city from an entirely different set of cultural lenses -- but in the long run, it's a plus because their different visions of what the streets have to offer filter through to the reader, making the sense of place a little more 3-D than usual.
While Lola's character is off and running, I'm sure that Ingrid's character will develop more as the series proceeds; in this installment, I think the goal was just to get the two together as a sort of ad hoc investigating team. Otherwise, the mystery itself is okay, complete with lots of red herrings and more than enough suspects to keep the reader guessing. There are a few social issues brought out here and there is even a brief look at the plight of Romanian children who were put into orphanages during the reign of Nicolae Ceaușescu -- and people who think nothing of exploiting these kids. Nothing too heavy, but this topic plays a small role in the story.
I love the combination of the two characters and their quirks; watching these two very different women working together was just plain fun. And while I do prefer much edgier crime fiction, sometimes it's more than enough when it's all about the characters -- and that is definitely the case here. Very much recommended; a wonderful start to what I hope will be a great series.
Set in Paris, two roommates come home one day to discover the third girl dead. Not only has she been murdered, but her feet have been chopped off and someone has left behind a Bratz doll, the kind with the feet that come completely off the doll's body. Any hope of forensic evidence is gone -- the vacuum cleaner, which may have contained evidence, is soaking in the bathtub. Police soon come to suspect that Maxime, the local ladies' man and restauranteur along the Passage du Désir, may have had something to do with the young woman's murder. Enter our dynamic duo, Lola and Ingrid, who want more than anything to keep their good friend Maxime from going to jail -- so with the help of one of Lola's favorite policemen, they do everything they can to prove his innocence. Not such an easy task: everyone, it seems, is hiding something, so getting to the truth behind the murder will be a definite challenge.
The Dark Angel is on the lighter side of crime -- not that murder's not serious, but the novel has a very uncomplicated feel to it compared to a lot of other, more intense translated crime fiction. There are also more than a few moments of wry humor to be encountered -- especially through the character of Lola. She steals the show in this novel -- something in her past led her to leave the force, but she is still totally on the ball when it comes to investigating. Her policeman friend who helps the two women in their investigation is in awe of her talents and wishes she'd never retired, because she left him with an inept bumbler as a superior. Ingrid, while full of surprises, is less big on the page, not as well rounded as Lola with her constant flow of caustic wit; however, it is perhaps the wide range of differences that allow them to work so well together. Considering that they probably wouldn't have met otherwise, the way they take to each other makes for fun reading. They even view Paris quite differently from each other -- understandable since Lola is French and Ingrid is viewing the city from an entirely different set of cultural lenses -- but in the long run, it's a plus because their different visions of what the streets have to offer filter through to the reader, making the sense of place a little more 3-D than usual.
While Lola's character is off and running, I'm sure that Ingrid's character will develop more as the series proceeds; in this installment, I think the goal was just to get the two together as a sort of ad hoc investigating team. Otherwise, the mystery itself is okay, complete with lots of red herrings and more than enough suspects to keep the reader guessing. There are a few social issues brought out here and there is even a brief look at the plight of Romanian children who were put into orphanages during the reign of Nicolae Ceaușescu -- and people who think nothing of exploiting these kids. Nothing too heavy, but this topic plays a small role in the story.
I love the combination of the two characters and their quirks; watching these two very different women working together was just plain fun. And while I do prefer much edgier crime fiction, sometimes it's more than enough when it's all about the characters -- and that is definitely the case here. Very much recommended; a wonderful start to what I hope will be a great series.
January 8, 2015
This is the first book in what, I hope, will turn out to become a series. Set in Paris, it features retired Commissaire of the Police Department, Lola Jost, and American masseuse Ingrid Diesel. The storyline revolves around a community in Paris where both our main characters live. Both women are regulars at a restaurant run by Maxime Duchamp; a former photojournalist whose first wife, Rinko, was murdered twelve years previously. When his current girlfriend’s flat-mate is found murdered, he finds himself a prime suspect. Both Lieutenant Jerome Bathelemy, who misses his former boss, and Ingrid, who carries a flame for Maxime, attempt to involve Lola Jost in clearing his name.
The plot of this mystery is far reaching, complex , but not complicated , and there are a whole range of suspects – from Maxime’s girlfriend’s twin brother Farid and his criminal friends, to members of the cinema where the young victim worked, from street children to a local therapist. The storyline ranges from twelve years before, when Rinko Duchamp was killed, to street heists and strip clubs. However, it is Lola and Ingrid who really keep your attention. Lola is crotchety, middle aged and lumpy; not your usual heroine, but all the more welcome for that. Ingrid did not make quite such a strong impression, but some of her hidden depths are revealed and I look forward to seeing the characters of both women develop in future books. Paris itself is also a character – full of beautiful buildings, strong characters and a wonderful background for any crime series.
The plot of this mystery is far reaching, complex , but not complicated , and there are a whole range of suspects – from Maxime’s girlfriend’s twin brother Farid and his criminal friends, to members of the cinema where the young victim worked, from street children to a local therapist. The storyline ranges from twelve years before, when Rinko Duchamp was killed, to street heists and strip clubs. However, it is Lola and Ingrid who really keep your attention. Lola is crotchety, middle aged and lumpy; not your usual heroine, but all the more welcome for that. Ingrid did not make quite such a strong impression, but some of her hidden depths are revealed and I look forward to seeing the characters of both women develop in future books. Paris itself is also a character – full of beautiful buildings, strong characters and a wonderful background for any crime series.
August 22, 2023
Tiene buen ritmo y está bien escrito, pero he echado de menos un caso más complicado, que enganchase más. Lo peor de todo es que se resuelve practicamente con un "deus ex machina". Lo mejor de todo es sin duda la relación de amistad de las dos mujeres protagonistas y el humor, tanto en boca de los personajes como del narrador.
January 24, 2014
By turns referred to as ‘the fat lady’, ‘the pain in the neck’ and the even less complimentary ‘the bitch’, Lola Jost is a short, unhealthy, foul tempered but has excellent powers of detection. Having left the force following the death of a colleague, she’s struggling to adjust to mundane civilian life, and despite her protestations, is all too eager to participate in the investigation. She is imbued with a natural caustic wit and if ever a character was said not to suffer fools gladly, she is it.
In an inspired piece of plotting Lola teams up with Ingrid Diesel, a statuesque American health freak with a colourful and well-travelled background, whom she meets through Maxime Duchamp, who himself is a key suspect in the case. Ingrid loves Paris and works as a masseur and an exotic dancer. Herein lies the strength of the characterisation, as the two women so defined by their differences, physically, culturally and emotionally, mesh together perfectly as a crime fighting duo par excellence. The humour and natural badiage between the two women leads to some real laugh-out-loud moments as Lola’s dour cynicism is pitted against the puppy dog eagerness of the lively Diesel. Interestingly, through their characterisation, Sylvain’s depiction of Paris takes on a different effect, filtered through the seen-it-all despondency of Lola as a native, and the wide-eyed enthusiasm of Diesel for the city as a visitor. So, we get to see the good and the bad nature of life within the city itself.
It is unusual to find a crime novel that works on so many levels simultaneously in terms of characterisation, location, plotting and dialogue. However, Sylvain achieves this with aplomb, producing not only an extremely readable murder mystery that is defined by location and the social exploration of its plot, but also by her depiction of the two main protagonists and the humour that ensues. I was delighted to discover that this is only the first of a series to be published in the UK featuring Lola Jost and Ingrid Diesel, and will await the others with a sense of impatience. A wholly satisfying read.
In an inspired piece of plotting Lola teams up with Ingrid Diesel, a statuesque American health freak with a colourful and well-travelled background, whom she meets through Maxime Duchamp, who himself is a key suspect in the case. Ingrid loves Paris and works as a masseur and an exotic dancer. Herein lies the strength of the characterisation, as the two women so defined by their differences, physically, culturally and emotionally, mesh together perfectly as a crime fighting duo par excellence. The humour and natural badiage between the two women leads to some real laugh-out-loud moments as Lola’s dour cynicism is pitted against the puppy dog eagerness of the lively Diesel. Interestingly, through their characterisation, Sylvain’s depiction of Paris takes on a different effect, filtered through the seen-it-all despondency of Lola as a native, and the wide-eyed enthusiasm of Diesel for the city as a visitor. So, we get to see the good and the bad nature of life within the city itself.
It is unusual to find a crime novel that works on so many levels simultaneously in terms of characterisation, location, plotting and dialogue. However, Sylvain achieves this with aplomb, producing not only an extremely readable murder mystery that is defined by location and the social exploration of its plot, but also by her depiction of the two main protagonists and the humour that ensues. I was delighted to discover that this is only the first of a series to be published in the UK featuring Lola Jost and Ingrid Diesel, and will await the others with a sense of impatience. A wholly satisfying read.
December 26, 2013
The Dark Angel was originally published in French with the title ‘Passage du Désir’ in 2004. The story teams up the elderly, overweight, crotchety and brilliant former commissaire Lola Jost, with the tall, athletic, impulsive and forthright American, Ingrid Diesel, who try to solve a local murder given the ineptitude of the assigned commissaire. Lola and Ingrid make for an interesting double act, but whereas Lola is well developed and engaging, Ingrid is less well flashed out, lacking in personality and depth -- a colourful back story and striking physique is not the same as ‘aliveness’. The result is a somewhat lopsided relationship. Similarly, the other characters are a little flat and one-dimensional, especially Maxime, who did not come across as an attractive lothario. The story itself is enjoyable enough, with a few action sequences and twists and some nicely observed scenes, as long as one is happy to accept that it is simply a vehicle for introducing Lola and Ingrid given the procedural elements are weak, the police are fools, the pair make some silly decisions for dramatic effect, and the resolution is somewhat contrived. Overall, a mildly amusing and dark tale of love, jealousy and rage.
August 21, 2014
Extraña pareja la formada por Lola Jost e Ingrid Diesel, que no destaca precisamente por la profundidad con que las ha retratado la autora. Entretenida a ratos.
June 4, 2017
It's always enjoyable when a detective duo meet and are instantly adversarial towards each other. It means the characters have somewhere to go during the course of the novel. The gulf between ex detective Lola and Ingrid, a flamboyant ,American masseuse with a penchant for all things Parisienne, is immense. .. and that is why they work so well as a team. I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing their relationship evolve as much as I enjoyed their investigation into the death of their neighbour. This was a gritty and refreshing read with humour to balance it!
April 4, 2021
En una palabra: entretenidísimo.
A destacar la traducción tan cuidada de Sofía Tros de Ilarduya que hace que se lea como si la lengua en el que se escribió el original fuese el español.
Las investigadoras son una policía jubilada - Lola Jost - regordeta y aficionada a los dichos y citas célebres, y una treinteañera estadounidense enamorada de París que trabaja de día como masajista y de noche como bailarina exótica.
El final me pareció imprevisible, los diálogos con su punto de ingenio.
Lo leí hace bastantes veranos y aún me acuerdo de la buena tarde que pasé.
A destacar la traducción tan cuidada de Sofía Tros de Ilarduya que hace que se lea como si la lengua en el que se escribió el original fuese el español.
Las investigadoras son una policía jubilada - Lola Jost - regordeta y aficionada a los dichos y citas célebres, y una treinteañera estadounidense enamorada de París que trabaja de día como masajista y de noche como bailarina exótica.
El final me pareció imprevisible, los diálogos con su punto de ingenio.
Lo leí hace bastantes veranos y aún me acuerdo de la buena tarde que pasé.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2021
Tai kitokia detektyvinės knygą, kurios nusikaltimus aiškinasi ne policijoje tuo metu dirbantis asmuo, o buvusi inspektorė ir nužudytos merginos kaimynė. Jų bylos ištyrimas taip prikausto prie knygos, kiekvienos smulkmenos išaiškinimas, net prieš daug metų padarytą nusikaltimą sugebėjo iškapstyti. 5⭐
June 19, 2023
Un de ces rares livres où l'on trouve tout : une approche invraisemblable, des dialogues amidonnés, des personnages unidimensionnels, un mépris presque total pour les causes et les effets. Le meilleur du livre est la surprise de la fin : on m'y assure que Mme Sylvain a écrit d'autres livres après celui-ci, ce qui montre que le monde est vraiment insondable.
June 21, 2017
Personnages stéréotypés à force de vouloir faire original, enquête qui se traîne et dont il est évident que l'auteur se fiche éperdument : je me suis beaucoup ennuyée. Quand on aime les enquêtes insolites et la french touch, mieux vaut se tourner vers Pennac et Vargas.
November 15, 2017
This book was very interesting and enjoyable to read. I love the characters and the setting with many vignettes of Parisian life. I hope to read the others in the series although I fear that many are not yet translated into English.
February 28, 2019
It might have been the fact that it was translated, but I just couldn't get into the story. There were also several moments where it was really clear that it was translated and it just felt unnatural. Gave up on this about halfway through.
July 16, 2019
I discover a new crime fiction author and series. This is definitely a good read and is the first on the Lola and Ingrid series of novels by this author. 2 interesting protagonists and a good story told with vigour and humour . Recommended.
May 20, 2020
Like all French crime fiction, I found this a bit strange but entertaining. The mismatched crime fighting duo of an American masseuse and retired French policewoman were fun to read about and the plot chirped along nicely.
September 21, 2018
Enjoyable
October 31, 2018
Une lecture agréable, des personnages sympathiques mais j'aurais aimé un peu plus d'introspection du rapport entre les deux femmes.
November 22, 2018
Ingrid e Lola sono fenomenali. Trama triste, ma avvincente. Merita leggere anche glia ltri, la scrittura di Dominique è una certezza (in originale).
September 15, 2024
Ni fu ni fa.
March 3, 2025
Atractiva por el tàndem de detectives,interesante argumento,bien concluida.
August 21, 2025
Un sympathique policier sans trop de violence. Un duo de femmes très improbable avec des dialogues qui ne manquent pas d'humour. C'est un policier idéal pour un bon moment de détente.
February 14, 2017
Stylish sassy French detective novel. Best one I've read since Delacorta. Lola and Ingrid are terrific characters and I was transported to Paris in their company. A real treat.
January 21, 2014
The Dark Angel Dominique Sylvain
Jean-Paul, Noah and Farid have just stolen 1,500,000 euros from a Paris bureau de change. Farid insists on giving his share to his ex-girlfriend, Vanessa ... and the next day her two flatmates find her murdered and mutilated. The main suspect is her restauranteur employer, Maxime, a charmer with tragedy in his past. Luckily he has a good friend, Ingrid, who calls in ex-cop Lola to help her investigate ...
This is the first of a series, which let me meet this unlikely and intrepid duo properly: Parisian policewoman Lola, rude, determined, and definitely retired, and American Ingrid, masseuse by day, and with a surprise night-time occupation. Both were larger-than-life characters, and I enjoyed the building relationship and snappy dialogue between them, as Ingrid prised Lola away from her jigsaw of the Sistine Chapel and back into police work. I loved the Parisian setting – Paris is my favourite city, and Sylvain brought it to life vividly: sights, sounds, smells. The prose flowed from one person’s view to another, and the story moved swiftly, with plenty of twists.
A new, zany detective team, in an elegantly-written story that goes for atmosphere rather than gore. Highly recommended.
Jean-Paul, Noah and Farid have just stolen 1,500,000 euros from a Paris bureau de change. Farid insists on giving his share to his ex-girlfriend, Vanessa ... and the next day her two flatmates find her murdered and mutilated. The main suspect is her restauranteur employer, Maxime, a charmer with tragedy in his past. Luckily he has a good friend, Ingrid, who calls in ex-cop Lola to help her investigate ...
This is the first of a series, which let me meet this unlikely and intrepid duo properly: Parisian policewoman Lola, rude, determined, and definitely retired, and American Ingrid, masseuse by day, and with a surprise night-time occupation. Both were larger-than-life characters, and I enjoyed the building relationship and snappy dialogue between them, as Ingrid prised Lola away from her jigsaw of the Sistine Chapel and back into police work. I loved the Parisian setting – Paris is my favourite city, and Sylvain brought it to life vividly: sights, sounds, smells. The prose flowed from one person’s view to another, and the story moved swiftly, with plenty of twists.
A new, zany detective team, in an elegantly-written story that goes for atmosphere rather than gore. Highly recommended.
November 4, 2013
Ce titre signe la toute première rencontre entre Ingrid Diesel et Lola Jost, lequel duo reviendra en force dans quatre autres romans. N'en jetez plus, c'est un duo de choc, qui fait des étincelles. C'est d'ailleurs la force du roman, qui éclipse jusqu'à l'intrigue criminelle (très classique). En fait, ce que j'ai follement apprécié, dans ce livre, c'est son style, l'écriture de Dominique Sylvain, sa manière de nous présenter son univers, ses personnages tous brinquebalants mais ô combien attachants, et puis l'humour aussi, très fin, saupoudré par petites touches délicates et estimables. C'est ce qui a fini de me convaincre, maintenant je veux tout lire, retrouver Lola et Ingrid dans de nouvelles péripéties, continuer de m'amouracher, sourire, espérer ... et tout ça, quoi.
August 8, 2009
Lola Jost, ex-commissaire en retraite anticipée, et Ingrid Diesel, masseuse américaine au passé mouvementé, sont voisines.
Rien ne les rapproche, si ce n'est un crime sordide commis dans leur quartier.
Pour retrouver le coupable, ce tandem haut en couleur, improbable et truculent, investit les milieux de la prostitution, ceux du cinéma gore, et l'univers retors d'un tueur obsessionnel.
Rien ne les rapproche, si ce n'est un crime sordide commis dans leur quartier.
Pour retrouver le coupable, ce tandem haut en couleur, improbable et truculent, investit les milieux de la prostitution, ceux du cinéma gore, et l'univers retors d'un tueur obsessionnel.
December 6, 2013
слухаю аудіоверсію від «audiolib» у виконанні frédéric souterelle. чудова акторська начитка, і досить непоганий детектив — дуже добре «йде» після серії варгас про комісара адамсберга.
March 16, 2014
Not bad and it has a couple of quirky sleuths, but not sure if I would read any more in the series.
August 23, 2015
French Crime, taut yet descriptive. good protagonists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews