Death from the Woods

Rating:
Summary: An Unlikely but Intelligent and Convincing Heroine
Review: Blind, mute and quadriplegic Elise Andrioli is immediately believable in this thriller from French author Aubert. Angry and frustrated at being so supremely helpless after surviving an explosion that killed her fiance, Elise's narrative gives the reader insight into the horror of daily living--the inability to say that food is burning her mouth, that a cup of coffee instead of the inevitable and detested herbal tea would be cause for rejoicing.

An unexpected encounter with a child, Virginie, reveals that Elise can communicate by raising one finger. Virginie tells Elise about the children that have been murdered and how Death from the Woods has taken the life of yet another child. As a result of this encounter, Elise's previously dark and narrow world becomes one of startling possibility and a different kind of horror as the murders continue.

This book could have worked well as a simple primer on how to treat disabled people with greater awareness and respect. Making the reader experience Elise's frustration at her inability to communicate fully is superb and a testament to the author's skill. As a thriller, it is smart, suspenseful, unconventional and unexpectedly humorous. Elise Andrioli is an unforgettable character.

Rating:
Summary: What's the word I'm looking for...?
Review: Brilliance! That's it! Brilliance is the only to describe France thriller writer Brigitte Aubert's English debut, "Death From the Woods" about blind, quadripalegic, mute Elise Andrioli. You're thinking, how and the hell could such a disabled woman blink, much less solve a slew of child murders? With her all-encompassing hope of being able to move again, and her sardonic wit. Elise lives with Yvette, her nursemaid and general caregiver. One day Yvette decides to take Elise with her to the market. She parks Elise under an oak tree, and goes on about her shopping. A little girl Elise learns is named Virginie comes up to Elise and asks if perhaps Elise would like hear a story? Elise can't move anything but an index finger, so she raises it to signal, yes, she would like to hear a story. It sure beats sitting there, doing her impersonation of a sack of potatoes in a wheelchair (her words, not mine). So Virginie begins telling Elise the story of Death From the Woods. Death comes from the Woods and strangles pretty little boys. Elise is terrified, thinking maybe Virginie is just a bit on nutty side, when she hears that another little boy has been killed. Elise is then thrown into an investigation, wheelchair and all, meeting a phony cop, Yssart, and another cop Gassinet. If you aren't fluent in French, a few of the names like Boissy and Migoin might throw you a little, but don't let that stop you. This book is too good to pass up.

Rating:
Summary: Good? Raise An Index Finger
Review: The talented Brigitte Aubert has written this thriller in a style that immerses the reader into the body and mind of Elise, a mute and blind quadriplegic woman who has been told shocking and secret information about recent murders and disappearances of several young boys. The reader struggles to solve the murders with the same limitations Elise has, especially being mute and blind. The only descriptions of scene and characters from Elise's point of view are through the senses of touch and hearing.

Aubert has created a psychologically strong Elise who has a quick wit, keen mind, and clever sense of humor which help her overcome physical impairment so severe she is limited to raising her index finger as her only way of answering questions in the affirmative. Her strong mind helps her survive situations that would methodically drive a weaker person into incapacitating despair.

For a first rate mystery from a truly unique perspective portraying the resiliency of the human spirit, this is a highly recommended thriller.