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Gilles Sebag #3
Crimes of Winter
The third Inspector Sebag mystery “dives deeper into character than most traditional detective yarns and is written with wit, poignancy, and panache” ( Kirkus Reviews ).
Crime, suspense, and marital woes combine in this atmospheric procedural set in the seemingly quiet Mediterranean town of Perpignan.
This winter is going to be a rough one for Insp. Gilles Sebag, for he has discovered a terrible his wife has been cheating on him. Bouncing between depression, whisky, and insomnia, he buries himself in work in an attempt to forget.
But his investigations lead him inexorably to bigger tragedies―a woman murdered in a hotel, a depressed man who throws himself from the roof of his building, another who threatens to blow up the neighborhood―all of them involving betrayals of some sort. Perpignan seems to be suffering from a veritable epidemic of crimes of passion. Adultery is everywhere―and each betrayal leads to another dramatic crime.
“Vivid and atmospheric . . . A thoughtful, almost lyrical approach to crime fiction, which will appeal to anyone who also liked In Her Wake , he Dying Detective or The Bird Tribunal . Its seasonal themes are also reminiscent of Johan Theorin’s Oland quartet, set at a Swedish resort.” ― Crime Fiction Lover
“The most ambitious thematically. In it, Georget takes the stuff of existential novels and folds it into the crime genre’s formula.”― Los Angeles Review of Books
“Engaging . . . The resolution is multilayered and satisfying.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Fans of French settings will enjoy venturing outside of Paris, and the year-end holiday provides an additional measure of atmosphere to the crimes and solutions here.”― Library Journal
Crime, suspense, and marital woes combine in this atmospheric procedural set in the seemingly quiet Mediterranean town of Perpignan.
This winter is going to be a rough one for Insp. Gilles Sebag, for he has discovered a terrible his wife has been cheating on him. Bouncing between depression, whisky, and insomnia, he buries himself in work in an attempt to forget.
But his investigations lead him inexorably to bigger tragedies―a woman murdered in a hotel, a depressed man who throws himself from the roof of his building, another who threatens to blow up the neighborhood―all of them involving betrayals of some sort. Perpignan seems to be suffering from a veritable epidemic of crimes of passion. Adultery is everywhere―and each betrayal leads to another dramatic crime.
“Vivid and atmospheric . . . A thoughtful, almost lyrical approach to crime fiction, which will appeal to anyone who also liked In Her Wake , he Dying Detective or The Bird Tribunal . Its seasonal themes are also reminiscent of Johan Theorin’s Oland quartet, set at a Swedish resort.” ― Crime Fiction Lover
“The most ambitious thematically. In it, Georget takes the stuff of existential novels and folds it into the crime genre’s formula.”― Los Angeles Review of Books
“Engaging . . . The resolution is multilayered and satisfying.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Fans of French settings will enjoy venturing outside of Paris, and the year-end holiday provides an additional measure of atmosphere to the crimes and solutions here.”― Library Journal
435 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
15 people are currently reading
129 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 31, 2017
Just finished what will be my last book of 2017. A great book to finish the year on. Thoroughly enjoyed it. A very realistic, I think, portrayal of a policeman solving crimes without charging around with a gun or endangering himself or colleagues through stupidity. No resorting to the investigator as victim. Personal problems explored but in a way that seems very natural and relevant to the plot. Outstanding. I think this is the best of the three Inspector Sebag novels. Hoping there will be a fourth soon.
October 15, 2018
Poor compared to the first two in the series. Saved for me by frequent descriptions of the Perpignan area.
November 4, 2020
Crimes of Winter: An Inspector Sebag Mystery is the 3rd and final book in the Inspector Sebag mystery series by French author Philippe Georget. I've enjoyed this series, an excellent mix of mystery and personal lives. Inspector Sebag is a cynical, struggling police Lt. Over the course of the 3 books, he's had suspicions about his wife's faithfulness. This comes to a head in this final story and it will impact all of Sebag's dealings during the investigation that takes place in this story.
There is a murder; a jealous husband killing his wife because she has been cheating on him. Another husband kills himself for similar reasons. Sebag and his compatriots look at links between the two cases. Is someone setting these people up for tragedy by releasing information of their crimes? Every part of the investigation hits Sebag deeply. He is angry, not sleeping, drinking more, etc.
The story develops slowly, mixing between Sebag's personal life and feelings and then the investigation. I enjoyed how they narrowed down the suspects and finally solved the case.
I've enjoyed the pacing of all of the stories. I like the other police investigators who work with Sebag. Sebag is somewhat introspective. He also is an interesting inspector. The story is a nice mix of inspiration and forensic investigation. The area of Perpignan on the Spanish border, a rugged, mountainous region, is also well-described. The story did take me a bit to get into but that's my issue about reading too many books at once. As I got into it, I found myself enjoying it more and more. Excellent trilogy. (4 stars)
There is a murder; a jealous husband killing his wife because she has been cheating on him. Another husband kills himself for similar reasons. Sebag and his compatriots look at links between the two cases. Is someone setting these people up for tragedy by releasing information of their crimes? Every part of the investigation hits Sebag deeply. He is angry, not sleeping, drinking more, etc.
The story develops slowly, mixing between Sebag's personal life and feelings and then the investigation. I enjoyed how they narrowed down the suspects and finally solved the case.
I've enjoyed the pacing of all of the stories. I like the other police investigators who work with Sebag. Sebag is somewhat introspective. He also is an interesting inspector. The story is a nice mix of inspiration and forensic investigation. The area of Perpignan on the Spanish border, a rugged, mountainous region, is also well-described. The story did take me a bit to get into but that's my issue about reading too many books at once. As I got into it, I found myself enjoying it more and more. Excellent trilogy. (4 stars)
March 17, 2023
There are three novels in this series, all linked to a particular season, and all set in Perpignan with a central character in Gilles Sebag who really does grow on the reader. No one does Gallic ennui quite like Philippe Georget and I'm surprised his profile isn't a little higher in this country by now.
The humour doesn't always translate easily and Sebag is prone to gloomy introspection which may not always sit easily with readers who prefer a faster pace. The analysis of his marriage however, especially his suspicions that Claire has taken a lover, is beautifully observed and skilfully developed as the series progresses. Some of Georget's writing is so on point that it's hard not to be moved by our hero's resilience and determination to keep the dying embers alive. And all of it is set against a vividly realised backdrop in Perpignan.
After the quirkily named 'Summer, and All the Cats are Gone'. 'Autumn and all the Cats Return', and now 'Crimes of Winter', I'm hoping against hope that there will be a fourth novel to complete the annual cycle and that it will bring some semblance of inner peace to one of my favourite detectives.
Well worth a look if you've not been here yet.
The humour doesn't always translate easily and Sebag is prone to gloomy introspection which may not always sit easily with readers who prefer a faster pace. The analysis of his marriage however, especially his suspicions that Claire has taken a lover, is beautifully observed and skilfully developed as the series progresses. Some of Georget's writing is so on point that it's hard not to be moved by our hero's resilience and determination to keep the dying embers alive. And all of it is set against a vividly realised backdrop in Perpignan.
After the quirkily named 'Summer, and All the Cats are Gone'. 'Autumn and all the Cats Return', and now 'Crimes of Winter', I'm hoping against hope that there will be a fourth novel to complete the annual cycle and that it will bring some semblance of inner peace to one of my favourite detectives.
Well worth a look if you've not been here yet.
December 10, 2017
As the book description reveals, our main character, Inspector Gilles Sebag, has discovered that his wife, Claire, has been cheating on him. To add to his woes, Perpignan seems to be in the middle of an epidemic of adultery-related crime, including the murder of a cheating wife.
Sebag is tormented by visions of his wife’s infidelity, can’t sleep and can’t drive the demons away by drinking and smoking heavily. Despite how difficult the subject matter is for him, he drives himself to find out the truth behind the strange rash of crimes in Perpignan.
I liked the prior two books in this atmospheric police procedural series set in Perpignan, that Catalan-flavored town in the south of France. This one didn’t work so well for me, though.
Right from the get-go, I was irritated by Sebag’s colleague, Lieutenant Molina, with his constant sexual remarks to female colleagues. His habit of abusing suspects didn’t help. And while Sebag’s marinating himself in self-pity and recrimination seemed realistic, it became tiresome over the course of a novel without a particularly compelling crime plot. It's still a series worth reading and I hope the next entrant will get back on track.
Sebag is tormented by visions of his wife’s infidelity, can’t sleep and can’t drive the demons away by drinking and smoking heavily. Despite how difficult the subject matter is for him, he drives himself to find out the truth behind the strange rash of crimes in Perpignan.
I liked the prior two books in this atmospheric police procedural series set in Perpignan, that Catalan-flavored town in the south of France. This one didn’t work so well for me, though.
Right from the get-go, I was irritated by Sebag’s colleague, Lieutenant Molina, with his constant sexual remarks to female colleagues. His habit of abusing suspects didn’t help. And while Sebag’s marinating himself in self-pity and recrimination seemed realistic, it became tiresome over the course of a novel without a particularly compelling crime plot. It's still a series worth reading and I hope the next entrant will get back on track.
April 13, 2019
Great book! Although I don't know French I feel that this translation was very well done. Notes are occasionally provided which help give the feeling of authenticity to the milieu. Same thing with the characters and dialogue. The subplots support the main plot very well although a couple of times he digressed and just distracted a little too much, and one time totally veered off course. Tension built slowly and the book kept getting better as it went along. The one time that the subplot took over from the book was an error and the story would have been much better without it. Still, I can't wait to read more by this guy. And to visit that part of France.
February 11, 2020
Inspecteur Gilles Sebag klebt das Pech an den Füßen. Alles an seinem Beruf, seinen Ermittlungen scheint sich gegen ihn verschworen zu haben. Es reicht nicht, dass der Haussegen schiefhängt, die Verbrechen im winterlich kalten Perpignan erinnern ihn zudem den lieben langen Tag daran. Glücklicherweise kommt er im Verlauf des Buches damit klar, als ihm so manche Begegnungen und Ermittlungsergebnisse die Augen öffnen und kann sich dann wieder darauf konzentrieren, der gefeierte, intuitiv arbeitende Polizist zu sein, der er eigentlich ist.
Der Autor entfaltet hier eine grob gesehen ähnliche Geschichte wie in Band 1 (Dreimal schwarzer Kater), wenn auch Motivation und viele Details der Handlung ganz anders gelagert sind. Er rückt damit aber ein sehr verbreitetes Problem, Betrügereien zwischen Partnern, ins Rampenlicht. Es lässt die vielen daran beteiligten Charaktere sehr unterschiedlich und damit authentisch damit umgehen und lässt auch den Täter am Ende glaubwürdig wirken.
Auch nach diesem dritten Band der Reihe (mein zweites Buch von Georget) werde ich mit Gilles Sebag nicht richtig warm, auch wenn von allen anderen Hauptcharakteren weniger Privates angesprochen und weniger ihrer Gedanken für den Leser sichtbar werden, finde ich sie alle doch greifbarer als Gilles. Mit seiner weinerlichen Art, die nicht ganz zu seinem beruflichen Erfolg passen mag und seinem Alkoholzuspruch kann er bei mir nicht punkten. Zumal er zwischendrin viele Klischees bedient und das teilweise selbst anspricht.
Alles in allem aber ein solider Krimi, der dem aufmerksamen Leser die Freiheit gibt, schon ein wenig früher als die Polizei, mögliche Zusammenhänge zu sehen. Aber noch nicht so früh, dass der Rest des Buches langweilig werden könnte.
Der Autor entfaltet hier eine grob gesehen ähnliche Geschichte wie in Band 1 (Dreimal schwarzer Kater), wenn auch Motivation und viele Details der Handlung ganz anders gelagert sind. Er rückt damit aber ein sehr verbreitetes Problem, Betrügereien zwischen Partnern, ins Rampenlicht. Es lässt die vielen daran beteiligten Charaktere sehr unterschiedlich und damit authentisch damit umgehen und lässt auch den Täter am Ende glaubwürdig wirken.
Auch nach diesem dritten Band der Reihe (mein zweites Buch von Georget) werde ich mit Gilles Sebag nicht richtig warm, auch wenn von allen anderen Hauptcharakteren weniger Privates angesprochen und weniger ihrer Gedanken für den Leser sichtbar werden, finde ich sie alle doch greifbarer als Gilles. Mit seiner weinerlichen Art, die nicht ganz zu seinem beruflichen Erfolg passen mag und seinem Alkoholzuspruch kann er bei mir nicht punkten. Zumal er zwischendrin viele Klischees bedient und das teilweise selbst anspricht.
Alles in allem aber ein solider Krimi, der dem aufmerksamen Leser die Freiheit gibt, schon ein wenig früher als die Polizei, mögliche Zusammenhänge zu sehen. Aber noch nicht so früh, dass der Rest des Buches langweilig werden könnte.
July 17, 2018
This is the third of the Inspector Sebag novels absolutely obsessed by his wife's infidelity which becomes tedious. The descriptions of Perpignan and Pays Catalan are the only reasons I found this book of interest unlike the other two which I did enjoy greatly.
September 15, 2020
"Sei brav, mein Schmerz, und lass mir etwas Ruhe.“ (Baudelaire) S. 245
Christine betrügt ihren Mann Stéphane
Gilles wird von seiner Frau Claire betrogen.
Christine wird ermordet. Gilles ist Lieutenant bei der Polizei und ermittelt – irgendwie lässt ihn das nicht ganz unbeteiligt.
Jaaaa – bitte, genau SO! Ein Krimi ist das, gut geschrieben, spannend, dabei aber keine Sadisten, Folterszenen oder sexuelle Perversionen. Ein Frankreich-Krimi ist das, der wirklich von einem Franzosen geschrieben wurde – über eine nicht so offensichtliche Region wie die Provence. Gute Sprache ist das, auch über einen Ermittler mit persönlichen Problemen – nein, KEIN beschädigter Ermittler, viel banaler: Gilles Sebag hat herausgefunden, dass seine langjährige Ehefrau ihn betrogen hat, die Affäre ist bereits vorbei. Daran leidet er, darunter leidet seine Arbeit. Den Kummer ertränkt er in Alkohol, in Fragespielchen mit seiner Frau, die doch nur beide schmerzen. "Wenn du bei mir bist, wie jetzt, dich an mich geschmiegt, dann schaffe ich es, nur an uns beide zu denken. Aber sobald du dich von mir entfernst, selbst nur ein paar Zentimeter, kann ich nicht anders: Ich denke an euch.“ S. 171
Und gerade, während Gilles so damit ringt, dass ihm der sicher geglaubte Boden unter den Füßen weg gezogen wurde, scheint es in den Fällen um ihn herum nur noch um Ehebruch zu gehen, mit fatalen Folgen. Ein Ehemann erschießt seine Frau in dem Hotel, in dem ihr Liebhaber sie gerade zurück gelassen hat. Ein anderer Ehemann stürzt sich aus dem fünften Stock, weil seine Frau sich – platonisch, wie sie versichert – mit einem anderen trifft. Sonst helfen seine Sprichwörter ihm „Man erholte sich besser von Liebeskummer als von verletztem Stolz.“ S. 168, aber diesmal ist Gilles mehr als sonst angewiesen auf die Zusammenarbeit mit seinen Kollegen – denn an diesen Fällen stimmt etwas nicht…
Autor Philippe Georget hat hier seinen dritten Band um den französischen Polizisten Gilles Sebag angesiedelt im Roussillon – ich konnte ohne Kenntnis der Vorgängerbände folgen. Der Regionalkrimi-Charakter ist eher weniger ausgeprägt, dafür gefiel mir die psychologische Tiefe bei der Darstellung von Sebags Dilemma. Weniger ein „Whodunnit“, bei dem man selbst hätte auf den Täter gekommen sein können anhand der Hinweise als mehr eine Begleitung von Ermittlern bei ihrer Arbeit an mehreren Fällen ohne große Dramatik, dabei dennoch fesselnd – was ich als angenehm empfand. Gerne mehr!
Christine betrügt ihren Mann Stéphane
Gilles wird von seiner Frau Claire betrogen.
Christine wird ermordet. Gilles ist Lieutenant bei der Polizei und ermittelt – irgendwie lässt ihn das nicht ganz unbeteiligt.
Jaaaa – bitte, genau SO! Ein Krimi ist das, gut geschrieben, spannend, dabei aber keine Sadisten, Folterszenen oder sexuelle Perversionen. Ein Frankreich-Krimi ist das, der wirklich von einem Franzosen geschrieben wurde – über eine nicht so offensichtliche Region wie die Provence. Gute Sprache ist das, auch über einen Ermittler mit persönlichen Problemen – nein, KEIN beschädigter Ermittler, viel banaler: Gilles Sebag hat herausgefunden, dass seine langjährige Ehefrau ihn betrogen hat, die Affäre ist bereits vorbei. Daran leidet er, darunter leidet seine Arbeit. Den Kummer ertränkt er in Alkohol, in Fragespielchen mit seiner Frau, die doch nur beide schmerzen. "Wenn du bei mir bist, wie jetzt, dich an mich geschmiegt, dann schaffe ich es, nur an uns beide zu denken. Aber sobald du dich von mir entfernst, selbst nur ein paar Zentimeter, kann ich nicht anders: Ich denke an euch.“ S. 171
Und gerade, während Gilles so damit ringt, dass ihm der sicher geglaubte Boden unter den Füßen weg gezogen wurde, scheint es in den Fällen um ihn herum nur noch um Ehebruch zu gehen, mit fatalen Folgen. Ein Ehemann erschießt seine Frau in dem Hotel, in dem ihr Liebhaber sie gerade zurück gelassen hat. Ein anderer Ehemann stürzt sich aus dem fünften Stock, weil seine Frau sich – platonisch, wie sie versichert – mit einem anderen trifft. Sonst helfen seine Sprichwörter ihm „Man erholte sich besser von Liebeskummer als von verletztem Stolz.“ S. 168, aber diesmal ist Gilles mehr als sonst angewiesen auf die Zusammenarbeit mit seinen Kollegen – denn an diesen Fällen stimmt etwas nicht…
Autor Philippe Georget hat hier seinen dritten Band um den französischen Polizisten Gilles Sebag angesiedelt im Roussillon – ich konnte ohne Kenntnis der Vorgängerbände folgen. Der Regionalkrimi-Charakter ist eher weniger ausgeprägt, dafür gefiel mir die psychologische Tiefe bei der Darstellung von Sebags Dilemma. Weniger ein „Whodunnit“, bei dem man selbst hätte auf den Täter gekommen sein können anhand der Hinweise als mehr eine Begleitung von Ermittlern bei ihrer Arbeit an mehreren Fällen ohne große Dramatik, dabei dennoch fesselnd – was ich als angenehm empfand. Gerne mehr!
August 25, 2020
This is the third and so far last of the series focused on Gilles Sebag. I hope there are more. I first read the second in the series, Autumn, the Cats Come Home, and was hooked. That one remains the best in my opinion, but I'll continue to look forward to more if they are published.
Gilles Sebag is an intuitive officer who listens to his instincts and reactions as much as his considerable sleuthing skills. He does this in his marriage as well as his profession, and part of the ongoing charm of the stories is following a story arc with his wife, Claire, which takes a resolute turn in the third book. The cases echo Gilles' own personal life and the reader is left wondering what will happen at home as well as in the developing cases.
From his office in Perpignan, Gilles follows cases around the Catalan area of France, on the border with Spain and the Mediterranean. The first book dealt with caravan holiday-makers from other countries, and the second, by far the best story, followed immigrants from the Algerian war, or Black Feet; this final installment sees a rash of murder or suicide seemingly pushed by unfaithful relationship partners. What's the connection?
The real illumination in this Christmas-and-New Year holiday plotline is the character of Gilles, who nipped ambition and career ladder in the bud when he took a step back following the birth of his children, and the warm culture of Catalan, and Gilles' warm relationships with his fellow officers and family and the sunny hills and beaches and cuisine. Gilles' partner Molina is the teaser and "bad cop," the new guy Menard the jealous competitor, Julie a new understanding transfer. How they work together moves the story along--why so much infidelity in this small area, why is it always women, and how are all the cheated-upon men finding out? This is a book that caused me to look up culinary dishes, geographic regions, sports... the mystery is the least interesting of the three books but I did not feel cheated at all. Highly recommend the series.
Gilles Sebag is an intuitive officer who listens to his instincts and reactions as much as his considerable sleuthing skills. He does this in his marriage as well as his profession, and part of the ongoing charm of the stories is following a story arc with his wife, Claire, which takes a resolute turn in the third book. The cases echo Gilles' own personal life and the reader is left wondering what will happen at home as well as in the developing cases.
From his office in Perpignan, Gilles follows cases around the Catalan area of France, on the border with Spain and the Mediterranean. The first book dealt with caravan holiday-makers from other countries, and the second, by far the best story, followed immigrants from the Algerian war, or Black Feet; this final installment sees a rash of murder or suicide seemingly pushed by unfaithful relationship partners. What's the connection?
The real illumination in this Christmas-and-New Year holiday plotline is the character of Gilles, who nipped ambition and career ladder in the bud when he took a step back following the birth of his children, and the warm culture of Catalan, and Gilles' warm relationships with his fellow officers and family and the sunny hills and beaches and cuisine. Gilles' partner Molina is the teaser and "bad cop," the new guy Menard the jealous competitor, Julie a new understanding transfer. How they work together moves the story along--why so much infidelity in this small area, why is it always women, and how are all the cheated-upon men finding out? This is a book that caused me to look up culinary dishes, geographic regions, sports... the mystery is the least interesting of the three books but I did not feel cheated at all. Highly recommend the series.
May 9, 2017
“Topnotch writing, Interesting Plot, And Real Characters.”
It’s the Christmas holiday, and Inspector Gilles Sebag has just found proof that his wife has had a four-month affair, and he’s trying to deal with the crises at home. However, it appears that there is an epidemic of adultery in Perpignan. And there is something curious about several of the cases that have resulted in deaths. Someone is sending photographs to husbands showing their wives’ infidelity. Is this person responsible for the deaths, and why?
We follow Inspector Sebag as he struggles with his own marital problems, and facing family-crises that could ruin his marriage. He begins to drink more, and his mind isn’t on the official case as close as it should be, so clues elude him until he comes to grips with his personal situation. Only then can he run the person down behind the deadly string of violence.
This was another interesting case involving the French police inspector on the Mediterranean shore between France and Spain. A splendid follow-up to his premier novel, Summertime, And All The Cats Are Bored. It shows the teamwork of his team, as they investigate this strange case while dealing with their own lives and problems. There were times I couldn’t keep up with the characters, but I blame this on the foreign (to me) names, not to any fault with the author or writing. The writing was certainly topnotch, and the plot interesting, while the characters were real. Highly recommended.
It’s the Christmas holiday, and Inspector Gilles Sebag has just found proof that his wife has had a four-month affair, and he’s trying to deal with the crises at home. However, it appears that there is an epidemic of adultery in Perpignan. And there is something curious about several of the cases that have resulted in deaths. Someone is sending photographs to husbands showing their wives’ infidelity. Is this person responsible for the deaths, and why?
We follow Inspector Sebag as he struggles with his own marital problems, and facing family-crises that could ruin his marriage. He begins to drink more, and his mind isn’t on the official case as close as it should be, so clues elude him until he comes to grips with his personal situation. Only then can he run the person down behind the deadly string of violence.
This was another interesting case involving the French police inspector on the Mediterranean shore between France and Spain. A splendid follow-up to his premier novel, Summertime, And All The Cats Are Bored. It shows the teamwork of his team, as they investigate this strange case while dealing with their own lives and problems. There were times I couldn’t keep up with the characters, but I blame this on the foreign (to me) names, not to any fault with the author or writing. The writing was certainly topnotch, and the plot interesting, while the characters were real. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2017
Inspired by the encouragement of other reviewers to read Philippe Georget, this is my first dip into the Inspector Gilles Sebag series of thrillers. I thought the characterisation was truly excellent both of the cuckolded Sebag, with his melancholy wistfulness, and growing dependence on the demon drink, and the surrounding cast of police characters. Sebag himself is a walking contradiction being so incredibly intuitive and effective in his job, but a mass of neuroses when dealing with the fallout of his wife’s affair, and the increasing strain placed on him by a succession of cases involving adultery. I loved his colleague Jacques Molina, a big bear of a man, with his bawdy humour and distinctly non-PC view of the world, and the shifty and duplicitous Francois Menard, jealous of Sebag’s innate ability to read and disseminate a crime suspect and scene so effectively. The interactions and relationships between all three both personally and professionally really held the book together, as well as the intermittent entrance of others affiliated to the police force, and the tensions or humour they brought to the story. Although I enjoyed the various strands of the plot and its intricacies, regarding cases of murder and suicides arising from a range of adulterous behaviour, I felt that there was a little too much repetition and naval gazing afforded to Sebag as he sought to make connections between his own wife’s betrayal, and the cases he’s involved in. I like a slow-burner as much as the next person, but sometimes it felt more like stopping than slowing, so felt the book could have been shortened slightly to a more consistently steady pace. That aside, I did really enjoy the book overall, and will be seeking out others in the series soon. Recommended.
March 18, 2018
There are simply too many unfaithful wives in this book, and the fragile men they betray turn to murder, suicide and attempted arson as coping mechanisms. It’s all a bit too much, IMO. To begin with Sebag, our clever, intuitive cop FINALLY discovers for certain that his wife has been having an affair. This question tortured the last half of his last book. At least it is answered now. She still loves him, wants to save the marriage, has ended the affair. Sebag is shaken, angry, grief stricken. He drinks too much, can’t sleep, is surly at work, jealous and suspicious at home. Wants to forgive her but can’t. (teensy yawn here)
It doesn’t help that his next two cases involve a woman whose husband shoots her after a rendezvous with her lover, and a man who leaps to his death after finding has wife has been unfaithful. Then there is he man who THINKS his wife has been unfaithful and whose response is to buy 5 cans of gasoline and threaten to blow up the two of them and their whole apartment block, in spite of the fact that his wife swears she has had no affair.
My favorite thing about these books still is the city of Perpignan and the Catalan countryside. If Sebag finally gets his groove back that would be a good thing all around.
It doesn’t help that his next two cases involve a woman whose husband shoots her after a rendezvous with her lover, and a man who leaps to his death after finding has wife has been unfaithful. Then there is he man who THINKS his wife has been unfaithful and whose response is to buy 5 cans of gasoline and threaten to blow up the two of them and their whole apartment block, in spite of the fact that his wife swears she has had no affair.
My favorite thing about these books still is the city of Perpignan and the Catalan countryside. If Sebag finally gets his groove back that would be a good thing all around.
June 9, 2020
This is the third Inspector Sebag mystery I have read, and I think it's my least favorite of the bunch.
What had started to be a distraction in the last book (Sebag's wife potentially having an affair) becomes a huge focal point in this outing. And to top it off, there's a whole spat of cheating wives getting revealed, causing mayhem in the town of Perpignan - one wife is murdered, one husband threatens to burn the neighborhood down, another jumps off a balcony, etc. Obviously someone is spying on these folks and trying to inflict pain, but Sebag is mired in his own problems (and turning to the bottle) and having a hard time getting over his personal issues.
Although this is an enjoyable mystery, it is missing the key ingredients that made the previous books stand out - the sense of place, the mood; "Crimes of Winter" could have taken place anywhere. Let's hope that Mr. Georget pays more attention to takinge us away to Perpignan in Sebag's next adventure.
What had started to be a distraction in the last book (Sebag's wife potentially having an affair) becomes a huge focal point in this outing. And to top it off, there's a whole spat of cheating wives getting revealed, causing mayhem in the town of Perpignan - one wife is murdered, one husband threatens to burn the neighborhood down, another jumps off a balcony, etc. Obviously someone is spying on these folks and trying to inflict pain, but Sebag is mired in his own problems (and turning to the bottle) and having a hard time getting over his personal issues.
Although this is an enjoyable mystery, it is missing the key ingredients that made the previous books stand out - the sense of place, the mood; "Crimes of Winter" could have taken place anywhere. Let's hope that Mr. Georget pays more attention to takinge us away to Perpignan in Sebag's next adventure.
July 19, 2024
I read the first two books in this series some time ago, and was delighted to find this third instalment in a charity shop.
In Crimes of Winter, Inspector Gilles Sebag has finally discovered proof that his beloved wife Claire has been unfaithful, and his attempts to come to terms with this shock frame a story in which someone is informing men that their partners have cheated on them - with sometimes deadly consequences.
Who is this person? Where is he getting his information? And why is he using it to cause misery and even death? The Perpignan police department needs to find out before he strikes again.
Each case of infidelity that Gilles and his colleagues investigate shows us a different cause of relationship breakdown, and a different reaction to its discovery. For Gilles, many of the victims' stories ring horribly true. Claire is desperate to rebuild their marriage in any way she can - but will Gilles ever trust her again? He drinks too much, smokes too much, and has almost reached rock bottom when help appears from an unlikely source.
The settings are, as ever in Georget's books, almost as interesting as the plot itself; he makes it easy to visualise the ancient alleyways of the old city, the stunning beauty of the coastline and the majesty of the Palace of the Kings of Majorca. He shows us the everyday lives of Catalans, and even a little of their history, but never makes us feel as if we are at school.
Unfortunately, the big problem - and it really is a big problem - for me with this book is the absolutely terrible translation. It's clunky and jarring throughout; the dialogue reads like nothing anyone would ever say, and after a very short while the poor use of words dominates one's reading experience.
For example, when Gilles is chatting with a fellow officer who is also a friend, she apparently says;
'I didn't understand very concretely how that works.'
On another occasion, a colleague says;
'Decidedly, you'll always astonish me.'
Later, his boss says;
'I'm glad to see that you're feeling better and that you're recovering your effectiveness.'
And there are *endless* mentions of buttocks. No one sits down without putting his/her buttocks on the chair.
'He rose from the box on which he had perched one of his buttocks.'
'Claire made him turn around until his buttocks were resting on the edge of the table.'
I think the problem with this translation is that it needs a second translator - I know very little about translation, but I do know that sometimes one person provides a literal translation then another puts the work into colloquial English. This would have improved the translated version of Crimes of Winter so much.
So a fairer rating from me would be for the book 4*, but for the translation 1*
In Crimes of Winter, Inspector Gilles Sebag has finally discovered proof that his beloved wife Claire has been unfaithful, and his attempts to come to terms with this shock frame a story in which someone is informing men that their partners have cheated on them - with sometimes deadly consequences.
Who is this person? Where is he getting his information? And why is he using it to cause misery and even death? The Perpignan police department needs to find out before he strikes again.
Each case of infidelity that Gilles and his colleagues investigate shows us a different cause of relationship breakdown, and a different reaction to its discovery. For Gilles, many of the victims' stories ring horribly true. Claire is desperate to rebuild their marriage in any way she can - but will Gilles ever trust her again? He drinks too much, smokes too much, and has almost reached rock bottom when help appears from an unlikely source.
The settings are, as ever in Georget's books, almost as interesting as the plot itself; he makes it easy to visualise the ancient alleyways of the old city, the stunning beauty of the coastline and the majesty of the Palace of the Kings of Majorca. He shows us the everyday lives of Catalans, and even a little of their history, but never makes us feel as if we are at school.
Unfortunately, the big problem - and it really is a big problem - for me with this book is the absolutely terrible translation. It's clunky and jarring throughout; the dialogue reads like nothing anyone would ever say, and after a very short while the poor use of words dominates one's reading experience.
For example, when Gilles is chatting with a fellow officer who is also a friend, she apparently says;
'I didn't understand very concretely how that works.'
On another occasion, a colleague says;
'Decidedly, you'll always astonish me.'
Later, his boss says;
'I'm glad to see that you're feeling better and that you're recovering your effectiveness.'
And there are *endless* mentions of buttocks. No one sits down without putting his/her buttocks on the chair.
'He rose from the box on which he had perched one of his buttocks.'
'Claire made him turn around until his buttocks were resting on the edge of the table.'
I think the problem with this translation is that it needs a second translator - I know very little about translation, but I do know that sometimes one person provides a literal translation then another puts the work into colloquial English. This would have improved the translated version of Crimes of Winter so much.
So a fairer rating from me would be for the book 4*, but for the translation 1*
June 8, 2021
I really have fallen in love with this French mystery series and Inspector Sebag, his family and co-workers. Gilles is struggling with the possible betrayal of his wife and then becomes involved in a case where a predator is providing evidence of infidelity by wives to their husbands. The result is tragedy and violence. I really appreciate the psychological portrayal of Sebag and his cerebral methods to solve his cases. I hope there are more!!! Kristi & Abby Tabby
February 17, 2022
The last book available in English from a French author who has created a wonderful character epitomizing all you'd love to see in a father. This book was a little darker than the rest because of the subject matter (which I won't name so as not to spoil it). The setting in southern France on the Mediterranean adds to the novel, as do food and wine descriptions. I'm sorry this is the last book translated. Would love to read more mysteries with this protagonist.
March 21, 2018
I loved the first book in the Inspector Sebag series but I haven't been quite so enamoured with the books that followed. In this one, the focus is infidelity and it became somewhat tedious along the journey. However, I still love the warm recreation of the environment of Perpignan and it's Catalonian culture so it's almost worth reading all the books for that alone.
August 26, 2022
Although this starts well, it doesnt live up to the excellent 'Summertime, all the cats are bored' or its sequel - and after a few chapters it is clear the rationale for the crimes - there is no big reveal at the end. The novel primarily focuses on the question of infidelity within marriage which may appeal to some readers.
April 29, 2025
I enjoyed the first two books in this series but this one was light on mystery and heavy (and tediously so) on Sebag's wife's infidelity. His character is nothing like the two previous books — if you told me this was written by a different author I would definitely believe you. Also, he stops running completely and becomes an alcoholic in like 2 weeks? I don't think that's how it works...
March 26, 2018
Very enjoyable.
Each of the books has focused on a theme. This one is on faithfulness./ unfaithfulness.
He’s written five books, but so far only the three in this series appear to have been translated.
And this one rounds out the storyline somewhat — so I wonder if he’ll extend the series or not?
Each of the books has focused on a theme. This one is on faithfulness./ unfaithfulness.
He’s written five books, but so far only the three in this series appear to have been translated.
And this one rounds out the storyline somewhat — so I wonder if he’ll extend the series or not?
August 12, 2021
I feel we may be out of luck in regard to a fourth "Spring" novel. Somewhat humorous that this is the second French detective novel I read within a span of weeks where a character coming out is a plot point.
July 18, 2017
I reviewed the Inspector Sebag mysteries for the "Los Angeles Review of Books." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/t...
March 18, 2018
Gallic noir complete with detailed descriptions of delicious food and wine. A delightful good read.
June 23, 2018
This book is like bad french fries that you keep eating because they're in front of you. You know better but keep going for it anyway...
August 5, 2018
Le personnage est plutôt chouette mais l intrigue est très pauvre et terriblement répétitive
October 24, 2018
Une énigme hors du commun
Un assassin diabolique qui joue sur la faiblesse humaine
Un assassin diabolique qui joue sur la faiblesse humaine
December 19, 2018
Tough wading through the swamp in the middle of the book, with the philosophical grappling in Sebag's personal & professional lives. A complex plot, with some resolution to both in the end.
July 18, 2019
The fourth Inspector Sebag mystery is another complex thriller in which the redoubtable Inspector deals with adultery and the wages of betrayal in his work and his home.
January 9, 2020
First time I found translation a little off but it was interesting to follow a tormented protagonist, highly perceptive. Almost magic how he arrived at solutions. Denouement deserved the extra star.
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