Playground for Misunderstanding

by Ellen Hampton

When American exchange student Nick Layton finds a girl lying dead in the courtyard of his Paris apartment, it sets in motion a police investigation into skinhead violence at the mosque, arson-by-real estate, flashmobs in the Luxembourg Gardens, and an international Nietzsche hacker who wants the public to think, rather than consume. Nick's girlfriend Anne-Sophie gets in trouble deeper than she planned, as Commandant Chastel tries to sort out the virtual from the actual. The story winds around the faultlines of communication between French and American, male and female, old and young, in the sublime chaos of today's Paris.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Gabriel García Marquez once said that the writer's problem was not the reach of the imagination, it was making our lives believable. So true. Let's just say it's been a great ride so far, for a southern cross: Florida born, Paris based, historian, lecturer, writer, reader.

Reviews

[Lizzie Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great detective novel with a difference: Ellen Hampton's profound observations make each character truly come to life and the city of Paris is rendered with deep insights into French-American relations, how the city is split into inner-city versus the suburbs, how cultures clash and people misunderstand each other. It's a gripping read that will appeal to students coming over to Paris who want to get how this place ticks and readers of detective fiction who love a good whodunit. It reminded me of the captivating and smart writing we see with Cara Black's fantastic series and I'd love to read more with Police Commandant Chastel and his team. You'll never be able to drive through Place de la Concorde without thinking of this book.

[Meg Bortin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essentially a detective novel with all the classic twists and turns -- a young woman's body in a courtyard (but did she jump or was she pushed?), a glamorous couple, a smart cop and his trendier sidekick and skulduggery high and low. The value added comes from the setting, Paris, and Ellen Hampton's deep insider knowledge of the city today. I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of the culture clash at the heart of French-American relations (sexual, not political). Sophisticated Anne-Sophie has this to say about Nick, her lovable but hapless American boyfriend: 'Sometimes she felt she could appreciate how Homo sapiens felt upon meeting Neanderthal.' Hampton offers Chandlerian sound bites, a scheming professor, and electric ad panels in the metro that mysteriously start spouting Nietzsche! How does it all add up? I was surprised by the ending of this highly diverting excursion into how French and Americans, cops and criminals, neo-Nazis and progressives misunderstand each other. I'm sure you will be too.

[Marybeth Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Could not put this down - smart, well -crafted and massively entertaining.