a crazy autofiction where Romain Puértolas “solves” the investigation into the most wanted man in France

Romain Puértolas, former police captain turned writer, takes over the investigation into the disappearance of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès. A documented, funny and inventive novel, which leaves no stone unturned while deliberately moving away from reality.

His novels are easily recognized by their extended title: The extraordinary journey of the fakir who got stuck in an Ikea wardrobe (2013), bestseller published by Le Dilettante and adapted for the cinema by Canadian Ken Scott, or even The little girl who swallowed a cloud as big as the Eiffel Tower (2015) published by the same publisher in 2015.

Romain Puértolas does it again in his 10th novel published in January 2024 by Albin Michel, drawing inspiration from a tragedy, which shocked the whole of France in June 2011. The bodies of a mother and her four children, buried under the terrace of the family home in Nantes, are discovered but no trace of the father of the family. How I found Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, a autofiction, announces the color from the cover: the enigma surrounding this mysterious disappearance is now solved.

Rigorous investigation and fictional story

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, who was one of the most wanted men in France, who we imagined dead in the forest of Roquebrune or on the run to the other side of the world, was quite simply in a remote corner of Ariège. Or ? In the neighboring house of the narrator, Romain Puértolas. This copy of the author’s paper, a former police captain now a writer, finds himself in court for having killed the fugitive with 94 stabs with a butter knife.

Combining rigorous investigation and fictional narrative, Romain Puértolas follows in the footsteps of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès. He tries by all means to put himself in the shoes of the fugitive, presumed murderer of five members of his family. He tries to share his feelings, his reasoning to, who knows, maybe find a clue. He explores all avenues and gives free rein to his imagination.

A funny tone despite the tragedy of the situation

By seizing a news item, which has long been in the headlines, Romain Puértolas has set himself an ambitious objective. The magazine Society had already published in summer 2020 a remarkable investigation. This meticulous work over several years carried out by four journalists was a resounding success on the newsstands.

If the idea of ​​delving into this affair again is appealing and the tone funny, despite the tragedy of the situation, the novel suffers from some lengths. The narrator’s obsessive questions sometimes lack breath. However, the unexpected final twist rebalances this “quest novel”.

Extract :

“And what do you think of the fact that I fill in the holes in the investigation with my imagination ?
Patricia gave that nod of the head that said everything for her.
– You know, by dint of imagining, you might come across the truth.
I loved the formula. Could we find the true by imagining the false ? In this case, my police self and my writer self were no longer in competition. They became complementary. It was all fascinating. ‘By imagining, you might come across the truth.’ Encouraged, and to the great dismay of my wife, I spent the evening in front of the computer, immersed in my story. During the day, I was police lieutenant Romain Puértolas, good in all respects. In the evening, I slipped into the shoes of a fugitive, I escaped from my daily life. I was Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, Michel Rétif and all the others.”

How I found Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès“, page 85