One Deadly Summer

This is a great book do begin reading in French. The language is very simple, la parole des rues, and the plot is a zinger, though its progression remains natural and expertly done. Each successive voice is distinct and impressive. It is one of the more favorite books I have ever read. Japrisot is the type of storyteller who has such a mastery of his talent that he can lead you into the most tangenital places, and then you realize that you were headed there all along. Read this in French if you can, but read this.

Another suspenseful erotic thriller by that outstanding author of mysteries, Sebastien Japrisot. This is the third of his books for me, I've read his masterpiece Very Long Engagement and also Women in Evidence, all great mystery/detective stories, all totally different and suspenseful, Mr. Japrisot is an expert at plot twists and keeping the reader surprised.The central event from the past in One Deadly Summer was a young woman terrorized and raped by three men. Years later the psychotic daughter conceived during the rape becomes obsessed with taking revenge, but is she taking revenge on the right ones or creating more innocent victims? The story is related to us by several different narrators, all with a different take on what it is happening, ultimately after a tragic ending the reader is left to decide who the true victim is. Hard book to put down and unforgettable.

While one cannot deny the absolute superiority of A Very Long Engagement, I found One Deadly Summer to be the most enjoyable among the rest of Japrisot's oeuvre. This is one instance where his powers come through with a distinctive flair, upon the themes that echo through all of his work: droplets of truth gathering through a confusion of voices, the sheer blindness of love, the eternal mystery that is woman, the infinite sadness of human error, and the surprises and tragedies that is life itself. How much of the world, and others, do we really "understand"?

The author did an excellent job of weaving the story together, one piece at a time while never losing momentum. Although the main character's desire for revenge stems from events of the past, the reader is never bombarded with backstory and is instead shown backstory through character thoughts when it is necessary and pertinent to the story. Although I cannot say that any of the characters are likable, there are believable and the author does keep us aware of their thoughts and intentions, therefore continuously holding our interest. The ending is surprising, dramatic and certainly well worth the wait.

Similar to A Very Long Engagement, One Deadly Summer is a captivating, complex story that holds your attention until the end. Both mystery and love story, the story has many levels and leaves you feeling like you have actually lived in the house with the three brothers who the story centers around and experienced the trials of the summer. I highly recommend it.