Crime and defence—France

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Vengeance is Mine by Marie NDiaye      

⭐️⭐️


I kept dreading Maître Susane‘s exposure of self as she took on the defence case for Marlyne Principaux. Three children murdered by their mother. Why does their father, Gilles Principaux, step back into the past and select an inexperienced lawyer who might or might not have had contact with him as a child, a long lost love even. Am I reading too much into the sinister vibe I’m sensing?
I found this quite disturbing in its disjointedness and memories that may not be. The ending is unclear. The whole novel grapples with clarity, or maybe it’s me that grapples for reality.
In the end, whilst intellectually sympathetic with Maître Susane, emotionally I found I didn’t really care. I just keep thinking about the three hours I won’t get back again!

A Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.

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