“I haven’t read his first novel [Brébeuf], but that didn’t bother me. I really like historical thrillers, especially when it’s in Quebec. There, it takes place in the years of the Red Light, in the middle of prostitutes, and there is a body which is discovered. Catherine Côté puts a lot of duality into her novel. The character of Marcus is the kind of taciturn policeman who doesn’t invest too much in his work, who just can’t wait to get another pint. And on the other side, there is this journalist, Suzanne, who has to make her place. The characters are very tormented and there is this whole aspect that I really like. »
“I really like books that are written by journalists, regardless of genre. There, a tragedy happens and someone discovers a dead person. [The hero, the journalist] Michel Duquesne, delves into power and politics. His wife is a lawyer and she also does her investigation. Catherine Lafrance will not necessarily touch on a conspiracy, but she does address mistrust of institutions, from the side of the journalist who asks questions. It’s very current and it’s very well written. You would think that by investigating in the pharmaceutical field, it could get complicated, but not at all; it is still accessible. It’s exciting; a great surprise. »
“He is a Cuban-born author who lives in Spain. It is not always easy to read, but for someone who wants to discover it, this novel is perhaps more accessible. It is based on A Study in Red by Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s set in the late 1800s. A nurse who works in psychiatry cares for a patient alone with the doctor; then a series of murders occurs in the city of Portsmouth. We are in clandestine theatres, it is a bit creepy and scandalous for the time. The man who is locked up in the asylum will help the nurse and the young doctor to elucidate these murders, so we follow this trio. Again, it’s a historical thriller that I really enjoyed. »
