4*’s
This is the second book to feature Commandant Serge Morel, the first being The Lying-Down Room, which I haven’t read, fortunately that didn’t seem to matter with this book working perfectly well as a stand-alone read.
At the start of the story Serge Morel is on holiday in Cambodia from his native Paris when Hugo Quercy, a French national is murdered in a hotel room in Phnom Penh. Morel’s asked to stop his holiday and help the local police in Phnom Penh with their investigation but not only that he needs to ensure that everything is kept quiet to ensure that the murder won’t embarrass Hugo Quercy’s very important uncle. Morel does as he is bid and slowly the possible motives for murder are exposed. Hugo Quercy was admired by many in his role at Kids at Risk but he also had ruffled a few feathers and as Morel digs deeper he finds out that not everyone admired this charismatic man.
The beauty of this book, apart from the evocative sense of place which Anna Jaquieury brings to life for those of us sat in far colder climes, is the number of layers to the story. As well as the beauty of Cambodia we are introduced to policing that is entirely different to what we are familiar with, an experience shared by Morel, worse still the local police are working to their own agenda and certainly don’t want to be involved if the murder will implicate a local which will displease their government. Yes this book isn’t afraid to tackle the political elements in both Cambodia and France then there is the emotional fall-out and ripples that are the inevitable consequence of a brutal murder. The author doesn’t rush the information but slowly takes the reader through the uncovering of the motives as the secrets and lies come slithering rather than tumbling out. As unusual as this style felt for this genre, I appreciated a book that let me take the time to consider the implications of the murder on so many different levels.
Even better the various elements all came to a satisfactory conclusion that seemed entirely plausible given the information gathered earlier in the book. I will definitely be seeking out the first book in this series and looking out for the next.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Mantle for sending me a copy of this book for review purposes, I’m glad to have met Morel and have the opportunity to visualise life in Cambodia.
I love it when a book brings to life another country. It is one of the reasons I love historical fiction so much. You can learn so much about a place or time while still enjoying a gripping story.
That is so true, I was keen to see policing from outside the western world and that really came across in this book as well as a stunning sense of place (and heat) and yet I learnt while I was reading.
Glad you enjoyed this so much Cleo! My review will be up tomorrow, if I get time to get my thoughts in order, otherwise Saturday.
I hate to break it to you but you’re a day behind the rest of us 😆 I will look out for your review whenever you post!
Oh, this does sound like a good read, Cleo. The setting appeals to me greatly, and it sounds as thought the pacing and so on are good fits for that setting. And I do like learning about other cultures and ways of doing things.
The different culture was woven very well into this storyline and I did love the setting.
Sounds good. Don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Cambodia. It is interesting to see crime and policing in different areas of the world. Will keep this on in mind. 🙂
It was my first read from Cambodia too. It was good to see the culture from the context of the foreigners and the locals.
I saw this title and this could be my theme for the week! It won’t stop raining here and it may well be the end of my sanity 🙂 But looks like a great read that I would pick up!
Sorry to hear about your rain, we’ve had the first proper sunshine of the year… It is a good read, quite different to crime fiction set in the UK or US
A great review, thank you. I certainly felt transported to locale and was also interested in the political issues around misuse of children and the illegal logging, both of which are tackled with sensitivity and passion by the author. Was it 50% of land of the land in the last 15 years has been leased to private individuals by the Govt? All this makes for a solid background for Morel’s investigations…
Ah Thank you – that is the best thing about crime fiction set in other places but it has to be done well – as you say I was shocked about the land issues… all the more shocking for the understated way the author presented the facts!