The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

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Unlock the more straightforward side of The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker, an admirable novel with an intoxicating plot mixing shady past and shifting present. It recounts the investigation of Marcus Goldman, a successful novelist, who attempts to clear the name of his former professor, accused of having murdered a young girl. Dicker's work has been translated into over 39 languages and he has received many awards for his work, including a Prix Goncourt and a prize from the French Academy, which are both highly coveted honours. Find out everything you need to know about The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair in a fraction of the time!This in-depth and informative reading guide brings    • A complete plot summary   • Character studies   • Key themes and symbols   • Questions for further reflectionWhy choose BrightSummaries.com?Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you in your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Detective, Crime, Book Club, Nonfiction

30 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2015

Reviews

[Guadalupe Irrazabal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tiene giros más o menos inesperados y la leí entera porque me intrigó lo suficiente para querer saber el final. Personajes chatos y aburridos con los cuales es difícil empatizar. Lo peor: los personajes femeninos, se enamoran de los escritores sin explicación del por qué, solo se enamoran y quieren darlo todo a cambio de amor, careciendo de toda profundidad y ambición propia. La madre de Jenny, la única que no parece morir de amor por un hombre es descripta como fria y malvada. Y la madre de Marcus, puff, cuesta creer que una mujer tan estupida sea madre de un hombre tan "inteligente". Hasta siento que podría ser un chiste que no termine de entender.
En líneas generales, me sentí incómoda durante todo el libro. Me decepcionó mucho que un libro que le da este lugar a las mujeres, sea tan exitoso. Y no parece que a Dicker le faltasen recursos, me da la sensación que simplemente no se esforzó.
Ni hablar de que no hay mujeres en la policia, ni en el ámbito de escritores, ni como profesoras, ni en el mundo editorial. Son todas decorativas, típicos personajes secundarios que no valen más que para resaltar las figuras de estos escritores. Puaj!

[Jean-Ann Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! The best review I can give it is that my poor, neglected, half-starved husband was thrilled once I finished. HA!! I hated putting it down.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner but the main character isn't likeable and the number of plot twists goes a little over the top.

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive and unconvincing borderline pretentious

[Asta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Total waste of time. Very high expectations due to numerous good comments and total disappointment at the end. I had to use all my willpower and patience to finish this book.

[Sandra Milligan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good long read but this was 200 pages too long.! Half way through I was losing the will to live. Not a sympathetic character in the whole book. More style than substance.

[Gemma Tido · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the plot itself- with its many twists and turns - is quite enjoyable, I personally found most characters unrealistic and difficult to empathize with, specially the females. This may be because we know them through the lense of the male narrator, flawed himself, or maybe some of the depth of the writing is lost in the translation. 3/5.

[Elmien Le roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say a book is judged by its cover. Not this one? I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. A must read!

[Nathan Caesar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brilliantly written book with a delicately poised character arc. The book grabs your attention by delving into the mind of Marcus Goldman and blending it with insights from other main protagonists. A superb start and middle to the book, but lacked that final killer punch.

I read another review of this book that said the book was like 'Scooby Doo', which I agree, is pretty accurate (and not in a bad way either- granted that you like Scooby...). It's like Joël Dicker seemed to run out of pages and decided to wrap up the book in a wild 50 page finale (Insert "And I would've got away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!").

Without wanting to spoil the book- I would say it is a 'must read', as it does a great job of building suspense and reels you into adoring some brilliant characters. However, the ending is rather far-fetched and, sadly, not what I anticipated!

[gabibkm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A escrita é muito boa, me prendeu do início ao fim.
O final, todavia, é meio sem graça, como Morte na Mesopotâmia de Agatha Christie - nada muito extraordinário.
Demorou para finalmente o desfecho da história se desenrolar, e a questão de Nola ter psicose e ter sido exorcizada foi totalmente aleatória… nada a ver.
E tem muitos personagens com histórias mal desenvolvidas, é muita informação desnecessária.
Mas merece um “3.8” pois a escrita é de fato muito boa.. é divertido ver Marcus (apesar deste ser um porre) caçando pistas e achar informações novas toda vez.

[BeerandB00ks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable investigation of the disappearance 35 years ago of Lola, 15, whose body was found years later in Harry’s garden. Book is very long and complex but compelling – I could not guess who was guilty. I thought the story was finished several times but it continued further with even more twists. Lola was in love with author Harry age 35. He is obviously the main suspect. His friend tries to clear his name.

[Helena Wohlfahrt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst written book. The plot very uncomfortable. The twists seemed to be pulled out of the sack at every corner. The quality of syntax resembled a 5th graders essay. Awful.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

one of the worst books I've ever managed to read all the way through. It's terrible!!

[Naty Arantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A plot twist every chapter, it's kind of hard to drop the book. Still I felt like a fool a dozen times for the book makes you believe somethings that are not true and it gets clear in the end. That felt intentional and I didn't like it, it seems like the author is making fun of you all the time: not nice at all!

[Yisroel Markov · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dust jacket calls it "cinematic literary thriller". It is that. A very good book, it can become a very good movie. A couple of rough spots don't take away all the right ingredients.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found it quite creepy and triggered my anxiety...
Was expecting so much more seeing the hype around it

[Locus Tennum · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has been translated into 32 languages, 2 million copies are sold annually, and has won a bunch of French awards. Sorry, why and what for? I added it to my reading list, as I was attracted by the description, and the good reviews. I enjoy detective stories ...
This is just some kind of squalor, it came to chapter 7, in which the WHOLE CHAPTER is devoted to the topic of Monica Lewinsky with a detailed description of what she did with Bill Clinton, and then we get Marcus's dialogue ... it tells in detail the whole chapter about how he is "a simple heterosexual American who will be all up for it... ". Stop. this is not LITERATURE. Although I know for a fact that Dicker's fans and he himself reads my reviews (if he actually cares to read reviews) will say I am jealous because I have not written anything. Well, newsflash: different opinions matter. The author's name is Joel Dicker, it is probably difficult for him to move away from associations with his last name. In general, it is surprising who selects such 'literature' for awards, who reads this, and who really CAN LIKE it? In general, it is surprising who selects literature for awards, who reads this, sorry, shite, and who can really like it, you begin to think about values ​ ​ (modern French literature for some reason is generally below the belt all the time, regardless of the genre).
When I read, I like to go into the world described in the book. This story is so detached, as if you are watching everything from afar, not from the outside, but generally from somewhere else in the universe, or rather from UNreality, everything is 'sucked out of your finger', or from somewhere else... that's just some kind of nonsense, Marcus is characterless and has no willpower, Harry is incomprehensible, then, they say, there will be a discovery in the last 100 pages about why Nola was killed. DNF. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se trata de la historia de una niña de 15 años que es terriblemente asecinada en un pequeño pueblo de Estados Unidos, Aurora fue un gran caso sin resolverse por más de 30 años hasta que un joven escritor llamado Marcus Goldman decide ir con su tutor Harry quebert a escribir su novela, sin ninguna idea para su libro, poco después presencia unas unas fotos en las que su tutor Harry se encuentra en la playa con Nola Kellergan la joven que fue asecinada hace 30 años . Días después Harry Quebert es detenido por el asesinato de Nola Kellergan , Goldman sin poder creerlo piensa hacer todo lo posible para ayudar a Harry, emprendiendo una búsqueda sobre la muerte de Nola , días después su editor le avisa que tiene 1 semana y media para escribir un libro , y le propone que escriba hacerca de Harry quebert finalmente acepta y encuentra al agente Gahalawood quien poco le ayuda a descubrir los secretos de la historia, Harry llego ah aceptar que su famoso libro los orígenes del mal fue escrito para Nola, fue tan odiado que descontinuaron su libro de todo New York y de Estados Unidos ya que encontraron en su jardín el cuerpo junto al manuscrito de los orígenes del mal con una pequeña nota que indicaba Adiós mi querida Nola se investiga mucho y se dan cuenta por medio de un estudio que Luther Caleb es el autor pero por que un chofer mataría a una chica de 15 años pero finalmente y tras varias semanas de investigación nos enteramos de que Travis dawn a matado a Nola Kellergan “fue un accidente " declaró dawn pero es tan fácil culpar al inocente finalmente se rebelan interminables secretos de la familia Kellergan y se hace respuerta a la pregunta que miles de estadounidenses tuvieron quien mató a Nola Kellergan

[lau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genuinamente considero que es un libro muy enredado. Si bien es interesante observar la narrativa de misterio, igual es verdad que a lo fijo le sobran unas cien hojas. Es que no era necesario enredarse tanto, no era necesario romantizar de esa manera la relación entre una chica de quince y un hombre de TREINTA Y DOS años de edad, la mayoría de personajes son demasiado … irreales, se enamoran entre sí de la noche a la mañana, dicen cosas ridículas sin ninguna justificación, son irremediablemente fastidiosos. Una pena, creo que hay libros que merecen más una pasada que este. El autor no sabe escribir personajes femeninos que no sean mujeres devotas y enamoradas con locura o arpias insufribles, no hay matices, creo que el único personaje decente es el sargento con el que Marcus investiga. Luther es una completa burla, Harry es un atontado QUE A SUS TREINTA Y DOS AÑOS tuvo una relación con una chiquilla de quince y no la pudo olvidar y MÁS A PARTE ladrón, dios, desorbitante que pérdida de tiempo. Lo terminé solo para poder saber que sucedía al final pero estuve a esto de abandonarlo de lo tedioso que era, es bastante entretenido entre todo el caos, creo que eso es lo que le ha dado la fama, es como ver tiktok porque cada dos segundos está pasado algo nuevo. TAKE IT EASY!!!

[JuSt ELLa · Rating 4 out of 5]

חובבי המתח מכירים את התחושה הזו בה לאחר זמן מה לתוך העלילה מתחילים לעלות שאלות, לזהות פירצות, ולשער השערות.
זה חלק מהמשיכה והקסם של הז'אנר "מתח", המשיכה הזו של הקורא לגילוי האמת.
הספר "האמת על פרשת הארי קברט" הוא אחד מספרי המתח העשירים ביותר שקראתי זה זמן רב.
אחד הדברים שהכי אהבתי בספר הוא שבעוד שעיקמתי את האף ל"פרטים מהותיים ואלמנתרים" שחסרים וייחסתי זאת להתרשלות, הסופר הסתיר גיחוח מאחורי הקלפים שטרם חשף.
אז מצד אחד - תחושת ניצחון על כל החורים שזיהיתי, מנגד ההכרה בתבוסה המתוקה שלא ידעתי כיצד לקשר אותם וגם כשכבר זיהיתי את "האמת", העלילה שיטתה בי וגרמתי לי לזנוח אותה.
מעבר לקו העלילה הראשי, ישנה התייחסות נוגה וכנה כלפי דמויות המשנה, כל אחת מקבלת זרקור בתורה.
נופך נוסף הוא סיפור הרקע המדבר על מסירות לחברות השזור באגו
ולאיזון - הפוגות קומיות של האם היהודיה-פולניה שמאוד דואגת לבנה על שלא מביא לה נחת, מתחתן ומביא לה נכדים.

[Joana Arraia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to say about this book, well, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair was the book that got me back to reading. Was my first from Joël Dicker and now he is one of my favorite writers. The plot in the end is unbelievable, I created my own theory while I was reading, but I have to admit that I wasn't expecting this end, that is why I loved this book so much. It is a great book to begin in Joel Dicker's books, the thriller had me hooked from beginning to end. It's an amazing book, very well written.

[Jacqueline K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnificently twisty. Just when I thought “X did it” some surprise pops up. The actual “who done it” was greatly banal for all the run-up and it took way too long to get there. In general the whole idea of a love affair between a 15-yr old and a 34-yr old gives me the creeps and the exceptional youth of the girl was unnecessary and a distraction. Also the author writing a book within a book story line is a bit tired. Though, by the end, I did find myself looking for reasons to pick the story up again.

*Disclaimer: based on Audiobook read by Pierce Cravens

[Roberta Sallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A widely acclaimed author is accused as the murderer in a missing person case 30 years old. His star pupil, also a well regarded author comes to his defense and researches what really happened (and writes a book about it in the process).
It was an intriguing concept and was going well but as I read on and on (and on and on...) all the details of every single character's life got overwhelming and I was bogged down by detail.
It finally ended in a satisfactory way, but...what a workout on my part!

[Carmen Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

No puedo entender los malos comentarios. No sé si son porque no entendieron el libro o porque tienen expectativas que no se supone deban estar. El libro es increíble. La trama es buena desde el principio y mientras más lees más complejo y emocionante se vuelve. Muestra de una forma magnífica la complejidad de las personas. Pone escenas que en principio no tienen importancia y al final cobran un sentido impactante en la novela. Personajes muy bien escritos y con una forma impecable de conectar cada escena.

[Jey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging ride, but not one I’ll remember.

I’d recommend it to fans of detective and mystery stories, it ticks all the boxes for the genre. But for me, it wasn’t nearly as good as other classics like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. The protagonist here is honestly kind of pathetic, he is lacking charisma, sharpness, and any real deductive skills. Maybe that was the point, to make him feel relatable, but when I pick up a detective story, I don’t want ordinary. I want brilliant mind.

[Elma from the Dutch literary and potato peel pie society · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love to read this again as it was my great summer read some years ago. The nice thing was that it never stopped... every time you thought it would end, it continued even further and I could enjoy reading this captivating story! And since I was reading it on my E-reader I did not realise how voluminous it was until I finished it and next saw it in the bookshop. Highly recommended!

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught me in from the first page to the last one. Once I finished it, it became my favorite book. I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys thrillers and to be dragged into her/his reeds. From the outside the book seems a brick, but I can assure you that the size won’t count, you’re gonna love it!!!

[Roxanne Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, although many people did not enjoy it. It is a bit cliche in terms of what goes on in a small town and how many taboo secrets can be kept and or swept under the rug. I am a sucker for a mystery so this book was right up my alley. I do wish that there was more to the story though, the ending did not suffice for me.

[Angie💛 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a good and friendly book to spend your free time with this is the right thing for you! It’s a beautiful, unexpected and unbelievable story, that makes you always think about one thing: going on! The story is simply extraordinary and the writing style is fluid but not boring. Incredible!

[Ana Romero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro que encumbró a la fama a este joven autor. El planteamiento es original, y está bien escrito, pero me el final me parece demasiado enrevesado. También me chirrían algunos personajes... la chica me parece demasiado infantil, y otros personajes tampoco me agradan. En general, la novela está bien hasta el tramo final, en el que pierde bastante. No puedo decir que me haya encantado.