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Commissaire Laviolette #2
Le commissaire dans la truffière
Qui aurait dit à Laviolette, venu à Banon, Basses-Alpes, pour y déguster une omelette aux truffes, qu'il y trouverait des cadavres ? Qu'il se casserait le nez sur un tombeau protestant depuis longtemps désaffecté et qu'il serait obligé de partager ses lauriers avec une truie nommée Roseline ? Comme d'habitude, la solution ne lui apparaîtra que par hasard, au terme d'une série d'échecs tous plus lourds de conséquences les uns que les autres.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
8 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Pierre Magnan
67 books23 followersPierre Magnan was a bestselling French author of detective novels steeped in the sights and sounds of his beloved Provence; to readers, his sleuth, Commissaire Laviolette, was as indelibly linked to the land of lavender as Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse was to the colleges of Oxford.
Magnan’s autumnal years were prolific; he wrote more than 30 books and saw his novels adapted for French television and cinema. He was never afraid to experiment and shifted easily to non-fiction, writing, amongst other publications, a gentle portrait of Giono (Pour Saluer Giono, 1990), a study of Provençal novels (Les Romans de ma Provence, 1998) and two volumes of memoirs. In The Essence of Provence (1998) he followed the story of L’Occitane from roadside soap stand to globally known brand. “La Provence was present in all his books,” noted Marie-Laure Goumet, his editor at Robert Laffont.
Magnan’s autumnal years were prolific; he wrote more than 30 books and saw his novels adapted for French television and cinema. He was never afraid to experiment and shifted easily to non-fiction, writing, amongst other publications, a gentle portrait of Giono (Pour Saluer Giono, 1990), a study of Provençal novels (Les Romans de ma Provence, 1998) and two volumes of memoirs. In The Essence of Provence (1998) he followed the story of L’Occitane from roadside soap stand to globally known brand. “La Provence was present in all his books,” noted Marie-Laure Goumet, his editor at Robert Laffont.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
September 7, 2011
I simultaneously liked and disliked this book. Liked: quirky characters, rural location, truffle-hunting pigs, amusing 1970s setting. Disliked: terrible translation in spots, terrible proofreading (really, St. Martin's Minotaur???), lame repeat-for-the-reader ending (and leaving one character's motive in question, although you can certainly guess), all women described by breast size, hair color, and weight in kilos (in that order), unexpected sex/nudity popping up here and there. I suppose I was simultaneously interested in the book because it was a French mystery written in the '70s and turned off because it was a French mystery written in the '70s...
July 26, 2016
As I struggled through translating first year university French I always thought it was my fault that I didn't 'get' the cryptic French style of erratic points of view, enigmatic statements and odd quirky 'humour' that left me always in a "Wha...??" state of mind.
Who would voluntarily read this drivel in it's original form?, I wondered. For entertainment? The painful effort was never worth the outcome.
Thirty pages into Pierre Magnan's Death in the Truffle Wood, professionally translated into English by an apparent expert, I now realise it wasn't my poor efforts that were at fault. Even guided by an expert, I still don't understand the French style of writing fiction.
Randomly flitting about different points of view without clear intent, referencing pronouns without clear designation, interior monologues that cross over from character to character.... too hard to follow, too erratically opaque for me. Reminds me of the irritating sort of smarmy party guest who smiles superciliously when his pointlessly enigmatic comments are so mysterious as to be irrelevant and yet you are obviously meant to feel inferior because you are thinking "Wha....???"
Awash with a profusion of characters, Death in the Truffle Wood offers some decently moody setting descriptions and an original mystery complex as well as one remarkably endearing sow whose name unfortunately was easily confused with another large human female character. Despite all that this work seems to just prove how so many French stereotypes are, well, simply....accurate. A conclusion which reminds me of the comment that Fellini didn't make films, he made documentaries. Stereotypes come from somewhere. And so...
So... I skipped 140 pages and...after some skim reading....well the end was predictable. And I saved myself a lot of stress. Had picked up another title by this author, but I don't think I'll bother.
Who would voluntarily read this drivel in it's original form?, I wondered. For entertainment? The painful effort was never worth the outcome.
Thirty pages into Pierre Magnan's Death in the Truffle Wood, professionally translated into English by an apparent expert, I now realise it wasn't my poor efforts that were at fault. Even guided by an expert, I still don't understand the French style of writing fiction.
Randomly flitting about different points of view without clear intent, referencing pronouns without clear designation, interior monologues that cross over from character to character.... too hard to follow, too erratically opaque for me. Reminds me of the irritating sort of smarmy party guest who smiles superciliously when his pointlessly enigmatic comments are so mysterious as to be irrelevant and yet you are obviously meant to feel inferior because you are thinking "Wha....???"
Awash with a profusion of characters, Death in the Truffle Wood offers some decently moody setting descriptions and an original mystery complex as well as one remarkably endearing sow whose name unfortunately was easily confused with another large human female character. Despite all that this work seems to just prove how so many French stereotypes are, well, simply....accurate. A conclusion which reminds me of the comment that Fellini didn't make films, he made documentaries. Stereotypes come from somewhere. And so...
So... I skipped 140 pages and...after some skim reading....well the end was predictable. And I saved myself a lot of stress. Had picked up another title by this author, but I don't think I'll bother.
August 5, 2020
2,5 estrellas.
Correcta. Sin más. Se escribió en 1978 y ha envejecido mal. Además el estilo del autor me ha parecido confuso.
Entretiene, pero no apasiona.
Correcta. Sin más. Se escribió en 1978 y ha envejecido mal. Además el estilo del autor me ha parecido confuso.
Entretiene, pero no apasiona.
August 14, 2009
I used to read a few cosies, although I was never totally addicted. But I've always been a huge fan of the quirky, odd and the just ever so slightly bats. Colin Watson, Charlotte MacLeod have been favourites for years. I'm adding Pierre Magnan to the list now.
Originally published in French in the late 70's, DEATH IN THE TRUFFLE WOOD was translated into English around 2005. There are a number of books in this series featuring Commissaire Laviolette, although I don't think Roseline makes an appearance in any of the others. Roseline is a truffle hunting pig, and a creature that has made me pine for a pet pig in a way that you simply would not think is possible. Mind you, I never thought I'd want a dachshund either, but this book made me rethink that as well.
On the outskirts of the small village of Banon, a group of outsiders have established a small hippie community. As they start to disappear Commissaire Laviolette is sent to investigate, but nobody is prepared for the discovery in the freezer of a local hotel, when a wedding party is trapped by snow and extra food is called for. (Obviously the freezer would just have to be replaced!)
Soon Roseline is leading the police to a cache of more bodies, and forensic assistance is reluctantly called upon.
It's going to seem an odd thing to say, what with bodies littering hotel freezers and family vaults, but there was something really joyous about reading DEATH IN THE TRUFFLE WOOD. Refreshingly down to earth, quirky, almost tongue in cheek in some places, and just plain funny, DEATH IN THE TRUFFLE WOOD draws a vivid picture of small village life and the wonderfully individualistic people that all so frequently inhabit those places. Perhaps it is partially because of that setting, but there's no feeling of the story and the environment being dated - it's easy for the reader to assume that village life continues in that manner now, and as far back into the past as you want to imagine. Along with the murders, there's a fabulous outline of the clash of cultures - the villagers and their quiet existence, the outsiders and the effect that they have. Definitely a book for readers who are looking for something light, fun and just that little bit slightly bats!
Originally published in French in the late 70's, DEATH IN THE TRUFFLE WOOD was translated into English around 2005. There are a number of books in this series featuring Commissaire Laviolette, although I don't think Roseline makes an appearance in any of the others. Roseline is a truffle hunting pig, and a creature that has made me pine for a pet pig in a way that you simply would not think is possible. Mind you, I never thought I'd want a dachshund either, but this book made me rethink that as well.
On the outskirts of the small village of Banon, a group of outsiders have established a small hippie community. As they start to disappear Commissaire Laviolette is sent to investigate, but nobody is prepared for the discovery in the freezer of a local hotel, when a wedding party is trapped by snow and extra food is called for. (Obviously the freezer would just have to be replaced!)
Soon Roseline is leading the police to a cache of more bodies, and forensic assistance is reluctantly called upon.
It's going to seem an odd thing to say, what with bodies littering hotel freezers and family vaults, but there was something really joyous about reading DEATH IN THE TRUFFLE WOOD. Refreshingly down to earth, quirky, almost tongue in cheek in some places, and just plain funny, DEATH IN THE TRUFFLE WOOD draws a vivid picture of small village life and the wonderfully individualistic people that all so frequently inhabit those places. Perhaps it is partially because of that setting, but there's no feeling of the story and the environment being dated - it's easy for the reader to assume that village life continues in that manner now, and as far back into the past as you want to imagine. Along with the murders, there's a fabulous outline of the clash of cultures - the villagers and their quiet existence, the outsiders and the effect that they have. Definitely a book for readers who are looking for something light, fun and just that little bit slightly bats!
September 29, 2012
Pierre Magnan, who died earlier this year, was the master of ’Provencal Gothic’, and Death in the Truffle Wood shows why. His ’unremarkable’ series cop Laviolette investigates the disappearance of a number of hippies from the town of Banon and uncovers a bubbling pot au feu of sexual obsession, avarice, witchcraft and truffles. Laviolette is an engaging protagonist, but the real heroine of the piece is the lovingly described truffle-hunting sow Roseline. Five stars.
Read my full review at http://pastoffences.wordpress.com/201...
Read my full review at http://pastoffences.wordpress.com/201...
July 28, 2023
Commissaire Laviolette #2
Une histoire de truffes. Celle de Roseline fringante cochonne de 120 kg, apprivoisée comme un chien, au flair infaillible. Celles des truffières qui se déterrent en cachette, se négocient au gramme près, et donnent goût à la poularde demi-deuil. Dehors, les congères se forment, les hippies campent dans l'église en ruine de Montsalier. Jusqu'à leur disparition, un par un....
Enquête policière sympathique et sans prétentions, où l'auteur fait de sa région natale le personnage principal.
Une histoire de truffes. Celle de Roseline fringante cochonne de 120 kg, apprivoisée comme un chien, au flair infaillible. Celles des truffières qui se déterrent en cachette, se négocient au gramme près, et donnent goût à la poularde demi-deuil. Dehors, les congères se forment, les hippies campent dans l'église en ruine de Montsalier. Jusqu'à leur disparition, un par un....
Enquête policière sympathique et sans prétentions, où l'auteur fait de sa région natale le personnage principal.
January 28, 2014
Un livre dont on se plait à relire de nombreuses phrases plusieurs fois, tellement savoureux! Le contexte est très chouette, et la langue si vivante et juste qu'elle nous laisse presque des odeurs et des sensations en tête et en bouche.
June 27, 2014
Very enjoyable read and moments where you want to yell out "look behind you!" . And a great pig. All good.
January 6, 2019
This was a drag. Confusingly told, jumping from place to place-- it was hard to keep all the characters straight and for at least the first 80 pages I had no idea what was happening. Maybe it's just the fault of a less-than-stellar translation? Some of this book is distinctly French, so as an American reader I'm clearly missing something. Also, it may just be cultural difference/book was written in 1978, but it gives off strong written-by-a-man vibes. It just doesn't feel necessary to describe the breast size of every woman in the story. The ending was mediocre and couldn't really have been figured out by a reader based on what we'd been given.
April 3, 2021
Mein Fazit:
Irgendwie ist da was falsch Gelaufen. Die Story ist Gut, aber die Umsetzung ist nicht ganz so Gut, der Autor Pierre Magnan, hat da aus meiner Sicht ein nicht ganz runde Geschichte geschrieben. Erst wird der Leser in eine ganz andere und falsche Richtung gelockt. Und dann ein geschieht ein Mord der Täter und da Opfer tauchen dann aber fast bis zum Ende unter. Wen oder was Commissaire Laviolette nun sucht ist am Anfang auch nicht ganz klar, leider. So liest man lange im dunkeln und als gegen Ende die Handlung langsam fahrt aufnimmt ist sie auch schon zu Ende. Das aber auch sehr Merkwürdig, was schade ist.
Zum Schluss kann ich nur Sagen NA/JA
Irgendwie ist da was falsch Gelaufen. Die Story ist Gut, aber die Umsetzung ist nicht ganz so Gut, der Autor Pierre Magnan, hat da aus meiner Sicht ein nicht ganz runde Geschichte geschrieben. Erst wird der Leser in eine ganz andere und falsche Richtung gelockt. Und dann ein geschieht ein Mord der Täter und da Opfer tauchen dann aber fast bis zum Ende unter. Wen oder was Commissaire Laviolette nun sucht ist am Anfang auch nicht ganz klar, leider. So liest man lange im dunkeln und als gegen Ende die Handlung langsam fahrt aufnimmt ist sie auch schon zu Ende. Das aber auch sehr Merkwürdig, was schade ist.
Zum Schluss kann ich nur Sagen NA/JA
May 12, 2020
El traducir es un arte, y este libro lo ha podido comprobar. No puedo saber si la redaccion original era buena, pero si puedo concluir que la traduccion hecha por susana prieto mori fue mala, con términos y expresiones irreales, donde la misma redaccion en su forma mas basica estaban mal realizadas. su punto a favor es que siendo un libro corto se puede seguir leyendo a base de esfuerzo y asi llegar al final; probablemente esta fue una historia de detective mas, pero gracias a esa traduccion sera memorable. Mas poder para una buena traductora
March 21, 2018
I loved this book, it was very funny and the mystery never mattered as much as how the detective solves it. The characters are very individual, including the pig who has a starring role, and the setting in a small French country town is depicted well. Even though it was written 40 years ago, it hasn't dated badly - just the technology. If you like Martin Walker's Bruno books, it is worth searching out. I'm hoping everything else Pierre Magnan wrote is available in translation.
February 15, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book since it was quite different in style from that of many North American mystery writers. It gave a glimpse into the culture of the remote rural truffle producing region of France as well as having a set of quirky 1970s characters and two murderers for the price of one. Roseline the pig was also an interesting add to the characters in that her appearances in the story were occasional but important and not overdone.
December 23, 2020
This novel, set in Provence as Christmas draws near, is very atmospheric--dark and enigmatic. The lead investigator, Commissaire Laviolette, reminds me very much of Fred Vargas' Commissaire Adamsberg. The atmosphere, though not as surreal as that in Vargas' novels, is full of the same kind of rural mystery, and the land itself plays a role. Very short, enjoyable if a bit light weight on the puzzle side. Great characters, and good food.
Note: this novel was written and set in the 70s. You will hear of hippies and world peace, and of how older French persons in a rather remote community received them. There were no cell phones--a blast from the past.
Note: this novel was written and set in the 70s. You will hear of hippies and world peace, and of how older French persons in a rather remote community received them. There were no cell phones--a blast from the past.
February 12, 2021
Perhaps because this book was translated from French, or because so many characters were introduced all at one time, I found the first part of the book somewhat confusing. I knew there had been murders but was not clear on who had been murdered and the relationship of those murders to the first one mentioned. Eventually things were made clear and I found the remainder of the book to be quite enjoyable.
November 16, 2019
A rather quirky novel, that takes place in a small village in upper Provence. The local community’s principal source of income is truffles. The area has attracted a group of society drop outs, or hippies as the locals refer to them, that are mysteriously disappearing. Commissarie Laviolette is sent to investigate. An easy and almost delightful read.
December 19, 2023
This starts slowly with a good deal of world-building and preamble but, once things get going, the pace picks up and the story cracks along.
To someone used to the norms of English language story telling, the structure occasionally feels a bit odd but, overall, this was an enjoyable venture into an unfamiliar world of peasants and country people.
To someone used to the norms of English language story telling, the structure occasionally feels a bit odd but, overall, this was an enjoyable venture into an unfamiliar world of peasants and country people.
January 20, 2021
Quirky and unexpected, this one is for all truffle lovers, with Rosaline probably being a close cousin to the Empress of Blandings. The humour sprinkled into this mystery doesn't get lost in translation, as the readers are introduced to some hearty rural characters from Provence.
February 24, 2024
So this is an average of an at times 2 and other times 4 star book. It’s dated and sexist in a stereotypically french way but it also has an endearing truffle pig who redeems the novel and enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.
July 30, 2018
This is my first mystery by Pierre Magnan. Once I got past the profusion of characters, I liked the story. Would read more by this author.
May 26, 2019
Kind of weird, with mystical and sexual components. in the end its about money, sex and power. really 2.5 stars. Might read another book to see how i like it.
September 6, 2019
Creepy yet funny murder mystery set in rural Provence. I was scared and entertained at the same time.
October 9, 2020
Poorly translated and sexist 1978 French novel which jumped about and was very confusing and implausible.
July 30, 2022
Charming
September 15, 2023
One of those books you weirdly like and dislike at the same time
July 30, 2024
2.5
Kedvelhető alapsztori, érdekes, de ki nem dolgozott karakterek. Túlzsúfolt, szalonmiozgün narratíva.
Kedvelhető alapsztori, érdekes, de ki nem dolgozott karakterek. Túlzsúfolt, szalonmiozgün narratíva.
May 19, 2025
La trama es divertida y entretenida pero no se si la traducción o el estilo del autor se vuelve confuso dificultando su lectura.
July 6, 2025
Liked the pig, hated the book. Female characters referred to by name followed by breast size.
August 22, 2025
Confuso y farragoso...no sé decir cuanto es de la novela y cuanto de la traducción.
September 7, 2025
Très bon polar au milieu des Alpes de Haute Provence.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews