Das barmherzige Fallbeil

Commissaire Adamsberg #10

by Fred Vargas

Adamsberg ist zurück, und seine Ermittlungen führen ihn in die blutige Zeit der Französischen Revolution und in die tödliche Kälte Islands ...

Innerhalb weniger Tage werden die Leichen einer Mathematiklehrerin und eines reichen Schlossherrn in Paris entdeckt, die vermeintlich Selbstmord begangen haben. Die brutale Szenerie alarmiert zwar die Polizei, doch es scheint keine Verbindung zu geben. Bis Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg auf unauffällige Zeichnungen an beiden Tatorten aufmerksam wird. Kurz darauf stellt sich heraus, dass die Lehrerin vor ihrem Tod dem labilen Sohn des zweiten Toten geschrieben hat. Der Brief führt Adamsberg auf die Spuren einer verhängnisvollen Reise nach Island, die zehn Jahre zuvor stattfand – und von der zwei Personen nicht zurückkamen. Sowie in die Untiefen einer Geheimgesellschaft, die sich Robespierre und der Terrorherrschaft während der Französischen Revolution verschrieben hat. Weitere Menschen sterben, und für Adamsberg beginnt ein Wettrennen gegen die Zeit und einen ebenso wandelbaren wie unbarmherzigen Mörder …

Genres: Mystery, Crime, France, Fiction, Thriller, Noir, Detective

512 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2015

About the author

Fred Vargas is the pseudonym of the French historian, archaeologist and writer Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau (often mistakenly spelled "Audouin-Rouzeau"). She is the daughter of Philippe Audoin(-Rouzeau), a surrealist writer who was close to André Breton, and the sister of the historian Stéphane Audoin-Rouzeau, a noted specialist of the First World War who inspired her the character of Lucien Devernois.

Archeo-zoologist and historian by trade, she undertook a project on the epidemiology of the Black Death and bubonic plague, the result of which was a scientific work published in 2003 and still considered definitive in this research area: Les chemins de la peste : Le rat la puce et l'homme (Pest Roads).

As a novelist, Fred Vargas writes mostly crime stories. She found writing was a way to combine her interests and relax from her job as a scientist. Her novels are set in Paris and feature the adventures of Chief Inspector Adamsberg and his team. Her interest in the Middle Ages is manifest in many of her novels, especially through the person of Marc Vandoosler, a young specialist in the period.

She separated her public persona as a writer from her scientific persona by adopting the pseudonym Fred Vargas. "Fred" is the diminutive of her given name, Frédérique, while with "Vargas", she has chosen the same pseudonym than her twin sister, Jo Vargas (pseudonym of Joëlle Audoin-Rouzeau), a painter. For both sisters, the pseudonym "Vargas" derives from the Ava Gardner character in "The Barefoot Contessa".

Her crime fiction policiers have won three International Dagger Awards from the Crime Writers Association, for three successive novels: in 2006, 2008 and 2009. She is the first author to achieve such an honor. In each case her translator into English has been Sîan Leonard, who was also recognized by the international award.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the French Commissaire Adamsberg series and so pleased to get hold of this novel. This a knotted mystery that Adamsberg refers to as bundle of seaweed that refuses to be untangled for some time. It contains an Icelandic supernatural element with the deadly demon 'afterganga' that is summoning our other worldly commissaire. It is located on Fox Island, and there is local folklore and mythology about the warm stone on it that is supposed to have magical properties. There is experience of its evil intent amidst the harm visited on locals who avoid the island like the plague. In Paris, there are a number of apparent suicides that turn out to be murders.

The first victim, Alice Gauthier, and those that follow have a sign on the scene that baffles the police, including Commandant Danglard of the Serious Crime Squad. A letter sent by Alice has the police visit a Stud farm to meet Amedee Masfaure and Victor who recount a story of murders that took place in Iceland amongst a group of French tourists on Fox Island years ago. The murderer threatened to wreak such terrible vengeance that the remaining group kept silent through the years. It becomes clear the victims are connected with the Robespierre Association, headed by Henri Chateau, which focuses police investigations on this area. A climate of fear grows in the present that echoes that of Robespierre's Reign of Terror, mesmerisingly enacted by the Association. The lack of progress convinces Adamsberg to go to Iceland despite the reservations and outright hostility of most of his team, particularly Danglard. There is a web of deceit and lies that are uncovered. An eventful and dangerous trip to Iceland yields vital information which leads Adamsberg closer to the truth. However, an adept, dangerous and ruthless killer has no intention of being discovered and will do anything to stop this happening.

This is a complex and atmospheric story that weaves a spell over the reader. It is full of tension, twists and suspense. The conflict and hostility within Adamsberg's police team led by Danglard leaves Adamsberg isolated in the finale at the Stud Farm. I particularly like the French Revolution and Robespierre aspect of the novel that mirrors the revolt in the police team. This is another brilliant addition to the series which I highly recommend. Cannot wait for the next one!

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pet boars and white wine galore and the French Revolution and Iceland and spoiler spoiler spoiler, oh my!

There are two detectives in my nefarious life. One is a puny Belgian guy with a horrendous English accent and a super hot mustache:



The other one is Chief Inspector Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, head of the Paris Crime Squad. Oh, I know what you’re thinking right now. You’re probably telling your little selves, “oh bloody shrimping no, not another boring as fish police inspector! These crime novels are all the same, read one and you’ve read them all, yawn yawn yawn and stuff.” My Little Barnacles. You are so clueless sometimes, it’s almost endearing. Almost. This ain’t not your pathetically average police procedural, Tiny Decapods mine! And this series is like no other crime series you’ve ever read and stuff. I mean, do you seriously think that I’d choose just any Ordinarily Mediocre Police Investigation Thingie (OMPIT™) as my first mystery read in four fishing years? Please. Give me some subaquatic credit. Also, as you are very well aware, my taste in books is (as in all things) impeccable, so if I say this series is one of the best in the genre, then it is. Tada and stuff.



“What makes this series so bloody shrimping brilliant and why should we of the Despicable Book Taste bother to read it,” you ask? Because it’s different from anything you’ve ever read, that’s why. It’s original and unconventional and atmospheric and quirky and ironic and witty and darkly whimsical and fantastically written. It defies clichés and tropes and stuff. Oddball characters abound. So do anonymously planted trees, ghostly horsemen, misplaced big-toe bones, piles of shoes with severed feet in them, and other delightfully peculiar phenomena. What makes this series extra super special is that, as someone somewhere once said Nefarious Queen of Attribution, that’s me , it’s “the real world, but filtered through a strange prism.” And it doesn’t get much stranger than that, if you ask me.



Okay, so maybe it does get much stranger than that sometimes.

Chief Inspector Adamsberg is the most detached, unorthodox, eccentric cop this side of the Mariana Trench. A kinda sorta dreamer who always seems to be getting bloody shrimping nowhere in his investigations, the man has the slightly neurotic awesomely atypical members of his team perplexed as mystified fish 24/7. Which tends to lead to, um, you know, interesting conundrums and predicaments and stuff. Which is pretty very cool and stuff.

Sorry, what? I haven’t yet said a word about this installment. Hmm, it does seem like it, doesn’t it? Fancy you being right about something for once! Good for you and stuff! Anyway, my not saying anything about this book is obviously a Super Machiavellian Scheme (SMS™) I planned months before writing this thing. Because I’m wonderfully cunning like that. Sorry, what? “Is there a point to my SMS™, you ask?” Why to get you to read the book and find out for your little selves what happens in it, that’s why. A beautifully devious plan, is it not?



Go Creepy Kids™, go!

➽ And the moral of this Why the Bloody Shrimp of the Stinking Fish You People Are Not Reading this Series is Most Certainly One of the Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Shrimpiverse Crappy Non-Review (WtBSotSFYPANRtSiMCOotGUMotSCNR™) is: don’t ask me, I’m only here for the free booze.

P.S. I might unleash the crustaceans on you if you don’t read this series posthaste. But hey, no pressure and stuff.

· Un: L’homme aux cercles bleus ★★★
· Deux: L’homme à l'envers ★★★★
· Trois (bande dessinée): Les quatre fleuves - à lire.
· Quatre: Pars vite et reviens tard ★★★★★
· Cinq: Coule la Seine ★★★
· Six: Sous les vents de Neptune ★★★★
· Sept: Dans les bois éternels ★★★★★
· Huit: Un lieu incertain ★★★★
· Neuf: L’armée furieuse ★★★★
· Dix: Temps glaciaires ★★★★
· Onze: Quand sors la recluse ★★★
• Douze: Sur la dalle ★★★★



[Pre-review nonsense]

Only my boyfriend Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg the Deliciously Quirky One (JBAtDQO™) could have convinced me to go back to the crime/mystery/thriller/whatever genre after a blessed four-year hiatus. Yes, the man is that yummy. A teensy little bit on the slightly weird side, I admit, but scrumptiously yummy nonetheless. Which makes me want to dance, obviously.



➽ Full Guillotines Rock and Boars are the Hottest Pets Ever Crappy Non Review (GRaBatHPECNR™) to come.

[Berengaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
(English title:A Climate of Fear. Original French title: Temps glaciaires)

short review for busy readers: What links Iceland, The French Revolution and a current series of murders and attempted murders being dressed up as suicides? Commissar Adamsberg investigates!

in detail:
This is my first Fred Vargas. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, possibly because it features not only one of my fave literary settings – Iceland – but also adds in a fascinating historical re-enactment club and a mysterious sign.

The Icelandic connection is a haunted island with a sacred Norse stone in far north of Iceland. The stone is always warm, but careful! The demon that lives on the island doesn’t take kindly to strangers as a group of French tourists found out.

What actually happened on that island? Nobody wants to say, but two tourists died there and now the rest of the members of the group are being murdered off one-by-one. (Enter Adamsberg)

Even more fun than that is the historical re-enactment group that gets together to recreate the real speeches of Robespierre and other French Revolutionary figures before the Revolutionary Congress. Each member is costumed and playing the role of an actual person who attended in the late 1700s. That is something I’d pay to see! Robespierre, Danton and others in full action with a screaming, passionate audience roiling in the auditorium.

The mystery itself is a bit choppy and Commissar Adamsberg somewhat annoyingly teacher-like in his interviewing style, but that didn’t take away from the fact that that there’s a lot to like here. Recommended for mystery fans looking for something original with a touch of the spooky.

Note on the German language audiobook:
I can only repeat my criticism of Hannalore Hoger as a godawful reader and voice actor. Her male ‘voices’ sound drunk/stoned, she puts stress in odd places and at times, it's obvious she's hesitantly reading and not familiar enough with the text. Not to mention the old lady raspiness of her voice makes her difficult to understand if you aren’t using headphones. This is the 2nd audiobook I’ve listened to with her and will avoid buying any more in the future.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nordic Noir encounters the 18th Century Reign of Terror in the latest Fred Vargas offering -- two elements which seem incompatible, at best, in a contemporary crime novel; and albeit a clash of cultures and times, nonetheless manages to work quite well.

As a warning, though, this is not for everyone. Only the most die-hard of Vargas fans will find satisfaction within these pages. Although a stand-alone novel in its own right, it relies on the reader being familiar with all the historical Adamsberg quirks and Danglard neuroses for it to work really well: there is a long history between these two colleagues and friends which reaches the apex of conflict, and which pushes them to the edge of dissolving their friendship, based on the most slender of disagreements. While Danglard and Adamsberg have collided, ramshead to ramshead in the past, on various issues, this latest friction is elevated to the level of near-hostility which is difficult to appreciate without context, and yet seems so absurd at first glance. Surely after all these years of collaboration, the reader muses inwardly, they must know each other well enough to know this is just petulance, on either side. However, it seems not.

While the basis of the crimes seems to be centred in Paris within part of a historical re-enactment group which is devoted to shedding light on the reign of terror sponsored by Maximilien de Robespierre, during the French Revolution, the heart of the matter pulls Adamsberg to Iceland, without apparent cause. This in itself causes a great rift within the police detachment, as it seems to polarize those who believe absolutely in Adamsberg, and those who question his methods. Always viewed as the tilter of windmills, Adamsberg canters off blithely, leaving the others to resolve their own ideological objections. In the end, his actions threaten to break apart not only Danglard's faith and affection for the commissaire, but pulls apart the entire division of colleagues.

While the crime is solved in typical and exemplary Adamsberg fashion, the resolution leaves the Adamsberg & Danglard fans hoping that there will be another novel to explain what just happened in this one. There is enough ambiguity to leave the reader wanting more.

[Ana Cristina Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Vargas es el seudónimo de la historiadora y arqueóloga francesa Frédérique Audoin- Rouzeau, que escribe una serie de novela negra protagonizada por el singular comisario Adamsberg.

Nada es convencional en su obra, ni el protagonista ni las personas que le rodean, ni siquiera los asesinos o las víctimas. Pero todo es interesante, original, inédito. Las tramas siempre incluyen algún tema relacionado con la historia o la arqueología, muy bien documentado debido a su formación, lo que para mí aumenta el interés. Tengo que decir que me fascinan sus novelas, pero sé que hay quien no las tolera.

En esta décima entrega, una serie de asesinatos – pretendidos suicidios – resultan estar ligados con una sociedad secreta de admiradores de Robespierre así como con una expedición fallida a una zona remota de Islandia. Así es ella, sencilla.

Tengo que confesar que a mí, si se habla de la Revolución Francesa y de Robespierre, ya se me ha metido en el bolsillo, es así. Pero hay muchos más elementos que me encantan de su obra. Y es que, entre tanta oscuridad – a veces siniestra – siempre brilla una especie de inocencia, de humanidad, de bondad que ilumina todo el conjunto. Y es este equilibrio entre la oscuridad y la luz, lo insólito y lo cotidiano, lo que hace que unas situaciones y personajes absolutamente originales – por no decir raros – preserven para el lector una ilusión de verosimilitud.

La descripción de los personajes – en especial el comisario Adamsberg y sus muchachos – me llevaría muchas líneas, mejor leer la novela y sumergirse en su humanidad doliente. Y en la diversión, el humor, que siempre está presente.

Me parece que no soy muy objetiva, pero creo que es un crimen no conocer a Fred Vargas.

[Cynnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the tenth volume in the crime series about Commissaire Adamsberg and for me the first volume in the series that I have read. I realized that it might not be the most suitable volume to start this series.

I find it difficult to come to a homogeneous judgment about this book.

First of all, the criminal case itself: Two people totally unexpected apparently commit suicide in quick succession. Well-hidden clues make the police suspect murder, though.
This scenario leads the investigators first to a French tourist group that traveled to Iceland years ago, and then to a re-enactment club that reenacts Robespierre's speeches in front of the revolutionary parliament. Are these two different cases or are they related? Adamsberg and co. have some nuts to crack here.

I certainly couldn't enjoy the story to the full, because I don't know the background of the numerous people from the investigative team and the author puts a lot of emphasis on the personal stories and idiosyncrasies of the police officers. On the other hand, I like it very much that the regulat staff is described being from unusual to bizarre.

Another point that prevented me from fully enjoying the novel was my lack of historical knowledge of the French Revolution in general, and Robespierre in particular. Still, I liked being stumbled across things here that required further research on my part.

The author's writing style is very high quality and also very French. I would not have been surprised if Maigret had come around the corner at any moment, the atmosphere reminded me of Maigret and his cases so strongly.

The criminal case itself was complex and confusing, but also interesting, quite mystical and not always really understandable. In any case, it caught my attention to the end.

Even at the end of the book I still have the feeling that I am standing a little on the sidelines and haven't noticed a lot, especially when it comes to the thinking and communication style of the protagonists, but my interest was intensely aroused and I definitely want to read more volumes of this series.

For the moment I am rating it with a very good 3 stars.
--------------------------------------

Das vorliegende Buch ist der zehnte Band der Krimireihe um Commissaire Adamsberg und für mich der erste Band der Reihe, den ich gelesen habe. Ich musste feststellen, dass er vielleicht nicht der allergeeignetse Band ist, um diese Reihe zu beginnen.

Es fällt mir schwer zu einem homogenen urteil über dieses Buch zu kommen.

Erst mal zum Kriminalfall an sich: Kurz hintereinander begehen 2 Personen augenscheinlich Selbstmord von denen man das nicht erwartet hätte. Gut verstecke Hinweise lassen die Polizei dann doch eher Mord vermuten.
Dieses Szenario führt die Ermittler zunächst zu einer französischen Reisegruppe, die vor Jahren in Island war, und dann zu einem Reenactment-Verein, der die Reden Robespierres vor dem Revolutionsparlament nachspielt. Sind das nun zwei verschiedene Fälle oder hängen sie zusammen? Adamsberg und Konsorten haben hier einige Nüsse zu knacken.

Ich konnte die Geschichte mit Sicherheit nicht in vollem Umfang genießen, weil mir die Vorgeschichte zu den zahlreichen Personen aus der Ermittlertruppe fehlt und die Autorin einen ziemlichen Schwerpunkt auf die persönlichen Geschichten und Eigenheiten der Polizisten legt. Andererseits gefällt es mir sehr gut, dass das wiederkehrende Personal ungewöhnlich bis skurril beschreiben wird.

Ein weiterer Punkt, der mich am vollen Genuß des Romans hinderte war mein Mangel an Geschichtswissen in Hinblick auf die französische Revolution im allgemeinen und auf Robespierre im Besonderen. Dennoch hat es mir gefallen, hier auf Dinge gestossen zu werden, die weitere Recherche auf meiner Seite erforderten.

Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist sehr hochwertig und auch sehr französisch. Es hätte mich nicht gewundert, wenn in jedem Moment Maigret um die Ecke gekommen wäre, so stark hat mich das Buch atmosphärisch an Maigret und seine Fälle erinnert.

Der Kriminalfall an sich war komplex und verwirrend, aber auch interessant, ganz schön mystisch und nicht immer wirklich nachvollziehbar. Mein Interesse hatte er jedenfalls bis zum Schluss.

Ich habe auch am Ende des Buches immer noch das Gefühl, dass ich ein wenig am Rande stehe und ziemlich viel nicht mitgekriegt habe, speziell was die Denke und Kommunikationsweise der Protagonisten betrifft, dennoch wurde mein Interesse intensiv geweckt und ich möchte unbedingt noch weitere Bände der Reihe lesen.

Für den Moment bewerte ich mit sehr guten 3 Sternen.

[SVETLANA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book about Commissaire Adamsberg and his team. This time they are investigating a series of apparent suicides connected with a past trip to the Island and a historical society related to the French Revolution.

A bit slower than other books from this series, but nevertheless a good read.

[Banu Yıldıran Genç · Rating 4 out of 5]

epsilon yayınlarının gidip de komiser adamsberg maceralarını 10. kitaptan basmaya başlamalarını yeterince eleştirdiysem şimdi kitaba geçebilirim.
oh be. eli yüzü düzgün bir polisiye okumak insana nasıl iyi geliyor. paris banliyösünden komiser adamsberg, denizlerin adamı. mesela bu 10. kitaptan okumaya başlayan birine hiçbir anlam ifade etmeyecek. neyse.
sessiz, sakin ama dipte sinirli. çirkin, kaba saba ama dünyanın en romantik insanı. batıl inançlara, bilinmeyene sonuna kadar açık. mükemmel bir takım kaptanı. komiser adamsberg.
allahtan fred vargas onu hiç bilmeyen bir okuru bile ikna edebilecek kadar usta bir yazar. yani aslında kitabın sonuna geldiğinizde herkesi teker teker tanımış oluyorsunuz. ki adamsberg ve danglard’ın ilişkisi içe işleyen türden.
izlanda meselesi çok güzel giderken roman 1789’a ve robespierre’e bir kaptırıyor ki allahhhh neredeyse fransız devrimi uzmanı oluyorsunuz.
buraları sıkıcı bulanlar olacaktır, evet izlanda meselesi daha heyecanlı ve güzel.
hele ekipten üç kişinin gittiği izlanda kırsalı ve iki kültürün farkları öyle güzel anlatıyor ki. güzel derken epey komik. fred vargas’ın mizahını ve adamsberg’in fransız insanını anlatırkenki iç sıkıntısını seviyorum.
neyse sonuçta fransız devrimi ve izlanda çok şükür birbirine bağlanıyor. tek bir nokta atlanmıyor. mis gibi çözüm. ve tabii adamsberg yine izlanda’ya gidiyor. bu kadar mistik yer bulmuş, kaçırır mı?
çeviri gayet iyi. ama lütfen en baştan okuyalım bu seriyi.

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Το Αφτουργκάνγκα ποτέ δεν καλεί κάποιον για το τίποτα.Και η προσφορά του πάντα οδηγεί σε ένα μονοπάτι."
Αυτή τη φορά ο Ανταμσμπέργκ ζορίστηκε για τα καλά-μια ιστορία περίπλοκη,περίεργη,σαν ένα κουβάρι από φύκια,έφερε μια ολόκληρη ομάδα ερευνητών στα όριά της,έχοντας απέναντί τους τέρατα του παρόντος αλλά και του παρελθόντος.Τέρατα υπαρκτά και φανταστικά-απαιτητικά και αδυσώπητα.Τέρατα και "τέρατα",που δείχνουν να έχουν τις καταβολές τους στην εποχή της Γαλλικής επανάστασης και του Ροβεσπιέρου,αλλά με δίχτυα που δείχνουν να απλώνονται μέχρι την μακρινή Ισλανδία.
Η πένα της Βαργκάς είναι αδιαμφισβήτητα κορυφαία, η ιστορική της κατάρτιση καθώς και η δυνατότητά της να μπλέκει την πραγματικότητα με τη μυθοπλασία είναι απίστευτα εντυπωσιακή.
Το ταξίδι στην Ισλανδία,η μεταφορά της ατμόσφαιρας μου θύμισαν περιγραφές επιπέδου Indridason(άλλου λατρεμένου),κάποιες στιγμές νόμισα ότι θα σηκώσω τα μάτια και θα είμαι τυλιγμένη από πυκνή και παγωμένη ομίχλη.Τα 5⭐ είναι πολύ λίγα για να βαθμολογήσω αυτό το παραμυθένιο αστυνομικό.

[Nancy Oakes]

While I've sort of lost my zeal for keeping up with crime/mystery series novels, there are still a few authors whose work I can't not read, and Vargas is one of those. I haven't missed a single one of her Adamsberg books; while sometimes I was less than enchanted (to put it mildly) with the turn toward the supernatural in some of her novels, I can't help myself -- it's the ensemble cast that is the real draw for me in these novels, and I have this thing for quirky, offbeat stories that are don't fall into the mainstream.

for a wee bit o' the plot without spoilers, you can click here to get to my reading journal, or you can skip that and just keep reading here.

Climate of Fear isn't the best book of the series but it does follow the others nicely, and as I said, it doesn't overdo what I call the "woo-woo" element which I didn't care for in some of the previous Adamsberg novels. There are plenty of red herrings, two bizarre plotlines to follow, and of course, the characters in Adamsberg's ensemble (not to mention the woman with the pet boar named Marc), which when combined, make it another book that appeals to my need for unconventional crime stories. It's not great literature, nor is it likely to become a classic, but hey ... it IS summer and it's a good light read while trying to escape the sweltering summer heat.

Do not let A Climate of Fear be your introduction to this series of novels -- there are things here that will not be understood (and become the cause of reader complaints because some people did start with this book) unless you've started from the beginning with her The Chalk Circle Man. While I've given away tons of crime novels over the year to make room for more, the Adamsberg series has stayed put on its shelf. And that says a lot.

[Yules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Irena for recommending the Commissaire Adamsberg books. Vargas packs an impressive amount of research into this novel, and creates characters as interesting as the storyline, so that I quickly grew attached. This is just the first Adamsberg book I happened to find (though it's really #10 in the series), but I'll definitely be reading more of them.

*****

Now I would like to point out something I noticed in the prose, specifically for anyone who’s interested in the nuts and bolts of POV. That is Vargas’ “head-hopping,” or quick switches of POV within the same chapter. Ch. 5, for instance, opens with the POV of a woman named Marie-France. “She went in timidly, registered the gloomy-looking lad in reception…” “A tall man with a paunch [...] came over dragging his feet…” “It was a long time ago, if ever, that anyone had spoken to her with so much courtesy…” “she liked repeating this word which seemed to give her more importance.” Her flickering faith in the tall man with the paunch is shown via immediate thoughts: “Lighthouse on” or “Lighthouse off,” which I thought was rather delightful. Then, all of a sudden: “Hadn’t Bourlin said that Alice Gauthier had set off to post a letter that had disappeared?” But Marie-France couldn’t possibly think this–she doesn’t know any Bourlin. This is the thought of the tall man, who proceeds to comfort Marie-France, “conscious of the distress of the woman in red.” We continue to hop between their heads every few sentences, alternating between views of the man from Marie-France’s perspective and views of her from the man’s perspective, until he leads her into a room with yet a third character:

“Marie-France stepped forward awkwardly, irked at having to leave her friendly commandant for this odd-looking man.

‘Are you the chief?’ she asked, expressing disappointment.

‘Yes, I’m the commissaire,’ Adamsberg smiled, being both accustomed and indifferent to the disconcerted faces he often met. With a wave of his hand, he invited her to sit down opposite him.

Never believe in the authority of the authorities, her father used to say. They’re the worst. Aware of her retreat into her shell, Adamsberg motioned for Danglard to sit down beside her.”

But if we’re hearing the words of Marie-France’s father in her mind, then how are we also inside Adamsberg’s “awareness”? I could not find anything online about Vargas’ unusual POV switches, so posting about it here. More as a point of interest to myself rather than a criticism of the author.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gialli della Vargas sono indubbiamente particolari. La trama si aggroviglia, in questo caso come una "matassa di alghe" e si dipana lentamente, con molta attenzione per evitare di rimanere con minuscoli frammenti indecifrabili. E lentamente procede lo spalatore di nuvole Adamsberg, che per riflettere ha bisogno di camminare e divagare, sconcertando spesso la squadra che dirige. Quando leggo le sue indagini, più della soluzione, mi appassionano il cammino, i personaggi che ruotano intorno a lui, ben tratteggiati e decisamente "umani", con le loro fobie e le loro manie. E rischio ogni volta di perdermi, seduta su una panchina del lungo Senna, in una locanda di un paesino sperduto, in un bosco o, in questo caso, tra i ghiacci e le leggende dell'Islanda o le rievocazioni della Rivoluzione francese.

[Czarny Pies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dans "Temps glaciaires" on trouve Vargas en très grande forme. Ses amateurs de longue date vont aimer ce roman plein d'esprit qui fait sourire à chaque page. Le problème est que les charmes de ce livre sont accessibles seulement aux lecteurs qui ont déjà lu trois ou quatre romans dans la série Adamsberg. Les paroles et les gestes des personnages seraient incompréhensibles la plupart du temps pour ceux qui ne les connaissent pas de longue date.

L'intrigue tourne au tour d'un club dédié à la reconstitution de des débats de l'Assemblée législative de 1791. Un membre tue les autres en série et c'est au commissaire Adamsberg et sen équipe d'enquêteurs fort excentriques de sauver de la mort les membres du club qui est également composé d'excentriques.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Climate of Fear – Brilliant French Crime Thriller

Up until I started reading A Climate of Fear, I had not heard of Fred Vargas, and then thought Vargas was male, and I had never heard of the Commissaire Adamsberg series. Now I know Fred is an award winning writer and the Commissaire Adamsberg, even if this is the ninth in the series, it could be read as a standalone thriller.

A Climate of Fear has been written by one of the truly original crime writers, which is different from the usual formulaic crime fiction of today. This really is a clever, slightly quirky and highly original crime thriller that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

A woman is found dead in her bath and at first it is thought she has committed suicide, but a strange symbol is found near the body. Then a second body is found, once again, thought to have committed suicide, but once again the same strange symbol is found. The only link on the surface is that ten years earlier they had been on a doomed trip to Iceland, where two of their number were murdered.

As Commissaire Adamsberg begins his investigation, on the surface seems to be straightforward until he starts to dig further in to the murders. What makes things even more confusing is that the deaths also seem linked to a secretive Association for the Study of the Writings of Maximilien Robespierre. How this secret society fits in to the whole scheme seems to be in to the murders is not obvious and like a game of chess Adamsberg really has to take a step back and look at the chessboard and anticipate probably moves.

When he flies out to Iceland to investigate what went on ten years previously, he is sure the demonic island where two French people were killed holds secrets that might help to open up his new murders. While his team think he has finally gone mad and is off on a tangent, Adamsberg proves to his team, he does occasionally know what he is doing.

This is a totally absorbing and enjoyable read that has been excellently translated by Sian Reynolds, and is a crime fiction at its best. As a reader you are drawn in and like Adamsberg team at times you wonder about the tangent he is going in. But it slowly opens your eyes to what he is doing, and when he reveals who has done what it still takes your breath away.

An excellent addition to translated crime fiction and shows why French Noir while being slightly quirky is highly original, clever and even slightly cool.

[Arwen56 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mettiamola così: rispetto a “Un luogo incerto” e “La cavalcata dei morti”, la Vargas mostra segni di rinsavimento. Tuttavia, siamo ancora ben lontani dalla qualità dei primi romanzi, che non hanno mai interessato alcun appassionato di trame “gialle”, visto che, da quel lato, l’autrice è sempre stata carente, bensì gli estimatori di quegli accattivanti personaggi che sono in sé e per sé Adamsberg (lo spalatore di nuvole), Danglard (praticamente un’enciclopedia vivente che funziona sempre, anche quando manca il collegamento a Internet), Violette Retancourt (che ha il nome di tenero fiorellino, la stazza di un granatiere e può tranquillamente dormire in piedi come un cavallo), Froissy (esperta di computer e approvvigionatrice compulsiva di generi alimentari), Mercadet (che va in catalessi ogni tre per due), il gatto Palla (costantemente “spalmato” sulla fotocopiatrice, che mangia solo se qualcuno sta con lui e non fa le scale per nessun motivo) … e via via tutti gli altri, anche quelli che si sono aggiunti nel corso del tempo.

Gentile Signora Vargas, la vuol capire sì o no che è perfettamente inutile che lei si inventi trame arzigogolate, al limite del ridicolo e a dispetto della sua stessa affermazione che “un delitto è sempre semplice”, quando sarebbe sufficiente un piccolo omicidio di quartiere, per motivi banali, a patto che coinvolga tutte le suddette figure che, queste sì, ha saputo creare con maestria? La vuol capire sì o no che la sua bravura sta nel tratteggiare i personaggi minori e non la presunta psicologia di un serial killer? La vuol capire sì o no che se noi lettori la seguiamo da anni non è certo perché ci avvince con le sue cacce all’assassino?

Ecco, a questo proposito direi che in questo romanzo ci potrebbero essere delle new entry di un qualche interesse. Per cui, la prego, la prossima volta si concentri di più sul “contorno” e lasci che il delinquente di turno resti impunito, vada a quel paese oppure cada accidentalmente in un tombino, che tanto non ce ne frega proprio niente di quel che gli succede. ;-)

[Cynthia Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 It could have been shorter.

[Buccan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra muestra más del genio de Vargas; a veces creo que va colocada, bebida o con un cacao mental que por algún lado debe explotar, para terminar haciendo las obras que hace.
Otra muestra más de la complejidad de la Brigada, de Adamsberg y Danglard y sus casos y entresijos.
Un gran pasatiempo.
Y... otro paso más para terminar la serie (intuyo que no seguirá), ya solo queda uno, y es una pena.

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘A Climate of Fear’ by Fred Vargas, #6 or #10, depending on what list you consult, is the best Commissaire Adamsberg novel yet in this quirky and slightly demented, even maybe paranormal, mystery series! I couldn’t put the book down when I was near the end! Unfortunately, readers must begin with book one The Chalk Circle Man, which, imho, is the worst one of the series (it still is a good read). These books are not standalone, but I think one’s patience in getting to the good stuff in the other novels in the series is definitely rewarded! I assure you, gentle reader, you will never read a mystery series as offbeat as this one.

I have copied the book blurb:

”From the #1 bestselling French author and four-time winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s International Dagger Award
 
A woman is found murdered in her bathtub, and the murder has been made to look like a suicide. But a strange symbol found at the crime scene leads the local police to call Commissaire Adamsberg and his team.
 
When the symbol is found near the body of a second disguised suicide, a pattern begins to emerge: both victims were part of a disastrous expedition to Iceland over ten years ago where a group of tourists found themselves trapped on a deserted island for two weeks, surrounded by a thick, impenetrable fog rumored to be summoned by an ancient local demon. Two of them didn’t make it back alive. But how are the deaths linked to the secretive Association for the Study of the Writings of Maximilien Robespierre? And what does the mysterious symbol signify?”

‘A Climate of Fear’ is the most convoluted of the Adamsberg stories I’ve read. The Commissaire puts himself in terrible danger while in a mystified confusion. This is inevitably his way of working through clues, his head in the clouds. But this time, while misstepping and zigzagging, he stumbles headlong into the path of a psychopathic serial killer!

I am so happy!

[Clarabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'était grandiose, un retour tant espéré qui ne m'a franchement pas déçue ! J'ai adoré du début à la fin, ou comment une simple lettre suspecte va conduire nos enquêteurs sur une série de meurtres déguisés en suicides, avec une simple guillotine en guise d'indice, passant par un voyage touristique en Islande, des drames et des larmes, et pourquoi pas un vengeur masqué et des victimes paniquées ?!

Fred Vargas pousse toujours plus loin ses excentricités en nous emmenant également chez les Amis de Robespierre, lesquels se réunissent en costumes d'époque et rejouent les scènes clef de la Terreur dans un souci d'authenticité sidérante. Danglard y grappille une certaine prestance, jusqu'à entrer en sécession avec les lubies de son chef, entortillé dans une “pelote d'algues séchées”.

L'effet est terriblement efficace, intelligent, rusé et drolatique. Les personnages sont la preuve que la finesse et la dinguerie sont un alliage tout à fait plausible ! J'ai donc savouré leurs réparties et leurs fantaisies, de bon cœur. C'est inimitable, mêlant digressions inextricables, humour farfelu et personnalités décalées. Une lecture atypique, obsessionnelle, fiévreuse et azimutée. Incontournable.

[Philippe Malzieu · Rating 2 out of 5]

A new Vargas. I read few thrillers. Bu I had good memories of some of her books. There is nostalgia of a lost Paris. Sepia chromos, accordion and white wine.It makes me think to 30th french movies. with very typical secondary carachter.
Nostalgia sequence.
At the beginning of the book, the magic work.Until the page 200. Another murder. A second strands of the plot come together. But this second one did not function.Kind of malaise. French gauchists always preserved a particular tenderness For Robespierre. Mélenchon, one of their leader, was furious against Assassin Creed's last version. He didn't like that Robespierre appears to be a psychopath that he was really. The book becomes a laborious plea for his rehabilitation. We even discover that he had a child, for showing to us that Robespierre was normal. The two accounts meet at the end in a foreseeable outcome.
Wast.

[Lyn Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second Vargas I read last week. Both satisfying and compulsive reading.

Again, Vargas manages two apparently unconnected strands of story which prove to be related in the end, one set in Iceland and the other a most unusual historical society committed to re-enacting fiery debates from the French Revolution, starring Maximilien Robespierre.

Her characters are all distinctive and I'm sure will take on more depth as I read more of the series.

Great stuff!

[Rowena Hoseason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Commissaire Adamsberg series is the very highest quality Eurocrime, in which moral philosophy, human frailty and personal observation are interwoven with a genuinely perplexing mystery.

The Commissaire himself is among the most unusual policemen you’ll ever meet; whimsical and easily distracted, a brilliant mind with all the focus of a babbling brook. His peculiar talent for pulling on loose threads to fuse improbable connections is Adamsberg’s strength; his many weaknesses are offset by his equally odd team members who each contribute something unique to the team. It is perhaps the strangest team in crime fiction, and perhaps the most beguiling.

Vargas adroitly supplies all the necessary information to introduce new readers to her obscure and idiosyncratic cast of characters. So you may as well start here – if you like the idea of a series of murders which may (or may not) be connected to an historical society that recreates the high and low moments of the French revolution… or which may (or may not) be linked to unexplained deaths on an isolated Icelandic island many years ago.

This book is every bit as good as its predecessors: a splendid juxtaposition of whimsy and tragedy, a delicate revelation of interpersonal insight in every conversation. You also get a whistle-stop historical tour of The Terror, the guillotine and Robespierre… a tumultuous period which obviously still influences French politics and society today.

Not exactly my specialist subject before I began, and definitely at a tangent to most crime fiction. Which is, come to think of it, why I enjoy this series so much.
9/10

There are more reviews of crime/thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net

[Evgenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα πτώμα, με ένα μυστήριο σύμβολο δίπλα του. Αρχικά αποδίδεται σε αυτοκτονία. Ακολουθεί δεύτερο πτώμα, όλα δείχνουν ότι πρόκειται επίσης για αυτοκτονία. Όλα, εκτός από το ίδιο το σύμβολο που βρέθηκε και στην πρώτη περίπτωση.

Μήπως δεν είναι όλα όπως φαίνονται; Μήπως τελικά πρόκειται για καλά σκηνοθετημένες δολοφονίες; Θα ακολουθήσουν και άλλες; Ποιος κρύβεται από πίσω; Ποιος σκηνοθετεί; Ο επιθεωρητής Ανταμσμπέργκ καλείται να διαλευκάνει το μυστήριο. Ένα μυστήριο που έχει τις ρίζες του πολύ μακριά, στο χρόνο και στο χώρο.

Διαδρομές νοερές στο παρελθόν, στην εποχή της γαλλικής επανάστασης, επισκέψεις στην παγωμένη Ισλανδία του σήμερα, το κακό που είναι κρυμμένο και παραμονεύει…. Στοιχεία που συνθέτουν όλη την ιστορία. Καμία κίνηση στη σκακιέρα του παιχνιδιού, όπως χαρακτηριστικά αναφέρει σε αρκετά σημεία ο επιθεωρητής, μήπως όμως το «παιχνίδι» παίζεται αλλού;

Ένα ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα, που σε ταξιδεύει σε παλιότερες εποχές, σε φέρνει σε επαφή με σημαντικές προσωπικότητες του παρελθόντος, και παρουσιάζει παραστατικά το πλαίσιο μέσα στο οποίο έδρασαν. Εξαιρετική η περιγραφή των χαρακτήρων και της συμπεριφοράς, τόσο των σημερινών ηρώων, όσο και αυτών που έζησαν σε άλλες εποχές. Στα θετικά του, συγκαταλέγονται και τα «ταξίδια» που προσφέρει, και τα απόλαυσα τόσο πολύ. Μοναδικό ίσως αρνητικό στοιχείο η σχετικά αργή πλοκή του. Γενικά το βιβλίο δε χαρακτηρίζεται από έντονη δράση, η συγγραφέας προτιμάει να αφηγείται και να θεμελιώνει, παρά να παρασύρει τον αναγνώστη σε αγωνιώδεις καταδιώξεις.

(4,7/5)

[Gaëlle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Je me réjouis toujours de retrouver Adamsberg et sa brigade hétéroclite de gentils cinglés, tous plus attachants les uns que les autres. J'ai lu quatre autres Vargas, auxquels j'ai mis d'excellentes notes.

Pourtant, Temps Glaciaires ne m'a pas convaincue. L'ensemble, qui manque de dynamisme, est peut-être à réserver aux férus d'histoire de France (sujet qui est loin de me passionner). Le roman commence avec une palpitante intrigue islandaise qui se poursuit dans un petit coin pittoresque des Yvelines, puis se perd dans des détours interminables chez les adorateurs de Robespierre. Ça n'avance pas, Adamsberg lui-même se plaint que ça n'avance pas, ça patine, ça s'englue, et chaque espoir de retour vers l'Islande est interrompu par un énième débat costumé entre la Plaine et la Montagne. Bwof. Les deux intrigues, alambiquées au possible, n'ont aucune cohésion d'ensemble, et on en ressort avec l'impression d'un "empilage" d'idées un peu hasardeux.

Même les personnages m'ont quelque peu déçue. Je trouve que Vargas a forcé le trait, comme si elle devait remplir un certain quota d'excentricités dans la personnalisation et de fantaisies linguistiques. C'en est presque caricatural et c'est bien dommage. On est très loin de l'Homme aux Cercles Bleus ou de l'Armée Furieuse !

Mes conclusions sont que a) je ne le conseille absolument pas à ceux qui n'ont jamais lu d'Adamsberg, et b) je ne veux plus jamais rien lire sur Robespierre.

[AdiTurbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vargas is at the top of my list of favorite authors. She is super-intelligent, but also truly compassionate and humane. Her characters are beautifully-made, believable and complete human beings with all of their faults and mistakes, in contrast with all those terrible mystery novels that just present a list of unexplained "quirks" as characters. Vargas' characters have a psychology that works, and shows mature understanding of human nature. This novel took me a bit longer to get into than is usual with Vargas' novels, but it was so worth it. She is truly one of the best writers in the genre, and may just be a genre all her own.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish that Fred Vargas had a thousand novels, so that I could read one whenever the urge struck, and never have to worry about pacing myself. This was one of my favorites. I would be hard pressed to say whether it is her characters that I like best, or the way that she weaves history into her tales. Either way, both aspects shine in this one.

[Sue Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to say about this book. Commissaire Adamsberg is at his most infuriating vagueness, on two seemingly disparate cases that have him chasing an itch all the way to Iceland. I love Adamsberg, but that is not the case with all of his subordinates. As with this entire series, it is one of the oddest books.

[Issi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a huge murder mystery fan, so it's not surprising that I didn't really enjoy this book. Too convoluted but also plain boring in parts - unless perhaps you are a'Robespierre' fan!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just...wow.

[Ubik 2.0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“...una monumentale matassa di alghe secche...”

E' la metafora cui il commissario Adamsberg ricorre continuamente via via che la vicenda si fa sempre più ingarbugliata.
Sono trascorsi circa tre anni da quando ho letto un romanzo della Vargas ma vi ritrovo più o meno i medesimi ingredienti dei precedenti episodi: la bislacca compagnia di gendarmi diretta dall'ancor più bislacco commissario, le vicende poliziesche che conducono a un luogo geografico oscuro e sconosciuto (questa volta addirittura un'isoletta a nord dell'Islanda!) ma anche con reciproche ripercussioni parigine qui rappresentate da un’eccentrica “Società per lo studio degli scritti di Maximilien Robespierre” le cui sedute sembrano molto più psicoterapie di gruppo che riunioni di lavoro, l’inchiesta che procede a sbalzi, intuizioni, casualità, suggestioni, ecc.
Quasi a voler compensare la scarsa innovazione della struttura narrativa, l’autrice mette in campo una pletora di personaggi e di ambienti che mettono a dura prova fino ad estenuare la memoria e poi l’attenzione del lettore, con infiniti colpi di scena, riconoscimenti di parentele antiche e recenti, soggetti che ne impersonano altri scaturiti dalla Storia della Rivoluzione Francese, moltiplicando così a dismisura i fili che compongono l’inestricabile matassa di cui sopra.
Al punto che la soluzione finale (e l’inevitabile svelamento dell’assassino) appare come a random una fra le decine percorribili da una trama abbastanza fuori controllo, su cui la Vargas sfoggia la consueta competenza geografica e storica, ma anche una gestione piuttosto irrazionale della struttura del romanzo, quasi a conformarsi alla contorta personalità del suo stravagante protagonista.
Fine del commento
A margine conservo sempre il dubbio se siano gli autori di polizieschi in serie (soprattutto quelli con personaggi particolarmente caratterizzati) a patire un inesorabile progressivo deficit di ispirazione o se invece, dopo N episodi subentri nel lettore un fisiologico senso di insoddisfazione nei confronti di un rituale ormai stantio.
Forse tutte e due le ipotesi: fatto sta che, per quanto mi riguarda, crescono i casi di disamore verso autori che ho seguito fin qui con discreta costanza, pur in un ambito di consapevole divertimento leggero... (della Vargas questo è il mio decimo, mica poco... ! Che sia anche l'ultimo?)