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La Folly
Paris, 1889. Lucienne assiste à l'incendie de son hôtel particulier où, elle en est sûre, ses filles ont péri. Québec, 1949. Lina vit une adolescence difficile. Pour l'aider, sa mère la fait venir à la maison de repos où elle travaille. Elle y sympathise avec une vieille dame. Québec, 2002. L'inspectrice Maxine Grant est appelée sur une scène de crime où elle retrouve son ancienne institutrice.
342 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 6, 2021
75 people are currently reading
6958 people want to read
About the author
Johana Gustawsson
25 books203 followersBorn in 1978 in Marseille, France, and a graduate of Political Sciences, Johana Gustawsson was a journalist for television and French press. She now lives in London, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
July 6, 2023
I have been obsessed with this book since I started seeing the hype on social media and was thrilled when my library (StoryHouse Chester, UK) were able to order me a copy. The cover and splayed edges just screamed 'beautful read' and this pretty much sums it up.
I am a sucker for dual timelines- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is still one of my favourite reads ever and I have been searching for a similar read to scratch that 'historical mystery dual timeline' ever since. I have now found the closest one I have read to date.
There is a lot to unpack here. There are three timelines to follow, and readers will probably spend a good portion of the first half of the book trying to connect them all. When the penny dropped for me, I closed my eyes and said 'ohhhhh, of course!'
It is rather a lot to keep track of. While the timelines were clearly defined, I did find that some of the characters had similar names so I did struggle to distinguish between them at times. Lina and Lucienne are so closely linked, it took me some time to seaparate who was who as the story progressed.
The ending is just superb. Like those acts you see of someone juggling several different plates at the same time. It is dark, haunting and really is something rather special. It goes to places you won't envision at the start.
Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Stunning.
I am a sucker for dual timelines- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is still one of my favourite reads ever and I have been searching for a similar read to scratch that 'historical mystery dual timeline' ever since. I have now found the closest one I have read to date.
There is a lot to unpack here. There are three timelines to follow, and readers will probably spend a good portion of the first half of the book trying to connect them all. When the penny dropped for me, I closed my eyes and said 'ohhhhh, of course!'
It is rather a lot to keep track of. While the timelines were clearly defined, I did find that some of the characters had similar names so I did struggle to distinguish between them at times. Lina and Lucienne are so closely linked, it took me some time to seaparate who was who as the story progressed.
The ending is just superb. Like those acts you see of someone juggling several different plates at the same time. It is dark, haunting and really is something rather special. It goes to places you won't envision at the start.
Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Stunning.
September 7, 2022
3.5 stars
This book was OK to listen to, but it wasn't that great. I was a bit disappointed because the blurb caught my attention. It wasn't a terrible book, just so-so. The characters could have been fleshed out more, as well. I preferred the storyline from 2002 to the one from 1899 and 1949. However, I loved how the author totally surprised me with the ending of the book and it made me rethink the whole story.
This book was OK to listen to, but it wasn't that great. I was a bit disappointed because the blurb caught my attention. It wasn't a terrible book, just so-so. The characters could have been fleshed out more, as well. I preferred the storyline from 2002 to the one from 1899 and 1949. However, I loved how the author totally surprised me with the ending of the book and it made me rethink the whole story.
September 14, 2022
I received a gifted advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
The Bleeding is a creepy atmospheric book told in multiple POVs and across three timelines. The timelines were woven seamlessly together and as the book unfolds pieces begin to slot together. I found this a slow burn that completely drew me in and I couldn't stop thinking of this book and what had happened or would happen or unfold next. That ending was one I really did not see coming at all and left my head spinning. The writing is detailed and considering this was a translated book I found it completely amazing. This is the first of Johana Gustawssons books that I have read but it won't be the last! If your looking for a creepy, atmospheric read for autumn or Halloween, definitely pick this one up!
The Bleeding is a creepy atmospheric book told in multiple POVs and across three timelines. The timelines were woven seamlessly together and as the book unfolds pieces begin to slot together. I found this a slow burn that completely drew me in and I couldn't stop thinking of this book and what had happened or would happen or unfold next. That ending was one I really did not see coming at all and left my head spinning. The writing is detailed and considering this was a translated book I found it completely amazing. This is the first of Johana Gustawssons books that I have read but it won't be the last! If your looking for a creepy, atmospheric read for autumn or Halloween, definitely pick this one up!
July 17, 2022
A beautifully atmospheric read from Johana Gustawsson - to my mind her best yet, moving seamlessly through three different timelines following three women inextricably linked by darkness.
The writing is spot on pitch perfect allowing the reader to sink right into the story, I read it in one sitting it is utterly gripping.
A literary delight where the quality never falters, where the ending will stay with you and a story that will live on in your head.
Superb.
The writing is spot on pitch perfect allowing the reader to sink right into the story, I read it in one sitting it is utterly gripping.
A literary delight where the quality never falters, where the ending will stay with you and a story that will live on in your head.
Superb.
July 9, 2023
Five star read, with a caveat: that final twist is simultaneously idiotic and brilliant. Extremely creepy and engaging.
4.5
4.5
August 9, 2023
rtc !! all i can say as of now is satanic blood rituals = 🤌🏼
April 29, 2023
Three separate women and three separate timelines, but all somehow linked together. In 1899, Lucienne’s two young children are thought dead after a terrible house fire. In 1949, Lina is finding school difficult but finds comfort in befriending an elderly lady in the care home her mother works in. And in 2002, Maxine, who is a police detective, takes on a gruesome investigation involving her former teacher, accused of butchering her own husband.
As Maxine investigates this brutal murder a discovery is made, which involves the occult and black magic. And little by little, these character’s stories are revealed, and the link between them all, spanning a full century is revealed.
I normally don’t do too well with translated fiction, it often feels too formal for me but I actually really enjoyed this one, particularly in the last part of the book when things really heated up and it all got super dark and creepy. There are a fair few characters to remember & I did get them muddled up sometimes jumping from timeline to timeline but I got there in the end. It’s a relatively short book with short & snappy chapters which I love. Oh and my copy had the most stunning sprayed edges I’ve ever seen on a book, if you like that sort of thing!
Macabre and magnificent, Johanna Gustawsson is one to watch out for.
As Maxine investigates this brutal murder a discovery is made, which involves the occult and black magic. And little by little, these character’s stories are revealed, and the link between them all, spanning a full century is revealed.
I normally don’t do too well with translated fiction, it often feels too formal for me but I actually really enjoyed this one, particularly in the last part of the book when things really heated up and it all got super dark and creepy. There are a fair few characters to remember & I did get them muddled up sometimes jumping from timeline to timeline but I got there in the end. It’s a relatively short book with short & snappy chapters which I love. Oh and my copy had the most stunning sprayed edges I’ve ever seen on a book, if you like that sort of thing!
Macabre and magnificent, Johanna Gustawsson is one to watch out for.
August 4, 2022
Discover the locations in The Bleeding
I raced through this novel so this is a quick review but I also mistakingly thought it was being published in August and it's not - it's September. Never mind - I wanted to shout about it now anyway!
This is a novel about darkness and its multiple layers. We meet three very different women, separated by decades and oceans who share this darkness. They live under it, sleep in it, eat it and absorb in their daily lives. Three stories unfold and draw the reader into a gripping plot from the start. As soon as you start reading this, you’ll see it as something special.
I didn’t see how the stories were to going to link together at first. How were these women going to share the space on the page? Oh, but they do, Each woman is an ingredient and Johan Gustawsson is stirring up something good in a that huge black cauldron of hers…
So, what ingredients are in this dark concoction? Lashings of darkness and deceit. A supernatural twist and gothic overtones. Three stories and three women I didn’t see any link between at first. That’s the beauty of Johana’s writing. She manages to twist the best and worst from her characters in ways you will never guess. Johana digs deep and this time gives us some sharp shocks and some gripping plot diversions. I was enveloped in this reading cloak of darkness throughout – I could see nothing else but this book – and it was a gloriously immersive experience.
Murder, family, secret societies…….
There’s a murder and the investigating officer realises she has links to the suspect…..Macabre discoveries are made…..A woman loses both her daughters….The third, is bullied until she can stand it no more.
Now, what other author do you know who could take these three and carve a story from them. A story so strong and gripping that I was captivated from the start and the pace never let up. There were real moments where I felt chilled, where the story delved into the realm of the occult and more. I realised then how the author was showing us how women were judged by history and how they still are. All of the women in this story are driven by something strong yet they are judged and treated harshly.
Kudos to Johana for bringing a wonderfully complex tale and several historical periods to life. Congrats to the translator David Warriner for a chillingly good translation ( I have read the French and the nuances and shadows have been captured perfectly. The only thing I prefered about the French was the title. The English one is just a bit too gory and just reminds me of dripping blood and hospitals. That’s just me being squeamish perhaps. Forget the title, just head inside the covers….
What is to come next? I can’t wait.
January 19, 2023
If you are looking for a binge worthy, original crime thriller, then look no further than The Bleeding by Johana Gustawsson. It’s a haunting gothic novel about three women, spanning three eras, across two countries. Gustawsson weaves historical fact and fiction with a modern day murder mystery. Ultimately, it’s a story of women who will stop at nothing to protect the ones they love. The writing is sublime; the plot is intricate and so deliciously dark.
When a former schoolteacher is accused of brutally murdering her husband, a famous university professor, Detective Maxine Grant takes on the investigation. Maxine makes a series of macabre discoveries that link directly to historical cases involving black magic and murder, secret societies and spiritism. How do Maxin, Lucienne and Lina’s stories connect? These women face some tough decisions in trying to protect those they love, decisions that lead to far-reaching consequences. And yet these women are authentic. You feel their pain and understand the motivation behind their questionable choices.
One thing I love about this author’s writing is the way she seamlessly combines a story with multiple timelines, moving from past to present without hesitation. The author gives each character a distinctive voice. Each era is rich in description and atmosphere, so there’s no confusion. I normally find in this type of book I prefer one character’s story or time period, but not here! Each Women’s story consumes your every waking moment, making The Bleeding nigh on possible to put down.
By the end of The Bleeding, the reader understands how the three different stories intertwine, but it’s a hell of a journey getting there! The story starts off creepy with a sense of evil lurking within its pages, but as the story progresses, it becomes something far more sinister than anything my limited imagination could conjure up. It’s a book full of perfectly pitched twists and revelations that remain well hidden to Gustawsson reveals the ugly truth. The Bleeding is a harrowing tale, but it’s a compelling and intensely heart wrenching read. One of my top reads of 2022 highly recommended.
When a former schoolteacher is accused of brutally murdering her husband, a famous university professor, Detective Maxine Grant takes on the investigation. Maxine makes a series of macabre discoveries that link directly to historical cases involving black magic and murder, secret societies and spiritism. How do Maxin, Lucienne and Lina’s stories connect? These women face some tough decisions in trying to protect those they love, decisions that lead to far-reaching consequences. And yet these women are authentic. You feel their pain and understand the motivation behind their questionable choices.
One thing I love about this author’s writing is the way she seamlessly combines a story with multiple timelines, moving from past to present without hesitation. The author gives each character a distinctive voice. Each era is rich in description and atmosphere, so there’s no confusion. I normally find in this type of book I prefer one character’s story or time period, but not here! Each Women’s story consumes your every waking moment, making The Bleeding nigh on possible to put down.
By the end of The Bleeding, the reader understands how the three different stories intertwine, but it’s a hell of a journey getting there! The story starts off creepy with a sense of evil lurking within its pages, but as the story progresses, it becomes something far more sinister than anything my limited imagination could conjure up. It’s a book full of perfectly pitched twists and revelations that remain well hidden to Gustawsson reveals the ugly truth. The Bleeding is a harrowing tale, but it’s a compelling and intensely heart wrenching read. One of my top reads of 2022 highly recommended.
November 16, 2022
Wow, what a completely unexpected twist at the end. The book was already great without the twist, but that twist was just another punch to the gut.
The Bleeding is a unique procedural that features one of my favorite elements- the occult. It’s told over three timelines and while you’ll be able to spot the connections fairly on, you definitely will not expect the ending. The occult elements were great and I liked how intrinsic it was to the overall mystery. The book didn’t really read as a procedural and that made it all the more enjoyable for me. Overall, the The Bleeding is a gripping read and I will definitely read the next book in the series.
The Bleeding is a unique procedural that features one of my favorite elements- the occult. It’s told over three timelines and while you’ll be able to spot the connections fairly on, you definitely will not expect the ending. The occult elements were great and I liked how intrinsic it was to the overall mystery. The book didn’t really read as a procedural and that made it all the more enjoyable for me. Overall, the The Bleeding is a gripping read and I will definitely read the next book in the series.
July 23, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5
This was a slow burner with multiple narratives and timelines that wove together a horrific and tragic tale of magic, murder and manipulation. Three women over the course of nearly a century explore the role of motherhood and the lengths a person will go to to gain happiness and recognition. A haunting yet mournful story that I couldn’t put down.
This was a slow burner with multiple narratives and timelines that wove together a horrific and tragic tale of magic, murder and manipulation. Three women over the course of nearly a century explore the role of motherhood and the lengths a person will go to to gain happiness and recognition. A haunting yet mournful story that I couldn’t put down.
July 5, 2023
This book was amazing! It was dark, atmospheric, creepy and a gripping piece of translated fiction. It is written in very short chapters which I found made it even more readable. Especially as it switched between three different time periods and then how they all interlinked was fantastic!
There is plenty of mystery, black magic, murder and seances that created a compelling and harrowing story. There was one particular twist that I did not see coming at all! It was very cleverly plotted.
I believe this is a first in a series so I will most definitely want to read the next one.
I highly recommend you pick it up if you like your thrillers very gothic, eerie, emotional and haunting.
There is plenty of mystery, black magic, murder and seances that created a compelling and harrowing story. There was one particular twist that I did not see coming at all! It was very cleverly plotted.
I believe this is a first in a series so I will most definitely want to read the next one.
I highly recommend you pick it up if you like your thrillers very gothic, eerie, emotional and haunting.
December 24, 2023
The title alone scared me off a little and the mention that it was a gothic read wasn’t really comforting me either but on the other hand I really liked the cover and the author. I decided to go for it and in the end I quite enjoyed reading this. Yes there are a few short scenes of performing ‘black magic’ that I could have done without but were a necessary evil; it was mostly talk about symbolism though and how some of it was hidden which was interesting. This all happens in the final part of the book so I wouldn’t rule this novel out if it’s not your preferred genre either.
I loved the three separate plotlines of a detective investigating a murder, a young girl being bullied at school and a woman whose children are missing after a house fire. They were all set in different timeframes and the only thing the three seemed to have in common was a link to the main location where they all seemed to have been at one time or another. The Queen of French noir guides us slowly-slowly (but in a good way) towards some really big revelations and weaves everything expertly together. It felt good to figure out how this puzzle was slotted together and then the big guns were still biding its time to be fired.
I can’t say which of the storylines I liked best but the scenes that definitely stood out for me were those where Professor Gina (Ginette) Montminy interviews Mrs Caron about the murder on her husband and the gruesome finds in their house. Mrs Caron doesn’t speak a word but Montminy’s monologue and observations seem to hit the nail on the head and I was quite in awe of that. The psychological aspect is always what attracts me most so I was served well.
The biggest surprise was kept till the very end. What a twist! Definitely another highlight of this novel. It left me reeling and I’m sure I won’t be the only one.
Religion isn’t one of my favorite topics in books so I faced some challenges while reading this and yet I still very much enjoyed reading this.
I loved the three separate plotlines of a detective investigating a murder, a young girl being bullied at school and a woman whose children are missing after a house fire. They were all set in different timeframes and the only thing the three seemed to have in common was a link to the main location where they all seemed to have been at one time or another. The Queen of French noir guides us slowly-slowly (but in a good way) towards some really big revelations and weaves everything expertly together. It felt good to figure out how this puzzle was slotted together and then the big guns were still biding its time to be fired.
I can’t say which of the storylines I liked best but the scenes that definitely stood out for me were those where Professor Gina (Ginette) Montminy interviews Mrs Caron about the murder on her husband and the gruesome finds in their house. Mrs Caron doesn’t speak a word but Montminy’s monologue and observations seem to hit the nail on the head and I was quite in awe of that. The psychological aspect is always what attracts me most so I was served well.
The biggest surprise was kept till the very end. What a twist! Definitely another highlight of this novel. It left me reeling and I’m sure I won’t be the only one.
Religion isn’t one of my favorite topics in books so I faced some challenges while reading this and yet I still very much enjoyed reading this.
February 9, 2023
I've read a couple Johana Gustawsson previous books, so I already knew I was in for a deviously twisty tale, but I did not know just how shocked and enthralled I would be with The Bleeding!
It's told in three separate storylines that are expertly entwined together. First, we have Maxine in 2002, a police officer just back off maternity leave when she's called to the brutal death at her old teacher's home. Then there's Lina back in 1949, who's being badly bullied after the death of her father. Last, we go even further back to 1899, to Lucienne, a woman who after a devastating fire doesn't believe her daughter's to be dead.
Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, there was a clever twist that would shock me. Then there was the ending, which was breathtakingly diabolical, which I loved! I'm still in awe thinking about it now.
Throughout the story there were themes of devil worship, witches and demons that gave the mystery an edge of horror and upped the creep factor, which I really enjoyed.
If you're looking for a captivating yet dark thriller, I'd highly recommend The Bleeding!
It's told in three separate storylines that are expertly entwined together. First, we have Maxine in 2002, a police officer just back off maternity leave when she's called to the brutal death at her old teacher's home. Then there's Lina back in 1949, who's being badly bullied after the death of her father. Last, we go even further back to 1899, to Lucienne, a woman who after a devastating fire doesn't believe her daughter's to be dead.
Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, there was a clever twist that would shock me. Then there was the ending, which was breathtakingly diabolical, which I loved! I'm still in awe thinking about it now.
Throughout the story there were themes of devil worship, witches and demons that gave the mystery an edge of horror and upped the creep factor, which I really enjoyed.
If you're looking for a captivating yet dark thriller, I'd highly recommend The Bleeding!
December 13, 2024
4.25*
Quite an interesting read, 3 timelines with 3 different women whose stories intertwined. It was interesting reading how the puzzles got solved and how everything fitted together. If you like witches and demonic rituals this might be a good one for you
Quite an interesting read, 3 timelines with 3 different women whose stories intertwined. It was interesting reading how the puzzles got solved and how everything fitted together. If you like witches and demonic rituals this might be a good one for you
September 27, 2022
Johana Gustawsson is best known in the UK for her Roy and Castells series, also published by Orenda. I was really excited when I heard that The Bleeding was to be published in English; translated by David Warriner, and have been looking forward to this for months.
I have to begin by saying that in my view, this is her best book to date, I was totally caught up with the characters, the intricate and clever plot and the fascinating way that the author weaves three totally different eras together so seamlessly. I stayed up very late one night to finish this, and then couldn't sleep for ages as I just couldn't stop thinking about it.
Three women, separated by many years, are the heart and soul of this bewitching tale. Belle Epoque, Paris in 1899 where we meet Lucienne. She is traumatised as she watched her house burn to the ground and her two small daughters are missing. With little support from her husband or mother-in-law, and a newcomer to the city, in which she often feels out of placed and judged, she turns to her cousin Mary, and to strangers for help. Entering the dark and creepy world of mediums and spiritualists, Lucienne becomes drawn towards this bizarre, often unsettling community.
Lina is a teenager in 1949 Quebec. Her father died fighting for the Resistance and her mother is overworked and tired, as well as grieving in her own way. Lina is being bullied by a girl in school and her mother cannot deal with this at all. Her answer is to insist that Lina joins her at her workplace; an ex-asylum, now care home, every day after school. Whilst Lina is not keen at first, the care home soon becomes a haven as is befriended by an elderly resident who passes on her knowledge. Lina now has a way to stop the bullying, but it is dangerous and risky. However, for Lina it is the way out and she soon becomes obsessed, and that obsession will last for the rest of her life.
In 2002, Detective Maxine Grant returns to work after maternity leave. Her first case is to investigate the brutal murder of a local university professor. His wife is the accused, she is also a woman who taught Maxine at school and ask for her by name. These are the only words that she will say for a long time and as Maxine and her team begin their investigations, it soon becomes clear that there is far more to this case than originally thought.
Gusawsson writes short snappy chapters, alternating between each era and this works incredibly well. The reader's attention is drawn and the anticipation of what is to come next is really thrilling. At first, I had no idea how Lucienne, Lina and Maxine could possibly be connected, but the revelations that are dotted along the way made me gasp with wonder and with admiration for this extremely clever and skilled author. She doesn't put a foot wrong, nothing is out of place, the tension increases, the realisation suddenly hits home and the pure brilliance of the plotting is just outstanding.
The author delves into the darkest of places within the story, detailing some atrocious cover ups, and some cleverly and well hidden truths that are not apparent at all until she decides to reveal them. With a wonderfully gothic feel, full of characters who are colourful, yet incredibly flawed this is an absolute joy to read.
Spellbinding, vivid and fascinating and beautifully translated by David Warriner. One of my favourite books of the year.
I have to begin by saying that in my view, this is her best book to date, I was totally caught up with the characters, the intricate and clever plot and the fascinating way that the author weaves three totally different eras together so seamlessly. I stayed up very late one night to finish this, and then couldn't sleep for ages as I just couldn't stop thinking about it.
Three women, separated by many years, are the heart and soul of this bewitching tale. Belle Epoque, Paris in 1899 where we meet Lucienne. She is traumatised as she watched her house burn to the ground and her two small daughters are missing. With little support from her husband or mother-in-law, and a newcomer to the city, in which she often feels out of placed and judged, she turns to her cousin Mary, and to strangers for help. Entering the dark and creepy world of mediums and spiritualists, Lucienne becomes drawn towards this bizarre, often unsettling community.
Lina is a teenager in 1949 Quebec. Her father died fighting for the Resistance and her mother is overworked and tired, as well as grieving in her own way. Lina is being bullied by a girl in school and her mother cannot deal with this at all. Her answer is to insist that Lina joins her at her workplace; an ex-asylum, now care home, every day after school. Whilst Lina is not keen at first, the care home soon becomes a haven as is befriended by an elderly resident who passes on her knowledge. Lina now has a way to stop the bullying, but it is dangerous and risky. However, for Lina it is the way out and she soon becomes obsessed, and that obsession will last for the rest of her life.
In 2002, Detective Maxine Grant returns to work after maternity leave. Her first case is to investigate the brutal murder of a local university professor. His wife is the accused, she is also a woman who taught Maxine at school and ask for her by name. These are the only words that she will say for a long time and as Maxine and her team begin their investigations, it soon becomes clear that there is far more to this case than originally thought.
Gusawsson writes short snappy chapters, alternating between each era and this works incredibly well. The reader's attention is drawn and the anticipation of what is to come next is really thrilling. At first, I had no idea how Lucienne, Lina and Maxine could possibly be connected, but the revelations that are dotted along the way made me gasp with wonder and with admiration for this extremely clever and skilled author. She doesn't put a foot wrong, nothing is out of place, the tension increases, the realisation suddenly hits home and the pure brilliance of the plotting is just outstanding.
The author delves into the darkest of places within the story, detailing some atrocious cover ups, and some cleverly and well hidden truths that are not apparent at all until she decides to reveal them. With a wonderfully gothic feel, full of characters who are colourful, yet incredibly flawed this is an absolute joy to read.
Spellbinding, vivid and fascinating and beautifully translated by David Warriner. One of my favourite books of the year.
February 9, 2023
Definitely atmospheric and very viscerally written. The imagery was great and clear and helped to build an intriguing story, one that came to a dramatic twist of a conclusion that I didn’t see coming.
Having said that, sometimes I found it was hard to keep interested because parts felt very detail heavy which stunted the story and at times pushed me towards DNFing.
Glad I persevered and finished it but not one of my favourite reads this month.
Having said that, sometimes I found it was hard to keep interested because parts felt very detail heavy which stunted the story and at times pushed me towards DNFing.
Glad I persevered and finished it but not one of my favourite reads this month.
March 31, 2022
Un vrai page turner; trois destins de femmes et puis cette fin … que je n’ai pas vu venir et qui me laisse pantoise…
C’est bien écrit, les chapitres sont courts et coulent tous seuls.
Une auteure à découvrir… je lirai sa saga
C’est bien écrit, les chapitres sont courts et coulent tous seuls.
Une auteure à découvrir… je lirai sa saga
January 24, 2023
The Bleeding has three things I like in a mystery--an intriguing mystery to unravel, unreliable narrators, and a twist ending. But it unfolded in a way that didn't work for me. A predictable and unoriginal solution and a twist at the end that shocked the characters for all the wrong reasons.
October 29, 2022
Bad ending
Not a bad novel, but the ending is really crooked. It doesn't make sense. It makes me feel like the author didn't know how to end the book.
Not a bad novel, but the ending is really crooked. It doesn't make sense. It makes me feel like the author didn't know how to end the book.
September 24, 2022
This story is told from the perspective of three women in three different timelines: Maxine in 2002, Lina in 1949, and Lucienne in 1899.
In 2002, Lieutenant Maxine Grant is called to a scene of crime. Philippe Carson, a renowned Montreal University professor, author, and historian is brutally murdered in his home. His wife, Pauline Carson, is sitting outside the house, unresponsive and in shock.
Police immediately suspect that it was Pauline who stabbed her husband. What makes the case even more intriguing is the fact that seven well preserved hands, enclosed in glass domes, are found in various rooms of the Carsons’ residence. How did the Carsons obtain those hands? And more importantly, who did they belong to?
Weaved in between Maxine’s account, we discover Lina’s and Lucienne’s stories. In 1949, Lina, after an incident at school involving another pupil, is informed by her mother that she needs to come to her place of work each day after her classes finish. Lina’s mother works in a ‘rest home’, which used to be a psychiatric hospital. There, Lina meets an elderly lady, a resident of the home, and they soon become close.
In 1899, Lucienne Doquer, who originally came from Quebec, but now lives in Paris with her husband Henri and two daughters, Jeanne and Rose, finds herself isolated from the other ladies. Then, a tragedy strikes their family home, and Lucienne finds herself taken under Violette du Courtiere’s wing, who leads her down a dark path of black magic and the occult.
How are the three women connected?
You have to read this one for yourselves to find out.
This book has everything a person needs:
Strong female lead ✅
Historical timeline ✅
A murder (or two) ✅
Occult references ✅
Satanic worship and black magic ✅
A few excellent twists ✅
I liked the three-way timeline and I found myself sucked into all three stories. I wanted to know whether Pauline killed her husband and how they obtained seven hands. I was also captivated by Lina and Lucienne’s stories, I quickly discovered their connection and the mentor-pupil relationship was fascinating to read.
I liked Maxine as a character, she was juggling career with single motherhood, as her husband recently died, so she was still grieving his loss. She is a perfect epitome of a modern woman.
I must admit that I didn’t anticipate the twists, I think I am still in shock.
Overall, a great book. I definitely recommend it.
In 2002, Lieutenant Maxine Grant is called to a scene of crime. Philippe Carson, a renowned Montreal University professor, author, and historian is brutally murdered in his home. His wife, Pauline Carson, is sitting outside the house, unresponsive and in shock.
Police immediately suspect that it was Pauline who stabbed her husband. What makes the case even more intriguing is the fact that seven well preserved hands, enclosed in glass domes, are found in various rooms of the Carsons’ residence. How did the Carsons obtain those hands? And more importantly, who did they belong to?
Weaved in between Maxine’s account, we discover Lina’s and Lucienne’s stories. In 1949, Lina, after an incident at school involving another pupil, is informed by her mother that she needs to come to her place of work each day after her classes finish. Lina’s mother works in a ‘rest home’, which used to be a psychiatric hospital. There, Lina meets an elderly lady, a resident of the home, and they soon become close.
In 1899, Lucienne Doquer, who originally came from Quebec, but now lives in Paris with her husband Henri and two daughters, Jeanne and Rose, finds herself isolated from the other ladies. Then, a tragedy strikes their family home, and Lucienne finds herself taken under Violette du Courtiere’s wing, who leads her down a dark path of black magic and the occult.
How are the three women connected?
You have to read this one for yourselves to find out.
This book has everything a person needs:
Strong female lead ✅
Historical timeline ✅
A murder (or two) ✅
Occult references ✅
Satanic worship and black magic ✅
A few excellent twists ✅
I liked the three-way timeline and I found myself sucked into all three stories. I wanted to know whether Pauline killed her husband and how they obtained seven hands. I was also captivated by Lina and Lucienne’s stories, I quickly discovered their connection and the mentor-pupil relationship was fascinating to read.
I liked Maxine as a character, she was juggling career with single motherhood, as her husband recently died, so she was still grieving his loss. She is a perfect epitome of a modern woman.
I must admit that I didn’t anticipate the twists, I think I am still in shock.
Overall, a great book. I definitely recommend it.
February 21, 2023
What an absolutely brilliant book!! I was drawn in right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down! Such a great book that I have been raving about it. Highly recommend
October 28, 2021
Résumé : 1899, Paris. Lucienne a perdu ses filles dans l'incendie de sa maison. Mais elle ne croit pas à leur mort, et va tout mettre en œuvre pour les retrouver, côtoyant même les forces occultes.
1949, Lac-Clarence, Québec. Lina, une adolescente perturbée, est le souffre-douleur d'une de ses camarades. Contrainte par sa mère de la rejoindre à son travail après les cours, elle y fait la connaissance d'une vieille pensionnaire avec laquelle elle se lie d'amitié, pour le meilleur et pour le pire.
2002, Lac-Clarence. L'ancienne institutrice du village a tué son mari d'une trentaine de coups de couteau. Mais pour quelle raison ? L'inspectrice Maxine Grant va devoir découvrir ce qui s'est passé ce soir-là entre les époux.
Mon avis : Déjà conquise par la plume de Johana avec la découverte de sa trilogie mettant en scène Emily Roy & Alexis Castells, j'ai été plus que ravie de découvrir ce nouvel opus (merci @lilas.seewald !!), un one-shot mystérieux avec ma copine @cec.book.kine.
Nous suivons trois femmes aux destins sombres et tortueux, à travers trois époques, mais qui vont se rejoindre au cours du récit. Ont-elles eu une influence les unes sur les autres ? J'ai beaucoup aimé que les femmes soient au cœur de ce récit - les hommes n'ayant, pour une fois, qu'un rôle secondaire. J'ai particulièrement aimé Maxine, jeune veuve devant assumer seule le quotidien de mère en plus de son boulot de flic.
Le meurtre est presque remisé au second plan, comme si les vies exceptionnelles de ces femmes avaient plus d'importance, même si, ne vous inquiétez pas, l'enquête se déroule avec son lot de révélations et de secrets. Chaque fin de chapitre nous laisse en haleine, nous empêchant de refermer le livre. Addictif ! Puissant ! J'ai adoré !
1949, Lac-Clarence, Québec. Lina, une adolescente perturbée, est le souffre-douleur d'une de ses camarades. Contrainte par sa mère de la rejoindre à son travail après les cours, elle y fait la connaissance d'une vieille pensionnaire avec laquelle elle se lie d'amitié, pour le meilleur et pour le pire.
2002, Lac-Clarence. L'ancienne institutrice du village a tué son mari d'une trentaine de coups de couteau. Mais pour quelle raison ? L'inspectrice Maxine Grant va devoir découvrir ce qui s'est passé ce soir-là entre les époux.
Mon avis : Déjà conquise par la plume de Johana avec la découverte de sa trilogie mettant en scène Emily Roy & Alexis Castells, j'ai été plus que ravie de découvrir ce nouvel opus (merci @lilas.seewald !!), un one-shot mystérieux avec ma copine @cec.book.kine.
Nous suivons trois femmes aux destins sombres et tortueux, à travers trois époques, mais qui vont se rejoindre au cours du récit. Ont-elles eu une influence les unes sur les autres ? J'ai beaucoup aimé que les femmes soient au cœur de ce récit - les hommes n'ayant, pour une fois, qu'un rôle secondaire. J'ai particulièrement aimé Maxine, jeune veuve devant assumer seule le quotidien de mère en plus de son boulot de flic.
Le meurtre est presque remisé au second plan, comme si les vies exceptionnelles de ces femmes avaient plus d'importance, même si, ne vous inquiétez pas, l'enquête se déroule avec son lot de révélations et de secrets. Chaque fin de chapitre nous laisse en haleine, nous empêchant de refermer le livre. Addictif ! Puissant ! J'ai adoré !
December 25, 2021
Un thriller comme je les aime ! Cadencé par des chapitres courts et incisifs, par l’alternance des points de vue et par une bonne dose de révélations distillées au fur et à mesure…
Un vrai page tuner 📖
Nous suivons le destin de 3 femmes bien différentes entre 3 époques distinctes : dans les années 2000, dans les années 50 et à la fin du XIXe siècle. Au fil de la lecture, on se rencontre petit à petit que finalement c’est 3 femmes sont liées l’une à l’autre par des chemins qu’il est difficile de soupçonner jusqu’à la toute fin du livre !
J’ai été un peu moins séduite par la tournure ésotérique que prend le dernier quart du roman. Un peu trop « tiré par les cheveux » pour mon goût personnel.
J’ai découvert grâce à ce roman la plume de @johanagustawsson et j’ai vraiment hâte d’en lire plus 🤩
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A thriller as I like them! Paced by short and incisive chapters, by alternating points of view and by a good dose of revelations distilled all along the book...
A real page-turner 📖
We follow the destiny of 3 very different women between 3 distinct eras: in the 2000s, in the 1950s and at the end of the 19th century. As we read, we gradually come to realise that these 3 women are linked to each other in ways that are difficult to imagine until the very end of the book!
I was a little less seduced by the esoteric turn that the last quarter of the novel takes. A little too far-fetched for my personal taste.
I discovered @johanagustawsson's writing through this novel and I really look forward to reading more 🤩
Un vrai page tuner 📖
Nous suivons le destin de 3 femmes bien différentes entre 3 époques distinctes : dans les années 2000, dans les années 50 et à la fin du XIXe siècle. Au fil de la lecture, on se rencontre petit à petit que finalement c’est 3 femmes sont liées l’une à l’autre par des chemins qu’il est difficile de soupçonner jusqu’à la toute fin du livre !
J’ai été un peu moins séduite par la tournure ésotérique que prend le dernier quart du roman. Un peu trop « tiré par les cheveux » pour mon goût personnel.
J’ai découvert grâce à ce roman la plume de @johanagustawsson et j’ai vraiment hâte d’en lire plus 🤩
--------------
A thriller as I like them! Paced by short and incisive chapters, by alternating points of view and by a good dose of revelations distilled all along the book...
A real page-turner 📖
We follow the destiny of 3 very different women between 3 distinct eras: in the 2000s, in the 1950s and at the end of the 19th century. As we read, we gradually come to realise that these 3 women are linked to each other in ways that are difficult to imagine until the very end of the book!
I was a little less seduced by the esoteric turn that the last quarter of the novel takes. A little too far-fetched for my personal taste.
I discovered @johanagustawsson's writing through this novel and I really look forward to reading more 🤩
July 5, 2023
Qu'est-ce que arrive quand une autrice française écrit une histoire qui se passe au Québec? L'université Laval se retrouve à Montréal! LOL! Seigneur, elle aurait pu au moins googler avant de commencer son livre non? L'histoire est bonne, mais c'était difficile de m'attacher à des personnages québécois ayant grandi dans un village d'ici mais qui disaient "ton mec" à tout bout de champs. 🤣🤣🤣
December 24, 2022
This wasn't great.
Badly written (or badly translated) and just random bad/psychotic things happening without anything or anyone to actually care about. It just didn't really string together or make sense.
What a merry book to finish on Christmas eve...
Badly written (or badly translated) and just random bad/psychotic things happening without anything or anyone to actually care about. It just didn't really string together or make sense.
What a merry book to finish on Christmas eve...
July 6, 2024
Ma lecture de ce livre a été très compliquée , j'ai trouvé l'intrigue tellement étrange et les révélations effroyables j'ai détesté !
December 14, 2024
Lecture pénible et j’ai trouvé l’intrigue un peu étrange …j’adore les livres de johana Gustawson mais celui ci m’a bien déçu
September 4, 2022
The Bleeding by Johana Gustawsson (translated by David Warriner) will publish September 15th with Orenda Books and is described as ‘a spell-binding, dazzlingly dark gothic thriller that swings from Belle Époque France to 21st-century Quebec, with an extraordinary mystery at its heart.’
Detective Maxine Grant is grieving following the unexpected and tragic death of her husband. With two children to care for she is under pressure to get up every day but she knows that if she sinks too low she will never return to any semblance of a normal life. Returning to work she is immediately lead investigator on a case involving the brutal murder of a renowned university professor, Philippe Caron.
His wife, Pauline Caron, an old school teacher of Maxine’s, is the lead suspect. Found at the scene in shock, with traces of her husband’s blood on her body she is unwilling to speak of the trauma in her home, leaving Maxine and the investigative team clueless as to motive or intent. As the team search the Caron residence, a gruesome discovery is unearthed leading Maxine down a very dark and treacherous path, one with a history that takes us back to the late 1800s, to Belle Époque Paris.
Lucienne Docquer is unhappy in her marriage. She finds it difficult to fit in with the Parisian elite and the social circles they gravitate toward. Originally from Lac-Clarence in Quebec, her accent is different and sometimes she struggles with the Parisienne dialect, leaving her ofttimes lonely and isolated at social events. She dotes on her two little girls, Jeanne and Rose but one day her world upends when tragedy strikes and their home burns to the ground before the two little girls could be rescued. Traumatised, Lucienne, through a surprising source, becomes entranced with the world of spiritualism, one where communication with the spirits of the dead is a strong belief.
1949 in Quebec Lina is an unhappy teen struggling to fit in with her peers and suffering at the hands of a relentless bully. Her father died fighting during the war so it’s now just her mother and herself in the home. Her mother is constantly stressed and under pressure to make ends meet so her time for Lina is scant. When Lina gets into trouble at school her mother insists that Lina come to her workplace after school every day so she knows her whereabouts. Her mother works in the local asylum and it is here that Lina crosses paths with an elderly woman, an individual who would have a huge influence on Lina’s journey through life.
Weaving a story dating back to the 19th Century can be a challenge but for Johana Gustawsson it seems almost easy. The flow of the narrative expertly heightens to shocking scenes and then levels off again, bringing the reader on an exciting and, all times, bumpy ride. Johana Gustawsson is unafraid to shock her readers, something that anyone who has read her acclaimed Roy & Castells series will agree with I’m sure. Atmospheric to its core, with the supernatural, like treacle, slowly infiltrating every chapter, this gothic and dark thriller is made for the cinema. The different eras are excellently depicted creating incredible, and at times, chilling visuals with some hair-raising and disturbing scenes throughout.
The Bleeding is a complex and layered tale that titillates the senses with its intricately woven plotline and its intriguing cast of characters. A provocative and theatrical read!
Detective Maxine Grant is grieving following the unexpected and tragic death of her husband. With two children to care for she is under pressure to get up every day but she knows that if she sinks too low she will never return to any semblance of a normal life. Returning to work she is immediately lead investigator on a case involving the brutal murder of a renowned university professor, Philippe Caron.
His wife, Pauline Caron, an old school teacher of Maxine’s, is the lead suspect. Found at the scene in shock, with traces of her husband’s blood on her body she is unwilling to speak of the trauma in her home, leaving Maxine and the investigative team clueless as to motive or intent. As the team search the Caron residence, a gruesome discovery is unearthed leading Maxine down a very dark and treacherous path, one with a history that takes us back to the late 1800s, to Belle Époque Paris.
Lucienne Docquer is unhappy in her marriage. She finds it difficult to fit in with the Parisian elite and the social circles they gravitate toward. Originally from Lac-Clarence in Quebec, her accent is different and sometimes she struggles with the Parisienne dialect, leaving her ofttimes lonely and isolated at social events. She dotes on her two little girls, Jeanne and Rose but one day her world upends when tragedy strikes and their home burns to the ground before the two little girls could be rescued. Traumatised, Lucienne, through a surprising source, becomes entranced with the world of spiritualism, one where communication with the spirits of the dead is a strong belief.
1949 in Quebec Lina is an unhappy teen struggling to fit in with her peers and suffering at the hands of a relentless bully. Her father died fighting during the war so it’s now just her mother and herself in the home. Her mother is constantly stressed and under pressure to make ends meet so her time for Lina is scant. When Lina gets into trouble at school her mother insists that Lina come to her workplace after school every day so she knows her whereabouts. Her mother works in the local asylum and it is here that Lina crosses paths with an elderly woman, an individual who would have a huge influence on Lina’s journey through life.
Weaving a story dating back to the 19th Century can be a challenge but for Johana Gustawsson it seems almost easy. The flow of the narrative expertly heightens to shocking scenes and then levels off again, bringing the reader on an exciting and, all times, bumpy ride. Johana Gustawsson is unafraid to shock her readers, something that anyone who has read her acclaimed Roy & Castells series will agree with I’m sure. Atmospheric to its core, with the supernatural, like treacle, slowly infiltrating every chapter, this gothic and dark thriller is made for the cinema. The different eras are excellently depicted creating incredible, and at times, chilling visuals with some hair-raising and disturbing scenes throughout.
The Bleeding is a complex and layered tale that titillates the senses with its intricately woven plotline and its intriguing cast of characters. A provocative and theatrical read!
October 7, 2022
Dark psychological thriller set in PARIS QUEBEC
The Bleeding is set in three periods in history, and in two far apart locations. 1899 Belle Epoque Paris, 1949 Post War Québec, and 2002 Quebec. But the different time periods and locations are all closely and sinisterly linked. The story is of three generations of the same family, and how they cannot escape from evil.
The book opens with a murder in 2002 Québec. A well loved professor is shot dead – and all indications point to his former schoolmistress wife being the perpetrator. But she closes down completely and will not talk to the police. We then go back to 1899 Paris where two young sisters are presumed dead in a fire that sweeps through their house. The bodies are never found. But Lucienne, the mother, is convinced they are still alive. The final time period is 1949 Québec. Lina’s father has died in the French Resistance and her mother, who works in an asylum, takes her to work with her and introduces her to an old lady who has a profound, and very negative impact, on her life.
Maxine, a detective in the Québec police, is in charge of the 2002 investigation. She has a personal interest in that the accused former schoolmistress used to teach her (and her daughter). Slowly Maxine makes a series of grisly discoveries that link the current case directly to historical ones involving black magic and murder. The more she probes, the more sinister and macabre everything becomes. The ending is truly distressing and frightening.
The Bleeding is not for the faint hearted. Johana, as we have seen in her previous works, Block 46, Keeper, and Blood Song, is brilliant at writing about areas that many would find hard to touch. In The Bleeding, blood and black magic go hand in hand with a frightening impact across generations.
The Bleeding is an excellently constructed and tightly written read. It is very well translated from the French by David Warriner.
The Bleeding is set in three periods in history, and in two far apart locations. 1899 Belle Epoque Paris, 1949 Post War Québec, and 2002 Quebec. But the different time periods and locations are all closely and sinisterly linked. The story is of three generations of the same family, and how they cannot escape from evil.
The book opens with a murder in 2002 Québec. A well loved professor is shot dead – and all indications point to his former schoolmistress wife being the perpetrator. But she closes down completely and will not talk to the police. We then go back to 1899 Paris where two young sisters are presumed dead in a fire that sweeps through their house. The bodies are never found. But Lucienne, the mother, is convinced they are still alive. The final time period is 1949 Québec. Lina’s father has died in the French Resistance and her mother, who works in an asylum, takes her to work with her and introduces her to an old lady who has a profound, and very negative impact, on her life.
Maxine, a detective in the Québec police, is in charge of the 2002 investigation. She has a personal interest in that the accused former schoolmistress used to teach her (and her daughter). Slowly Maxine makes a series of grisly discoveries that link the current case directly to historical ones involving black magic and murder. The more she probes, the more sinister and macabre everything becomes. The ending is truly distressing and frightening.
The Bleeding is not for the faint hearted. Johana, as we have seen in her previous works, Block 46, Keeper, and Blood Song, is brilliant at writing about areas that many would find hard to touch. In The Bleeding, blood and black magic go hand in hand with a frightening impact across generations.
The Bleeding is an excellently constructed and tightly written read. It is very well translated from the French by David Warriner.
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