We gathered to discuss the novel "The Chalk Circle Man" by Fred Vargas. Translated from the French, this is the first novel in a series which features Commissaire Adamsberg of the Parisian police. With unorthodox but effective detecting methods, Adamsberg has an uncanny way of detecting the evil in others. This novel was the winner of The Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie International Dagger in 2009.
Despite its literary merits, the rating of the book by Whodunit members was very polarized. There were none who were ambivalent about the novel. Sixteen of our readers either loved it or hated it. One abstained from voting because they did not read the book. The average rating out of a possible 10 points was 6.7.
The novel was published in French in 1991 but it did not reach the English audience until 2009. The reasons members gave for disliking the novel were very similar to the reasons given for really enjoying it. The characters were eccentric. Some deemed them unbelievable and farfetched. Others made a conscious decision to like them and enjoy them, while still others admired the characterizations as an in-depth study of human nature. One of the central characters was a people-watcher/voyeur who stalked people just to study their behaviour. Another central character was a young, handsome blind man who was in denial of his disability and enraged by its limitations.
The chalk circles of the title either bored the readers or intrigued them. Adamsberg recognized them as the portent of evil that the Chalk Circle Man wanted them to be. He always labeled them with the phrase "Victor, woe's in store, what are you out here for?"
Adamsberg's second in command, Inspector Danglard is an alcoholic single father of five. His logic and sound police practice are a perfect compliment to Adamsberg's more quirky methods of detection. The fact that he drinks white wine incessantly turned off the books detractors, but made him more interesting to its champions.
Not a typical mystery novel, "The Chalk Circle Man" is a novel whose character development surpasses the crime element of the story. That being said... the ending- with its delightful 'twist' was satisfying and had no loose ends
Fred Vargas is the pseudonym of the French historian, archaeologist and writer Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau.
If you want to read a 'Guardian' interview with Fred Vargas click here.
The seven books in this series to date:
1. The Chalk Circle Man
2. Have Mercy on Us All
3. Seeking Whom He May Devour
4. Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand
5. This Night's Foul Work
6. An Uncertain Place
7. The Ghost Riders of Ordebec
2. Have Mercy on Us All
3. Seeking Whom He May Devour
4. Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand
5. This Night's Foul Work
6. An Uncertain Place
7. The Ghost Riders of Ordebec
This month's lucky winners of the book giveaways were:
Carolyn, Brenda, Heather, Tracy and Shawna.
On June 25th we will meet again to discuss "The Dying Light" by Henry Porter.
