Quand sort la recluse

Commissaire Adamsberg #11

by Fred Vargas

"— Trois morts, c’est exact, dit Danglard. Mais cela regarde les médecins, les épidémiologistes, les zoologues. Nous, en aucun cas. Ce n’est pas de notre compétence.
— Ce qu’il serait bon de vérifier, dit Adamsberg. J’ai donc rendez-vous demain au Muséum d’Histoire naturelle.
— Je ne veux pas y croire, je ne veux pas y croire. Revenez-nous, commissaire. Bon sang mais dans quelles brumes avez-vous perdu la vue ?
— Je vois très bien dans les brumes, dit Adamsberg un peu sèchement, en posant ses deux mains à plat sur la table. Je vais donc être net. Je crois que ces trois hommes ont été assassinés.
— Assassinés, répéta le commandant Danglard. Par l’araignée recluse ?"

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

478 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 10, 2017

About the author

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vargas doesn’t spare us the grisly details of outrageous crimes committed against defenseless girls and women, but never have I ever wanted to be in a mystery novel before. The characterizations of police officers and villagers are so full of personality, intelligence, and humor that one cannot help but wish these folks were by one’s side—or at least televised.

According to Wikipedia, four of the Vargas mystery series have been serialized for television. I saw one, once, years ago. It was painful, considering the renown of French cinema and the intrigue of the novels. it is definitely time for a new rendition.

Any new film series of the novels must be filmed in France and in French because the charm of the series is the utter French-ness of the interactions, the local dishes like the cabbage soup with onions and ham the officers eat nearly every night of the investigation, and endless bottles of Madiran.

Vargas has given us a convoluted mystery so dense with criminality that we scarcely know which way to turn. Just today I was listening to a podcast discussing the many thousands of rape kits in American cities which were never run for DNA: when the kits were finally examined, the entire body of knowledge around rape and serial rape has been turned on its head. It turns out that there were many, many more rapists than one ever thought possible, and one out of every five rapes is caused by a serial rapist.

There has been, as can be seen in the history revealed in this novel and in the untested rape kits languishing on shelves in police stations all over America, a dismissive attitude towards crimes against women. In this mystery, some truly horrifying crimes are described (thankfully in a matter-of-fact, non-inflammatory way) and some male attitudes are examined for bias. At one point Chief Inspector Adamsberg realizes describing his favorite female lieutenant as worth “ten men” would be better changed to “one woman.” Those of us who have worked with colleagues of both sexes are pleased Vargas made a point of chastising Adamsberg for old attitudes.

Vargas is known for the depth of her knowledge about medieval subjects and archeology and gradually she incorporates some of her encyclopedic knowledge in this more modern mystery. There is an archeological dig, and we learn how to find the site and what it takes to manage it. There is a medieval tie-in, but the shocking part is that it sounds medieval when in fact some of the events happened within recent history.

Chief Inspector Jean Baptiste Adamsberg always puts me in mind of Simenon’s Jules Maigret, though the two police chiefs are quite different in many ways. One difference is that Maigret, unless my memory is faulty, wasn't necessarily a masterful team leader. Adamsberg is far from alone. We are intimately familiar with his entire team and grow to rely on them to keep their chief operating in maximum intuition. Adamsberg's “tiny bubbles of gas in [his] brain” jiggle when he walks, stimulating thought. Not so far, then, from Poirot’s “little grey cells.”

This novel, originally published in May of 2017 by Flammarion of France, has been translated by Siân Reynolds, winner of many awards, including a coveted Dagger from Crime Writers’ Association. Reynolds is a professor emerita of French at the University of Stirling, Scotland. In her words,

”… Fred’s books are quirky and often fantastical, sometimes with historical elements, and much appreciated in France. They are about French characters usually in a recognizably French environment, and will necessarily seem a bit foreign to anglophone readers, so the aim is to make them enjoyable on their own terms – but in English.”

This Reynolds does in spades. The novels are a remarkable glimpse of French culture and altogether are a marvelous series. Highly recommended.

[SVETLANA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commissaire Adamsberg is worried about the news that the venom of the recluse spider killed three older men. People are discussing different theories on forums, but his intuition is making him start an unofficial investigation. This brings his team on the verge of dividing into two groups.

The investigation brings him to an orphanage where many years ago a gang of boys were bullying and mutilating other boys with the venom of the same reclusive spiders and sexually harassing the girls. But is it possible to kill nowadays using a spider's bite?

This book, the same as other ones from the same series, shows Commissaire Adamsberg as a highly intuitive person who loves his team and nature and finds himself in front of a dilemma: does he want to catch the clever killer or did the victims deserve what they got?

It is a book that I highly recommend trying as it is a bit romantic, intuitive and full of events and unexpected twists story.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So. Because you’re a mostly clueless bunch of mostly clueless (albeit almost charming) barnacles, you’ve probably never heard of this gloriously glorious series. I’d tell you about it, but puny humans to slaughter and kingdoms to overtake and stuff, which means you’ll have to look elsewhere (albeit not very far) for a thoroughly accurate, fantastically sharp, in-depth description of the series.



Now. This installment. It’s probably one of my least favorite in the series. (Which sucks big shrimp, if you ask me.) The thing is, as titillating scrumptious as the cast of characters is (a tiny very little more on that later), the mystery is one of the most ridiculously far-fetched ones I’ve ever read. (Which could be a good thing, only that it isn’t.) Vargas—who is usually the queen of Super Extra Clever Original-as-Fish Plots (SECOaFP™)—tried too hard to outdo herself here, and the end result is unnecessary convoluted, ludicrously unrealistic, absurdly implausible, and plagued with way too bloody many convenient as shrimp coincidences. The story is, as the Ever-Superior French (ESF™) would say,



Which literally means “pulled by the hair” and is the actual translation for “far-fetched,” but because it’s French sounds a lot cooler and way more stylish than its English cousin thrice removed. Obviously.

Much to my utter shame, total embarrassment and unmitigated chagrin (forgive me Adamsberg, for I have sinned), I have to admit that my eyeballs got quite the intensive workout while reading this book. Okay, so this mystery series is not the most realistic one out there, but this was just too OTT, even by Vargas’ usual standards. ⚠️ Watch out, really real spoilers coming right up. Read at your own risk and stuff. I mean, spider venom + the villainously evil orphans + the two sisters being held against their will, raped and prostituted by their father for years + their brother chopping the father's little head off + Danglard's personal link to the case + Froisy’s stalker/peeping Tom + Adamsberg very conveniently being scared shitless by meeting the culprit as a kid + too many other things) =

. Too much, Fred Vargas. Too bloody shrimping much. Edit the fish out of your book, simplify the squid out of your plot, zap the krill out of all the highly unlikely and wholly unbelievable elements in your story and maybe, just maybe, it will be nearly almost quite as good as the rest of the series. Then again maybe not.

Had this been any other series and/or any other author, I probably would have rated the book two pathetically miserable little stars. But it isn’t and/or it isn’t, so I didn’t. Because this cast. This atmostphere. This originality. I’m telling you, my Tiny Decapods, Adamsberg and his team are the most delicious bunch of utterly unconventional, wonderfully eccentric weirdoes you’ll ever read about.



Sorry, can’t always control myself when it comes to those characters. Oh, and by the way, I’m the hot babe on the right, in case you were wondering.

Ah, what I wouldn’t do to be able to spend just 5 minutes with this cast! Ah, to share their day-to-day lives, surrounded by moray eel heads that stink! Now if that isn’t pure bliss, I don’t know what is. Then there’s the canned wild boar paté (which doubles as paperweight, pretty handy that), the feline-approved copy machine, gourmet blackbirds, and multi-function shoes. Not to mention the cell phones of the, um, “excretal destiny”(don’t ask).

Ah, to be able to do some Slightly Unorthodox Investigating (SUI™) with the Clique of the Slightly Unorthodox Methods (CotSUM™)! Such fun times to be had! It’s all cute and cuddly arachnids, dandelions-that-aren’t, medieval women hermits, somewhat nefarious, stinking bugs, amputation, impromptu (if a little illegal) archaeological digs super fun, luxurious camping trips, and sporadic teaspoon theft! Fun times, I tell you!

➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): Quite disappointing this one was. A whole bloody shrimping lot better the next one hopefully will be. Fred Vargas, watching you the crustaceans are. But hey, no pressure and stuff.

P.S. This might be one of the crappiest crappy non-review I've ever written. Oh, well.

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



[Pre-review nonsense]

Books in this series usually make me feel like this:



This installment kinda sorta made me feel like this:



That's me being ever-so-slightly on the fence and stuff. In case you were wondering and stuff.

➽ Full review to come and stuff.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5
J'ai passé un bon moment dans cette nouvelle enquête d'Adamsberg, sans être toutefois très passionnée non plus. Il faut dire que je me doutais de l'identité de l'assassin depuis un long moment avant la révélation finale, et que j'ai trouvé tous les liens psychologiques/philosophiques entre les différents éléments franchement tirés par les cheveux. Néanmoins, c'était un véritable plaisir de retrouver toute l'équipe du commissariat, et la plume très vivante de Fred Vargas.

[Dolceluna ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Che delusione.
E che dolore.
Enorme. Enorme.
Fred, la mia Fred.
Ci ho scritto una testi universitaria, l'ho letta, tradotta, e ho premiato alcuni dei suoi romanzi (fra i quali l'indimenticabile "Nei boschi eterni") con cinque stelline, adorandoli.
Insomma, per me è una di quelle scrittrici per cui puoi dire "Ma sì, ormai mi fido così tanto che vado a colpo sicuro!". Una garanzia che ti spinge a comprare il libro dopo poco che esce senza attendere la biblioteca, insomma.
E invece stavolta qualcosa non ha funzionato. E nemmeno capisco bene che cosa.
Lo stile è il solito, dialoghi frequenti, ironia tagliente, e anche il nostro caro "spalatore di nuvole", Adamsberg, è preso tra le sue solite riflessioni durante innumerevoli camminate, per arrivare a risolvere un caso che ha sempre a che fare con una paura ancestrale, una fobia eterna. Qui abbiamo degli anziani che muoiono dopo il morso di un ragno all'apparenza innocuo. Manca la doppia ambientazione che di solito alterna Parigi a un paese straniero, nonostante all'apertura Adamsberg si trovi in Islanda (ma non mi pare ci ritorni, e uso il verbo "mi pare" perchè, nell'assenza di passione, potrei essermi persa qualcosa).
E quindi?
E quindi non lo so. Ma dopo le 100-150 pagine, infarcite di dialoghi, a dire il vero un po' lunghi, che ho letto senza interesse, ho capito che questa volta il feeling tra me e il romanzo non era scattato. E tutto il resto mi è parso sciapo, noioso, privo di quel brillante misto fra humour e giallo che da sempre rende i romanzi della Vargas unici e molto piacevoli.
O è "colpa" mia, e le vicende di Adamsberg iniziano a stancarmi (ma non propendo per questa ipotesi, perchè io non mi stanco mai di quello che mi piace, vedi De Giovanni e il ciclo di Ricciardi, che ho letto per intero e che leggerei all'infinito senza che il mio interesse cali un briciolo!), oppure è Fred ad essere stanca dei suoi personaggi e ad avere bisogno di cercare nuove trame e nuove storie. Ma esiste anche una terza ipotesi, la più triste e temibile. E cioè che qualcuno stia iniziando a scrivere al posto suo, un po' come sospetto da anni accada con Stephen King, i cui ultimi romanzi, infatti, non hanno nulla (ma proprio nulla!) a che vedere con i suoi capolavori stile "It" o "Shining". Eppure qui lo stile pare lo stesso. E' solo la crescente antipatia fra Adamsberg e Danglard, sempre più distanti, che non mi spiego.
Insomma, delusa, dispiaciuta e a malicuore, assegno per la prima volta due stelline a Fred. Sigh...

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Και,ναι,είναι επίσημο:με τούτη την υπέροχη ιστορία-και από άποψη πλοκής,και από άποψη έμπνευσης,και από άποψη μαεστρίας στο σερβίρισμα του ενόχου-ο Επιθεωρητής Ανταμσμπέργκ έριξε μια περιποιημένη κ*λιά στον Τζον Ρέμπους,ρίχνοντάς τον στην τρίτη θέση,και κρατώντας την δεύτερη για τον εαυτό του,στο πάνθεον των λατρεμένων μου επιθεωρητών.Δεύτερος,δίπλα στον Χάρι μου.
Αν σε όλα τα προηγούμενα της Βαργκάς έδινα δεκάρια,αυτό εδώ πρέπει να πάρει 30/10.Εξαιρετικό.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Sentence: Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, sitting on a rock at the quayside, watched the Grimsey fishermen return with their daily catch as they moored their boats and hauled up their nets.

Spider bites can kill. But three elderly men, living in one area, killed by a small reclusive spider seems more than accidental to a member of Inspector Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg's team. As information is gathered, Adamsberg decides to investigate, a decision that causes a rift within his team. Running an unauthorized investigation and possibly losing his best friend and right-hand man is a risk, but seeking justice is worth it.

What an interesting opening to have the protagonist, the former commissaire of the Paris Serious Crimes Squad, on a quay in Iceland. Adamsberg's respite doesn't last long before he is called back to his team who knows him well—"Lieutenant Veyrenc…knew that when the commissaire was in charge, the squad was like a tall sailing ship, sometimes with a brisk wind behind it, other times becalmed and its sails drooping, rather than a powerful speedboat churning up torrents of spray."

For those who have read previous books in the series, there is a feeling of coming home. For those who have not, Vargas conveys the sense of the team members and their loyalty, from the very start. And what a quirky team it is, filled with affection and respect, right down to the cat and Mathias, a character from her "The Three Evangelists" series. It's interesting seeing Adamsberg go through the case and the evidence with the team, which adds veracity to the story. The verbal exchanges often make one smile—"It's called Le Curé de Tours, The Priest of Tours." "Thank you,' said Estalère warmly…'Still Balzac didn't bust a gut making up the title, did he?' 'Estalère, one doesn't say of Balzac that "he didn't bust a gut".'

As an historian and an eukaryotic archaeologist Vargas wrote a definitive work on the bubonic plague, and her knowledge certainly contributes to the story's plot. There is certainly nothing usual or ordinary about this case to which Adamsberg is attracted, as well as the realism of having the squad working more than the one case. There are very good twists and an escalation in the depth of the crimes involved and in the tension within the team. Yet it is all the characters, which are the core of the story, including Louise Chevier and Adamsberg's brother, a revelation in his own life, and the return of the imagery of a ship, which keeps us immersed in the story. Vargas plays fair with the reader. As Adamsberg begins to put the pieces together, so may we.

It is very difficult to quantify Vargas' work. She takes one into the world of the best, most unique police squad one will ever find although some similarities may be made to Christopher Fowler's "Bryant and May" team.

With "This Poison Will Remain," Vargas has created a story filled with delightful imagery, a unique plot, and a truly touching ending. For those who like the unusual and quirky, reading Vargas can be addictive.

THIS POISON WILL REMAIN (PolProc-Comm. Adamsberg-France-Contemp) - Ex
Vargas, Fred (translator, Siân Reynolds) – 7th in series
Harvill Secker – Aug 2019

[Elisso]

Η πρώτη μου επαφή με την Φρεντ Βαργκάς ήταν με το βιβλίο της «Οι καιροί των παγετώνων». Η γραφή της οφείλω να ομολογήσω ότι με ξένισε στην αρχή αλλά όταν έφτασα στο τέλος της ανάγνωσης αναγνώρισα τη μαεστρία της. Και στο «Όταν βγαίνει η αράχνη» διαπίστωσα ότι η Βαργκάς δεν γράφει αλλά κεντάει με την πένα της ένα ιδιαίτερο συγγραφικό εργόχειρο.

Στους «Καιρούς των παγετώνων» αφήσαμε τον ιδιόρρυθμο αστυνομικό επιθεωρητή Άνταμσμπεργκ στην μακρινή και παγωμένη Ισλανδία για να τον ξαναβρούμε εκεί στις πρώτες σελίδες του «Όταν βγαίνει η αράχνη». Έχοντας κάπως εγκλιματιστεί στη ζωή των Ισλανδών και παλεύοντας να μιλήσει τη γλώσσα τους θα κληθεί εσπευσμένα στο Παρίσι για να διαλευκάνει τη δολοφονία μιας γυναίκας. Εντελώς τυχαία όμως, μάλλον εντελώς βρωμερά απαίσια θα πω εδώ, θα πέσει πάνω σε κάποια παράξενα κρούσματα από τσίμπηματα αράχνης σε ηλικιωμένους που παρατηρήθηκαν σε μια επαρχιακή πόλη της Νότιας Γαλλίας. Οι ηλικιωμένοι κατέληξαν μετά από δύο ημέρες λόγω της σηψαιμίας που υπέστησαν από το δηλητήριο της αράχνης «ερημίτισσας», όπως την αποκαλούν οι ντόπιοι, παρόλο που το συγκεκριμένο δηλητήριο δεν είναι θανατηφόρο.

Το ενδιαφέρον του στρέφεται περισσότερο σε αυτά τα περιστατικά καθώς η διαίσθηση του για άλλη μια φορά δεν τον ξεγελά. Είναι πεπεισμένος ότι πίσω από αυτούς τους θανάτους κρύβεται κάτι άλλο και με ελάχιστους συμμάχους στο πλευρό του θα ξεκινήσει μια άτυπη και παράνομη έρευνα που θα φέρει στο φως νέα στοιχεία πλεγμένα σε ένα ιστό που θα τον βυθίσει σε μια υπόθεση που φτάνει ως τα βάθη όχι μόνο του παρελθόντος αλλά και του ίδιου του μυαλού. Τα θύματα της αράχνης πολλαπλασιάζονται με ταχύτατους ρυθμούς ανασύροντας από το σκοτάδι μια τρομακτική και πονεμένη ιστορία εκδίκησης.

Από που να ξεκινήσεις και που να τελειώσεις βασικά για αυτό το βιβλίο; Πως να μιλήσεις για κάτι που όταν ξεκινάς να το διαβάζεις διαπιστώνεις ότι θες να παραμείνεις βολεμένος στην πολυθρόνα ή στον καναπέ σου μια ολόκληρη μέρα χωρίς να σε ενοχλούν για να το τελειώσεις; Αλλά και να θες να το αφήσεις στην άκρη ακριβώς επειδή δεν θες να τελειώσει η αναγνωστική σου απόλαυση. Γιατί η Βαργκάς είναι απολαυστική πως να το κάνουμε τώρα και όσοι δεν την έχετε ανακαλύψει ακόμα μάλλον ήρθε η ώρα να το κάνετε. Οι γνώσεις της στην αρχαιοζωολόγια και η ειδίκευση της στη Μεσαιωνική ιστορία την έχουν βοηθήσει αρκετά ώστε να δημιουργεί ενδιαφέροντες αστυνομικές ιστορίες σε ένα κυνήγι θησαυρού στοιχείων προκειμένου ο αναγνώστης να ολοκληρώσει το παζλ του μυστηρίου που έχει πλέξει η συγγραφέας.

Μην περιμένετε να δείτε στα βιβλία της Βαργκάς σκληρές εικόνες δολοφονιών καθώς η ίδια χειρίζεται όλα τα τρομακτικά εγκλήματα που περιγράφει με ιδιαίτερη ευαισθησία. Τα βιβλία της εντάσσονται στο μεσογειακό νουάρ που προβάλλουν τις κοινωνικές συνθήκες κάτω από τις οποίες έγιναν τα εγκλήματα που λαμβάνουν χώρα μέσα στις ιστορίες της. Το «Όταν βγαίνει η αράχνη» ασχολείται με ένα κοινωνικό θέμα εξαιρετικής λεπτότητας που ανασύρεται από τα βάθη του παρελθόντος των ηρώων μέσα από τις αστυνομικές έρευνες κάνοντας τους αναγνώστες όχι μόνο να συμπαθήσουν τον δολοφόνο αλλά και να κατανοήσουν τις όποιες άνομες πράξεις του. Η Βαργκάς δεν αφήνει τίποτα στην τύχη. Ο σχεδιασμός της πλοκής της είναι ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκος χωρίς αυτό να κάνει το βιβλίο της δύσκολο να διαβαστεί. Αντίθετα η σκερτσόζα και άκρως χιουμοριστική γραφή της, η κυνικότητα των διαλόγων, το ιστορικό πλαίσιο που κινείται η πλοκή της, οι ατελείωτες ανατροπές και η διαδραστικότητα του κειμένου της είναι στοιχεία που ενεργοποιούν τους αναγνώστες και μετατρέπουν τα βιβλία σε page turner αναγνώσματα.

Η ομάδα αστυνομικών που έχει πλάσει στο μυαλό της η Βαργκάς είναι τόσο ιδιαίτερη και τόσο αλλόκοτη που όμοια της δεν έχω συναντήσει. Παράξενοι αλλά όχι αξέχαστοι οι ήρωες της θα σας ακολουθούν ακόμα και μετά το τέλος της ανάγνωσης των βιβλίων της. Ο πολυμήχανος Άνταμσμπεργκ, αρχηγός της ομάδας, ο πολυμνήμων Νταγκλάρ με τις απίστευτες γνώσεις του, ο παράξενος Βεράνκ με το περίεργο μαλλί του, η Ρετανκούρ με την πληθωρική και επιβλητική κορμοστασιά της, ο ναρκοληπτικός Μερκαντέ, ο εξυπηρετικός Εσταλέρ, ο Μορντάν, η Φρουασσύ και άλλοι απαρτίζουν αυτήν την αλλοπρόσαλη κάπως ομάδα αστυνομικών. Μέχρι και ο γάτος του τμήματος που κοιμάται στο ξεχασμένο φωτοτυπικό είναι ιδιαίτερος. Και όμως, μέσα από αυτό το συνοθύλευμα διαφορετικών προσώπων και χαρακτήρων, η ομάδα τους λειτουργεί καλά μέσα από την αφοσίωση που δείχνουν ο ένας στον άλλον καταφέρνοντας να λύσουν ακόμα και την πιο δύσκολη υπόθεση.

Η Βαργκάς όταν γράφει τα βιβλία της πρέπει να το διασκεδάζει πραγματικά παρόλο που θίγει σκληρά θέματα σε αυτά. Και αυτό περνάει στους αναγνώστες κυρίως μέσα από τους ξεκαρδιστικούς διαλόγους των ηρώων της μετατρέποντας το «Όταν βγαίνει η αράχνη» σε ένα αριστουργηματικό αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα. Η ίδια είναι γνωστή για το βάθος των γνώσεων της στη Μεσαιωνική ιστορία αλλά και στην αρχαιολογία και έχει ένα μαγικό τρόπο να ενσωματώνει στην πλοκή της αυτές τις εγκυκλοπαιδικές γνώσεις χωρίς να καταστεί το βιβλίο της ένα ιστορικό δοκίμιο. Η φαντασία της Βαργκάς οργιάζει κυριολεκτικά δημιουργώντας ίσως την πιο συναρπαστική μέθοδο δολοφονιών που έχουμε συναντήσει ποτέ σε αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα.

Στο «Όταν βγαίνει η αράχνη» η Βαργκάς αποδεικνύει ότι οι άνθρωποι είναι χειρότερα αρπακτικά από ότι οι αράχνες καταδιώκοντας τη λεία τους για να ικανοποιήσουν τις διαστροφικές τους ορέξεις. Ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα τόσο μοναδικό, τόσο μαγευτικό αλλά και τόσο σκοτεινό, τόσο μυστηριώδες με μια ιστορία που κυριολεκτικά καθηλώνει τους αναγνώστες μέσα από τις δαιδαλώδεις πτυχές της μέχρι να κατανοήσετε πλήρως τις σκέψεις του επιθεωρητή Άνταμσμπεργκ και να φτάσετε στην ταυτότητα του δολοφόνου. Η Βαργκάς ίσως είναι η πιο πρωτότυπη και παιχνιδιάρικη συγγραφέας σύγχρονων αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων που είναι γεμάτα με πολιτιστικές, ιστορικές, μυθολογικές και επιστημονικές πληροφορίες αλλά και με ιδιαίτερες γαστρονομικές και οινολογικές προτάσεις.

Και μια προειδοποίηση για τους λιγόψυχους. Αν φοβάστε τις αράχνες καλό είναι να οπλιστείτε με πολλά αποθέματα υπομονής και κουράγιου γιατί τα συγκεκριμένα αρθρόποδα εμφανίζονται διαρκώς μέσα στις σελίδες του βιβλίου.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Après Temps Glaciaires et ses interminables digressions à propos de Robespierre, mon excitation à l'idée de découvrir le nouvel Adamsberg se mêlait d'un peu d'appréhension : allais-je adhérer ?

Et bien oui, pour moi, Quand sort la recluse est un grand cru ! Je l'ai aimé du début à la fin, j'ai adoré redécouvrir la créativité totalement loufoque de Fred Vargas, j'ai apprécié les (brèves) incises historiques, les "bulles gazeuses" d'Adamsberg et me suis attachée à à peu près tous les personnages, coupables, victimes ou oscillant entre les deux.

Le schisme opérant au milieu de la brigade m'a particulièrement intéressée et je me demande déjà ce qu'il en restera lors du prochain volume.

Et si moi aussi j'avais deviné l'identité du coupable, ça ne m'a pas dérangée un quart de seconde, il s'agit d'un Fred Vargas pas d'un Gillian Flynn, le plaisir de la lecture se trouve dans l'écriture et dans l'univers si particulier, pas purement dans le "whodunit". D'autant que je n'avais pas du tout démasqué le pourquoi et le comment cette personne tuait.

A lire d'urgence selon moi.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un tempo Fred Vargas mi entusiasmava, il suo modo di scrivere inusuale, le trame dei gialli sempre originali e coinvolgenti… adesso non la riconosco più. Ho letto un romanzo giallo caotico, senza capo né coda, in cui il commissario Adamsberg indaga su delle strane morti di anziani signori morsi da un ragno “timido”, che vive nascosto tanto da meritarsi il nome di “reclusa”. La sua indagine però non è altro che un vagabondare per circa 400 pagine da un’ipotesi a un’altra, senza alcun elemento di prova, solo sulla base delle idee strampalate del commissario, che lui chiama bolle o proto pensieri ( suona tanto intellettual-chic l’uso di questo termine) e che io definirei, perdonate, delle cazzate.
Nelle ultime 10 pagine c’è la parte più bella, se si può dire così, non svelo nulla ma posso dire che mi è piaciuto il finale.
A distanza di giorni ho cambiato idea: anche il finale è una delusione, come il resto.

[Antonella Imperiali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bentornato commissario Adamsberg, grande spalatore di nuvole!

E complimenti alla Vargas, sempre
molto brava e perspicace nel trovare, ogni volta, una causa singolare, particolare e inconsueta per costruire un caso da risolvere.
Questa volta sono dei ragnetti assai strani: le recluse o i ragni vìolino (ma solo loro?).
Una storia dolorosa e tragica che affonda le radici nel passato, ma che manifesta i risvolti peggiori nel presente; o meglio, come la racconta il commissario, la sua è "un'indagine che sprofonda negli abissi, quelli del passato come quelli della mente."
Un caso che - quindi - fa molto pensare (e camminare) Adamsberg.
Perché...
"- I sobbalzi della deambulazione mettono in moto le microbolle che gironzolano nel cervello. Si muovono, si incrociano, si scontrano. E quando si cercano dei pensieri è una delle cose da fare.
- Non ci sono bolle nel cervello, commissario.
- Ma visto che non sono pensieri, lei come le chiama?
- [...]
- Vede, tenente? Sono bolle."

Unico❣

E che dire di Danglard? Di colui che mi ha sbatacchiata per tutto il romanzo tra rabbia e compassione?

E il (la) tenente Retancourt? Più che azzeccata questa descrizione (precisazione: è come la vede Mathias, archeologo; lo ricordate nei Tre Evangelisti?):
"E quella donna che anche nuda sarebbe parsa armata aveva un viso molto interessante, disegnato con un tratto sottile. Ma nonostante labbra impeccabili, un naso fine e dritto, occhi di un azzurro piuttosto dolce, non sarebbe stato in grado di dire se fosse bella, o attraente. Esitava, sospettando che potesse modificare il proprio aspetto a suo piacimento fra il versante dell'armonia o quello della rozzezza, a scelta. Lo stesso per la sua potenza: puramente fisica o psichica? Semplicemente muscolare o nervosa? Retancourt sfuggiva alla descrizione o all'analisi."

Violette, je t'adore! 💓

Anche questa volta Jean-Baptiste, pardon... la cara Fred non mi ha delusa. Un romanzo po' più lento ad ingranare, un po' più strano ed originale del solito (solo un pizzichino, eh!), il tutto condito con una buona dose dell'umanità del commissario Adamsberg.

Ma, a libro concluso, tutto sommato una storia ben raccontata, ben documentata, avvincente e intrigante.

Alla Vargas, insomma.

🌍 Europa Tour con un libro sotto il braccio: 🇫🇷 Francia 🇫🇷

🆕 2018

[fiafia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je donne un 4/5, ce qui est pour moi une note très juste, mais j'ai presque envie de donner un 5/5 car je retrouve enfin la Vargas que je commençais à égarer depuis Un lieu incertain.
Il est vrai, comme c'est souvent chez Vargas, que certaines illuminations et révélations d'Adamsberg semblent tirées par les cheveux mais who cares? Ce n'est pas tellement pour l'enquête qu'on (moi en tout cas) lit Vargas, c'est justement pour ces petits détours, étrangetés, "proto-pensées" et autres animaux. Et on est heureux de retrouver les personnages, un peu comme on retrouve de vieux amis, on apprend plein de choses, on visite (un peu) Paris et (beaucoup) la France profonde, on se pose avec Adamsberg des questions bizarres, d'apparence futile mais qui finissent par nous amener à des réflexions vraiment profondes et saisissantes.
En prime, j'ai relevé quelques petites perles d'aphorismes que je ne vous dévoilerai pas car en fin de compte les pensées et les maximes en disent plus sur nous que sur leurs auteurs (et "on ne note que ce qu'on ne comprend pas").
Non, finalement, je vais donner un 5/5...

[Justo Martiañez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para mi la mejor novela de la Serie Adamsberg. La historia es original, sorprendente, a veces surrealista y quizás poco creíble, pero se desarrolla de forma más redonda que en otros libros previos. El desenlace para mi fue bastante previsible, pero sólo a partir del último tercio del libro, hasta entonces estaba muy perdido. Los personajes como siempre magistrales. 9/10.

[Sarah (thegirltheycalljones) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5.
Not her best - not at all - but it felt so good to be back with these guys... Best police squad ever.
The ultimate comfort read, I never want to get out of her words. They feel comfy and reassuring like going back home after a long trip abroad.
Can't wait for the next one!

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encanta leer a Fred Vargas, y una vez que comienzo uno de sus libros no puedo dejarlo. Es muy distinta a cualquier otro autor policíaco: en sus novelas, lo fantástico, lo absurdo, incluso lo paranormal, son constantes. Y el lector fiel acepta con gusto estas reglas del juego y la peculiar forma de razonar de su comisario Adamsberg.

Sin embargo, en esta última entrega no le ha salido del todo redonda la jugada. Por mucho que intentara confundir la trama, el culpable estaba claro desde el principio, y los excesivo giros que ha tratado de imprimir a la narración cansan más que confunden. Es cierto que la casualidad juega a menudo un papel decisivo en sus novelas, pero en esta ocasión son demasiadas casualidades que, además, resultan innecesarias; la trama se podía resolver sin recurrir a ellas. Las tesis pseudopsicológicas que se manejan tampoco acaban de cuajar.

Es, además, una novela demasiado larga, con material que podría haberse usado al menos para dos libros. Que en un solo caso policial confluyan tantos crímenes y tramas distintos resulta bastante artificial.

Otro aspecto negativo es el tratamiento que Vargas da a algunos de sus personajes, con los que no parece saber qué hacer después de tantos años. Innecesaria alguna de las subtramas (no desvelaré de cuál se trata) con uno de los personajes más queridos, que no aporta nada a la historia, rebaja al personaje y parece una pobre excusa para justificar que dicho individuo no participe en la investigación. A otros personajes secundarios simplemente se los ha quitado de encima; un hecho más justificado, en mi opinión, pues ya habían dado de sí lo que podían e incluso sobraban en las últimas aventuras de Adamsberg y cía.

Por último, un aspecto positivo, al menos para mí, es la breve aparición de los "tres evangelistas" (al menos, de uno de ellos); no comprendo que Vargas no haya querido seguir dándoles su propia serie de novelas, siendo, en mi opinión, unos de los personajes más simpáticos y originales de la novela policíaca reciente.

[Mariafrancesca di natura viperesca sta con gli ultimi della terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secondo la definizione di Caso del vocabolario Treccani online: 4. Modo specifico con cui un fatto generico si presenta: è un c. imbrogliato, complicato, semplice, serio, difficile, disperato; c. clinico (v. clinico); caso limite (pl. casi limite), quello che, in una serie possibile di eventi o di situazioni, si considera come possibilità o modalità estrema.

È il vero motivo per cui mi piacciono i gialli: l’inquirente e il medico hanno in comune il Caso, vivo o morto. In quest’ultimo caso, in entrambi gli ambiti entra in scena l’anatomo patologo.

Se il Caso è vivo si procede all’interrogatorio (anamnesi), si cercano le prove ( indagini strumentali e biochimiche), si mette in atto una prima ipotesi di colpevolezza ( di diagnosi) si aspettano i risultati positivi di una terapia o di un primo dato d’accusa, se si è fortunati : inquirenti e parte lesa o medici e pazienti.
Ma il più delle volte nelle menti dell’inquirente e del medico si inseguono “bolle”, come nel nostro inimitabile Adamsberger: le devi assolutamente inseguire per scoprire la verità sul delitto o sulla malattia.
Infatti è in queste bolle che si annida la quisquiglia che è sfuggita e che nobilita il dubbio, a volte scambiato per accidia, impedendo di comminare la pena definitiva o il verdetto infausto.
L’inquirente e il medico maneggiano vite e si deve procedere con massima cura.
Adamsberger sarebbe stato un ottimo medico e qua si è espresso al meglio.

Quattro stelle e mezzo? No, nel suo genere ne vale cinque piene.

P.S. anche se nella fattispecie il Caso è risolto nelle primissime pagine - persino io c'ero arrivta - vista la delicatezza dei personaggi erano necessarie tutte le elucubrazioni del nostro commissario per non trasformarsi in un elefante in una cristalleria.

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

‘This Poison Will Remain’ by Fred Vargas, either #7 or #11, depending on which list, Amazon or Goodreads, you use to check out the Paris Commissaire Adamsberg series, is a horrifying mystery involving spiders and the abuse of children. But, as usual, Vargas writes with her strikingly different mystery twists that I’ve never read in any other mystery I’ve ever tried.

I didn’t exactly enjoy this one as I have all of the others. It was too sad, with awful happenings. Adamsberg, the main character, almost doesn’t solve the case he uncovers either. In fact, he almost loses his job over the mystery because he cannot convince his team that a number of very rare spider bite deaths were actually murder. But despite my occasional horror and sadness, the book is on the whole a wonderfully entertaining read because the main police characters are all so darling.

Adamsberg does not think like regular people, much less like a police investigator. He is a dreamy sort. He gets bubbles in his brain which float about after rising from the depths of his mind. The way he figures out he has a relevant clue is one of the mental bubbles pops, and suddenly he sees how a clue fits in along with the fact it is a clue to a case he is working on.

Adamsberg is a character that is completely different from any fictional investigator I’ve ever read about before. He does not operate like either Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot or any of the typical hardcore American or Scandinavian detectives. Even the other fictional European detectives, whose creators often mix in their plots funny domestic dramas alternating with terrible criminals, do some thinking while sleuthing. Adamsberg needs to empty his mind and allow what he describes as little tickling bubbles to float about while sleuthing. Because he operates like this, his Paris team of police officers are often in doubt that he knows what he is doing. The only thing which saves Adamsberg from being fired is he solves every crime eventually, putting together the bubbles into coherent clues. His team follows him despite his bizarre ways because they are misfits that only he can somehow make competent by knowing their skill sets so thoroughly he helps them minimize their quirks and maximize their talents.

Every one of the Paris police team are wonderfully exotic and lovable. Adamsberg sometimes exasperates me, but I enjoy his peculiar investigations. These crimes begin often in a very weird and nebulous manner, so very opaque only Adamsberg knows they must be crimes because of his tickling mental bubbles. When he begins investigating, with his head in misty clouds of bubbles, the others often think him mad. It takes awhile in every book before the team is on the same page with him. Half of his team has faith in him and they are willing to go along with his unexplainable feelings to help him. The others are skeptical for awhile. I don’t blame them. It is possible if I were one of his team, I’d be skeptical of Adamsberg’s methodology too. He seems to operate like a medium receiving messages, although if he is, the author does not really permit the plot to play out like that in the end.

I have copied the book blurb:

”Commissaire Adamsberg investigates the death of three men linked by their childhood at an orphanage in Nimes, all killed by the venom of the recluse spider, in the new novel by the #1 bestselling French crime writer

“Spry, ironic, yet fully engaged with the horror of contemporary reality.”
—Los Angeles Times

“A wildly imaginative series.”—The New York Times

A murder in Paris brings Commissaire Adamsberg out of the Icelandic mists of his previous investigation and unexpectedly into the region of Nîmes, where three old men have died of spider bites. The recluse has a sneaky attack, but is that enough to explain the deaths of these men, all killed by the same venom?

At the National Museum of Natural History, Adamsberg meets a pensioner who tells him that two of the three octogenarians have known each other since childhood, when they lived in a local orphanage called The Mercy. There, they had belonged to a small group of violent young boys known as the "band of recluses." Adamsberg faces two obstacles: the third man killed by the same venom was not part of the "band of recluses", and the amount of spider venom necessary to kill doesn't add up.

Yet after the Nîmes deaths, more members of the old band succumb to recluse bites, leading the commissaire to uncover the tragedy hidden behind the walls of the orphanage.”

Of the Commissaire Adamsberg novels I have read, this one is more serious than the others have been. Every book has some real and uniquely French history driving the plots forward, but the history I learned in this novel was not only unique, it is shockingly sad.

Readers should not start with this book. None of the books are standalone. One must begin with The Chalk Circle Man.

[Ligeia · Rating 2 out of 5]

il morso della ripetizione

torna il commissario Adasmsberg, nel senso che torna dalle lande ghiacciate in cui si era rifugiato, richiamato da un caso che viene risolto nel primo o secondo capitolo, tutto il resto è lui che spazza le nuvole, insegue una serie di omicidi che nessuno crede siano tali, si allea con una parte della squadra mentre Danglard cerca l'ammutinamento, inseguono ragni e recluse medievali e alla fine ha ragione Adamsberg...niente che non ci fosse già nei precedneti libri, solo che si enfatizza sempre di più il lato preveggente/sensitivo del commissario e Danglard per contro sembra sempre più uno stronzo rigido e insopportabile, insomma sono talmente rigidi tutti da essere assunti al ruolo di archetipi, o forse lo erano già da prima e io mi sono stufata della prevedibilità del tutto, chissà...

[Lyn Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of Vargas' books I've read and I'm hooked. I'll search out all I can find.

The plot is complex and gripping, the characters intriguing, and the cleverness of the author is never in doubt as the mystery solving includes fragments of philosophy and psychoanalytic speculation as well as revelations from the tangled, misty mind of Commissaire Adamsberg

The original French must sparkle, because it's a joy to read in translation.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reread for me. Was originally 3 stars but now it's a 3.7 stars. A thriller murder mystery with spiders as suspect as at least used in 3 murders. Very interesting plot and quite unique but wasn't as thrilling and overly attached to the story. However I have been having a reading slump due to mental health so it might be the cause of me not being as invested. Still a good story though!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A police procedural set in France.

Something of an 87 Precinct type vibe, although there is an ace investigator, who solves all of the mysteries. There are several going on, but the main one is a group of old men who are dying from the poison of brown recluse spiders, which should be impossible.

Very readable.

[Miglė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labai sužavėjo pirmosios lietuviškai išleistos Fred Vargas knygos apie komisarą Adamsbergą – Bėk greitai ir ilgai negrįžk, Mėlynųjų skritulių žmogus, Išvirkščias žmogus. Patiko mistinė atmosfera, viduramžiškų prietarų ir baimių įsiveržimas į šiuolaikinį pasaulį (autorė yra medievistė) ir demistifikavimas knygos pabaigoje – kaifas!

Žavesio suteikė ir personažai – "miglose klaidžiojantis" Adamsbergas ir kiti policininkai su savo keistenybėmis. Tačiau serijai tęsiantis tos charakteristiko kaupėsi, kaupėsi, kol... Bent jau šioje dalyje man pasirodė, kad per mielus keistuolius nebelabai matosi siužeto. Gal niekas ten labai nepasikeitė, gal aš pati tapau jautresnė tam tikroms klišėms, bet Adamsbergas pasidarė toks manic pixie dream commissaire, kad tiesiog pradėjo nervinti.

O šiaip nėra bloga knyga, įdomus nusikaltimas, gal norėjosi "mistiškesnio", bet tebūnie. Jei skaitėte Richard Osman "The Thursday Murder Club" ir nenervino, skaitykite ir Fred Vargas!

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un nuovo Fred Vargas ! A soli due anni da Tempi glaciali! Aspettavo l'arrivo del corriere, 3 giorni fa, come da bambina aspettavo Natale, ed eccolo qui, il nuovissimo Adamsberg, già divorato e pronto per essere attentamente vagliato. Questa volta M.me Vargas ci accompagna in una roteante avventura a base di ragni, coleotteri, piccioni, merli, recluse medioevali murate e recluse più moderne, orfani e orfanatrofi, psichiatri e zoologi, il tutto insieme a Magellano e le sue navi alla ricerca del passaggio verso il Pacifico. E non mancano gli ammutinamenti e i tradimenti. Ma soprattutto non manca lui, Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, appena rientrato dall'Islanda, alle prese con i suoi proto-pensieri e con un'indagine come sempre complessa e nascosta. I viaggi che farete con lui tra Parigi e Nimes, tra Parigi e Lourdes, dal commissariato alla trattoria, lungo le rive della Senna, saranno innumerevoli. A sorpresa, anche una breve apparizione degli Evangelisti aiuterà a dipanare la matassa di una vicenda triste, squallida, violenta e dolorosa. Un solo avvertimento, per i fedelissimi di Fred Vargas: lo schema è sempre simile ai romanzi precedenti e, con un po' di attenzione, il colpevole lo scoprirete prima di Adamsberg... o forse anche questa è la bravura dell'autrice, farci capire quello che i suoi personaggi non sanno ancora.
Aspetto con impazienza la traduzione italiana per vedere come vengono resi i tantissimi giochi di parole e di significato che sono alla base di questo bel romanzo. E con ancora maggiore impazienza il prossimo viaggio di Adamsberg e della sua ciurma.

[Anina e gambette di pollo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autore: francese. Romanzo.

Chi conosce l’autrice non si stupirà delle bolle mentali di Adamsberg né delle nebbie in cui si aggira. E neppure del fatto che le sue storie s’intreccino con tradizioni medioevali, mahjong e tridenti, reliquie e monache assassine, un club di Robespierre. O un ragno eremita.
Il che mi è costato un certo sforzo: io detesto i ragni (e anche tutto ciò che ha più di 4 zampe).

Ottima la scrittura come la capacità di mantenere l’attenzione per tutta la vicenda anche quando si limitano tutti a mangiare o a dare da mangiare ai merli.

Questa volta Danglard assume un comportamento poco piacevole e l’idea di Adamsberg dell’esistenza di più omicidi dietro la morte di alcuni ottuagenari divide il commissariato
tra favorevoli, contrari e un astenuto.

La traduttrice è stata brava a mantenere il più possibile i giochi di parole che costituiscono la ragnatela che si forma nella mente del commissario, da indizio a indizio.

Storia che è piena di colpevoli, tranne l’assassino.


23.02.2018

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Vargas, francesa, medievalista, arqueóloga, reciente ganadora del Princesa de Asturias y "Reina de la novela negra" en sus tiempos libres, logra otro misterio tan poco convencional como los métodos que su protagonista utiliza para resolverlo.
Dos ancianos mueren por el veneno de la, habitualmente, pacífica araña reclusa y aquello será el detonante que desnudará una historia sobrecogedora.
Los temas principales, el abuso y la consecuente venganza, son tratados con una asombrosa equidistancia para víctimas y victimarios. Una aproximación bastante ecuánime a la sombría naturaleza humana.
El siempre intuitivo comisario Adamsberg y toda su troupe han vuelto a la acción. Y es una excelente noticia.

[Ffiamma · Rating 2 out of 5]

tornano adamsberg e tutta la combriccola- con una storia confusa, che si perde tra altre storie inutili e lungaggini, in cui si capisce quasi subito (nonostante gli innumerevoli giri a vuoto, che immagino vogliano sembrare colpi di scena) chi sia il colpevole. in cui coincidenze forzate e incongruenze dominano e attenuano la sospensione dell'incredulità, in cui si è perso il lato fiabesco e ammaliante delle storie della vargas. che delusione.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primer libro de Fred Vargas que leo, no es mi estilo favorito. Ahora entiendo porque la recomiendan, lleva la trama de manera excelente y los personajes son cercanos. Sin embargo, como es apropiado en las novelas de detectives, la trama se enreda y complica sin necesidad y algunas sorpresas son bastante obvias.

Gran lectura para aligerar la mente.

[Viviana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Va bene, ma perché prendersela con Danglard?

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sono una grande fan di F. Vargas, ho letto tutti i suoi libri e ho accolto con gioia un nuovo romanzo dopo anni in cui non avevo più nulla di suo da leggere. Per questo forse il mio parere è fin troppo positivo, mi rendo conto che è influenzato dall'entusiasmo delle letture precedenti.
Adamsberg è sempre Adamsberg, di raro fascino con il suo viso dai tratti strani e il carattere scontroso dei Pirenei, ma in questo libro mi è diventato un po' meno scontroso, quasi un chiacchierone. Passata una prima parte un pochino più lenta dalla parte centrale conquista il lettore come solo la Vargas sa fare, fino ad arrivare ai due terzi quando, ahimè, avevo già capito chi fosse l'assassino (e no, non è il maggiordomo!). Insomma, qua sta la mia delusione, mai e dico mai, avevo intuito chi fosse il colpevole in un libro della Vargas, mai prima che si degnasse di spiegarmelo lei con tutte le sue strampalatissime ricostruzioni. Invece in questo libro sapevo perfettamente dove andare a cercare appena passata la metà.
Non me lo aspettavo Fred, mi avevi abituata meglio.
Detto ciò, rimane un buon libro, avvincente e visionario come solo la Vargas sa scriverne.

Consigliato: a chi già apprezza questa autrice
Sconsigliato (anzi vietato!): a chi approccia per la prima volta ai suoi libri. Conoscete Adamsberg in qualche altra sua avventura altrimenti non ve ne innamorerete

[Buccan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enésima vez que lo digo: disfruto con las novelas de Vargas, con esas pinceladas del absurdo que solo ella (gracias a sus personajes creados para ello) puede brindarnos: añoraré cuando no me queden más de la serie por leer.