Blood-Red Rivers

Rating:
Summary: French Alps Crime Thriller
Review: Blood Red Rivers is a first rate crime thriller set in and around a college campus in the French Alps. The story takes place over a 24 hour period as a tired and on the edge police lieutenant, Pierre Niemans, tries to piece together the clues left behind by a gruesome serial killer. The book is basically two stories which slowly merge into one, becoming an absolutely rivetting read along the way. The characters and locations are superb and the story is plotted in such a manner that it's almost impossible to put down as the two policeman reach their conclusion. Some people have criticised the ending however at no time did I feel let down by this novel, ending included. If you like action packed, and at times violent, police procedurals then this is truly the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: A good write, and a good read.
Review: Blood-red Rivers is a well written thriller. Not just a storytellers exercise, it is the product of a good writer. If youy did not know the author you would say it is more likely to have come from the pen of a James Lee Bourke than the word processor of John Grisham.

As a thriller it works. Half way through I was unable to see where it was going, and I was still interested and intrigued enough to want to read on and not put it down.

With most books of this type, it is better to travel than to arrive. Often they do not have as satisfactory and consistent an ending as the start and middle. If I have a reservation with the book it is that there is a slightly "deus ex machina" quality to the conclusion. However, this does not take away from the enjoyment of the book.

Would I read it again? I probably would, and that it is not common with many detective novels. I will watch out for M. Grange's works in the future. I do not buy novels on the attractions of the cover. I buy on the quality of the authors and Jean-Christophe Grange is a quality author.

Rating:
Summary: Action Thriller Set in French Alps
Review: Despite the tough guy language and enough gratuitous violence to satisfy the likes of any Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal fan, this police procedural set in a university town in the French Alps has a lot going for itself in terms of storyline and interesting plot twists.

The author entwines two separate stories revolving around two police officers--the first showcases veteran police superintendant Pierre Neimans sent to investigate a gruesome mutilation at the famed Guernon University. In a town but a few hours away,renegade police officer, Lt. Karim Abdouf looks into a bizarre desecration of a child's tomb. Grange expertly plaits the information gleaned by the simultaneous investigations and creates an engaging panorama nearly as spectacular as the Alps that look down on this seemingly innocuous example of college life.

Sadly, I don't believe the English translation does this book justice, especially when read by an American audience, as the slang seems to be geared towards a UK market. Nevertheless, this detracts only slightly to Grange's intriguing storyline where he pulls out all the stops, throwing in almost every au courant red herring except for the proverbial butler and kitchen sink.

Recommended to all those who enjoy a good psychological thriller set in a different terrain where the players make use of the exceptional environment and play by a different set of rules.

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: I only read this book in the original French so far as it has not arrived yet at my house in English. It really kept my interest alive in what would happen next all through the book. I was toying with the idea of translating it for my boyfriend so that he could enjoy it too, but now I don't have to. It really surprised me in a pleasant way as how much it read like many American detective novels. I haven't found that quality in French writing much. I really liked the brooding atmosphere as well. I hope the translation lives up to the original.

Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: I read this book in the original during a recent French holiday and as it has become a best seller in France I planned to do an English translation. However, I now find that Mr. Monk has beaten me to it ! A pity as I think that this easily matches the action and suspense of, for example, "The Day After Tomorrow" or similar, at least for the first two hundred pages. I found the two lead characters engaging if relatively stereotypical and the plot is initially intriguing as it promises to involve neo-nazis, genetics, cloning, mad scientists etc. However,the novel runs out of steam about half way through,becomes muddled and over long and the ending, or "denouement" if you will, is a total anti-climax. In a way,in retrospect, I am rather glad I didn't have to translate it after all !....END

Rating:
Summary: The ups & downs of French specificity
Review: It is very refreshing to read a modern detective story that uses its French setting so well. The story sends the characters from modern Paris to small villages and from glacial mountains to the coast. The parallel enquiries being carried out by Niemans and Abdouf give the book a good pace and manage to keep the reader inquisitive. In addition, the dark, unsettling atmosphere that prevails adds to the reader's apprehension. Having read the book both in French and in English, it is fair to say that the translation does not do justice to the dialogues, leading to some conversations sounding clichéd (this is always a risk when translating modern, more coarse French). However, this should not spoil the overall pleasure of the book. The film, directed by the talented Mathieu Kassovitz (la Haine)stars Jean Reno in the role of Niemans. If it manages to reproduce the atmosphere and the momentum of the book, it will be a big success.