What do you think?
Rate this book
Gilles Sebag #2
Les Violents de l'automne
La tramontane souffle sur Perpignan, charriant les regrets éternels et les odeurs de poudre... C'est une dure rentrée de vacances pour le lieutenant Gilles Sebag, avec un cas d'homicide sommaire qui ressemble à une véritable exécution... Sur la porte du salon de la victime – un vieillard pied-noir –, trois lettres : OAS. Trois lettres qui respirent la vengeance et sèment le trouble dans la petite comunauté des Français d'Algérie. Quarante ans plus tard, le vent n'a toujours rien emporté, et les vieilles blessures ne demandent qu'à se rouvrir...
505 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2012
14 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Philippe Georget
10 books31 followersPhilippe Georget was born in Épinay-sur-Seine in 1962. He works as a TV news anchorman for France-3. A passionate traveler, in 2001 he travelled the entire length of the Mediterranean shoreline with his wife and their three children in an RV. He lives in Perpignan. Summertime All the Cats Are Bored, his debut novel, won the SNCF Crime Fiction Prize and the City of Lens First Crime Novel Prize.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 1, 2025
L’UMORISMO È UNA FORMA EDUCATA DI DISPERAZIONE
Perpignan, e a seguire le piccolo città dei dintorni (Figueres, Girona, Cadaqués…)
Comme il faut. Ecco come si descriverebbe questo romanzo nella parte di mondo dove è ambientato.
A regola d’arte.
C’è tutto quello che deve esserci in un buon poliziesco: personaggi, indagine, vittima, colpevole, atmosfera…
Philippe Georget si prende il suo tempo, ma senza perderlo, non ha fretta, ma non perde il ritmo. Racconta senza salti, prendendo per mano il lettore, dosando la suspence ma senza esasperarla. Con momenti di ironia, di alleggerimento, ma senza perdere il filo e abbassare la guardia. Senza inoltrarsi nel territorio dell’enfasi o del sanguinolento, senza eccessi e senza mancanze.
Un solido protagonista, ispettore di polizia, anche se adesso lo chiamano tenente (e il commissario è diventato capitano). È arrivato anni prima a Perpignan, s’è integrato, ma non è un locale al 100%. È bravo, attento, scrupoloso, concentrato, segue le sue intuizioni. Per tenersi in forma fa jogging (che la traduttrice battezza invece footing, quel termine di tempo fa che faceva ridere e faceva pena, perché non apparteneva a nessuna lingua). Per aggiungere spezie, Georget gli confeziona una crisi matrimoniale, dei motivi di gelosia, ma senza annacquare la sua pietanza.
Il caos si presenta sotto forma di un violento delitto
Ma l’indagine risolve il mistero e dimostra che il caos si può sconfiggere, ripristinando l’ordine e l’armonia: tutto viene capito e spiegato e impedito nella sua ripetizione, il mondo riprende ad andare bene.
Il che dimostra che il Male può essere sconfitto.
Perpignan, si diceva. Capoluogo di una regione che si chiama Roussilon. Che è ancora parte della Catalogna spagnola: infatti, la lingua è contaminata, qui e là il catalano s’è innestato sul francese. A cominciare da certi cognomi (Llach, Lloret…).
Una parte di Francia dove è particolarmente nutrita la popolazione dei pieds-noirs, gli ex coloni algerini scappati dopo la liberazione della nazione maghrebina.
E occorre tener presente che pieds-noirs non vuol dire solo Francia: ma anche Spagna, Italia… E questo mix di origini si riflette sulla lingua.
La lingua di un milione di rimpatriati…
E così, il bel romanzo di Georget, oltre che essere confezionato comme-il-faut, ha un valore aggiunto che per me è enorme: al punto che mi viene da dire che sia il romanzo che meglio e più esaurientemente racconta la guerra d’Algeria, quel carnaio che diventò. E qui, dunque, si racconta in lungo e in largo dell’OAS, la famigerata organizzazione che brutalmente partecipò alla guerra d’Algeria. Per poi, dopo l’indipendenza, trasferirsi vuoi a Perpignan, vuoi nel resto della Francia: ma anche in tanti, in quanto ricercati dalle autorità francesi, in Sud America. Nel caso di questo romanzo, in Argentina, dove il losco soggetto partecipa attivamente a un altro carnaio, quello ai danni dei desaparecidos
Perpignan, e a seguire le piccolo città dei dintorni (Figueres, Girona, Cadaqués…)
Comme il faut. Ecco come si descriverebbe questo romanzo nella parte di mondo dove è ambientato.
A regola d’arte.
C’è tutto quello che deve esserci in un buon poliziesco: personaggi, indagine, vittima, colpevole, atmosfera…
Philippe Georget si prende il suo tempo, ma senza perderlo, non ha fretta, ma non perde il ritmo. Racconta senza salti, prendendo per mano il lettore, dosando la suspence ma senza esasperarla. Con momenti di ironia, di alleggerimento, ma senza perdere il filo e abbassare la guardia. Senza inoltrarsi nel territorio dell’enfasi o del sanguinolento, senza eccessi e senza mancanze.
Un solido protagonista, ispettore di polizia, anche se adesso lo chiamano tenente (e il commissario è diventato capitano). È arrivato anni prima a Perpignan, s’è integrato, ma non è un locale al 100%. È bravo, attento, scrupoloso, concentrato, segue le sue intuizioni. Per tenersi in forma fa jogging (che la traduttrice battezza invece footing, quel termine di tempo fa che faceva ridere e faceva pena, perché non apparteneva a nessuna lingua). Per aggiungere spezie, Georget gli confeziona una crisi matrimoniale, dei motivi di gelosia, ma senza annacquare la sua pietanza.
Il caos si presenta sotto forma di un violento delitto
Ma l’indagine risolve il mistero e dimostra che il caos si può sconfiggere, ripristinando l’ordine e l’armonia: tutto viene capito e spiegato e impedito nella sua ripetizione, il mondo riprende ad andare bene.
Il che dimostra che il Male può essere sconfitto.
Perpignan, si diceva. Capoluogo di una regione che si chiama Roussilon. Che è ancora parte della Catalogna spagnola: infatti, la lingua è contaminata, qui e là il catalano s’è innestato sul francese. A cominciare da certi cognomi (Llach, Lloret…).
Una parte di Francia dove è particolarmente nutrita la popolazione dei pieds-noirs, gli ex coloni algerini scappati dopo la liberazione della nazione maghrebina.
E occorre tener presente che pieds-noirs non vuol dire solo Francia: ma anche Spagna, Italia… E questo mix di origini si riflette sulla lingua.
La lingua di un milione di rimpatriati…
E così, il bel romanzo di Georget, oltre che essere confezionato comme-il-faut, ha un valore aggiunto che per me è enorme: al punto che mi viene da dire che sia il romanzo che meglio e più esaurientemente racconta la guerra d’Algeria, quel carnaio che diventò. E qui, dunque, si racconta in lungo e in largo dell’OAS, la famigerata organizzazione che brutalmente partecipò alla guerra d’Algeria. Per poi, dopo l’indipendenza, trasferirsi vuoi a Perpignan, vuoi nel resto della Francia: ma anche in tanti, in quanto ricercati dalle autorità francesi, in Sud America. Nel caso di questo romanzo, in Argentina, dove il losco soggetto partecipa attivamente a un altro carnaio, quello ai danni dei desaparecidos
November 10, 2018
"Autumn, All the Cats Return" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is a stylish blend of murder, mystery, history and clever detective work. It begins in the town of Perpignan France when Inspector Gilles Sebag is called in to investigate the murder of a member of the Pied Noir Circle; the only clue, an OAS (Organization of the Secret Army) symbol beside the body. A man of keen instincts and brilliant deductive skills Gilles begins to delve into the mysterious death of an old man once linked to a French paramilitary organization involved in a French Algerian war fifty years earlier.
The threads of the plot follow a murder investigation, the hit and run death of a young boy, destruction of a controversial monument as well as the horrific actions of a commando unit in the Algerian war. Slowly the author builds suspense and intrigue as old wounds and painful memories are reopened, old hatreds and anger are revived. Although the mood of the narrative can be dark and threatening with the historically vicious acts of not only the OAS but the FLN (Front Liberation Nationale) it's often diluted by the sarcastic wit or humor of the characters.
With skilful dexterity the author brings to life a complicated plot that twists and turns with every diversion as Gilles Sebag gets closer to unraveling the identity of the killer. Although the Inspector has a sharp intelligence and sixth sense about the motives and actions of the killer, the appeal of the investigation lies in its realism. Sebag is very human with his insecurity about his wife's possible faithlessness, his daughter's hero worship and his natural reliance on the expertise of his team for information and fresh theories.
Like the plot the characters are well-developed and complex with all their faults, flaws and strengths. Gilles Sebag is clever, level-headed and calm, although at times dubious and even melancholic. He's close to his partner Jacques Molina who can be blunt, acerbic and sarcastic, and works well with other members of the police team like the perceptive, go-getter Julie Sadet and the hard-working Francoise Ménard.
I liked the family dynamics in this story; Sebag's jealousy of the possible infidelity of his wife, Sévérance's love and confidence in her father and Léo's ongoing dispute with his overly protective parent about his scooter. I often wondered why Sebag's sensibility never overcame his fear when dealing with his suspicions about his even-tempered, easy-going wife who has a zest for life and a deep love for her family. Like these main characters all the personalities involved in this intoxicating tale add their own brand of drama, passion and energy.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Autumn, All the Cats Return, a fascinating murder mystery with an historical undercurrent to the French Algerian war.
The threads of the plot follow a murder investigation, the hit and run death of a young boy, destruction of a controversial monument as well as the horrific actions of a commando unit in the Algerian war. Slowly the author builds suspense and intrigue as old wounds and painful memories are reopened, old hatreds and anger are revived. Although the mood of the narrative can be dark and threatening with the historically vicious acts of not only the OAS but the FLN (Front Liberation Nationale) it's often diluted by the sarcastic wit or humor of the characters.
With skilful dexterity the author brings to life a complicated plot that twists and turns with every diversion as Gilles Sebag gets closer to unraveling the identity of the killer. Although the Inspector has a sharp intelligence and sixth sense about the motives and actions of the killer, the appeal of the investigation lies in its realism. Sebag is very human with his insecurity about his wife's possible faithlessness, his daughter's hero worship and his natural reliance on the expertise of his team for information and fresh theories.
Like the plot the characters are well-developed and complex with all their faults, flaws and strengths. Gilles Sebag is clever, level-headed and calm, although at times dubious and even melancholic. He's close to his partner Jacques Molina who can be blunt, acerbic and sarcastic, and works well with other members of the police team like the perceptive, go-getter Julie Sadet and the hard-working Francoise Ménard.
I liked the family dynamics in this story; Sebag's jealousy of the possible infidelity of his wife, Sévérance's love and confidence in her father and Léo's ongoing dispute with his overly protective parent about his scooter. I often wondered why Sebag's sensibility never overcame his fear when dealing with his suspicions about his even-tempered, easy-going wife who has a zest for life and a deep love for her family. Like these main characters all the personalities involved in this intoxicating tale add their own brand of drama, passion and energy.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Autumn, All the Cats Return, a fascinating murder mystery with an historical undercurrent to the French Algerian war.
November 19, 2015
[3.5] Like many of my own Goodreads posts, this book is way longer than is justifiable on the basis of its content and style - and like those posts, I've no idea what I'd actually cut. It should just shrink whilst being essentially the same thing, like a concertina, or a jumper washed on hot.
Lt. Gilles Sebag is a change from most other fictional detectives, by being a laid-back sort who's not overly obsessed with his job. He even makes excuses for not going into work any earlier in the morning than he absolutely has to. You wouldn't catch many others of his species doing that. (Unless they had a far worse than usual hangover, perhaps...) He's fairly nice, and not unbelievably brilliant, although his colleagues seem to think he is for some reason. (That bitchy quip about Stephen Fry, " a stupid person's idea of a clever person", which came up in a reivew discussion the other day, suits Sebag's character rather better than it does the ubiquitous comedian...)
I reluctantly picked this up again whilst suffering withdrawal symptoms from the second TV series of Arne Dahl, which I'd watched over the last week. That brought home to me just how much liking the recurring characters makes a reader/viewer bond with procedurals. Whilst this Perpignan lot are okay, I don't especially look forward to spending time with then the way I did with Ida, Gunnar and Sara in particular, and even sometimes Jennifer Aniston and Boring Paul (who, in fairness, became a bit less boring near the end.) Inevitably I had a look at Arne Dahl book samples - and was disappointed by the style/translation; Georget is significantly better, although not up there with the likes of Ian Rankin. It's one of the contemporary trends in crime fiction to make the brilliant new arrival to the team a young woman (like Ida in Arne Dahl), and there's another one in this book, Julie, who finally says things that some readers have been thinking for a while, e.g. that a criminal might use a different car to carry out each crime. How shockingly unusual.
This book is oddly titled to make it match its predecessor - what would have been wrong with the semi literal "The Violence of Autumn" (for Les Violents de l'Automne) I've no idea. This book was curiously suited to the current peculiar British autumn weather: characters who've moved to Rousillon from further north in France aren't quite used to the Catalan autumn, with temperatures still above 14°C - and lashings of torrential rain which the author appears to forget about half way through.
The book's main interest turns out to be cultural; readers became acquainted with this semi-Catalan corner of southern France during a summer holiday in the first volume, now Georget tells them about the local Pied-Noir community of old colonials, who settled there after France withdrew from Algeria in the 60s - there is tons here about culture and politics and different subtypes, attitudes of insiders and outsiders. It was all much too interesting to feel like an infodump - though perhaps it might to someone familiar with this subculture. It made fascinating reading not long after The Meursault Investigation - this fleshes out the characters and events of the war of indepenence that were in the background of Kamel Daoud's book.
The murder victims do not inspire huge sympathy - old men with reactionary views who were ruthless paramilitaries when young, and who've since had decent and full lives - but rather than playing for outrage on heartstrings, this is a thriller plot featuring a variety of Retired Badasses. (These aren't the most fun examples ever, albeit of one of my favourite action tropes - and for some reason Georget's characters keep finding these old gunslingers to be bizarre rather than, well, action-movie-like.) The tension sags at times because there's just too much damn book, but I always did want to know what was going to happen.
Like the various Nordic crime fiction plots involving white far right or far left terrorists, these historical events provide an oblique and relatively 'safe' way (less immediately stressful to viewers, and less potentially offensive and stereotypical) to allude to contemporary concerns with similar violence from other sources - and in this case a background to French relations with the Arab world, which became horribly topical when I was already part way through the book.
Lt. Gilles Sebag is a change from most other fictional detectives, by being a laid-back sort who's not overly obsessed with his job. He even makes excuses for not going into work any earlier in the morning than he absolutely has to. You wouldn't catch many others of his species doing that. (Unless they had a far worse than usual hangover, perhaps...) He's fairly nice, and not unbelievably brilliant, although his colleagues seem to think he is for some reason. (That bitchy quip about Stephen Fry, " a stupid person's idea of a clever person", which came up in a reivew discussion the other day, suits Sebag's character rather better than it does the ubiquitous comedian...)
I reluctantly picked this up again whilst suffering withdrawal symptoms from the second TV series of Arne Dahl, which I'd watched over the last week. That brought home to me just how much liking the recurring characters makes a reader/viewer bond with procedurals. Whilst this Perpignan lot are okay, I don't especially look forward to spending time with then the way I did with Ida, Gunnar and Sara in particular, and even sometimes Jennifer Aniston and Boring Paul (who, in fairness, became a bit less boring near the end.) Inevitably I had a look at Arne Dahl book samples - and was disappointed by the style/translation; Georget is significantly better, although not up there with the likes of Ian Rankin. It's one of the contemporary trends in crime fiction to make the brilliant new arrival to the team a young woman (like Ida in Arne Dahl), and there's another one in this book, Julie, who finally says things that some readers have been thinking for a while, e.g. that a criminal might use a different car to carry out each crime. How shockingly unusual.
This book is oddly titled to make it match its predecessor - what would have been wrong with the semi literal "The Violence of Autumn" (for Les Violents de l'Automne) I've no idea. This book was curiously suited to the current peculiar British autumn weather: characters who've moved to Rousillon from further north in France aren't quite used to the Catalan autumn, with temperatures still above 14°C - and lashings of torrential rain which the author appears to forget about half way through.
The book's main interest turns out to be cultural; readers became acquainted with this semi-Catalan corner of southern France during a summer holiday in the first volume, now Georget tells them about the local Pied-Noir community of old colonials, who settled there after France withdrew from Algeria in the 60s - there is tons here about culture and politics and different subtypes, attitudes of insiders and outsiders. It was all much too interesting to feel like an infodump - though perhaps it might to someone familiar with this subculture. It made fascinating reading not long after The Meursault Investigation - this fleshes out the characters and events of the war of indepenence that were in the background of Kamel Daoud's book.
The murder victims do not inspire huge sympathy - old men with reactionary views who were ruthless paramilitaries when young, and who've since had decent and full lives - but rather than playing for outrage on heartstrings, this is a thriller plot featuring a variety of Retired Badasses. (These aren't the most fun examples ever, albeit of one of my favourite action tropes - and for some reason Georget's characters keep finding these old gunslingers to be bizarre rather than, well, action-movie-like.) The tension sags at times because there's just too much damn book, but I always did want to know what was going to happen.
Like the various Nordic crime fiction plots involving white far right or far left terrorists, these historical events provide an oblique and relatively 'safe' way (less immediately stressful to viewers, and less potentially offensive and stereotypical) to allude to contemporary concerns with similar violence from other sources - and in this case a background to French relations with the Arab world, which became horribly topical when I was already part way through the book.
December 15, 2022
Beautiful novel. A great job building up the crime and the way that the mystery was solved. This is one of those murders where you must pay attention to every little detail, and Mr. Georget doesn't give away the obvious criminal in the first 50 or so pages. A real page turner that was easy to enjoy.
September 29, 2025
So, the plot of this one is great - I learned so much about French Algerian relations and the challenges after the latter threw off colonialism and became it's own nation.
The translation still leaves a lot to be desired.
And he needs to just have it out with his wife!
The translation still leaves a lot to be desired.
And he needs to just have it out with his wife!
December 7, 2025
3.5 rounded up
August 8, 2017
That was even worse than the first one. Did not get into the story or the characters at all.
August 16, 2022
Tedious
November 30, 2019
A bit too much of a slow plot for me, but enjoyable nevertheless.
June 20, 2015
Alte Kampfgenossen
Nach dem Urlaub muss Inspecteur Gilles Sebag seiner Tochter beistehen, während sie einen ersten schweren Gang antritt. Ein Schulkamerad des jungen Mädchens ist bei einem Verkehrsunfall ums Leben gekommen und wird nun zu Grabe getragen. Auf Wunsch seiner Tochter will sich Sebag den Unfallhergang noch einmal genauer anschauen. Kaum wieder im Kommissariat steht jedoch eine Mordermittlung an, die wichtiger ist. Ein alter Mann ist erschossen worden und es scheint Verbindungen zur Gemeinschaft der Algerien-Franzosen zu geben. Doch wer kann da mehr als 50 Jahre nach der Unabhängigkeit Algeriens noch ein Interesse daran haben, einen Mord zu begehen.
Mit der recht plastischen Schilderung des Mordes an einem alten Mann startet dieser Kriminalroman, der dann mit sich eher langsam entwickelnden Ermittlungen weiter voranschreitet. Inspecteuer Sebag, der sich bisher kaum mit diesem Teil der französischen Vergangenheit beschäftigt hat, erteilt sich selbst und dem Leser eine kleine Geschichtsstunde und müht sich die Zusammenhänge zu verstehen. Welche Auswirkungen hat die Vergangenheit auf die Gegenwart, konnten die Menschen nicht loslassen. Doch ein Mitglied erklärt es recht gut, der Schmerz und die Sehnsucht hält die Gemeinschaft zusammen und er darf deshalb nicht vergehen. Doch welcher Schmerz treibt den Mörder an. Gilles Sebags Spürsinn beginnt zu arbeiten, wobei er auch den Wunsch seiner Tochter nicht außer Acht lässt. Doch oft genug wird er abgelenkt von seinen Eifersuchtsanfällen. Noch immer rätselt er, ob seine Frau eine Affäre gehabt haben könnte. Noch immer wagt er es nicht, direkt zu fragen, aus Angst der Verdacht könnte sich bestätigen.
Ein gewiefter Ermittler dieser Gilles Sebag, der seine Kollegen so manches Mal verblüfft und zur Verzweiflung bringt, da er mit seiner Intuition häufig schneller ist und Antworten parad hat, die die anderen in mühsamer Kleinarbeit gefunden haben. Ein sehr interessanter Krimi mit einem geschichtlichen Hintergrund, die dem Leser eine Thematik näher bringt, die hier vermutlich ebenso in Vergessenheit gerät wie in Frankreich oder sogar mehr noch, da keine direkte Betroffenheit besteht. Ein eher ruhiger Handlungslauf, der dennoch fesselt, lesenswert.
Nach dem Urlaub muss Inspecteur Gilles Sebag seiner Tochter beistehen, während sie einen ersten schweren Gang antritt. Ein Schulkamerad des jungen Mädchens ist bei einem Verkehrsunfall ums Leben gekommen und wird nun zu Grabe getragen. Auf Wunsch seiner Tochter will sich Sebag den Unfallhergang noch einmal genauer anschauen. Kaum wieder im Kommissariat steht jedoch eine Mordermittlung an, die wichtiger ist. Ein alter Mann ist erschossen worden und es scheint Verbindungen zur Gemeinschaft der Algerien-Franzosen zu geben. Doch wer kann da mehr als 50 Jahre nach der Unabhängigkeit Algeriens noch ein Interesse daran haben, einen Mord zu begehen.
Mit der recht plastischen Schilderung des Mordes an einem alten Mann startet dieser Kriminalroman, der dann mit sich eher langsam entwickelnden Ermittlungen weiter voranschreitet. Inspecteuer Sebag, der sich bisher kaum mit diesem Teil der französischen Vergangenheit beschäftigt hat, erteilt sich selbst und dem Leser eine kleine Geschichtsstunde und müht sich die Zusammenhänge zu verstehen. Welche Auswirkungen hat die Vergangenheit auf die Gegenwart, konnten die Menschen nicht loslassen. Doch ein Mitglied erklärt es recht gut, der Schmerz und die Sehnsucht hält die Gemeinschaft zusammen und er darf deshalb nicht vergehen. Doch welcher Schmerz treibt den Mörder an. Gilles Sebags Spürsinn beginnt zu arbeiten, wobei er auch den Wunsch seiner Tochter nicht außer Acht lässt. Doch oft genug wird er abgelenkt von seinen Eifersuchtsanfällen. Noch immer rätselt er, ob seine Frau eine Affäre gehabt haben könnte. Noch immer wagt er es nicht, direkt zu fragen, aus Angst der Verdacht könnte sich bestätigen.
Ein gewiefter Ermittler dieser Gilles Sebag, der seine Kollegen so manches Mal verblüfft und zur Verzweiflung bringt, da er mit seiner Intuition häufig schneller ist und Antworten parad hat, die die anderen in mühsamer Kleinarbeit gefunden haben. Ein sehr interessanter Krimi mit einem geschichtlichen Hintergrund, die dem Leser eine Thematik näher bringt, die hier vermutlich ebenso in Vergessenheit gerät wie in Frankreich oder sogar mehr noch, da keine direkte Betroffenheit besteht. Ein eher ruhiger Handlungslauf, der dennoch fesselt, lesenswert.
April 10, 2016
A sweet slow burn, a mystery that brings a brutal piece of somewhat forgotten history to the forefront. An old man kills another old man; a shot to the stomach and the kill shot to the heart. Inspector Sebag is called to the scene and quickly we become involved with old wounds that haven't healed. OAS (dissident organization fighting to keep Algeria under French regime) is scrawled on the door of the victims home and so begins the history lesson of the Algerian War (Algeria fighting for it's independence from France from 1954-62) and those who fought for it and against it and those who are still fighting it.
It's a complex story that weaves the various stories together bringing us a well-told and thoughtful mystery. Throughout I was constantly asking myself questions; who, why, why now, who is this old man? Walking the story with Inspector Sebag was a walk I enjoyed! Not only were we privy to being a part of the investigation, but were privy to his internal struggle with his personal life, especially with his wife.
The people who worked with the Inspector were a dysfunctional bunch. Some not coming into work when the didn't feel like it and others who cut corners because they couldn't be bothered. But when push came to shove, they had each others back. And thanks to the Inspectors pushing them, they murders, past and present, where solved.
Truly enjoyed this book! The story kept me vested in the investigation, the characters where believable and flawed, the history of the Algerian War was intriguing (weaving history within a contemporary story), and the style in which it was told was unique and welcomed.
I love Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series, and this reminded me somewhat of those books.
It's a complex story that weaves the various stories together bringing us a well-told and thoughtful mystery. Throughout I was constantly asking myself questions; who, why, why now, who is this old man? Walking the story with Inspector Sebag was a walk I enjoyed! Not only were we privy to being a part of the investigation, but were privy to his internal struggle with his personal life, especially with his wife.
The people who worked with the Inspector were a dysfunctional bunch. Some not coming into work when the didn't feel like it and others who cut corners because they couldn't be bothered. But when push came to shove, they had each others back. And thanks to the Inspectors pushing them, they murders, past and present, where solved.
Truly enjoyed this book! The story kept me vested in the investigation, the characters where believable and flawed, the history of the Algerian War was intriguing (weaving history within a contemporary story), and the style in which it was told was unique and welcomed.
I love Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series, and this reminded me somewhat of those books.
December 4, 2018
Second in the series. Very well done. The central ensemble of police characters in southwestern France, including Lieutenant Gilles Sebag as the key character, continues. The main plot centres on searching for a killer who appears to be motivated by events fifty years earlier in the Algerian civil war. Interesting picture of the milieu of French people in Algeria who did not consider themselves colonizers, thought of Algeria as their country, and thought they were betrayed by de Gaulle and France for negotiating independence for Algeria (ie Arab Algerians.) And, having moved to France (and other countries) they still consider themselves an isolated and misunderstood community. Lots of nuances here. A related sub-plot has Sebag searching for the cause of an accident in which his daughter's schoolmate was killed. And a side plot of Sebag's relationship with his wife Claire continues.
February 24, 2016
Philippe Georget, the author, is a journalist and newsman and has a keen eye for facts and procedures, police procedures. What he hasn't got a handle on yet is action...creating it and describing it. Police procedurals can at times get bogged down, not unlike actual investigations, but readers don't want nor do they have to spend a tedious amount of time in them. The over emphasis on procedures and the unnecessary depth to which he explains the cultural and historical ramifications of the Algerian War were the deal breakers for me. I will read the next book in the Inspector Sebag series and hope for a lighter touch and more action.
September 27, 2018
I liked the book - well written, interesting mystery, a great introduction to a part of the history of France that was mostly unknown to me, the characters continue to grow from the first book.
My two (minor) complaints:
Inspector Sebag's personal life problem needs to get resolved - it's just a distraction at this point. It added absolutely nothing to the story and just broke the rhythm of the book.
And finally, the first book did such a wonderful job at setting a palpable mood that I was disappointed when this book couldn't do the same - it's a great read but without that additional layer of the first.
My two (minor) complaints:
Inspector Sebag's personal life problem needs to get resolved - it's just a distraction at this point. It added absolutely nothing to the story and just broke the rhythm of the book.
And finally, the first book did such a wonderful job at setting a palpable mood that I was disappointed when this book couldn't do the same - it's a great read but without that additional layer of the first.
April 2, 2015
If this book had been 25% shorter, at least 100 pages fewer, it would have warranted 4.5 stars. The story, however, didn't warrant 400 plus pages. It bogged down in irrelevant details. That said, the setting, southwestern France, was interesting and the cast of characters likewise. The interminable references to the protagonist's jealousy regarding his wife grew tedious though. The most intriguing thing about this mystery though was its focus - the French Algerian War, a conflict that I knew next to nothing about before picking up this book.
January 18, 2015
Perhaps it was somewhat lost in translation, but I found the plot slow, the characters stilted, and the title bemusing. I did learn a bit about the French/Algerian war of the early 1960s. I would not read another in this French mystery series.
March 1, 2016
Learning some of the story of the France and Algeria conflict was interesting, but I thought it was quite a bit too long (as in about 100 pages) and Sebag's wife was mentioned too much for the story of her affair not to be resolved, in my opinion.
November 5, 2017
Before I start, what does the cover of the English version of this book have to do with anything. If it'ssupposed to be Inspector Sebag's daughter, the model is too old. And there's no other character whom she could be. Putting aside that whinge, this is a perfectly readable police procedural. It's not as strong as the first in the series but finding out more about this part of France and it's Catalonia culture is interesting as is the history lesson about the Algerian Civil War. However, one does want Sebag to get on with sorting out his relationship problems because that is just an irrigating sub-theme that no longer serves to enhance the story line.
December 7, 2018
Finally this second book in the series came in. I'll have to review my notes for the first one before I read much further than the few chapters read last evening.
Another interesting book in this series, better now that I'm more familiar with the characters. Fascinating incorporation of the history of Algeria as a French colony & the ultimate Civil wars, particularly 1961-62 that led to the withdrawal of France in 1962. I was aware of that fact, but too young to know much of that era other than there was violence. The exploration of what it meant to the French population who were born there, perhaps after generations, as well as the "true believers" & those who take personal advantage of the situation, have resonance now in many other areas of the world, as well as finally 50 years later getting at least a segment of the French population to consider that part of their history.
Another interesting book in this series, better now that I'm more familiar with the characters. Fascinating incorporation of the history of Algeria as a French colony & the ultimate Civil wars, particularly 1961-62 that led to the withdrawal of France in 1962. I was aware of that fact, but too young to know much of that era other than there was violence. The exploration of what it meant to the French population who were born there, perhaps after generations, as well as the "true believers" & those who take personal advantage of the situation, have resonance now in many other areas of the world, as well as finally 50 years later getting at least a segment of the French population to consider that part of their history.
January 14, 2021
This is of greater interest for the details of the early-1960s Algerian conflict than the dogged and uninspiring investigation into murders of old men in a town near the French border with Spain. Lieutenant Sebag is a stereotypical cop who eventually connects two cases he is working on, one the death of a young man in an accident, the other, the revenge-seeker from events over 50 years before. It’s all quite neatly, if coincidentally, tied up and the historical/cultural material is interesting but it did drag and was 100 or so pages too long
February 10, 2021
I read many Scandinavian Noir mysteries, so it was a pleasure to find this French author. In addition Abby Tabby loves the titles. First book: Summertime, All the Cats Are Bored Inspector Sebag is an intelligent and well-developed character. I particularly enjoyed this book because it deals with the Algerian war to gain independence from France - a piece of history about which I am / was woefully uninformed. The book made me want to read real history of these violent events. Highly recommend this excellent series. Kristi & Abby Tabby
December 3, 2018
Inspector Sebag states that his job is not to make moral judgments but to elucidate the facts. That is what makes Georget's book such a luxurious read. The complexity of the plot, involving adversaries in the Algerian war of independence from France and a promise Sebag made to his daughter, stimulates the curiosity of the reader and encourages each person to draw his own conclusions about right and wrong.
July 3, 2022
Imagine an investigator who cares more about moments of domestic bliss than being the hero of the investigation ... and who loves his wife enough to NOT investigate the puzzle that bothers him the most.
This translation is masterfully done, and the mystery series is beautifully written. The mysteries are good, but the best part is the main character, Inspector Sebag, and his perceptive glimpses of the world around him.
This translation is masterfully done, and the mystery series is beautifully written. The mysteries are good, but the best part is the main character, Inspector Sebag, and his perceptive glimpses of the world around him.
March 27, 2021
I enjoyed this. I read it in English and sometimes the translation was a bit clunky but not enough to spoil an interesting crime novel with a likable main character, clever plot and some really interesting history thrown in.
I must read the first in the series now.
Like another reviewer I'm totally baffled by the book's cover.
I must read the first in the series now.
Like another reviewer I'm totally baffled by the book's cover.
August 9, 2022
La trama apparentemente intrigante, si risolve però in maniera abbastanza scontata, peccato.
Ho apprezzato invece il contesto storico che indaga aspetti della guerra franco algerina che non conoscevo.
Peccato anche per la lunghezza del romanzo che ho trovato eccessiva: forse si poteva sfoltire un po' alcuni capitoli.
Discreto.
Ho apprezzato invece il contesto storico che indaga aspetti della guerra franco algerina che non conoscevo.
Peccato anche per la lunghezza del romanzo che ho trovato eccessiva: forse si poteva sfoltire un po' alcuni capitoli.
Discreto.
May 3, 2021
Story About The Vagaries of Human Life
Much given to introspection, reflection on past life and reconsideration. Characters well-drawn and current detecting activity clearly explained. Good read.
Much given to introspection, reflection on past life and reconsideration. Characters well-drawn and current detecting activity clearly explained. Good read.
May 30, 2023
I've read both the summer and autumn books and am in two minds - on one hand they are comprehensive murder mysteries in French settings - on other hand there's a current of sexism beyond what might be expected in a police setting. Maybe it was the mansplaining about the French Algeria history?
July 18, 2017
I reviewed the Inspector Sebag mysteries for the "Los Angeles Review of Books." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/t...
October 2, 2017
The charming Inspector Sebag returns in this sequel: a mysterious series of murders rooted in the dark past of the French colonization of Algeria.
July 13, 2018
It was OK. Hence the two stars. It wasn’t addicting or something I couldn’t put down, yet it wasn’t all horrible.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews