Product Description

In this frightening and surprising novel, the eccentric,wayward genius of Commissaire Adamsberg is pitted against the deep-rooted mysteries of one Alpine village's history, and a very present problem: wolves. Disturbing things have been happening up in the French mountains; more and more sheep are being found with their throats torn-out. The evidence points to a wolf of unnatural size and strength. However Suzanne Rosselin thinks it is the work of a werewolf. Then Suzanne is found slaughtered in the same manner. Her friend Camille attempts, with Suzanne's son Soliman and her shepherd, Watchee, to find out who, or what is responsible, and they call on Commissaire Adamsberg for help.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128294 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 272 pages

Review
'Commissaire Adamsberg must be the most engaging French detective since Maigret.' Scotland on Sunday. 'Poetic, offbeat and gently addictive. Her prose has an unusual deftness, a wry humour. A unique voice' Guardian. 'An intriguing, idiosyncratic voice' Time Out. 'A work of real class - its characters sharp, multi-faceted and original, and it style crisply intelligent' Glasgow Herald

Synopsis
In this frightening and surprising novel, the eccentric,wayward genius of Commissaire Adamsberg is pitted against the deep-rooted mysteries of one Alpine village's history, and a very present problem: wolves. Disturbing things have been happening up in the French mountains; more and more sheep are being found with their throats torn-out. The evidence points to a wolf of unnatural size and strength. However Suzanne Rosselin thinks it is the work of a werewolf. Then Suzanne is found slaughtered in the same manner. Her friend Camille attempts, with Suzanne's son Soliman and her shepherd, Watchee, to find out who, or what is responsible, and they call on Commissaire Adamsberg for help.

From the Publisher
'Ingenious. Slick, creepy and full of engaging odd characters, this thriller is a class act' Independent

Customer Reviews

no speaka de eengleesh
I loved the two Fred Vargas books translated by Sian Reynolds(The Three Evangelists & Wash This Blood...) which I read before this and I wanted to love this one as much but was regularly distracted by the clunking translation by David Bellos. The prose was often too flat and lumpen to carry the wit and verve of this writer's imagination, the so-called idioms either dated or simply opaque. I imagine she is tricky to translate - but I'm glad I didn't read this one first because, despite its intriguing mystery and Jaques Tati-like cast of characters, I might have attributed the flawed prose to Fred herself and have been put off her other works.

Who knew that washing-up was such an important part of Crime fighting ?
This is a wonderfully surreal crime novel. It's about a bunch of misfits who try to puzzle out the murder of their good friend. The reason I love this book so much is the characters are ignorant peasants, a girl without a cause and a very odd policeman.
They spend most of their time either arguing with one another about what to eat, who does the washing-up or which wine to drink with their dinner. All of this whilst they trundle around the French countryside in a sheep truck looking for the killer.
The only reason they decide to go after the killer themselves is their love of the victim and the fact that no right-minded police force would believe the preposterous idea of who and why the victim was killed.
Reviewer TIM-P should hang his head in shame as he really hasn't the faintest idea what made a good book, if I were you Tim I'd stick to nice straightforward police procedurals and leave the weird and wonderful to those better able to appreciate them.
I'm giving this book 5 stars for a good reason, it may not be a literary classic but it's the kind of book that once read is never forgot. I've lent my copy to others and even 2yrs on they'll come back to me with some particular little snippet which really tickles them. Once read never forgotten, so go on live dangerously, buy the book and find out why it's a secret gem in the car boot of deadly dull crime fiction.
P.S. I'D ALSO RECOMMEND FRED VARGAS'S EVANGELISTS.

Lighten up, guys - it's just a story!
I'm always surprised at how seriously other readers take fairly slight stories.....If you're looking for great literature, this is not the place to start. But it's a good story, with good characterisation and, if you know France and the French, it's a pretty good description of rural life in some places - a left over from the 19th century.....The main character of Adamsberg is interesting and no more far-fetched than some of the great detectives of European crime stories.

I'm going to try a couple of her other books - I might even buy them in French and try to revive my grasp of the language.