¿A santo de qué me leo yo esto, os preguntaréis? Club de lectura. El libro va in crescendo y el último tercio engancha, pero de normal lo habría abandonado porque al principio no es que no pase nada, que también, sino que el planteamiento y la caracterización son absurdas.

''Have Mercy on Us All' by Fred Vargus, number three in the Chief Inspector Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg mysteries, has Adamsberg newly promoted yet again because of his previous successes in solving murders! This novel is another character study of quirky fictional characters living in Paris while the story entertains readers with a murder mystery. This book is about revenge, wrongfully being convicted as guilty of crimes one did not commit, and the possible resurrection of the Black Death virus by a madman!

In each of the three books a peculiar murder is done by an offbeat psycho serial killer (each one so far reminding me of The Abominable Dr. Phibes, starring Vincent Price - see YouTube trailer https://youtu.be/YqZBNPoJbSI). However, the killer is never in the center ring of the three-ring circus Vargus creates!

The early chapters introduce readers to a center ring of quirky people who meet cute in some dark slightly messed-up fashion. After their back stories are told in selective tidbits, the spotlight moves to the smaller circus ring on the right where Adamsberg is beginning to puzzle over an odd article in the newspaper, or a strange story brought to his attention by a concerned but wacky citizen. Everyone else in the police dismisses the citizen as a nutjob, but something resonates in the citizen's story attracting Adamsberg's attention. Shortly after, a body which has been peculiarly murdered shows up. Meanwhile, in the left circle, the spotlight highlights a mysterious person or persons, involved in crazy thoughts, planning out the murders.

Unlike circus rings, though, these circles overlap slightly on top of each other, eventually joining and unraveling to become a spiral spinning downward exposing more layers of mystery and motive than had been supposed!

These novels are fun. The murders from book to book are not connected, but Adamsberg has a continuing personal situation going on from book to book. I recommend starting with [b:The Chalk Circle Man|23351431|The Chalk Circle Man|Fred Vargas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413131962l/23351431._SY75_.jpg|2845151], the first in the series, but it is not the best book. 'Have Mercy on Us All' is the best mystery of the series in my opinion, so far. Except for the murders themselves (at least sixes on a ten-number ick scale), these books are cozies, if somewhat edgy.

A wonderful quirky, dark mystery about a vague but intuitive detective, a latter day town crier in the heart of Paris, and a modern plague-monger who seeks to kill with the bubonic plague.

This was a book group book. No, the book group did not read it in French, that was just me adding an extra level of challenge, and as a result it was the Only Book I Read This Summer. But, comparing it occasionally with the English translation, I feel it is fair to say it is a much better book in French. The characters are wonderful and quirky, the writing is gritty and lyrical all at once (the rhythm of the converstions appealed to me). The book group pointed out that a lot of the plot was patently unbelievable. I would argue that what is the POINT of fiction if not to stretch your imagination?

It kind of reminded me of a grown-up version of Le Cheval Sans Tete!

I found this to be a great read. It was languishing in my to-be-read pile and had been there some time, so I was delighted that I picked it out and then enjoyed it as much as I did.

I had never read this author and have no idea why I had bought it. It is the fourth in this series and I don't think my enjoyment of it suffered for not having read any of the others.

It's a detective/murder mystery set in Paris in current times. What's a bit different about it is that the first murder doesn't occur until about 1/2 way through the book. So the author sets the stage well with the cast of quirky characters and a great sense of foreboding. The plot is complex and of course improbable, but the writing is excellent, as is the translation for the most part. The improbability did not interfere with the great story line.

This is not a "light" murder mystery ala Janet Evanovitch nor is it bloody gory, the way I find Kathy Reichs books are, but indeed it is somewhere in the middle.

It was enjoyable enough that I will pick up more of her books (yes, Fred is a woman).

Better Adamsberg than Salander

хороший, хоч і концептуально близький до "чоловіка, який малює сині кола" детективний сюжет з подвійним, навіть потрійним дном, та й сама історія чуми чого варта (а фред варгас розбирається, вона археолог та історик). може, фінал трошки overcrowded, але все одно добре вийшло.
ще приємно, що тут з'являються троє євангелістів із іншої серії, вкрай доречно й природно, бо що може бути логічніше, ніж звернутися по консультацію з середньовічних текстів про чуму до знайомого через треті руки медієвіста. і жарти, спеціально припасені для читачів, які вже знають про євангелістів, дуже тішать.
єдине, що нікуди не налазить у цій книжці, - то спосіб, у який варгас позбулася камілли. ну тобто я розумію, що вона мала втекти, щоб у наступних частинах адамбергові було, кого шукати, але спровокувати цю втечу можна було б якось трошечки імовірніше.

chi dice superstizione dice credulità [...]
chi dice credulità dice manipolazione,
e chi dice manipolazione dice calamità.
E' la piaga dell'umanità,
ha fatto più morti lei
di tutte le epidemie di peste messe assieme.

stavolta la vargas è stata scorretta, non una storia normale con adamsberg protagonista, ma un incrocio (seppur di sfuggita) con gli evangelisti ù.ù
astuta +.+