The Islands in turmoil
A few days before Christmas, on Chemin des Montants, near Havre-aux-Maisons, we found the bodies of Florence Turbide and her dog, both shot dead with a large caliber weapon. The Islands are in turmoil… and detective André Surprenant, from the SPVM, is woken up in the middle of the night by his Madelinot friend Platon Longuépine who insists that he come and settle the matter. The investigation of course belongs to the Sûreté du Québec des Îles — where Surprenant worked at the start of his career, as we know — but as one of the main suspects is linked to the Montreal underworld, he will find a way to be sent there – down to assist the young investigator responsible for solving the murder. Even if he knows the terrain well, Surprenant will have to untangle the skeins of what is left unsaid by the victim’s family; In the end, it will take four days to identify the culprit and his motives. We will enjoy seeing the detective dive back into the landscapes of the Magdalen Islands and rediscover the freshness of his friends’ vocabulary.
Michel Bélair
The Amount Affair
★★★1/2
Jean Lemieux, Quebec America, Montreal, 2024, 300 pages.
Toxic climate
Drought, rising temperatures, melting ice, rising water levels, devastating hurricanes, torrential rains, hailstones… climate disruption continues to cause havoc almost everywhere on the planet, endangering everything that still manages to survive. survive. It’s a terrible reality, but also a source of inspiration for four writers who tell three stories here each following the rhythm of the seasons: in total, twelve stories against a backdrop of threatened ecological balance. We will thus see, from Corsica to the North Shore of Quebec via the foothills of the Alps, the same inexorable observation. It must be added to this that the four novelists have chosen to portray female criminals who are inspired by or, on the contrary, victims of said disturbances. This intriguing project is carried out jointly by three publishing houses (Alire in Quebec, L’Aube noire in France and Chien jaune in Switzerland). Unfortunately, the result is very uneven.
Michel Bélair
Dark seasons
★★★
Ariane Gélinas, Corinne Jacquet, Maureen Martineau, Michèle Pedinielli. Black Dawn, La Tour d’Aigues 2024, 234 pages
Stir up hatred
After a six-year break, journalist Joseph Laflamme is finally back. In fact, it is doubly so since Hugo Roman has just republished his first six investigations at the same time as a seventh, new and in large format: Susan. However, let us point out here that Hervé Gagnon, author of these historical thrillers set in Montreal in the 1890s, did not stop: he contributed to other series. After having, among other things, brought Jack the Ripper to Quebec and dug Benjamin Franklin’s passage in Montreal in 1776, he is interested here in the acrimonious relations between the Freemasons and the Catholics, whose faithful are goaded by such an inflamed preacher than his sermons. A coincidence that members of the Masonic Order were then assassinated? Enough to tickle Joseph, who is investigating on behalf of La Patrie. Happiness to find him again, with his usual allies. And to feel, in these words, a Montreal of the (good?) old days vibrate.
Sonia Sarfati
Susan. The investigations of Joseph Laflamme
★★★1/2
Hervé Gagnon, Hugo Roman, Montreal, 2024, 411 pages
…through the mouth of my lion
Guillaume Morrissette has published one novel per year since 2013. His 12th title will not detract from the range of thrillers that he creates for more and more fans. A lion’s memory is even a choice piece, because the cantor of Trois-Rivières (it is said!) created one of his most beautiful characters there: Padou, a man who lives in his bubble and on his bike. When he expresses himself, it is through a puppet which represents a lion – the one in the title, as we will have understood. He has few social skills, but he has a phenomenal memory… which will be useful to the police forces (return of Demers, Sioui, Héroux, Soucy) when he becomes a suspect, then a source of information for them. Padou in fact used a credit card issued in the name of Marie-Julie Lebel. Who disappeared in 1995. Who was never found. As usual, the story moves forward with dialogue (this is the strength of the novelist), but, thanks to Padou, there is an extra bit of soul here. Touching, unusual.
Sonia Sarfati
A lion’s memory
★★★1/2
Guillaume Morrissette, St-Jean, Laval, 2024, 414 pages