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Reziliență
Angajat să elucideze moartea fiicei unei important baron local, Stelian Munteanu este prins într-o complicată pânză de păianjen cu grave implicații geopolitice. Împreună cu experimentatul Tony Demetriade și tânăra Anabella Păduraru, poliția britanică și serviciile secrete românești investighează o serie de evenimente care par să ducă spre o criză fără precedent în Estul Europei. Personaje noi și vechi, răsturnări de situație, politică, corupție, iubiri și trădări, mistere aparent imposibil de rezolvat – toate se amestecă cu doze potrivite în acest nou roman semnat de Bogdan Hrib.
- GenresMystery ThrillerCrime
356 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Bogdan Hrib
46 books87 followersAfter graduating civil engineering in Bucharest, Bogdan Hrib embarked on a varied career encompassing the professions of photographer, journalist (from 1991), advertising agency director (1992) and book editor (from 1993).
Bogdan Hrib’s debut as a crime fiction writer came in 2007 with Filiera grecească (The Greek Connection), the first book in the Stelian Munteanu series. It was followed by Blestemul manuscrisului (The Curse of the Manuscript, 2008), Somalia, Mon Amour (2009), Ucideți generalul (March 2011), translated and published by Profusion Publishers as Kill the General (November 2011). The novel Ultima fotografie (The Last Photograph, 2012) is not crime fiction.
The most recent novel signed by Bogdan Hrib is (Patimile doamnei ministru (Passions of Madam Minister, 2016), the fifth book of Stelian Munteanu series.
A keen photographer, Bogdan is a member of the Romanian Photographers’ Association and he has PhD on the press photography in Romania.
From 2008, Bogdan has been the editorial director of Crime Scene Publishing in Bucharest. He was also the vice-president of the Romanian Crime Writers Club (from 2010), and served as editorial counsellor of Flacăra Magazine (2010-12).
Bogdan Hrib’s debut as a crime fiction writer came in 2007 with Filiera grecească (The Greek Connection), the first book in the Stelian Munteanu series. It was followed by Blestemul manuscrisului (The Curse of the Manuscript, 2008), Somalia, Mon Amour (2009), Ucideți generalul (March 2011), translated and published by Profusion Publishers as Kill the General (November 2011). The novel Ultima fotografie (The Last Photograph, 2012) is not crime fiction.
The most recent novel signed by Bogdan Hrib is (Patimile doamnei ministru (Passions of Madam Minister, 2016), the fifth book of Stelian Munteanu series.
A keen photographer, Bogdan is a member of the Romanian Photographers’ Association and he has PhD on the press photography in Romania.
From 2008, Bogdan has been the editorial director of Crime Scene Publishing in Bucharest. He was also the vice-president of the Romanian Crime Writers Club (from 2010), and served as editorial counsellor of Flacăra Magazine (2010-12).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 26, 2020
Mi-a plăcut cartea tare mult, a avut viteză și suspans, un Stelian Munteanu mai fericit și mai împlinit, multă adrenalină și răsturnări de situație.
September 22, 2021
And so to my first foray into Romanian crime fiction with Resilience by Bogdan Hrib with a lively translation from Marina Sofia. I actually think to label this as straightforward crime fiction is probably a slight disservice as there’s a meaty narrative here, unfolding into a gripping and intelligent conspiracy thriller across borders, and with astute political commentary too.
The first thing I would say is that attention needs to be paid, as reading this in small bursts as I did, and being largely unfamiliar with some of the political themes addressed, I did have to go back and forth at times to fix these themes in my head. However, having said that I did read the last quarter of the book in a bigger chunk and so my closing impression of the book is that it is clever, complex and provides real insight into the general instability of Europe as a whole, particularly in light of the United Kingdom’s disastrous decision to exit the EU. The themes of nationalism and self-determination loom large in the narrative, and how movements and individuals can be mobilised quickly to challenge the status quo. I found this whole plotline absolutely fascinating, and am keen to explore the politics of this corner of Europe through further reading.
I thought the characterisation was superb and particularly took to the laconic and cynical Stelian Munteanu, an ex-journalist and editor turned private investigator. There’s some wonderful flashes of humour, with deadpan delivery as Munteanu embarks on a case involving the mysterious death of a young woman connected to the Romanian Cultural Institute- a case which quickly escalates across Europe, and at some personal cost to himself. I liked his police buddy Chief Inspector Tony Demetriade, who between worrying about his reputation having seduced a much younger and attractive colleague, and being dragged into the exploits of Munteanu, again proves an entertaining foil against the more serious aspects of the plot. The female characters are well defined with sass and determination in the form of Munteanu’s partner, and has to be said, intellectual superior, Sofia, a London based female DCI Harriet Darlow, and Demetriade’s police colleague and lover Anabella. There’s also a shady spy, an equally shady British journalist, with a shady ex-wife and her shady lover, a shady thug who is more than he appears to be, and a shady social influencer amongst others. So many potential perpetrators of pernicious deeds that it was sometimes difficult to keep up, but it was fun trying to make the connections and expose the conspiracy, which has Munteanu perplexed throughout.
As I said earlier Resilience is clever and complicated, but Hrib keeps a tight control on the pace and structure of the story so no reader is left behind. Bolstered by lively and entertaining characterisation, I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of this author’s work and will definitely be seeking out more. Recommended.
The first thing I would say is that attention needs to be paid, as reading this in small bursts as I did, and being largely unfamiliar with some of the political themes addressed, I did have to go back and forth at times to fix these themes in my head. However, having said that I did read the last quarter of the book in a bigger chunk and so my closing impression of the book is that it is clever, complex and provides real insight into the general instability of Europe as a whole, particularly in light of the United Kingdom’s disastrous decision to exit the EU. The themes of nationalism and self-determination loom large in the narrative, and how movements and individuals can be mobilised quickly to challenge the status quo. I found this whole plotline absolutely fascinating, and am keen to explore the politics of this corner of Europe through further reading.
I thought the characterisation was superb and particularly took to the laconic and cynical Stelian Munteanu, an ex-journalist and editor turned private investigator. There’s some wonderful flashes of humour, with deadpan delivery as Munteanu embarks on a case involving the mysterious death of a young woman connected to the Romanian Cultural Institute- a case which quickly escalates across Europe, and at some personal cost to himself. I liked his police buddy Chief Inspector Tony Demetriade, who between worrying about his reputation having seduced a much younger and attractive colleague, and being dragged into the exploits of Munteanu, again proves an entertaining foil against the more serious aspects of the plot. The female characters are well defined with sass and determination in the form of Munteanu’s partner, and has to be said, intellectual superior, Sofia, a London based female DCI Harriet Darlow, and Demetriade’s police colleague and lover Anabella. There’s also a shady spy, an equally shady British journalist, with a shady ex-wife and her shady lover, a shady thug who is more than he appears to be, and a shady social influencer amongst others. So many potential perpetrators of pernicious deeds that it was sometimes difficult to keep up, but it was fun trying to make the connections and expose the conspiracy, which has Munteanu perplexed throughout.
As I said earlier Resilience is clever and complicated, but Hrib keeps a tight control on the pace and structure of the story so no reader is left behind. Bolstered by lively and entertaining characterisation, I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of this author’s work and will definitely be seeking out more. Recommended.
April 6, 2023
Reziliență este al 6lea volum din seria Stelian Munteanu și parcă devine tot mai interesantă și complexă cu fiecare nou volum. Momentan este și ultimul dar nu se știe niciodată cu Stelian, când își face apariția.
De data aceasta, Stelian acceptă să investigheze sinuciderea unei tinere fete, tatăl ei fiind convins că moartei ei a fost defapt o crimă. Dar cum 'incidentul' a avut loc în UK, deja se complică lucrurile. Colaborarea dintre forțele polițiste române și cele englezești nu e neapărat lină și sunt reticențe de o parte.
Ca și în cazul celorlalte volume, firul narativ e încărcat de secrete, foarte frumos demascate toate. Iar Stelian este maestrul conspirațiilor.
Apoi avem fragmente și din viața lui personală, relația cu Sofia, felul în care amândoi reușesc să rămână împreună la distanță, ea trăind în UK. La un moment dat este afectat cuibul porumbeilor de cazul pe care îl investighează Stelian, se complică treburile.
Per total a fost o altă poveste reușită, un nou caz complicat de-al lui Stelian și Tony.
De data aceasta, Stelian acceptă să investigheze sinuciderea unei tinere fete, tatăl ei fiind convins că moartei ei a fost defapt o crimă. Dar cum 'incidentul' a avut loc în UK, deja se complică lucrurile. Colaborarea dintre forțele polițiste române și cele englezești nu e neapărat lină și sunt reticențe de o parte.
Ca și în cazul celorlalte volume, firul narativ e încărcat de secrete, foarte frumos demascate toate. Iar Stelian este maestrul conspirațiilor.
Apoi avem fragmente și din viața lui personală, relația cu Sofia, felul în care amândoi reușesc să rămână împreună la distanță, ea trăind în UK. La un moment dat este afectat cuibul porumbeilor de cazul pe care îl investighează Stelian, se complică treburile.
Per total a fost o altă poveste reușită, un nou caz complicat de-al lui Stelian și Tony.
June 4, 2020
3.5 stele
Mai mult roman social, decât roman polițist. Stelian Munteanu mi s-a părut complet acrit de viața dusă în România, părând că nu prea îi arde de anchetarea morții fiicei unui baron local român, ci fiind mai mult preocupat de cum ar putea petrece mai mult timp alături de soția lui, Sofia Matei, al cărei job bine plătit la Londra îi ține departe unul de altul.
Din recenzia de pe Biblioteca lui Liviu, apărută în cadrul blog tourului organizat de Bogdan Hrib și editura Tritonic:
„Acțiunea poveștii se petrece în 2019, primăvara și vara, având punctul culminant în preajma aniversării celebrei băi cu gaze lacrimogene cu care au fost întâmpinați protestatarii din diaspora veniți pe 10 august 2018 în Piața Victoriei pentru a „susține și lăuda” performanțele notabile ale guvernului aflat pe atunci în funcție. Punctul de la care pleacă probabil ideea centrală a volumului, în cadrul căruia ancheta lui Stelian Munteanu (ajutat de Tony Demetriade, Anabella Păduraru, DCI Angela Darlow și alte câteva personaje cu roluri mai mult sau mai puțin importante în poveste) reprezintă mai mult un pretext ca să justifice titulatura de roman polițist: el e de fapt mai mult un roman social, în care teme precum UE, președinția UE, scindarea UE, Brexit, Romexit, Polexit, importanța unor țări care contează mai puțin în mărețul angrenaj european, precum România, Moldova, Polonia, chiar și Ucraina, fake news-urile, protestele de stradă, joaca de-a spionii și, de ce nu, poveștile de dragoste dintre Stelian și Sofia, Tony și Anabella, Agnieszka și Kamil sau chiar Angela și Andrew (căci într-acolo pare că se îndreaptă povestea), ajung să pună în umbră trama polițistă și cazul de la care pleacă totul.
O revoluție poate începe pașnic, pe neobservate, cu o idee pusă în practică de o mână de oameni. Cam asta e. Cu bani, resurse, oameni capabili și dornici, manipulări, „conturi false, petiții, demonstrații, totul ascuns sub perdeaua unei asociații care... protejează publicul de știrile false...” Însă trebuie ținut totuși cont de placiditatea maselor, de indiferența oamenilor și de... rezistența materialelor. Sau de reziliență.”
Mai multe, pe Biblioteca lui Liviu: https://wp.me/pz4D9-3Ck.
Mai mult roman social, decât roman polițist. Stelian Munteanu mi s-a părut complet acrit de viața dusă în România, părând că nu prea îi arde de anchetarea morții fiicei unui baron local român, ci fiind mai mult preocupat de cum ar putea petrece mai mult timp alături de soția lui, Sofia Matei, al cărei job bine plătit la Londra îi ține departe unul de altul.
Din recenzia de pe Biblioteca lui Liviu, apărută în cadrul blog tourului organizat de Bogdan Hrib și editura Tritonic:
„Acțiunea poveștii se petrece în 2019, primăvara și vara, având punctul culminant în preajma aniversării celebrei băi cu gaze lacrimogene cu care au fost întâmpinați protestatarii din diaspora veniți pe 10 august 2018 în Piața Victoriei pentru a „susține și lăuda” performanțele notabile ale guvernului aflat pe atunci în funcție. Punctul de la care pleacă probabil ideea centrală a volumului, în cadrul căruia ancheta lui Stelian Munteanu (ajutat de Tony Demetriade, Anabella Păduraru, DCI Angela Darlow și alte câteva personaje cu roluri mai mult sau mai puțin importante în poveste) reprezintă mai mult un pretext ca să justifice titulatura de roman polițist: el e de fapt mai mult un roman social, în care teme precum UE, președinția UE, scindarea UE, Brexit, Romexit, Polexit, importanța unor țări care contează mai puțin în mărețul angrenaj european, precum România, Moldova, Polonia, chiar și Ucraina, fake news-urile, protestele de stradă, joaca de-a spionii și, de ce nu, poveștile de dragoste dintre Stelian și Sofia, Tony și Anabella, Agnieszka și Kamil sau chiar Angela și Andrew (căci într-acolo pare că se îndreaptă povestea), ajung să pună în umbră trama polițistă și cazul de la care pleacă totul.
O revoluție poate începe pașnic, pe neobservate, cu o idee pusă în practică de o mână de oameni. Cam asta e. Cu bani, resurse, oameni capabili și dornici, manipulări, „conturi false, petiții, demonstrații, totul ascuns sub perdeaua unei asociații care... protejează publicul de știrile false...” Însă trebuie ținut totuși cont de placiditatea maselor, de indiferența oamenilor și de... rezistența materialelor. Sau de reziliență.”
Mai multe, pe Biblioteca lui Liviu: https://wp.me/pz4D9-3Ck.
September 1, 2021
Having enjoyed Sword by Bogdan Teodorescu at the end of last year, I was very keen to explore further crime fiction from Romania and thanks to Corylus Books, I have not had too long to wait.
It’s much too early to make generalisations based on two novels, but like Sword, there is also a political element to Resilience, one that is not too flattering to politicians. Perhaps I am sensing that Romanian writers have become somewhat jaded by the opportunists that have appeared in their political system.
This is Hrib’s first translation into English language and I read this book without any prior knowledge of the author’s writing. Midway through the book I came to realise that Resilience is part of a series however the story functions perfectly well as a standalone novel. The principal characters of the story are Stelian Munteanu and Tony Demetriade. It become evident while Corylus Books have chosen to start with Resilience as their first translation of Hrib as many of the issues explored within the book are very topical.
Resilience is set in 2019, the year in which Romania held the EU presidency; and the 30th anniversary of the Romanian Revolution which generated a large degree of international interest in a reflection of that time. Ana Coman is a young project manager at the Romanian Institute in the UK who is in Newcastle Upon Tyne to host an exhibition of images from the revolution.
When is found dead beside the sea near South Shields, Munteanu - who is a former journalist, writer and amateur investigator - is approached by her father, Pavel Coman to investigate her death. He is a Romanian business baron, who is involved in various businesses in the naval sector. He does not hesitate to believe that the death of his daughter was not an accident. Coman is convinced that she has been murdered. Reluctantly Munteanu agrees - his wife Sofia lives in London and this allows him the opportunity to spend some time with her. Much to his distaste though, in England, he is paired with Coman’s right hand man, Jack King.
When a related death occurs back in Romania, Munteanu’s friend, the experienced policeman Tony Demetriade and his young assistant Anabella Paduraru are brought in to investigate. The British police then get involved when several female acquaintances of the original victim are targeted in London by an unknown gunman. The Romanian and British investigators must collaborate and share their information or risk the crimes and connections being unsolved. The story features a range of dubious characters including a member of the Romanian secret service, a Moldovan social media manipulator and an opportunist politician from a neighbouring country.
The story gradually evolves from a crime fiction novel to a geographical thriller which has so much relevance to the current age. The European Union has been impacted by the departure of the United Kingdom and there are now different competing visions for the future. Romania is somewhat in the orbit of the Visegrád 4 which comprises Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They do not share the post-World War Two vision of the EU espoused by mainstream decision-makers in western Europe, in countries like Germany, France and Italy. Rather their vision for Europe is one where the nation state is strong and independent, with a restrictive immigration policy particularly towards migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Indeed since this novel was written the governments in Viktor Orbán's Hungary and Andrzej Duda's Poland have made front-page news over the last few months for thumbing their nose at EU laws and lectures while Poland and now Romania have recently been chastised by Brussels over attempts to compromise the independence of their judiciary. When even press freedoms are being curtailed by so called mainstream politicians in Poland, it is clear that more extreme views must be held by fringe parties.
Combined to this wider regional context is the historic anniversary of the Romania revolution, while the book makes regular references to significant dates such as 10th August which marks the date of previous political protests in 2018 as well as nationalist sentiments to a reunification of Romania with the neighbouring former Soviet Republic of Moldova. With part of the story taking place in the Moldovan capital Chișinău as well as the nearby Romania city of Iași - where an imposing statue of Stephen the Great is intended to face off Turkish invaders (surely to the approval of politicians like Viktor Orbán!). Very topically, can the onset of the fake news phenomenon and growing influence of conspiracy theorists be engineered to lead to mass political unrest? How resilience is the system, can the simultaneity factor be breached? Issues of surveillance and corruption feature prominently and clearly relate to some of Romania's recent troubled history.
While most British crime fiction readers are unlikely to be unacquainted with the politics of Eastern Europe, Resilience successfully taps into the political uncertainty and dubious narratives of the modern age. To use one example, remarkably a scene sees a group of manipulated protesters appear at a television channel, something that occurred just last week in the UK!
British readers will feel a familiarity with the language used in Resilience. Superbly translated by Marina Sofia who has lived half her life in the UK, the vocabulary used is straightforward and uncluttered. There are numerous references to locations in both London and the North East of England which will resonate with many UK readers as well.
The most challenging aspect of the story is the changing perspectives and locations. The narrator follows many characters, often changing perspectives, so you always have to be careful to figure out who the story is centered on at some point. Several pages will relate to a particular character in one location, before a heading is provided for another city. More than once I had to reread a paragraph to figure out which character was being featured at a particular time. The realisation can come quite quickly but at times the vague beginning does demand attention. This is perhaps my weakness as I'm not always very attentative to headers. As the action is fragmented a degree of patience and attention are required when reading Resilience, yet these are rewarded. While the wider issues I've mentioned are explored through the story, there are satisfying conclusions to the investigative elements of the story. My first introduction to the writing of Bogdan Hrib was a revelation. I enjoyed the thriller aspects to the story and also feel there is a lot of modern day context to the stories he writes.
It’s much too early to make generalisations based on two novels, but like Sword, there is also a political element to Resilience, one that is not too flattering to politicians. Perhaps I am sensing that Romanian writers have become somewhat jaded by the opportunists that have appeared in their political system.
This is Hrib’s first translation into English language and I read this book without any prior knowledge of the author’s writing. Midway through the book I came to realise that Resilience is part of a series however the story functions perfectly well as a standalone novel. The principal characters of the story are Stelian Munteanu and Tony Demetriade. It become evident while Corylus Books have chosen to start with Resilience as their first translation of Hrib as many of the issues explored within the book are very topical.
Resilience is set in 2019, the year in which Romania held the EU presidency; and the 30th anniversary of the Romanian Revolution which generated a large degree of international interest in a reflection of that time. Ana Coman is a young project manager at the Romanian Institute in the UK who is in Newcastle Upon Tyne to host an exhibition of images from the revolution.
When is found dead beside the sea near South Shields, Munteanu - who is a former journalist, writer and amateur investigator - is approached by her father, Pavel Coman to investigate her death. He is a Romanian business baron, who is involved in various businesses in the naval sector. He does not hesitate to believe that the death of his daughter was not an accident. Coman is convinced that she has been murdered. Reluctantly Munteanu agrees - his wife Sofia lives in London and this allows him the opportunity to spend some time with her. Much to his distaste though, in England, he is paired with Coman’s right hand man, Jack King.
When a related death occurs back in Romania, Munteanu’s friend, the experienced policeman Tony Demetriade and his young assistant Anabella Paduraru are brought in to investigate. The British police then get involved when several female acquaintances of the original victim are targeted in London by an unknown gunman. The Romanian and British investigators must collaborate and share their information or risk the crimes and connections being unsolved. The story features a range of dubious characters including a member of the Romanian secret service, a Moldovan social media manipulator and an opportunist politician from a neighbouring country.
The story gradually evolves from a crime fiction novel to a geographical thriller which has so much relevance to the current age. The European Union has been impacted by the departure of the United Kingdom and there are now different competing visions for the future. Romania is somewhat in the orbit of the Visegrád 4 which comprises Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They do not share the post-World War Two vision of the EU espoused by mainstream decision-makers in western Europe, in countries like Germany, France and Italy. Rather their vision for Europe is one where the nation state is strong and independent, with a restrictive immigration policy particularly towards migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Indeed since this novel was written the governments in Viktor Orbán's Hungary and Andrzej Duda's Poland have made front-page news over the last few months for thumbing their nose at EU laws and lectures while Poland and now Romania have recently been chastised by Brussels over attempts to compromise the independence of their judiciary. When even press freedoms are being curtailed by so called mainstream politicians in Poland, it is clear that more extreme views must be held by fringe parties.
Combined to this wider regional context is the historic anniversary of the Romania revolution, while the book makes regular references to significant dates such as 10th August which marks the date of previous political protests in 2018 as well as nationalist sentiments to a reunification of Romania with the neighbouring former Soviet Republic of Moldova. With part of the story taking place in the Moldovan capital Chișinău as well as the nearby Romania city of Iași - where an imposing statue of Stephen the Great is intended to face off Turkish invaders (surely to the approval of politicians like Viktor Orbán!). Very topically, can the onset of the fake news phenomenon and growing influence of conspiracy theorists be engineered to lead to mass political unrest? How resilience is the system, can the simultaneity factor be breached? Issues of surveillance and corruption feature prominently and clearly relate to some of Romania's recent troubled history.
While most British crime fiction readers are unlikely to be unacquainted with the politics of Eastern Europe, Resilience successfully taps into the political uncertainty and dubious narratives of the modern age. To use one example, remarkably a scene sees a group of manipulated protesters appear at a television channel, something that occurred just last week in the UK!
British readers will feel a familiarity with the language used in Resilience. Superbly translated by Marina Sofia who has lived half her life in the UK, the vocabulary used is straightforward and uncluttered. There are numerous references to locations in both London and the North East of England which will resonate with many UK readers as well.
The most challenging aspect of the story is the changing perspectives and locations. The narrator follows many characters, often changing perspectives, so you always have to be careful to figure out who the story is centered on at some point. Several pages will relate to a particular character in one location, before a heading is provided for another city. More than once I had to reread a paragraph to figure out which character was being featured at a particular time. The realisation can come quite quickly but at times the vague beginning does demand attention. This is perhaps my weakness as I'm not always very attentative to headers. As the action is fragmented a degree of patience and attention are required when reading Resilience, yet these are rewarded. While the wider issues I've mentioned are explored through the story, there are satisfying conclusions to the investigative elements of the story. My first introduction to the writing of Bogdan Hrib was a revelation. I enjoyed the thriller aspects to the story and also feel there is a lot of modern day context to the stories he writes.
June 23, 2021
Ca de obicei, eu încep cu ultima carte din serie. Este prima mea întâlnire cu Bogdan Hrib și pot să spun că am rămas plăcut surprinsă de modul în care a fost scrisă cartea. Acum nu mai rămâne decât să iau și primele cinci cărți din serie, ca să înteleg mai bine cum au fost conturate personajele și istoria lor din spatele glumelor :).
O siucidere suspicioasă a unei românce la Londra, care se dovedește a fi doar prima verigă dintr-un lanț al unor evenimente cel puțin ciudate, pornesc o serie de evenimente în centrul cărora se află Stelian Munteanu. Tatăl îndurerat este convins că fiica lui nu s-a sinucis și îl angajează pe Stelian Munteanu să descopere cine este criminalul fiicei lui.
Aici încep să apară diverse personaje suspecte și cu afaceri care de care mai dubioase. Victima, Ana Coman, este fiica unui cunoscut mogul român care deține o serie de afaceri la limita legii în România. Ea lucrează la Institulul Cultural Român de la Londra, nu participă la afacerile tatălui său și nu pare să aibă legături amoroase cu persoane cu trecut dubios.
Pavel Coman - tatăl Anei - este convins că fiica lui a fost ucisă de un rival și-l trimite pe Stelian la Londra ca să investigheze moartea fiicei lui de la fața locului, împreună cu Jack King, un tip aparent dubios și periculos, dar suficient de inteligent cât să-l surprindă pe Stelian.
Este un caz complicat pentru că primo, nu au niciun suspect, segundo, Ana nu era implicată în nicio activitate la limita legii și terțio, totul indică o siucidere.
Cazul ia cu totul o altă turnură în momentul în care și Pavel Coman este găsit ucis în propria casă, iar la Londra mai au loc alte câteva atacuri armate.Stelian nu reușește să facă legătura între toate evenimentele, nu-și poate da seama care este legătura între atacuri si evenimentele de la București.
În poveste intervine și partea politică (sau mai bine zis geopolitică). Teorii conspiraționite și planuri nebunești care nu fac decât să pună în pericol zeci de vieți omenești și totul doar pentru grandomania unui singur om. Of, lumea chiar nu învață nimic din istorie și avem atâtea exemple...
„Reziliență” este un roman polițist și un thriller politic, plin de mister și suspans. Ancheta este neclară, pistele nu se leagă, fiecare personaj are propiile interese și încurcă mai mult ancheta. Miza este una uriașă, iar poliția română se vede nevoită să colaboreze cu cea britanică pentru pune capăt acestui joc ilogic. Acțiunea nu este una alertă, dar multitudinea detaliilor și modul în care este scris romanul te fac să fii atent și să vrei să citești mai mult.
Nu este un roman polițist obișnuit, personajele sunt complexe si ascund multe secrete, nicunl dintre cei implicați nu este fără pată, dar este un roman pe care trebuie să îl citiți dacă sunteți pasionaț de mister, geopolitica și vă plac răsturnările de situație. Finalul este unul la care nu m-am așteptat, pe care nici măcar nu l-am prevăzut.
Este o carte pe care o recomand și care, vă promit, nu o să vă dezamăgească!
O siucidere suspicioasă a unei românce la Londra, care se dovedește a fi doar prima verigă dintr-un lanț al unor evenimente cel puțin ciudate, pornesc o serie de evenimente în centrul cărora se află Stelian Munteanu. Tatăl îndurerat este convins că fiica lui nu s-a sinucis și îl angajează pe Stelian Munteanu să descopere cine este criminalul fiicei lui.
Aici încep să apară diverse personaje suspecte și cu afaceri care de care mai dubioase. Victima, Ana Coman, este fiica unui cunoscut mogul român care deține o serie de afaceri la limita legii în România. Ea lucrează la Institulul Cultural Român de la Londra, nu participă la afacerile tatălui său și nu pare să aibă legături amoroase cu persoane cu trecut dubios.
Pavel Coman - tatăl Anei - este convins că fiica lui a fost ucisă de un rival și-l trimite pe Stelian la Londra ca să investigheze moartea fiicei lui de la fața locului, împreună cu Jack King, un tip aparent dubios și periculos, dar suficient de inteligent cât să-l surprindă pe Stelian.
Este un caz complicat pentru că primo, nu au niciun suspect, segundo, Ana nu era implicată în nicio activitate la limita legii și terțio, totul indică o siucidere.
Cazul ia cu totul o altă turnură în momentul în care și Pavel Coman este găsit ucis în propria casă, iar la Londra mai au loc alte câteva atacuri armate.Stelian nu reușește să facă legătura între toate evenimentele, nu-și poate da seama care este legătura între atacuri si evenimentele de la București.
În poveste intervine și partea politică (sau mai bine zis geopolitică). Teorii conspiraționite și planuri nebunești care nu fac decât să pună în pericol zeci de vieți omenești și totul doar pentru grandomania unui singur om. Of, lumea chiar nu învață nimic din istorie și avem atâtea exemple...
„Reziliență” este un roman polițist și un thriller politic, plin de mister și suspans. Ancheta este neclară, pistele nu se leagă, fiecare personaj are propiile interese și încurcă mai mult ancheta. Miza este una uriașă, iar poliția română se vede nevoită să colaboreze cu cea britanică pentru pune capăt acestui joc ilogic. Acțiunea nu este una alertă, dar multitudinea detaliilor și modul în care este scris romanul te fac să fii atent și să vrei să citești mai mult.
Nu este un roman polițist obișnuit, personajele sunt complexe si ascund multe secrete, nicunl dintre cei implicați nu este fără pată, dar este un roman pe care trebuie să îl citiți dacă sunteți pasionaț de mister, geopolitica și vă plac răsturnările de situație. Finalul este unul la care nu m-am așteptat, pe care nici măcar nu l-am prevăzut.
Este o carte pe care o recomand și care, vă promit, nu o să vă dezamăgească!
September 5, 2021
Partly a crime novel and partly a political thriller, Resilience is Bogdan Hrib's testament to the volatile geopolitical reality of the Balkan region and a first-class murder mystery at the same time. Readers who are familiar with the current socio-political situation in Eastern Europe will be in a better position to grasp the sheer complexity of the intriguing plotline while the more ignorant ones will have the opportunity to learn some interesting facts about life in Romania nowadays. In many ways, this book is reminiscent of another recent Romanian novel, also published by Corylus Books, Sword by Bogdan Teodorescu that portrayed the highly deceptive contemporary Romanian political scene in a relentless, almost naturalistic, manner.
To read my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/blog-t...
To read my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/blog-t...
May 6, 2020
Desi poveștile personale ale personajelor par doar schițate, ori amintite pe fugă, ele susțin intriga generală, cea de înăbușire în fașă a unei conspirații internaționale. Iași,Tomești, București, Londra, Newcastle... sunt orașele între care zboară protagoniștii urmărind firele complotului subversiv. Viteză, adrenalină, suspans, revelații surprinzătoare în cel mai recent volum al serie Stelian Munteanu!
September 11, 2021
A hybrid crime fiction/political thriller set mostly in Romania and England in late 2019, is bathed in browns, shadows, and pale lighting.
Resilience by Bogdan Hrib is a difficult book to categorize. I jumped in when offered an advance copy for review and participation in the book tour, assuming it to be a usual crime fiction title. It’s no secret that is the focus of this book blog. But just a few chapters in, I realized that Resilience was as much a geopolitical thriller as a crime novel. That’s not a genre I read much anymore.
I admit it. Once upon a time, I was a big Tom Clancy fan. There’s no shame in that admission. Clancy wrote some brilliant political thrillers until losing his touch. Once the point arrived where the stories took a back seat to Clancy showing off how much he knew about the technical aspects of all things military, I lost interest. That’s when I turned to crime fiction. Of course, a good detective novel or crime thriller is almost always about the story and the characters, which I prefer. But I digress. Here there was plenty of a noir vibe to hold my interest.
Resilience opens with the death of a young woman, a junior staffer at the Romanian Cultural Institute; we meet in the first chapter—a death that may or may not be suspicious. Nevertheless, the woman’s father, Pavel Coman, who we learn is a wealthy (but shady) businessman, suspects foul play and employs Stelian Munteanu (the protagonist) to investigate.
Munteanu is an interesting character. The author describes him as “a man with his fingers in many pies,” which we discover is an appropriate description. Munteanu is not a licensed private detective, but a book editor and former intelligence officer who self describes as “neither a detective, nor an editor, nor a spy, nor journalist, but a little bit of each.” Dabbling in private investigations seems a side interest based on his previous occupation.
Munteanu, somewhat reluctantly, accepts the case, mostly because it requires that he travel to England where his wife Sophia lives. Because of her job, the couple lives apart. Munteanu, who feels he never spends nearly enough time with Sophia, takes the case even though he doubts anyone murdered Coman’s daughter because it offers the chance for him time to spend time with his wife in London.
As the story progresses, the mystery surrounding the woman’s death fades into the background as the plot turns more toward geopolitics, specifically Russia’s historic interference in the politics of other sovereign Eastern European countries. Don’t misunderstand. The events at the book’s opening are—in many ways—the start of everything that comes after, but it feels as if the plot is about something altogether more sinister than what we expected. Hrib gives us glimpses into it, but it feels like something is missing. That piece of the puzzle left unsaid or unexplained made me feel I entered the story late and was playing catch-up. Hrib cleverly keeps things somewhat vague for a while and the reader in suspense. We recognize that we don’t have the full story and are left waiting for more.
The plot is imaginative, and the prose well-written, which made me feel the story was well worth hanging in for to the end. But, in all honesty, this book can at times seem a bit destabilizing, confusing, and manipulative once you realize it isn’t what it seems at the start.
Our lead character Stelian Munteanu often gives way to other narrators, notably Anton “Tony” Demetriade, a police detective and Munteanu’s friend that Stelian often turns to for help with his investigation. Demetriade is such a prominent character it seems almost fair to label him the co-protagonist rather than a mere side kick. Other conspicuous narrators are Ionescu, a Romanian secret services operative, and Scotland Yard DCI Harriet Darlow.
Reminiscent of a Robert Ludlum spy novel, Resilience demands concentration from the reader as a host of characters populate the story that we must keep track of as the novel shifts quickly between settings and narrators. The plot features a fair degree of complexity, but once you get past the first few chapters, it’s oddly compelling for that reason.
There is much I liked about Resilience. It’s a twisty read told from multiple points of view by realistic and fully drawn characters. I found the character development particularly interesting, becoming far more attached to some than seemed sensible.
The book also references many contemporary issues that will be familiar to readers—climate change, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the explosion of social and political activism produced by the internet, increasing migration and its effects, and the influence of “fake news” on politics and social unrest.
While the focus is on the Balkans, the aforementioned contemporary issues helps make the book relevant and relatable across English-speaking markets. This felt particularly relevant to me as an American in this era where the politics of balkanization (identity politics) pursued by corporate media-supported social organizations and movements to shift the balance of political power has fragmented the country into “tribes,” making many Americans hostile and uncooperative with one another.
I enjoyed Resilience even more than expected, especially since I first assumed it would be more of a traditional crime fiction novel. But that’s not at all the case. Instead, the novel is a hybrid crime fiction/political thriller, bathed in browns, shadows, and pale lighting. And the geopolitical circumstances involved are probably one of the best parts of the plot, certainly not expected at the outset; something I didn’t see coming.
Something else I hadn’t realized about Resilience is that it is the sixth book in a series featuring Stelian Munteanu. Typically, I prefer to enter a series with the first book. But, Bogdan Hrib, born in Bucharest, Romania, wrote and published the series in Romanian (obviously), and the English translations began with Kill the General (2011), the fourth book in the series. Still, I feel the book works well as a standalone.
Resilience has garnered a lot of buzz from reviewers, book bloggers, and bookstagrammers, so I was excited to read it, though I wasn’t sure what to expect. After all, I’d not read Hrib’s books previously, and it is a translation. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always augur well. You’re at the mercy of the translator’s ability to transform not only the language but the tone and underlying nuances of the author’s original style. There were probably times early on that I was aware of reading a translation, but either the phrasing settled, or I became accustomed to the style of the author and translator as I stopped noticing part-way through, giving me confidence that translator Marina Sofia did the original justice.
What’s important is whether I liked this book. Yes, I loved it. I read it in one sitting, and the story kept me turning the pages quickly, keen to learn more. It offers something a bit new—something fresh. And, I found it a cleverly plotted book. While Resilience offers something slightly different than the reader expects at the jump, we learn fairly quickly where our assumptions are incorrect and can then settle comfortably into the story Hrib chose to tell. I loved how he brings his leading characters to life and helps the reader build relationships with them.
While presented in a fictional context, Hrib tackles a range of contemporary and complex issues with precision, challenging us to ponder our own attitudes and beliefs. This book by Romanian author Bogdan Hrib took me out of my comfort zone a bit as it departed from my steady diet of whodunits and crime thrillers. Still, I found Hrib’s writing and storytelling intelligent and easily devoured. I believe the book will satisfy political thriller and crime fiction fans alike.
Many thanks to Corylus Books for the advanced copy of the book used for this review representing my my honest and unbiased opinions.
Resilience by Bogdan Hrib is a difficult book to categorize. I jumped in when offered an advance copy for review and participation in the book tour, assuming it to be a usual crime fiction title. It’s no secret that is the focus of this book blog. But just a few chapters in, I realized that Resilience was as much a geopolitical thriller as a crime novel. That’s not a genre I read much anymore.
I admit it. Once upon a time, I was a big Tom Clancy fan. There’s no shame in that admission. Clancy wrote some brilliant political thrillers until losing his touch. Once the point arrived where the stories took a back seat to Clancy showing off how much he knew about the technical aspects of all things military, I lost interest. That’s when I turned to crime fiction. Of course, a good detective novel or crime thriller is almost always about the story and the characters, which I prefer. But I digress. Here there was plenty of a noir vibe to hold my interest.
Resilience opens with the death of a young woman, a junior staffer at the Romanian Cultural Institute; we meet in the first chapter—a death that may or may not be suspicious. Nevertheless, the woman’s father, Pavel Coman, who we learn is a wealthy (but shady) businessman, suspects foul play and employs Stelian Munteanu (the protagonist) to investigate.
Munteanu is an interesting character. The author describes him as “a man with his fingers in many pies,” which we discover is an appropriate description. Munteanu is not a licensed private detective, but a book editor and former intelligence officer who self describes as “neither a detective, nor an editor, nor a spy, nor journalist, but a little bit of each.” Dabbling in private investigations seems a side interest based on his previous occupation.
Munteanu, somewhat reluctantly, accepts the case, mostly because it requires that he travel to England where his wife Sophia lives. Because of her job, the couple lives apart. Munteanu, who feels he never spends nearly enough time with Sophia, takes the case even though he doubts anyone murdered Coman’s daughter because it offers the chance for him time to spend time with his wife in London.
As the story progresses, the mystery surrounding the woman’s death fades into the background as the plot turns more toward geopolitics, specifically Russia’s historic interference in the politics of other sovereign Eastern European countries. Don’t misunderstand. The events at the book’s opening are—in many ways—the start of everything that comes after, but it feels as if the plot is about something altogether more sinister than what we expected. Hrib gives us glimpses into it, but it feels like something is missing. That piece of the puzzle left unsaid or unexplained made me feel I entered the story late and was playing catch-up. Hrib cleverly keeps things somewhat vague for a while and the reader in suspense. We recognize that we don’t have the full story and are left waiting for more.
The plot is imaginative, and the prose well-written, which made me feel the story was well worth hanging in for to the end. But, in all honesty, this book can at times seem a bit destabilizing, confusing, and manipulative once you realize it isn’t what it seems at the start.
Our lead character Stelian Munteanu often gives way to other narrators, notably Anton “Tony” Demetriade, a police detective and Munteanu’s friend that Stelian often turns to for help with his investigation. Demetriade is such a prominent character it seems almost fair to label him the co-protagonist rather than a mere side kick. Other conspicuous narrators are Ionescu, a Romanian secret services operative, and Scotland Yard DCI Harriet Darlow.
Reminiscent of a Robert Ludlum spy novel, Resilience demands concentration from the reader as a host of characters populate the story that we must keep track of as the novel shifts quickly between settings and narrators. The plot features a fair degree of complexity, but once you get past the first few chapters, it’s oddly compelling for that reason.
There is much I liked about Resilience. It’s a twisty read told from multiple points of view by realistic and fully drawn characters. I found the character development particularly interesting, becoming far more attached to some than seemed sensible.
The book also references many contemporary issues that will be familiar to readers—climate change, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the explosion of social and political activism produced by the internet, increasing migration and its effects, and the influence of “fake news” on politics and social unrest.
While the focus is on the Balkans, the aforementioned contemporary issues helps make the book relevant and relatable across English-speaking markets. This felt particularly relevant to me as an American in this era where the politics of balkanization (identity politics) pursued by corporate media-supported social organizations and movements to shift the balance of political power has fragmented the country into “tribes,” making many Americans hostile and uncooperative with one another.
I enjoyed Resilience even more than expected, especially since I first assumed it would be more of a traditional crime fiction novel. But that’s not at all the case. Instead, the novel is a hybrid crime fiction/political thriller, bathed in browns, shadows, and pale lighting. And the geopolitical circumstances involved are probably one of the best parts of the plot, certainly not expected at the outset; something I didn’t see coming.
Something else I hadn’t realized about Resilience is that it is the sixth book in a series featuring Stelian Munteanu. Typically, I prefer to enter a series with the first book. But, Bogdan Hrib, born in Bucharest, Romania, wrote and published the series in Romanian (obviously), and the English translations began with Kill the General (2011), the fourth book in the series. Still, I feel the book works well as a standalone.
Resilience has garnered a lot of buzz from reviewers, book bloggers, and bookstagrammers, so I was excited to read it, though I wasn’t sure what to expect. After all, I’d not read Hrib’s books previously, and it is a translation. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always augur well. You’re at the mercy of the translator’s ability to transform not only the language but the tone and underlying nuances of the author’s original style. There were probably times early on that I was aware of reading a translation, but either the phrasing settled, or I became accustomed to the style of the author and translator as I stopped noticing part-way through, giving me confidence that translator Marina Sofia did the original justice.
What’s important is whether I liked this book. Yes, I loved it. I read it in one sitting, and the story kept me turning the pages quickly, keen to learn more. It offers something a bit new—something fresh. And, I found it a cleverly plotted book. While Resilience offers something slightly different than the reader expects at the jump, we learn fairly quickly where our assumptions are incorrect and can then settle comfortably into the story Hrib chose to tell. I loved how he brings his leading characters to life and helps the reader build relationships with them.
While presented in a fictional context, Hrib tackles a range of contemporary and complex issues with precision, challenging us to ponder our own attitudes and beliefs. This book by Romanian author Bogdan Hrib took me out of my comfort zone a bit as it departed from my steady diet of whodunits and crime thrillers. Still, I found Hrib’s writing and storytelling intelligent and easily devoured. I believe the book will satisfy political thriller and crime fiction fans alike.
Many thanks to Corylus Books for the advanced copy of the book used for this review representing my my honest and unbiased opinions.
June 4, 2020
Nu doar o căsăpeală
• cronică subiectivă a romanului Reziliență de Bogan Hrib
Citesc pe ici pe colo, prin universul infinit al Internetului, că experiența cenaclieră, cea care a marcat evoluția literaturii încă de la apariția acesteia, a fost înlocuită astăzi de discuții carteziene între scriitori care aderă la aceleași principii estetice sau pur și simplu sunt amici. Nu știu în care dintre aceste două ipostaze mă aflu în relația cu Bogdan Hrib (eu sper că în amândouă, inclusiv după ce el va lectura acest text), dar când am aflat titlul următorului său proiect literar, am ridicat din sprâncene. Reziliență? Prima impresie (teamă?) a fost că autorul a căzut în capcana subtilă a romglezei care ne strivește zilnic și permanent comunicarea, dorind să transmită ideea de încăpățânare, poate de înțepenire în proiect, dar traducând literal un termen din engleză, cam ca aceia care scriu „patetic” atunci când citesc „pathetic”.
Politicos, am tăcut și am recurs la un gest fundamental: am căutat în DEX. În loc să mă lămurească, apelul la referințe m-a buimăcit. Cuvântul există în limba română, doar că el este folosit, mai ales în biologie, pentru a caracteriza capacitatea unor specii de a rezista și de a se adapta condițiilor schimbătoare de mediu. Să se fi apucat Bogdan Hrib să scrie un roman despre viața secretă a libelulelor sau despre depresia de senectute a țestoaselor din Galapagos? Mare mister, unul pe care abia am așteptat să-l pătrund.
Am constatat încă de la primele pagini că „Reziliență” este o carte care translează asupra societății conceptul din biologie și îl proiectează în domeniul atât de volatil și de complex al geopoliticii, apelând la filoane istorice care merg până la Petru cel Mare. Iar lucrurile au căpătat brusc sens, fiindcă eram obișnuit din celelalte patru volume ale seriei Stelian Munteanu cu un Bogdan Hrib care aderă la crezul literar al maeștrilor nordici ai genului, pentru care thriller-ul nu e doar fugăreală și o căsăpeală, ci constituie și prilej de frescă socială și de meditație asupra vieții de zi cu zi.
Am considerat mereu că în rarele ocazii în care scriu despre cărți, textul meu nu se constituie într-o recenzie. Principalul motiv e acela că ficțiunea de gen, porțiune literară care mă interesează cu precădere, nu se pretează la canonul unei asemenea scrieri. Teoretic, o recenzie ar trebui să conțină o descriere minimală a acțiunii, o schiță a mecanismelor de combustie a progresiei narative, eventual și deznodământul, ceea ce nu se potrivește defel cu policier-ul, thriller-ul sau chiar SF-ul. Prefer în cele ce urmează să prezint câteva argumente în favoarea ideii că lectura acestui roman nu este un gest escapist, de divertisment, ci o experiență culturală mai complexă, ambalată în învelișul strălucitor al spectaculosului.
Personajele romanului nu au cum să constituie o surpriză pentru cei familiarizați cu seria Stelian Munteanu. Cele vechi sunt, spre lauda autorului, congruente cu ele însele, cunoscute din celelalte cărți. Cele noi sunt construite solid, cu o elegantă economie de mijloace care, pe de o parte, le face ușor recognoscibile și le pune strict în slujba acțiunii, iar pe de altă parte, elimină posibilele disonanțe cu galeria deja existentă. Narațiunea are un pas alert, punctat de repere temporale stricte și se desfășoară în locuri pe care este mai mult decât evident că autorul le-a „bătut cu pasul”, fapt cu totul remarcabil, având în vedere că acțiunea baleiază între București, Iași și Londra.
Dialogurile abundă în firesc, poate nu neapărat în cel al comunicării zilnice, ci mai ales în firescul cerut de narațiunea în sine. Autorul știe (simte?) că aceste segmente reprezintă un punct forte al creației sale, așa că nu ezită să le folosească din plin, alunecând (rareori) însă într-o dezvoltare discursivă a acțiunii, în dauna uneia în care să prefere povestea propriu-zisă.
Un amănunt care mi-a atras atenția în mod special este proporția între ficțiune și informație. Volumul conține câteva texte științifice, prezentate cu tot cu sursă, ca într-o lucrare științifică. Rolul lor este acela de a explica noțiunea de reziliență, în sensul în care este ea folosită în roman, iar efectul e unul care pe mine m-a încântat, fiindcă ele au plasat narațiunea în zona extrem de versatilă în care e aproape imposibil să deosebești ficțiunea realistă de realitatea fictivă. Consecințele imediate care decurg din acest dozaj realizat cu mare măiestrie sunt impresia generală de credibilitate și caracterul coerent al întregului univers al cărții. Singura notă disonantă apare la lectura textelor științifice, unde autorul a preferat să le preia întocmai, înghițind broasca acceptării unor fragmente scrise într-o limbă română destul de nesigură. Personal, aș mai fi cizelat asperitățile de acolo, cu riscul de a mă fi abătut de la litera lor.
„Reziliență” propune de asemenea, pe lângă tema geopolitică, modelul extrem de nou și de proaspăt din punct de vedere ideatic al alienării unui cetățean cu adevărat european. Cu riscul de a strica surpriza unora, nu mă pot abține să nu îndemn cititorii să fie atenți la felul în care câteva personaje, care există deopotrivă în România și în UK, în Polonia și oriunde altundeva pe continent, sfârșesc prin a nu se (mai) simți nicăieri acasă. E un soi complicat de alteritate de ambe sensuri, de inadecvare fără frontiere. Păstrând proporțiile desigur, cred se poate vorbi despre o angoasă similară cu cea prezentată de literatura despre obsedantul deceniu cu privire la dezrădăcinarea primei generații de orășeni. Această notă gravă a vibrației existențiale a unor personaje este perfect acordată la prezentul complex și tern, concentrat pe un individualism lipsit de orizont, atât de familiar în Europa zilelor noastre. În opinia mea, în această zonă se află nu numai cel mai valoros filon literar al romanului (care, în esență, rămâne totuși un thriller) ci și promisiunea ca următoarea carte din serie să-și asume și să consacre această temă a exilului de acasă.
Închei așa cum făcut-o și la precedenta cronică subiectivă dedicată acestei serii, îndemnându-vă să cumpărați și să citiți romanul „Reziliență”, iar la sfârșit să vă propuneți un mic joc al imaginației, unul în care să răspundeți la o întrebare ghidușă: suntem oare contemporani cu Bogdan Hrib sau aparținem unei ficțiuni scrise într-o realitate în care Stelian Munteanu s-a apucat de scris după ce s-a mai liniștit, la pensie?
• cronică subiectivă a romanului Reziliență de Bogan Hrib
Citesc pe ici pe colo, prin universul infinit al Internetului, că experiența cenaclieră, cea care a marcat evoluția literaturii încă de la apariția acesteia, a fost înlocuită astăzi de discuții carteziene între scriitori care aderă la aceleași principii estetice sau pur și simplu sunt amici. Nu știu în care dintre aceste două ipostaze mă aflu în relația cu Bogdan Hrib (eu sper că în amândouă, inclusiv după ce el va lectura acest text), dar când am aflat titlul următorului său proiect literar, am ridicat din sprâncene. Reziliență? Prima impresie (teamă?) a fost că autorul a căzut în capcana subtilă a romglezei care ne strivește zilnic și permanent comunicarea, dorind să transmită ideea de încăpățânare, poate de înțepenire în proiect, dar traducând literal un termen din engleză, cam ca aceia care scriu „patetic” atunci când citesc „pathetic”.
Politicos, am tăcut și am recurs la un gest fundamental: am căutat în DEX. În loc să mă lămurească, apelul la referințe m-a buimăcit. Cuvântul există în limba română, doar că el este folosit, mai ales în biologie, pentru a caracteriza capacitatea unor specii de a rezista și de a se adapta condițiilor schimbătoare de mediu. Să se fi apucat Bogdan Hrib să scrie un roman despre viața secretă a libelulelor sau despre depresia de senectute a țestoaselor din Galapagos? Mare mister, unul pe care abia am așteptat să-l pătrund.
Am constatat încă de la primele pagini că „Reziliență” este o carte care translează asupra societății conceptul din biologie și îl proiectează în domeniul atât de volatil și de complex al geopoliticii, apelând la filoane istorice care merg până la Petru cel Mare. Iar lucrurile au căpătat brusc sens, fiindcă eram obișnuit din celelalte patru volume ale seriei Stelian Munteanu cu un Bogdan Hrib care aderă la crezul literar al maeștrilor nordici ai genului, pentru care thriller-ul nu e doar fugăreală și o căsăpeală, ci constituie și prilej de frescă socială și de meditație asupra vieții de zi cu zi.
Am considerat mereu că în rarele ocazii în care scriu despre cărți, textul meu nu se constituie într-o recenzie. Principalul motiv e acela că ficțiunea de gen, porțiune literară care mă interesează cu precădere, nu se pretează la canonul unei asemenea scrieri. Teoretic, o recenzie ar trebui să conțină o descriere minimală a acțiunii, o schiță a mecanismelor de combustie a progresiei narative, eventual și deznodământul, ceea ce nu se potrivește defel cu policier-ul, thriller-ul sau chiar SF-ul. Prefer în cele ce urmează să prezint câteva argumente în favoarea ideii că lectura acestui roman nu este un gest escapist, de divertisment, ci o experiență culturală mai complexă, ambalată în învelișul strălucitor al spectaculosului.
Personajele romanului nu au cum să constituie o surpriză pentru cei familiarizați cu seria Stelian Munteanu. Cele vechi sunt, spre lauda autorului, congruente cu ele însele, cunoscute din celelalte cărți. Cele noi sunt construite solid, cu o elegantă economie de mijloace care, pe de o parte, le face ușor recognoscibile și le pune strict în slujba acțiunii, iar pe de altă parte, elimină posibilele disonanțe cu galeria deja existentă. Narațiunea are un pas alert, punctat de repere temporale stricte și se desfășoară în locuri pe care este mai mult decât evident că autorul le-a „bătut cu pasul”, fapt cu totul remarcabil, având în vedere că acțiunea baleiază între București, Iași și Londra.
Dialogurile abundă în firesc, poate nu neapărat în cel al comunicării zilnice, ci mai ales în firescul cerut de narațiunea în sine. Autorul știe (simte?) că aceste segmente reprezintă un punct forte al creației sale, așa că nu ezită să le folosească din plin, alunecând (rareori) însă într-o dezvoltare discursivă a acțiunii, în dauna uneia în care să prefere povestea propriu-zisă.
Un amănunt care mi-a atras atenția în mod special este proporția între ficțiune și informație. Volumul conține câteva texte științifice, prezentate cu tot cu sursă, ca într-o lucrare științifică. Rolul lor este acela de a explica noțiunea de reziliență, în sensul în care este ea folosită în roman, iar efectul e unul care pe mine m-a încântat, fiindcă ele au plasat narațiunea în zona extrem de versatilă în care e aproape imposibil să deosebești ficțiunea realistă de realitatea fictivă. Consecințele imediate care decurg din acest dozaj realizat cu mare măiestrie sunt impresia generală de credibilitate și caracterul coerent al întregului univers al cărții. Singura notă disonantă apare la lectura textelor științifice, unde autorul a preferat să le preia întocmai, înghițind broasca acceptării unor fragmente scrise într-o limbă română destul de nesigură. Personal, aș mai fi cizelat asperitățile de acolo, cu riscul de a mă fi abătut de la litera lor.
„Reziliență” propune de asemenea, pe lângă tema geopolitică, modelul extrem de nou și de proaspăt din punct de vedere ideatic al alienării unui cetățean cu adevărat european. Cu riscul de a strica surpriza unora, nu mă pot abține să nu îndemn cititorii să fie atenți la felul în care câteva personaje, care există deopotrivă în România și în UK, în Polonia și oriunde altundeva pe continent, sfârșesc prin a nu se (mai) simți nicăieri acasă. E un soi complicat de alteritate de ambe sensuri, de inadecvare fără frontiere. Păstrând proporțiile desigur, cred se poate vorbi despre o angoasă similară cu cea prezentată de literatura despre obsedantul deceniu cu privire la dezrădăcinarea primei generații de orășeni. Această notă gravă a vibrației existențiale a unor personaje este perfect acordată la prezentul complex și tern, concentrat pe un individualism lipsit de orizont, atât de familiar în Europa zilelor noastre. În opinia mea, în această zonă se află nu numai cel mai valoros filon literar al romanului (care, în esență, rămâne totuși un thriller) ci și promisiunea ca următoarea carte din serie să-și asume și să consacre această temă a exilului de acasă.
Închei așa cum făcut-o și la precedenta cronică subiectivă dedicată acestei serii, îndemnându-vă să cumpărați și să citiți romanul „Reziliență”, iar la sfârșit să vă propuneți un mic joc al imaginației, unul în care să răspundeți la o întrebare ghidușă: suntem oare contemporani cu Bogdan Hrib sau aparținem unei ficțiuni scrise într-o realitate în care Stelian Munteanu s-a apucat de scris după ce s-a mai liniștit, la pensie?
June 1, 2020
Mi-a plăcut.
Per ansamblu, „Reziliență” mi s-a părut o carte de tranziție, dacă pot spune așa. Munteanu încă apare în prim-plan, dar Demetriade este și el bine conturat, prezent, implicat. Am perceput cartea drept o placă turnantă între două serii. Un fel de Stelian Munteanu 5.5 combinat cu Tony Demetriade 0.5. O trecere. O transformare. În plus, am simțit-o ca pe o reîntoarcere la stilul primelor cărți din serie, „Filiera grecească” și „Blestemul manuscrisului”.
Mai multe despre această carte, în recenzia de pe blogul meu:
https://luciandragosbogdan.ro/ro/2020...
Per ansamblu, „Reziliență” mi s-a părut o carte de tranziție, dacă pot spune așa. Munteanu încă apare în prim-plan, dar Demetriade este și el bine conturat, prezent, implicat. Am perceput cartea drept o placă turnantă între două serii. Un fel de Stelian Munteanu 5.5 combinat cu Tony Demetriade 0.5. O trecere. O transformare. În plus, am simțit-o ca pe o reîntoarcere la stilul primelor cărți din serie, „Filiera grecească” și „Blestemul manuscrisului”.
Mai multe despre această carte, în recenzia de pe blogul meu:
https://luciandragosbogdan.ro/ro/2020...
August 14, 2021
Opening with a tragedy, navigating the murky pathways of political activism and engaging a whole lot of mystery, tension and completely fascinating characters, this book caught my attention from the start and kept me engaged and entertained right to the last page. This is a geopolitical thriller which is steeped in authenticity and very much taps into the current obsession with social media and its use for more militant means.
We begin with a relatively simple case as one of our key protagonists, Stelian Munteanu, is hired to investigate the tragic death of a Romanian citizen who had been working in London and whose body is found on a beach shortly after she participated in a conference near Newcastle. All indicators are that this is nothing more than a tragic accident, but the further Munteanu is drawn into the case, the murkier the waters get. With another murder soon casting doubt on the innocent nature of the woman's death, the stage is set for what is soon to become a very personal and politically driven case.
I really loved the mixture of political activism, the mystery and tension of the original investigation, and the very character based nature of this story. From the very beginning you can sense a shadow hanging over the whole investigation, a small clue from the opening pages of the book giving readers sight of something which will not be apparent to the key players in this tale for quite some time. It adds to the tension and uncertainty, makes you wonder just who really is pulling the strings and how dangerous this case could get for Munteanu and those around him.
As for the characters, I grew to like Munteanu very quickly. He is not your typical investigative hero, somewhere between an apparent journalist and a fixer, the man who is turned to when the truth appears to be just out of reach. He is dedicated to his wife, Sofia, although seemingly very tired of his current role and a reluctant participant in this particular investigation. Alongside him we have the official police team of Anton 'Tony' Demetriade and Anabella Pāduraru, and also slightly shadier character and member of Romania's Secret Service, Ionescu. They add great variety and colour to the story, with Tony's obsession with justice, coffee, and Anabella, and Ionescu being a very aloof and less than trustworthy acquaintance. Each is well drawn, their voices distinct, and I found them easy and engaging to spend time with as the story progressed.
The political side of the story rings horribly true, that overriding sense of nationalism and desire for independence which has been noted around Europe following the Brexit decision, and this informs the story and acts as a backdrop to the mystery that is rapidly building around Munteanu's investigation. We have all witnessed the way in which social media is used as a tool to feed false information and stir up activism and extremism among the masses, and it is this kind of call to action that helps to build the tension, never quite knowing just how far this may lead and how dangerous the situation may all become. Bogdan Hrib brings the Romanian political, physical and social landscape to life in a way that gives you just enough detail to inform, but more importantly engages you as a reader in the fates of not only the characters, but also the country. He creates a clear vision of Romania, gives you a real sense of the people and the culture in a way that adds to the authenticity of what we are reading.
Brilliantly translated by Marina Sofia, this is a thriller which had me completely engaged and that kept the mystery building right to the end. There are moments of intensity, where the tension is high and the sense of threat and conspiracy is building, quieter moments of reflection which convey the uncertainty and the changing emotions of the characters involved in this tale, even some moments of flirtation and humour, all of which blend to make this a very entertaining read ending in quite a dramatic and unexpected showdown. From the final pages of the novel I can sense there is more to come and I am very intrigued to see where it will lead us to next.
We begin with a relatively simple case as one of our key protagonists, Stelian Munteanu, is hired to investigate the tragic death of a Romanian citizen who had been working in London and whose body is found on a beach shortly after she participated in a conference near Newcastle. All indicators are that this is nothing more than a tragic accident, but the further Munteanu is drawn into the case, the murkier the waters get. With another murder soon casting doubt on the innocent nature of the woman's death, the stage is set for what is soon to become a very personal and politically driven case.
I really loved the mixture of political activism, the mystery and tension of the original investigation, and the very character based nature of this story. From the very beginning you can sense a shadow hanging over the whole investigation, a small clue from the opening pages of the book giving readers sight of something which will not be apparent to the key players in this tale for quite some time. It adds to the tension and uncertainty, makes you wonder just who really is pulling the strings and how dangerous this case could get for Munteanu and those around him.
As for the characters, I grew to like Munteanu very quickly. He is not your typical investigative hero, somewhere between an apparent journalist and a fixer, the man who is turned to when the truth appears to be just out of reach. He is dedicated to his wife, Sofia, although seemingly very tired of his current role and a reluctant participant in this particular investigation. Alongside him we have the official police team of Anton 'Tony' Demetriade and Anabella Pāduraru, and also slightly shadier character and member of Romania's Secret Service, Ionescu. They add great variety and colour to the story, with Tony's obsession with justice, coffee, and Anabella, and Ionescu being a very aloof and less than trustworthy acquaintance. Each is well drawn, their voices distinct, and I found them easy and engaging to spend time with as the story progressed.
The political side of the story rings horribly true, that overriding sense of nationalism and desire for independence which has been noted around Europe following the Brexit decision, and this informs the story and acts as a backdrop to the mystery that is rapidly building around Munteanu's investigation. We have all witnessed the way in which social media is used as a tool to feed false information and stir up activism and extremism among the masses, and it is this kind of call to action that helps to build the tension, never quite knowing just how far this may lead and how dangerous the situation may all become. Bogdan Hrib brings the Romanian political, physical and social landscape to life in a way that gives you just enough detail to inform, but more importantly engages you as a reader in the fates of not only the characters, but also the country. He creates a clear vision of Romania, gives you a real sense of the people and the culture in a way that adds to the authenticity of what we are reading.
Brilliantly translated by Marina Sofia, this is a thriller which had me completely engaged and that kept the mystery building right to the end. There are moments of intensity, where the tension is high and the sense of threat and conspiracy is building, quieter moments of reflection which convey the uncertainty and the changing emotions of the characters involved in this tale, even some moments of flirtation and humour, all of which blend to make this a very entertaining read ending in quite a dramatic and unexpected showdown. From the final pages of the novel I can sense there is more to come and I am very intrigued to see where it will lead us to next.
August 28, 2021
The book is set in Romania, after the Brexit, in the world when political cyberterrorism can change borders and influence elections. It´s sad how much right Evgeny Morozov had with his Net Delusion...Romania, a NATO and EU member, keep being a country of contradictions, struggling to overcome its geographical and geopolitical challenges. But there are some real people too, and Hrib has the talent of creating real people in a real world that we may acknowledge but in a very dire, unempathic way. Once you have the people with their lows and sparkle of genius the way we see their world changes too. His local depictions of different locations is so vivid that brings all those places in your world - and oh, as I was reading the book in my living room, how much I wished I was instead in Caju by Joseph Hadad (a very famous and talented Israeli chef based in Romania) this Friday.
Stelian Munteanu is a journalist and editor which is requested by a man with dubious connections to investigate the dead of her daughter, a young Romanian diplomat posted at the cultural institute in London. While tracing the dead, he is stirring a storm - of bullets sometimes - which endangers the life of her wife and brings up serious security challenges such as a separatist movement aimed at uniting the Moldova part of Romania with the country Republic of Moldova (warning: Great does not always bring Greatness) - fuelled with cash brought in bags from the Eastern border. The political and geopolitical concepts are sometimes difficult and additional searching is often needed, but this strong background makes the book stand alone as authentic, local and complex. The characters are interesting, hilarious - the evil Ionescu, the spy, is...well, that kind of new-capitalist spy people in that country refuse to talk about because you don´t know who´s listening, childish and some very seriously interested in their job. I am glad that there is no clear dichotomy between the good and the bad and there are so many colours in between. Like in life, particularly life in a country who went through a complex transition.
I wished the Gologan character - the dark web connection with a penchant for selfies - is a bit more developed. Somehow, he is important with his mission to encourage sedition via social media, but he cannot grow up as a personality revealing itself along the way, as there are many more people who are busy to move in the story, and his role is relatively simple.
Also, for someone not familiar with all the historical personalities whose statues are popping up in the story, a couple of details may be useful. I was also thinking of a map of the two main locations featured in the book, the capital city of București and the eastern city of Iași.
Personally, I will heartly recommend this book to anyone looking for some good political thrillers from the Eastern borders of Europe. Crime and corruption may be high there, but so is the level of talent and, as anywhere in the world, it´s good to have a look at all sides of the coin.
A special note to the brilliant translation provided by Marina Sofia, who succeeded to make the book sound as it was written in the original English.
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Stelian Munteanu is a journalist and editor which is requested by a man with dubious connections to investigate the dead of her daughter, a young Romanian diplomat posted at the cultural institute in London. While tracing the dead, he is stirring a storm - of bullets sometimes - which endangers the life of her wife and brings up serious security challenges such as a separatist movement aimed at uniting the Moldova part of Romania with the country Republic of Moldova (warning: Great does not always bring Greatness) - fuelled with cash brought in bags from the Eastern border. The political and geopolitical concepts are sometimes difficult and additional searching is often needed, but this strong background makes the book stand alone as authentic, local and complex. The characters are interesting, hilarious - the evil Ionescu, the spy, is...well, that kind of new-capitalist spy people in that country refuse to talk about because you don´t know who´s listening, childish and some very seriously interested in their job. I am glad that there is no clear dichotomy between the good and the bad and there are so many colours in between. Like in life, particularly life in a country who went through a complex transition.
I wished the Gologan character - the dark web connection with a penchant for selfies - is a bit more developed. Somehow, he is important with his mission to encourage sedition via social media, but he cannot grow up as a personality revealing itself along the way, as there are many more people who are busy to move in the story, and his role is relatively simple.
Also, for someone not familiar with all the historical personalities whose statues are popping up in the story, a couple of details may be useful. I was also thinking of a map of the two main locations featured in the book, the capital city of București and the eastern city of Iași.
Personally, I will heartly recommend this book to anyone looking for some good political thrillers from the Eastern borders of Europe. Crime and corruption may be high there, but so is the level of talent and, as anywhere in the world, it´s good to have a look at all sides of the coin.
A special note to the brilliant translation provided by Marina Sofia, who succeeded to make the book sound as it was written in the original English.
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own
September 3, 2021
Crime fiction crossed with a political thriller, Resilience is a story that gripped me from the opening chapter. I've not read anything by this author before and have been really impressed by the superb translation by Marina Sofia. I really enjoyed the short, sharp bursts of writing which add a sense of danger to the whole story.
Stelian Munteanu is called to investigate the sudden death of a Romanian woman, found dead on a beach in the north east of England. If truth be told, Stelian would rather not get involved but takes himself off to see what he can find. Stelian is not a police officer, he's a private investigator and also a publisher and writer. His wife Sofia, works in a high flying, quite mysterious position and they spend much of their time in different countries. He would far rather be with Sofia than digging around in the murky depths of dodgy business men and their accompanying thugs.
It seems that there is far more to this death than first expected and the reader is thrust into a world of political intrigue and dodgy dealings. Stelian uncovers things that shock him, and the reader and this is not the only death either.
This author shows such insight into the current state of Europe; with the all consuming effects of the UK Brexit decision, and how other countries, and various factions within those have reacted. I have to admit that I didn't have a great deal of prior knowledge of Romania, but after reading Resilience and taking a few trips down the Google rabbit-hole, I have discovered some fascinating things.
Also taking prime position is the issue of social media manipulation that is such a huge issue in our world these days, it's terrifying stuff at times, and gives the reader much to ponder.
Intelligently written with a dry humour at times, this is a story that gripped me from the off. The characters are so well created and their relationships are excellently portrayed.
Whilst the story is complex, it is never complicated and is told with such ease that the reader is never left behind. I really enjoyed my first steps into Romanian fiction and look forward to reading more from the author.
Stelian Munteanu is called to investigate the sudden death of a Romanian woman, found dead on a beach in the north east of England. If truth be told, Stelian would rather not get involved but takes himself off to see what he can find. Stelian is not a police officer, he's a private investigator and also a publisher and writer. His wife Sofia, works in a high flying, quite mysterious position and they spend much of their time in different countries. He would far rather be with Sofia than digging around in the murky depths of dodgy business men and their accompanying thugs.
It seems that there is far more to this death than first expected and the reader is thrust into a world of political intrigue and dodgy dealings. Stelian uncovers things that shock him, and the reader and this is not the only death either.
This author shows such insight into the current state of Europe; with the all consuming effects of the UK Brexit decision, and how other countries, and various factions within those have reacted. I have to admit that I didn't have a great deal of prior knowledge of Romania, but after reading Resilience and taking a few trips down the Google rabbit-hole, I have discovered some fascinating things.
Also taking prime position is the issue of social media manipulation that is such a huge issue in our world these days, it's terrifying stuff at times, and gives the reader much to ponder.
Intelligently written with a dry humour at times, this is a story that gripped me from the off. The characters are so well created and their relationships are excellently portrayed.
Whilst the story is complex, it is never complicated and is told with such ease that the reader is never left behind. I really enjoyed my first steps into Romanian fiction and look forward to reading more from the author.
September 14, 2021
In Bucharest, Stelian Munteanu - journalist, publisher and unofficial investigator - is rudely awoken by a phone call: businessman Pavel Coman's daughter Ana is dead; he needs Stelian's help, his reputation as a problem-solver having preceded him. Stelian doesn't much like Pavel, but he agrees to look into the young woman's death, from both the Romanian and UK sides.
Details emerge in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where Ana's body was found, at Ana's flat in London and back in Romania. The man Ana was apparently in a relationship with is an interesting lead, and a broad connection with other events. Then all hell breaks loose for Pavel, and people linked to his daughter hear warning shots too.
Meanwhile, clandestine conversations are going on about fake news and disinformation, and about a nationalist movement in Romania plus an election in Poland are going on. It's all rather chilling.
Although there is plenty of tension and much to take in, the language remains unhurried and the narrative has plenty of time for discussions about coffee preferences, social media choices and the minutiae of life so we have time to digest what is going on. Praise here for translator Marina Sofia for keeping that balance between tension and relaxation perfectly pitched.
Places are sketched rather than dwelt on; there's enough detail to know where you are and get a clear flavour of the place, but little more. Dialogue is much more important to Hrib, this (plus in the interior monologues of the various players) is where character is revealed, the plot is moved along and clues are dropped. It gives the novel more immediacy and more of a thriller feel and is a refreshing take.
Details emerge in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where Ana's body was found, at Ana's flat in London and back in Romania. The man Ana was apparently in a relationship with is an interesting lead, and a broad connection with other events. Then all hell breaks loose for Pavel, and people linked to his daughter hear warning shots too.
Meanwhile, clandestine conversations are going on about fake news and disinformation, and about a nationalist movement in Romania plus an election in Poland are going on. It's all rather chilling.
Although there is plenty of tension and much to take in, the language remains unhurried and the narrative has plenty of time for discussions about coffee preferences, social media choices and the minutiae of life so we have time to digest what is going on. Praise here for translator Marina Sofia for keeping that balance between tension and relaxation perfectly pitched.
Places are sketched rather than dwelt on; there's enough detail to know where you are and get a clear flavour of the place, but little more. Dialogue is much more important to Hrib, this (plus in the interior monologues of the various players) is where character is revealed, the plot is moved along and clues are dropped. It gives the novel more immediacy and more of a thriller feel and is a refreshing take.
November 5, 2020
Am citit romanul în cadrul blog tour-ului organizat de editura Tritonic. Și deși nu e în zona mea de confort literar, mi-a plăcut neașteptat de mult pentru că nu a fost deloc ceea ce mă așteptam să fie.
Cartea e al șaselea volum din seria Stelian Munteanu, din care mai citisem prima carte, așa că mă gândeam că voi avea parte de un roman polițist, centrat pe o anchetă. Însă miza aici e mult mai mare și ițele politice în care crimele sunt doar un mic detaliu sunt mult mai serioase și importante decât ancheta.
Totuși, stitlul e la fel de „geografic” ca până acum - toate locurile prin care se plimbă personajele sunt descrise într-un mod care te face să te simți acolo. Străzile pe unde am trecut și eu sunt chiar așa ca în carte și senzația mea e că dacă voi ajunge într-un loc despre care am citit, îl voi găsi exact așa cum e prezentat în roman.
Așa că dacă vreți să vă plimbați prin câteva orașe din Europa, o puteți face citind Reziliență, pe care o recomand celor pasionați de thrillere politice și de ițe complicate, care se întind prin mai multe țări.
Am scris despre carte și pe blog: https://jurnalul-unei-cititoare.ro/bl...
Cartea e al șaselea volum din seria Stelian Munteanu, din care mai citisem prima carte, așa că mă gândeam că voi avea parte de un roman polițist, centrat pe o anchetă. Însă miza aici e mult mai mare și ițele politice în care crimele sunt doar un mic detaliu sunt mult mai serioase și importante decât ancheta.
Totuși, stitlul e la fel de „geografic” ca până acum - toate locurile prin care se plimbă personajele sunt descrise într-un mod care te face să te simți acolo. Străzile pe unde am trecut și eu sunt chiar așa ca în carte și senzația mea e că dacă voi ajunge într-un loc despre care am citit, îl voi găsi exact așa cum e prezentat în roman.
Așa că dacă vreți să vă plimbați prin câteva orașe din Europa, o puteți face citind Reziliență, pe care o recomand celor pasionați de thrillere politice și de ițe complicate, care se întind prin mai multe țări.
Am scris despre carte și pe blog: https://jurnalul-unei-cititoare.ro/bl...
August 28, 2021
Ana Coman, the daughter of shady Romanian businessman Pavel Coman, is found dead on a beach in South Shields, England. The police claims it’s suicide, but Coman is adamant that foul play was involved and wants Stelian Munteau to investigate.
For most of us this is the first introduction to Stelian Munteau, the part investigator, part journalist and part fixer. Fortunately, five novels with the reluctant Munteau preceded Resilience: The Greek Chain, The Curse of the Manuscript, Somalia, Mon Amour, Kill the General and The Passions of the Minister. Unfortunately, they haven’t all been translated into English, but if Resilience is anything to go by, it won’t be long before they all are.
Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...
For most of us this is the first introduction to Stelian Munteau, the part investigator, part journalist and part fixer. Fortunately, five novels with the reluctant Munteau preceded Resilience: The Greek Chain, The Curse of the Manuscript, Somalia, Mon Amour, Kill the General and The Passions of the Minister. Unfortunately, they haven’t all been translated into English, but if Resilience is anything to go by, it won’t be long before they all are.
Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...
September 11, 2021
3.5 rounded up to 4
https://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/202...
https://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/202...
September 20, 2021
If - in this year of all years - you've missed out on some international travel, let Resilience fill that gap in your life, hopping as it does across Europe from the beaches of South Shields, where it opens with a death, to the streets of Bucharest and Iasi in Romania and back again to London. More than travel, though, the action in this slickly plotted thriller is driven by distance, by geography and by history, plugging into the complex history of Middle Europe with its evolving borders, nationalisms and polities.
Stelian Munteanu is an investigator, a fixer of sorts, also an editor - a man, as the book describes him, with his fingers in many pies. He's hired, after that early death, to look into things. Travelling from Bucharest to Newcastle, he's able to cast an outsider's eye on Britain - but will it be able to penetrate the web of mystery and conspiracy that we're confronted with here? I enjoyed meeting Stelian - the book makes it clear that this isn't his first adventure and indeed, I see that the book is part of a series, but it wears that lightly: there is a sense of backstory, of the characters here having met and been through things before (particularly Stelian's wife, Sofia Matei, whose occupation and dealings are kept a bit mysterious).
Further deaths ensue in the story, both in Britain and back in Romania, and Hrib shows us glimpses of a conspiracy that may or may not be responsible for them. It's part of the fun of this well-constructed and pacey story that we see parts of what they're doing and can sort-of guess and what they want, but at the same time, not everything seems to fit. There are plots within plots, and some of the characters seem to know altogether too much about what's happening. I just didn't know who to trust - even now, I'm not sure. That, to me, is a sign of a convincing thriller.
Behind that, the book read to me as having deep roots in the history and politics of Central Europe. There are the grand plans - the dreams of unifying modern states to create something crossing the continent, echoing the empires of the past and, perhaps, bringing back greatness. There are also nightmares, fears of what dislocation and chaos might follow. All of that's seen through the lens of modern "influencing" - of fake news, astroturfed activism and mysterious figures dispensing large denomination Euro notes. All thrilling, but Hrib never takes the story beyond the plausible and that sense of a history, a previous life, to his main group - not only Stelian and Sofia but Anton, Stelian's policeman friend and his brilliant assistant, Anabella, and Ionescu the spy who comes and goes like Gandalf in The Hobbit. Hearing them speak (and argue and make up) it almost feels like walking into a room where a group of friends are already deeply engaged in a conversation - except that rather than falling silent, Hrib's writing, combined with Marina Sofia's readable, evocative translation, invite you get a drink, take a seat, and listen along.
Overall a fun read introducing characters I'd like to meet again.
Stelian Munteanu is an investigator, a fixer of sorts, also an editor - a man, as the book describes him, with his fingers in many pies. He's hired, after that early death, to look into things. Travelling from Bucharest to Newcastle, he's able to cast an outsider's eye on Britain - but will it be able to penetrate the web of mystery and conspiracy that we're confronted with here? I enjoyed meeting Stelian - the book makes it clear that this isn't his first adventure and indeed, I see that the book is part of a series, but it wears that lightly: there is a sense of backstory, of the characters here having met and been through things before (particularly Stelian's wife, Sofia Matei, whose occupation and dealings are kept a bit mysterious).
Further deaths ensue in the story, both in Britain and back in Romania, and Hrib shows us glimpses of a conspiracy that may or may not be responsible for them. It's part of the fun of this well-constructed and pacey story that we see parts of what they're doing and can sort-of guess and what they want, but at the same time, not everything seems to fit. There are plots within plots, and some of the characters seem to know altogether too much about what's happening. I just didn't know who to trust - even now, I'm not sure. That, to me, is a sign of a convincing thriller.
Behind that, the book read to me as having deep roots in the history and politics of Central Europe. There are the grand plans - the dreams of unifying modern states to create something crossing the continent, echoing the empires of the past and, perhaps, bringing back greatness. There are also nightmares, fears of what dislocation and chaos might follow. All of that's seen through the lens of modern "influencing" - of fake news, astroturfed activism and mysterious figures dispensing large denomination Euro notes. All thrilling, but Hrib never takes the story beyond the plausible and that sense of a history, a previous life, to his main group - not only Stelian and Sofia but Anton, Stelian's policeman friend and his brilliant assistant, Anabella, and Ionescu the spy who comes and goes like Gandalf in The Hobbit. Hearing them speak (and argue and make up) it almost feels like walking into a room where a group of friends are already deeply engaged in a conversation - except that rather than falling silent, Hrib's writing, combined with Marina Sofia's readable, evocative translation, invite you get a drink, take a seat, and listen along.
Overall a fun read introducing characters I'd like to meet again.
October 8, 2021
This is a thoroughly enjoyable part crime part geopolitical thriller, with a veritable cast of characters.
The action moves seamlessly between the UK and Romania, Stelian Munteanu journalist and investigator has been called upon to investigate the death of a young girl in South Shields, an interesting character not a typical investigator, in fact all of the characters within the book are superbly written each brought to life on the page, it is fair to say that intrigue abounds and that not everyone is who they appear to be. There any many shady characters and that adds that element that you never now quite where you stand.
As the book moves more into the political sphere here the author clearly has a depth knowledge and understanding of the region and this come across and adds a great depth to the story, the plot is ingenious and cleverly constructed in blending crime and political elements seamlessly into a slick read
You can feel a real sense of place and the landscape not only geographically but politically to give that authenticity required to make the reader immerse themselves into the storyline.
Often told from differing characters point of view you don’t get lost or lose the thread it’s all wonderfully knitted together
In any book in translation a mention must go to the translator Marina Sofia
I only discovered after reading that this is the 6th in the series but the first to be translated into English, however it does read as a standalone, I certainly look forward to reading the rest of the series
From the opening pages you are instantly drawn into a world of crime and intrigue
This is a highly enjoyable read and a welcome addition to my crime reading
The action moves seamlessly between the UK and Romania, Stelian Munteanu journalist and investigator has been called upon to investigate the death of a young girl in South Shields, an interesting character not a typical investigator, in fact all of the characters within the book are superbly written each brought to life on the page, it is fair to say that intrigue abounds and that not everyone is who they appear to be. There any many shady characters and that adds that element that you never now quite where you stand.
As the book moves more into the political sphere here the author clearly has a depth knowledge and understanding of the region and this come across and adds a great depth to the story, the plot is ingenious and cleverly constructed in blending crime and political elements seamlessly into a slick read
You can feel a real sense of place and the landscape not only geographically but politically to give that authenticity required to make the reader immerse themselves into the storyline.
Often told from differing characters point of view you don’t get lost or lose the thread it’s all wonderfully knitted together
In any book in translation a mention must go to the translator Marina Sofia
I only discovered after reading that this is the 6th in the series but the first to be translated into English, however it does read as a standalone, I certainly look forward to reading the rest of the series
From the opening pages you are instantly drawn into a world of crime and intrigue
This is a highly enjoyable read and a welcome addition to my crime reading
September 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this story of political intrigue, the obsession that we all have with social media and the ‘image’ we feed to people who are watching and the story of what actually happened to a young woman on a visit to Newcastle. It shows how well the public are manipulated by the media into believing and doing whatever it wants. An extremely astute look at the world we live in today, and hardly even a footstep away from it!
From the beginning I wondered if we were being led astray, as there are so many characters that could be doing something other than what they seem.
The characters are likeable and believable and you are carried along with the plot woven around them quite easily, and I also found there was a thread of humour running through the book which made it so readable.
Anyone who is a fan of spy thriller, political thriller and general mystery stories will definitely find something in this book. As will anyone who likes looking at relationships between people. A thoroughly enjoyable read from Bogdan Hrib. My first, I hope from this author and from a Romanian author.
With thanks to the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
From the beginning I wondered if we were being led astray, as there are so many characters that could be doing something other than what they seem.
The characters are likeable and believable and you are carried along with the plot woven around them quite easily, and I also found there was a thread of humour running through the book which made it so readable.
Anyone who is a fan of spy thriller, political thriller and general mystery stories will definitely find something in this book. As will anyone who likes looking at relationships between people. A thoroughly enjoyable read from Bogdan Hrib. My first, I hope from this author and from a Romanian author.
With thanks to the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
May 4, 2021
„Reziliență” de Bogdan Hrib este un thriller politic ce atinge cele mai înalte cote. Te provoacă să afli, să ceri așezarea pieselor pe tabla de șah a vieții și să vrei tributul adevărului. Autorul s-a jucat cu mintea și direcția privirii mele, pe când vedeam un drum îmi oferea zeci de poteci, pe când vedeam lumina se mai adăuga o crimă, un personaj, o interferență a noului. Pot spune că aici în carte totul m-a intrigat, de la personajele puternic creionate la diversele scenarii polițiste, de spionaj și de legături cu Marea Britanie, România, Polonia, Republica Moldova. Am călătorit vizual pe ici colo și am aflat lucruri ramificate în viziuni, totul mi s-a părut amplu descris, nici în plus dar nici în minus. Cartea m-a intrigat, astfel abia aștept să parcurg drumul literar al scriitorului Bogdan Hrib și prin intermediul altor romane, următoarea pe listă e „Ultima fotografie”, mă roade nerăbdarea să ajung la ea!
link blog: https://vorbepentrusuflet.blog/2021/0...
link blog: https://vorbepentrusuflet.blog/2021/0...
June 7, 2020
„Reziliență” nu este un simplu roman polițist, ci mai degrabă un thriller politic, fiind bogat în astfel de detalii. Ancheta devine din ce în ce mai neclară, fiecare personaj apărut pare să blocheze și mai mult drumul către adevăr, mizele cresc, iar poliția română se vede nevoită să colaboreze cu cea britanică pentru pune capăt jocului. Ritmul în care este prezentată povestea este destul de lent, iar detaliile și schimbarea perspectivelor impun o atenție sporită din partea cititorului pentru a putea înțelege concret ceea ce se întâmplă. Nu este un roman banal și, cu siguranță, nu este pentru oricine, dar dacă vă pasionează misterul, politica și răsturnările de situație, atunci trebuie să treceți această carte pe lista voastră. În mod clar nu veți regreta.
Recenzia completă - www.angelswithbooks.wordpress.com
Recenzia completă - www.angelswithbooks.wordpress.com
December 26, 2020
Loved it. Am scris de ce aici: http://ancamihai.ro/rezilienta-de-b-h...
May 30, 2025
A quite good political thriller, would have been better if it didn’t take a few leaps near the end. Just time leaps, nothing to unrealistic, but it did break the narrative a little
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