Il ne faut pas parler dans l'ascenceur: Série Victor Lessard

Victor Lessard #1

by Martin Michaud

Victor Lessard must track down a ruthless hunter that stalks the streets of Montreal.


A senior administrator is stabbed to death in his office at the Montreal General Hospital. In the east end of the city, a dead man is found in the trunk of a stolen BMW. A young woman is hospitalized after an apparent hit-and-run, but despite her doctor’s objections, she refuses treatment and sets off on a desperate search for the man who saved her.


Montreal police detective Victor Lessard and his team of investigators work to find the common thread linking these seemingly unrelated cases. Soon it becomes apparent that there’s no time to lose: A ruthless hunter has come to town, he’s spotted his prey, and he’s waiting for the right moment to close in for the kill.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Canada, Detective, Roman

Paperback

First published January 11, 2010

About the author

Reconnu par la critique comme le « maître du thriller québécois », Martin Michaud a pratiqué le métier d’avocat d’affaires pendant vingt ans avant de se consacrer pleinement à l’écriture.

Ses romans lui ont valu un vaste lectorat au Québec et en Europe, ainsi que de nombreux prix littéraires.

Depuis 2017, il scénarise pour la télé la série Victor Lessard, qui a remporté le premier prix au Banff World Media Festival et cumulé plus de 6 millions de visionnements sur le Club Illico. Les droits de distribution de la série ont été récemment acquis par ZDF Entreprises.   
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Born in 1970, Martin Michaud is a musician, novelist and screenwriter. He worked as a business lawyer for twenty years before devoting himself to writing full-time in 2012.
 
His novels have gained a wide readership in Quebec and Europe, winning numerous literary prizes. He is hailed by critics as “the master of the Quebec thriller.”
 
Author of the bestselling Victor Lessard crime novels, Martin Michaud is also the writer of the hit TV series Victor Lessard, adapted from the books. The series won first prize at the Banff World Media Festival. It has had over 6 million views on Club Illico, and has been bought by ZDF for global distribution.
 
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Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary!
I wish to express my sincere thanks to Net Galley and Dundurn Press for Without Blood by Martin Michaud. The 5 book series featuring Detective Victor Lessard was originally written in French, and are now being impeccably translated to English. This is a fast-paced, ingenious, gripping thriller. It is definitely not 'without blood'. Its suspense keeps escalating to an intense nerve-shattering crescendo. Never Forget, the first book translated was a definite favourite of mine. Any concerns that Without Blood would be less exciting were soon vanquished.

Detective Victor Lessard was demoted from the Major Crimes Unit. His boss treats him with disdain. His wife left him and took their two teenaged children. He is a recovering alcoholic who has struggled with the urge to drink.

There are twists and turns and red herrings galore. I was completely baffled where it was all leading, but so were Lessard and his colleagues. A diabolical killer is on the streets of Montreal. A top hospital administrator has been stabbed to death in his office. A second man has also been murdered. His severed finger has been taken as a trophy, or perhaps, Lessard believes, to use its print to unlock a safe or computer. A woman, Simone, has been left in a coma after a hit and run.

Detective Lessard finds evidence that the deceased hospital administrator may have been running a sex and drug ring attended by the rich and powerful. He secretly filmed the guests and their antics. Was blackmail a motive? Was the young woman now lying in a coma in hospital one of the sex workers? The police chief wants this part of the investigation to end. Is he a part of the scandal and blackmail? Is there any connection between the three victims?

During the ongoing investigation, Simone recovers from her coma. Against medical advice, she walks out of the hospital. She is in a desperate search to find a man, Miles, who helped her when she was hit by the vehicle. They spent the day together and she felt a close connection with him. Her search seems futile and she makes some mind-shattering discoveries. She meets a man, Kurt Waldorf, who has had some contact with Miles. Kurt has Miles' son, Laurent, tied up in an apartment. Is Laurent to be the next murder victim?

While Simone searches for Miles, the murderer is stalking her. He aims to finish the job that the hit and run vehicle failed to do. Lessard and Simone's roommate are at the beginning of a romantic relationship. How does that work out for them? Lessard receives a distressing phone call. His son has come too close to a murder victim's corpse. Lessard's boss is impatient with the lack of a solution in the case and wants to assign it to the provincial police force. Two more bloody, brutal murders occur.

There are seemingly unsolvable puzzles. One mystery is inexplicable through medical science and may insert a touch of the supernatural into the story.
I wait impatiently for the remaining books in the Victor Lessard series to be translated and published. There was a popular TV series based on these books that ran for three seasons on a Quebec network. I hope that it eventually lands on one of our streaming services. Recommended.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without Blood by Martin Michaud is the prequel of the 2020 novel Never Forget and if you have never read this author, you will want to read both and if you have already read last year’s novel, this will be a great way to learn about the hero’s background. This is a translation from French to English. This police procedural features Montreal detective Victor Lessard and his investigators. The story develops over a period of a few days and will involve two murders and a disappearance. The detectives must determine if theses crimes are related and who is the perpetrator. This is an unusual mystery because there is also a mystical plot line. The characters are wonderfully flawed and have more than one skeleton in their closet, keeping the reader totally involved until the end. There are three storylines that keep the police running in several directions and the resolution of the crimes is not evident until almost the end. And you will not guess who committed the crimes. There are other French novels by Martin Michaud and hopefully they will also be translated. This is an excellent series. Highly recommended. Thank you to Dundurn Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Without Blood” is one of five crime thrillers Martin Michaud published in his Victor Lessard series. The series was originally published in French (the language of Quebec), was turned into a hit three-season French-language television series (Victor Lessard), and is now being translated into English for the benefit of English speaking audiences by Dundurn Press. This is the second English-version book in the series being released even though it was the first in French. Never Forget was published in January 2020 and was the basis for the ten-episode first season of the tv series.

For those arriving at Without Blood after first reading Never Forget, you’ll find a younger, less confident Victor. As in Never Forget, the killer’s motivations are complex and could be a book by themselves, spanning back decades. Nadja works with Victor, but his romantic liaisons are elsewhere at this point in his story.

What readers opening up this crime thriller will find is a series of unrelated crimes puzzling Victor and his team of detectives. As he pokes around, nothing quite makes sense, particularly when the modus operandi is quite dissimilar. Alternating with Victor’s narrative is that of the mysterious killer and one of his targets, Simone Fortin. Simone’s story at times takes this book out of the realm of the ordinary crime thriller and imbued it with ideas you wouldn’t think to find here. You will see things through her eyes and wonder whether she has a firm grip on reality or whether she’s merely trapped in a dream.

The pace is solidly non-stop. The excitement carries through from beginning to end.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

[CarolG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received approval from the publisher through Netgalley to read the second book in the Victor Lessard series - The Devil's Choir - so thought I'd read the first book to acquaint myself with the characters and back story. I started reading the e-book version of Without Blood months ago through Overdrive but couldn't seem to focus on it and it came due before I was even half-way through. Recently the library received the paperback edition so I thought I'd try again. I was pretty surprised by how much of what I had read I'd forgotten but I enjoyed it a lot more this time around. This series of books is translated from French and takes place mostly in Montreal Quebec.

The book was well written and seemed to be well translated with some interesting characters although I kept thinking I'd wandered into the wrong book as it jumped from one person's point of view to another's without warning or into a different scenario. I was also a little freaked out by the paranormal thread as I wasn't expecting it. There's quite a bit of violence and bloodshed and many many characters. In spite of those drawbacks I enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to reading the second book although some of the reviews for Book 2 are not very favourable.

[Daniel Shindler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Victor Lessard series and is the second one translated into English, following the excellent “Never Forget.” This book stands on its own and employs an imaginative narrative told in three different voices.The first voice is that of Detective Lessard of the Montreal Police. He is a man with definite life challenges.He is a recovering alcoholic.He is recently divorced with no contact with his children. He had a traumatic childhood.He has been demoted from the Major Crimes Unit.His relationship with his superiors borders between contentious and non existent.

Victor is called attend to a hit and run accident. The victim, Simone, is the second voice in the story. She has been hospitalized and is in a brief coma.Upon recovering, she checks out of the hospital and seeks out the man who she thinks has saved her during the hit and run.Unbeknownst to Simone, she is being stalked by a killer,the third voice,whose motives are unknown at the outset of the book. He has also committed a previous killing that has yet to be discovered.While Victor is checking on Simone in the hospital, the killer stabs and murders a hospital administrator in the same facility, which draws Victor away from Simone’s bedside and allows her to leave the hospital to begin her search.

These disparate incidents provide the framework of the narrative, as Victor and his team attempt to connect the cases and discover a motive that will lead them to the killer.There are a number of false trails and some sinister backstories that have to emerge before further tragedies arise.

The structure of the story is a bit unusual.It is told in alternating voices.The killer and Victor drive the story in a third person narrative.Simone contributes in a first person voice.At first, the narrative and plotting seem somewhat disjointed.However, Michaud’s prose and concept draw the reader into the action even when it does not seem totally coherent. About halfway through the book, the strands begin to come together and from that point forward the pace is extremely intense.Simone’s narrative is the most unusual and may involve some paranormal aspects.That is for each reader to decide.Some people have relatives who may have “ second sight.”

This book is has a great deal of imagery and is well written. It evokes a number of familial, psychological and heart rending themes. A third book is being released in English later this year. I am quivering with anticipation.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read Mr Michaud’s first book, Never Forget, I was excited to find a Canadian author I truly enjoyed, and, especially one from my birthplace of Montreal. So when his second book came out, I was apprehensive that it would't meet the same standards as he had set for the first one! Well, silly me! This second book kept me captivated enough to read the whole book in one sitting. I am quite familiar with Notre Dame de Grace (or NDG) well …as well as all the other streets mentioned. It was like sitting down with a lovely cup of tea and visiting an old friend!!! The story line was a bit confusing at the beginning … sorting out which character was talking …jumping from one scene to another. But it all sorts out and this author will have you dangling off each word, each sentence, each paragraph! He is very eloquent with his speech and his style of writing. I would also give kudos to Mr. Holden who translated the book into English …he did a phenomenal job. This is the second book Michaud has translated to English. I truly hope he ...or his publisher decides to translate his other books …I would have loved to see how Lessard transitioned in book 1 and 2.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Victor Lessard Thriller

Book #2 for the English audience

A note at the beginning suggests that we should consider “Without Blood” a prequel to the series.

I am not surprised learning that Mr. Michaud’s nickname is the Master of the Quebec thriller and that his Victor Lessard series has been adapted and is airing on the TV platform here in French Quebec as well as in Europe. For the English audience two of his books are now translated “Never Forget” came out earlier this year and “Without Blood” will in the next few months. My thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Each book has a unique story to tell, “Without Blood” invites us to travel through the beautiful streets of Montreal where multiple non-trivial stories unfold. It opens when a young woman (Simone) wakes up from a coma and goes on a mad dash to find a man who in all likelihood does not exist. It follows with rebellious cop Victor Lessard pursuing a ruthless hunter who stalks the streets of Montreal and the third thread brings a hunter stalking his prey and awaiting the right moment to close in for the kill.

The author, a native of the city, knows well the city and its neighborhoods, following the characters through the streets and locals brought back cherish memories to this Montrealer. The story is told in alternate voices going from a 1sr person narrative when Simone’s speaks and switches to a 3rd person narrative when Victor and the hunter play their parts. The alternating voices seemed hard to follow at first but I soon fell into the beat and from then on, no trouble I knew that... Simone, Victor and the hunter will each have their turn to tell their stories.

The translation is outstanding; the artist has captured the voice of the writer perfectly. Thanks to the author's fluid and rhythmic writing and the unbridled speed it is said this is one of those books hard not to be deeply invested in. Some may not like to be plunged into the paranormal when Simone has visions, although I am not a fan, it did not bother me at all. Victor is the perfect cliché of policemen but he plays his role perfectly, I love him. As for the rest of the crew they are well- defined and their roles are exciting to read.

I love this series and “Without Blood” gets 5 stars from me

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of Without Blood, the second, although first chronologically, to feature Montreal detective Victor Lessard.

A young woman is injured in a hit and run and taken to hospital. In the same hospital the chief administrator is stabbed to death and then a dead body is found in the boot of a stolen car. What links them? Lessard has his work cut out trying to find out.

I ended up really enjoying Without Blood but it is a novel of two halves with a disjointed first half that I considered abandoning and a strong second half where the disjointedness starts to come together for a strong, tense resolution.

The hit and run victim is Simone Fortin and her narrative is told in the first person and boy, what a narrative. It revolves around the supernatural or something approximating it - I’m not going to describe it as it might spoil the read - which makes her leave the hospital and go on a journey. All the other narratives are in the third person, mostly Lessard and the unnamed killer. I like Lessard who is a recovering alcoholic, separated from his wife and kids. He worries about doing the right thing professionally to solve the case but doesn’t think twice about tangling with his boss. He’s a very human man. The killer is nameless and while he obviously has a motive for his actions it’s not revealed until the denouement, therefore his sections are more about his actions and determination to finish the job.

The first half of the novel is necessarily slow in order to set up the characters and the narrative. I didn’t particularly like all the switching about as I found it difficult to get fully immersed in the novel and the woo woo bits are too much for my practical mindset. The second half is completely different. Lessard starts to get a handle on his case so the action ramps up and the read becomes tenser.

Without Blood is worth the slog of the early chapters as it becomes a good procedural.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der Montrealer Kriminalbeamte Victor Lessard steht nach der Trennung von Frau und Kindern und dem traumatischen Tod zweier Kollegen im Dienst am zaghaften Beginn einer Zukunft als trockener Alkoholiker. Als der Verwaltungschef eines Krankenhauses an seinem Arbeitsplatz offenbar mit einem Jagdmesser fachkundig niedergemetzelt wird, wissen Michauds Leser bereits mehr über ein mögliches Tatmotiv als das Ermittlerteam. Der Täter folgte offenbar einen präzisen Racheplan, bei dem man ihm über die Schulter sehen kann. Sein erstes Opfer ruht bereits in einem Golfsack in einem geparkten Auto, das dummerweise kurz darauf von jugendlichen Autodieben gestohlen wird. Der Täter lässt sich (für seine Persönlichkeit verblüffend) von seinem Plan ablenken und folgt gerade seiner zweiten Zielperson, als ihm im Krankenhaus überraschend der Verwaltungsmann Mongeau über den Weg läuft, der an dem Tag noch nicht auf seiner Agenda stand. Lessard und sein Team forschen nun akribisch nach Feinden, die der politisch aktive Verwaltungsmann gehabt haben könnte – unter den Argusaugen von Chef Tanguay, der die Ermittlungen zum bestens vernetzten Mongeau am liebsten ganz einstellen lassen würde. Ob Mongeau gegen Tanguay etwas in der Hand hatte?

In diesem Krankenhaus liegt die junge Simone Fortin im Koma, die bei einem Unfall mit Fahrerflucht verletzt wurde. Als Leser ist man zu dem Zeitpunkt mitten zwischen mehrere Erzählperspektiven und verschiedene Zeitebenen gestoßen worden (Simone erzählt aus der Ichperspektive, ein allwissender Erzähler weiß stets mehr als das Team Lessard und von eingeblendeten Erlebnissen eines Kindes mit seinem Vater bei der Jagd können sicher nur Vater und Sohn wissen). Selbst wenn Michauds Leser lange im Dunkeln tappen, sind sie dem Team Lessard stets einen Schritt voraus. In dem Mosaik aus zwei Todesopfern, die in gleicher Weise abgeschlachtet wurden, Simone als Unfallopfer und sonderbaren Erlebnissen, die sie offenbar mit einem Mann namens Miles verbinden, schien mir der zeitliche Ablauf nicht zu stimmen. Miles trifft jedoch offenbar genau Simones schwachen Punkt, einem Grabstein auf einem Friedhof, von dem nach Simones Überzeugung niemand wissen konnte. Als Simone sich gegen ärztlichen Rat aus dem Krankenhaus verabschiedet, um nach Miles zu suchen, ist das der Beginn einer für sie selbst, ihr Umfeld und Lessards Team lebensgefährlichen Jagd nach dem Mann mit dem Jagdmesser. Simones Vergangenheit öffnet schließlich den Zugang zur Verbindung zwischen Täter und Opfern.

Nachdem ich durch Simones Erlebnisse mit „Miles“ kurz an meiner Wahrnehmung zweifeln musste, entfaltete sich der Startband in die Victor-Lessard-Serie zu einem überaus blutigen, komplexen Krimi mit diversen Verknüpfungen, dem sehr berührenden Thema Koma-Patienten und der ethisch hoch interessanten Frage, wann Menschen lernen, sich mit der Vergangenheit zu versöhnen.

[Roxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Il ne faut pas parler dans l'ascenceur" vous invite au voyage dans la belle ville de Montréal. Dans ce cadre si beau, si paisible, que l'auteur connaît bien puisqu'il y vit, se déroule, non pas une, mais de multiples histoires pas banales.

Tout d'abord, une jeune femme (Simone Fortin) se réveille du coma et se lance à la poursuite d'un homme qui a vraisemblablement disparu. Elle croise la route d'un inspecteur de police tentant d'élucider deux meurtres crapuleux, ayant eu lieu à 24h d'intervalles. Autour d'eux, dans l'ombre, un mystérieux chasseur pense que chacun doit payer pour ses fautes et poursuit inlassablement sa quête.

Les voix s'alternent ici et forment une sorte de roman choral où l'auteur nous plonge successivement dans les péripéties & les psychés de chacun des personnages. Troublant mais passionnant, la 3° personne du singulier utilisée pour l'écriture se transforme parfois en 1° personne (pour le récit de Simone) et nous emmène toujours plus loin dans les méandres de ces vies cabossées par des événements passés.

Les points de vue changent à une rapidité effrénée et nous ne pouvons que nous interroger sur les mystérieux liens qui pourraient unir ces personnages. Heureusement, grâce à l'écriture fluide et rythmée de l'auteur, les trappes s'ouvrent. On est surpris et on dénoue peu à peu les fils ténus liant ces destins hors-normes de personnages ordinaires.

Pour les férus de romans policiers "classiques", vous y retrouverez la figure type mais attachante du policier bourru, en rébellion contre sa hiérarchie, traînant derrière lui une vie chaotique et une addiction à l'alcool.

Pour les amateurs de romans policiers moins "traditionnels", vous aurez le plaisir de vous laisser importer par une petite touche de fantastique peinte ici et là dans l'histoire de Simone. Son récit (à la 1° personne du singulier donc) brouille les pistes mais offre des bulles d'air bienvenues dans ce récit d'exécution et de chasse à l'homme.

"Il ne faut pas parler dans l’ascenseur" est plus qu'un livre policier. C'est un livre de voyage avec tous ces québécismes savoureux et cette carte de la ville (placée au début du livre), qui ne font qu'inviter davantage au voyage et à nous plonger corps et âme dans ce récit. C'est également un livre qui effleure des sujets d'actualité : l'euthanasie, l'état des hôpitaux, la détresse des jeunes, encrant le récit dans le monde réel et présent.
Martin Michaud s'amuse de toutes ces oppositions (1° personnage / 3° personne) (fantastique / réel) et le lecteur s'amuse.

L'auteur signe ici son premier roman (publié au Québec en 2010, et paru chez nous en février 2015 aux éditions Kennes). Il a déjà publié trois autres romans outre-Atlantique mettant en scène le personne de Victor Lessard, l'inspecteur de "Il ne faut pas parler dans l'ascenseur". Cette série a été récompensée par 5 prix internationaux.

Petit bémol pour moi qui m'a empêchée d'apprécier totalement ce livre : l'histoire "au-delà du réel" qui, bien que piquant par curiosité au départ", m'a lassée et surtout, je ne l'ai pas trouvée indispensable au récit.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 2005 and with his marriage, relationship with his children, and career in tatters, Detective Victor Lessard is aiming to to get at least one of those things back on track while trying to crack a local car jacking ring.

When the death by stabbing of a prominent member of Montreal's elite seems to hint at a dubious background he knows it's only a matter of time before the case goes public. At the same time a local woman, Simone Fortin, is the victim of a vicious hit and run and that investigation also lands on Victor's desk.

When the discovery of a second, unidentified, body drags Victor deeper into the melee, a personal connection no one can know about suddenly becomes obvious, and he finds things getting harder to control. With all three of his investigations reaching a crescendo at roughly the same time Victor begins to doubt everything he thought he knew until a startling discovery begins to clear everything up.

Martin Michaud has a writing style which is a joy to read. The words flow so easily that pages and chapters fly by, and the picture painted is vividly enticing. This, however, is almost two books in one and I did wonder if they would converge at all. The investigation encapsulates Victor's struggles alongside clues which go nowhere or take off in unexpected directions and on its own is a good storyline.

Alongside this is the story of Simone Fortin and her quest to find the man who helped her in the immediate aftermath of the hit and run accident. This is fascinating and with a little extra detail would also make a very good book in its own right. They do work together but also seem to fight against each other for superiority. Is the case the secondary storyline or is it Simone's search and does it even matter? Even though Victor Lessard is the main protagonist it probably doesn't.

I think this is a book which will divide opinion. To begin with I had no idea where it was going and, apart from the obvious, what it was trying to achieve. Now, with hindsight, I'm still not sure why Simone's story was necessary but overall I enjoyed this and I'm glad I've read it. I will definitely continue with the series and see where the author takes us next.

My only real problem with this is the same one I had with the previous instalment, this is the first book in the series but released as the second in its English format.  To describe it as a prequel seems slightly ridiculous when so far there are only two books and it would have been, to me at least, more sensible to release them in the correct order.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this but still have some reservations about it.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sans être parfait, ce premier roman dans la série des Victor Lessard, qui est aussi le premier roman de l’auteur, offre tout de même une intrigue captivante et prenante. On remarque tout de même certains faiblesses, dû sans doute au manque d’expérience. L’intrigue est parfois un peu confuse, surtout au début. Les changements de perspectives s’enchaînent trop rapidement, on peut changer plusieurs fois dans un seul chapitre, ce qui nous donne l’impression de rebondir à gauche et à droite plus que de réellement suivre quelque chose. Sinon, du point de vue de l’édition, mélanger policier et fantastique est un pari risqué, ces deux genres ne ralliant pas nécessairement le même genre de lecteur. Dans mon cas, aimant les deux genres littéraires, cela ne m’a pas dérangé du tout.

Ceci étant dit, on remarque tout de même de bonnes choses, comme je l’ai dit l’intrigue est bien construite, les personnages sont intéressants et attachants, un peu stéréotypés sans doute, mais rien de trop grave. J’ai bien aimé les dialogues, réaliste, bien construit, on respecte le parler populaire du Québec sans tomber dans le jouale plus que nécessaire. Le dénouement est également bien réussi, satisfaisant, en balançant très bien la noirceur et la lueur d’espoir.

Bref, une belle entrée en matière, un premier roman plus qu’acceptable et je suis curieux de voir ce que Martin Michaud à fait par la suite. Je poursuivrai donc l’aventure en compagnie de cet auteur et de son personnage.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to Never Forget, which I loved. It gives the reader a good overview of Victor Lessard's past. He has been demoted, his wife has left him, taking his two kids and he's attending AA.
There are five books in the series and I sincerely hope the rest will also be translated, BTW, the translation is excellent! I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that we will get the TV series here as well via Amazon or Netflix.
In Montreal a car is found with a body in it, a woman, Simone Fortin, is hit by a car and more bodies follow. The MO is different for each murder and Victor and his team are stumped. We don't find out the motive of the killer till the end of the book, but it's a great ride getting there. I really enjoyed the dreamlike parts featuring Simone in a coma, which added an otherworldly feeling to the story...is it real or not?
Highly recommended French Canadian noir!

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Dundurn Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is part of a series focussing on the policeman Victor Lessard - about a year ago, I read the third book of the series, which confusingly was the first to be translated into English. This book is actually the second in the series, and can be seen as a prequel. Victor is younger, more unsure of himself and struggling to find an even keel in his personal life. Several times during the first half of the book, I considered giving up - a series of unrelated crimes related in varying POVs puzzle both Victor and his team, and the reader. I found it enormously hard going. Nothing quite makes sense, and then there are esoteric elements that are not my cup of tea at all. The second half of the book gets progressively better, as the investigation comes together, but overall I wonder whether this might not work better as a film than a book.

[Marie-Andrée Tessier · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'avais commencé ce livre il y a très longtemps, et l'avait abandonné, n'accrochant pas vraiment à l'histoire. En déménagent, je suis retombée dessus et je lui ai donné une 2e chance. Bien que j'aie trouvé la première moitié plutôt lente et un peu banale,je me suis surprise à dévorée l'autre moitié lorsque l'intrigue commence à s'élucider. Sommes toute un bon roman policier, une fin que je n'ai pas vue venir, des personnages attachants, bref je recommande !

[France · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belle découverte que cet auteur de polars québécois. Le mélange de genres, polar et fantastique, n'a un peu agacée, mais pas au point d'en compromettre la lecture. J'ai aimé l'écriture vive et précise, la narration ainsi que la psychologie des personnages. J'ai le goût de lire ses autres romans!

[Jenn G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je m'attendais à plus honnêtement. Toute cette histoire sur Miles était de trop et elle a été résolue très rapidement sans trop d'explications. J'ai bien aimé l'enquête sur le meurtrier.

[Meredith Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of Quebec thrillers, don’t miss Without Blood. Author Martin Michaud has been dubbed the master of the Quebec thriller. After reading two books in the Victor Lessard series, I can see why.

Though this is the second Victor Lessard novel published in English, it’s actually the first in the series by Martin Michaud. I haven’t figured out why the publishers didn’t publish the translation in the same order as the original series titles. It doesn’t really matter, to be honest. Both stand alone.

PLOT
(I tried to avoid spoilers.)

Without Blood opens with a killer anticipating his first kill. He’s successful. The victim dies, no one detects the killer, and he loads his victim into the trunk of a stolen car. Then it jumps to Simone, a young woman hiding from unknown events in her past. The killer sees her crossing the street, loses his cool, and hits her with the car. (Mind you, he stole the car. And he has the corpse in the car trunk!)

Here’s where the story gets weird. After the killer hits Simone, a man named Miles rescues her. They hit it off and spend the entire day together: have coffee, listen to his neighbor, a jazz musician, play his instrument, and even tour the cemetery where he works. She spends the night in his apartment. In the meantime, detective Victor Lessard receives reports of a hit-and-run that has left a young woman hospitalized. Simone awakens in a hospital and decides to find Miles. And off she goes, narrowly avoiding the killer stalking her . . .

Meanwhile, a hospital official is murdered. (You can guess who the killer is.) Because of the man’s political connections and wealth, the case grabs the media spotlight. And with it, detective Lessard. His boss puts intense pressure on Lessard. Who, by the way, doesn’t need any more pressure on him. He’s a recovering alcoholic. Newly divorced, he’s aching over the separation from his wife and kids. (Michaud does a great job using this element in the story.) Plus he feels guilty over an operation that caused his demotion and the death of two of his men. But he doesn’t want his boss to have any reason to hand over this murder case to Lessard’s former colleagues in the Major Crimes Unit. It’s unthinkable.

MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW

The story is told from several points of view. Detective Victor Lessard, of course. But we also dive into the mind of the nameless killer and one of his prey, Simone. Along the way, we get bits and pieces from other views, too: a car thief with a strange sense of honor; the first murder victim as he dies, worrying about the unemptied trash can; and various other minor characters. While Simone’s passages are in 1st person, the others are in 3rd person. As well, there are times when the narrator steps back from the present action and reflects on it in hindsight. (“If I had only known then what I know now . . .”) I’m more accustomed to a close 1st or 3rd person POV, and Michaud’s method took some time to adjust to.

He doesn’t stay in any one particular head for long. The story rapidly switches from one view to another, often several times in one chapter. It can be disorienting. Add to that the possible supernatural aspect to the story, and I spent a good part of the first half of the book confused. At times, I felt disconnected from the narrative because I didn’t know what was going on and couldn’t guess where the events were going.

CHARACTERS
I wished that the book had focused more on Victor than Simone. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of time with Victor. But Simone wasn’t as interesting as he was and she is a major viewpoint. Sometimes she came across as not only confused, but deranged, and helpless (which seemed odd for a person in her previous line of work). For the longest time, I didn’t know why she desired to fly under the radar or what traumatic event led to her reluctance to relate to other people. That made it difficult to sympathize with her.

I found some of the other characters very intriguing. Miles, obviously: I wanted more of him! I enjoyed the car thief named Snake, too. Lessard's other detectives are interesting, too. Michaud does a great job with characterizing them.

SOME IMPROBABLE ELEMENTS
Certain plot points felt improbable. For example, a nurse allows a character to visit a hospitalized man at 3 a.m. The man and the visitor are strangers to one another, so this seemed strange to me. At other points, minor characters don’t react as I would expect. At one point, Simone barges into a stranger’s apartment, looking for Miles, and the homeowner, rather than call the police or even become angry/fearful, is merely annoyed. And invites her to look at her wedding album. Are people in Montreal this incredibly hospitable and trusting? Even in my relatively safe city, no one would react this way to an intruder. (You’d probably be shot, to be honest. The intruder, that is. The home owner would be the one pulling the trigger. We’re a little gun-crazy in the South.)

As well, there were a number of times when the police or Simone receive helpful information from strangers by sheer coincidence. This weakens the plot, unfortunately, because the story doesn’t move forward except through the killer’s actions. And even he looks rather incompetent.

UNEVEN START BUT EVENTUALLY SATISFYING
The book is uneven. The first half is bumpy. Lots of confusion, lots of characters, various plot elements to juggle. At times, I wondered if this might not work better as television or movie. It’s much easier to rapidly switch storylines in a visual medium, in my opinion.

Once I fell into the story’s rhythm–which took longer than I wanted–I enjoyed the novel. I even stayed up late to finish reading because I wanted to know what happens. The second half of the book made up for the first half.

In the end, all the elements came together. It’s a wild, strange ride that embraces the messiness of life. We can’t know everything through facts and empirical proof. There’s an element of mystery that threads through our existence, and Martin Michaud does an excellent job showing this.

RECOMMENDED
I recommend Without Blood to those who enjoy thrillers with a possible supernatural element.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This will appear on my blog on March 1, 2021.

[François Charih · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belle découverte. Dans ce roman policier, Michaud nous propose une histoire qui entremêle les points de vue d’un tueur, sa cible et le policier Lessard chargé d’enquêter sur une série de meurtres à première vue sans liens. L’histoire se développe dans un crescendo constant et bien maîtrisé qui nous garde en suspens.

[Jennifer Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find Martin Michaud’s books un-put-downable! I also love that they are set in Montreal, Canada. The fact that the main detective is flawed also appeals. The plots of both books this author has out are very fast paced and complex. I also really like the relationships of the team of detectives, investigators, and police. Great characters, as well. Beautifully written crime novel, highly recommend.

[Sharon Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Montreal this story follows detective Victor Lessard and his team trying to work out the link between several crimes including murders and a hit and run..
Originally written in French this book is now translated into English.
Victor is a recovering alcoholic and has been dumped by his wife . He is struggling with his addiction.
Simone, the hit and run victim recovers from her coma and leaves the hospital to find the man who helped her when she was run down - what she doesn’t realise is that the murderer is stalking her trying to finish the job he started.
Lots of twists and turns - so the reader needs to pay attention to the story as I had to reread parts to make sure I was following the storyline.
Not the run of the mill thriller.
Looking forward to reading more.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

[C.S. O’Cinneide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without Blood reads like a glorious fever dream as it begins weaving a story using multiple perspectives, points in time, and even possible alternate realities. At it's centre is Victor Lessard, a conflicted but dogged Montreal detective who must solve multiple murders along with a hit and run that may all be connected. Recommended for those who like a little surreal mixed in with their mystery.
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of this book.

This was a fast-paced and captivating thriller set in Montreal that introduces us to Detective Victor Lessard. Several different story lines come together to make for a very satisfying read. I thought the translation was good and put the only other translated book in this series on my to-read list as soon as I finished. There is a little surreal alternate reality in this book. I didn't really understand what was going on when it was first introduced, and that part of the story line, though dealt with nicely at the end, kept this book from hitting a five star rating for me.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from the master of Canadian thrillers. When I read the author's note on the story stating revenge, alternate world and redemption, I didn't understand. But then, What a plot! The initial part of the story is disjointed and confusing as it is told in differing POV. Once we get around that it is easy to understand and follow the characters. This book gives the necessary background on Lessard. I feel this one should have been translated first. A very good series and I am waiting for the others to be translated. Don't miss it.

[Claudia (Encruzilhada dos Livros) · Rating 3 out of 5]

On one hand, it's an engaging book, a fun read overall.
On the other hand... I really don't like spiritual or any deus ex machina plots for that matter and their easy breezy resolutions...

Apparently his second book is better, I'll give it a try.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was interesting, and very well written. I suppose it helps that I live near Ottawa and can speak both English and French (the street and city names as well as many of the characters having French names), though it isn't necessary to be able to speak/read French to enjoy the book.

The book's premise was good, and the way the author shot from one perspective to another, also between first and third perspective was done well and wasn't in the least confusing (at least, not in my opinion). The novel is a thriller and it was some what thrilling, though I had a hunch as to who the murderer was (I was slightly wrong, though whether it was who I had assumed and who it actually was wasn't a big difference in my opinion).

But one thing I did find interesting in the book, while at the same time being confused as to what its purpose was in this type of book, was the whole Miles situation. I had seen a Russian movie (dubbed in English) about a year ago with the same premise called Coma , but the movie went in a different direction as to where this novel went with the idea, but it had almost the same premise (it was a good movie, I suggest anyone interested in this idea to give it a watch). I just found it strange to add into the story, almost as if the author thought his novel was good, but needed something extra (that really had no effect on the story as a whole).

All in all, it was good, and as I've recently noticed, the character has been adapted on screen as well.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's all about altered state of consciousness, revenge, taking responsibility for past mistakes, sacrificing for a greater good and experiencing unrelenting grief.

Lessard was demoted from the Major Crimes Unit to a smaller station after being held responsible for the deaths of two fellow cops in an operation gone haywire under his supervision. His personal life isn't much better ...he is now estranged from his wife and children.

Swearing off alcohol for good, Lessard is now in the pursuit of a hunter who stalks the streets of Montreal. A senior administrator is stabbed to death in his office at the local hospital, In another part of the city, a dead man is found in the trunk of a stole BMW. A young woman is hospitalized after an apparent hit-and-run, but she refuses treatment in order to search for the man who saved her.

what connects all these case?

In this well-written police procedural, the story is told in alternate voices ... the woman in search of her savior, Detective Lessard, and the hunter who may already have his next victim chosen. There are many multi-layered characters to follow. Twists and turns abound leading to an unexpected conclusion.

A note at the beginning suggests that we should consider “Without Blood” a prequel to the series.

Many thanks to the author / the translator / Dundurn Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

le roman m'a pris un peu de temps avant de bien comprendre l'ordre chronologique de l'histoire! je pense cependant que l'effet était voulu! pendant la lecture, les différentes pièces du casse-tête s'imbriquent! j'ai vraiment apprécié l'intrigue, tu VEUX voir la suite!
un très bon roman policier québécois! je conseil le roman! un point fort: les multiples perspectives du roman!
je dois dire que je me doutais de qui était le tueur! Pour moi, il a deux histoires dans une! l'enquête de police et la recherche de vérité de la victime! Ma petite critique est le peu de lien entre les deux! Au debut, il est difficile et mélangeant de suivre les deux histoires, mais au final, c'est une aspect intéressant de ce roman!

[Marianne Lesmerises · Rating 2 out of 5]

Presque 400 pages d'une histoire qui part dans tous les sens. Il y a plusieurs personnages, plusieurs intrigues en même temps ainsi que des flashbacks.
On y rencontre donc beaucoup de personnages, mais on les connait au final très peu.

Une fois terminé, on comprend qu'une partie du récit tient du surnaturel et demeure alors en suspend. Pour un roman policier autant applaudi, je m'aurais attendu à ce que tout finisse par faire sens, ce qui m'a déçu.

En gros : pas mauvais, mais pas mon genre!

[Sally Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having listened to and enjoyed The Devils Choir I found the first book in the series, also on audio. I possibly listened to it to soon though as whilst it was completely different there were also many similarities. It did answer some of questions about ‘life baggage’ and it was very addictive to work out who the murderer was although the reason for the deaths was always clearly indicated. It was sad and seemed extreme but maybe in similar circumstances I would want someone to pay!? I will wait for a little while before I listen to the third book.