The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: MacLehose Press (7 May 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848663269
• ISBN-13: 978-1848663268

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

August 30, 1975. The day of the disappearance. The day Somerset, New Hampshire, lost its innocence.

That summer, struggling author Harry Quebert fell in love with fifteen-year-old Nola Kellergan. Thirty-three years later, her body is dug up from his yard, along with a manuscript copy of the novel that made him a household name. Quebert is the only suspect.

Marcus Goldman – Quebert’s most gifted protégé – throws off his writer’s block to clear his mentor’s name. Solving the case and penning a new bestseller soon merge into one. As his book begins to take on a life of its own, the nation is gripped by the mystery of ‘The Girl Who Touched the Heart of America’.

But with Nola, in death as in life, nothing is ever as it seems.

 

Review

For book lovers The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair is an ideal read as it is a book about a book about a book.  Marcus Goldman, author and protégé of the famous author Harry Quebert, is the narrator of this book.  We follow him from having had a very successful debut novel, to having writers block, to writing another bestseller about a murder that happened thirty three years ago and where the main suspect is none other that his friend and mentor Harry Quebert.  What is interesting is that the chapters go backwards, from chapter thirty one  to one  which reflects how the story unfolds, gradually going backwards to find out what really happened to Nola Kellergan.

The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair is one of those books that felt familiar and comfortable from the first page.  Joël Dicker’s writing flowed with ease, instantly drawing me into the story and the lives of the characters.  The narrative takes in the events of thirty three years ago, the summer of 1975, when Nola Kellergan went missing and the present where Marcus Goldman, with the help of Sergeant Gahalwood, looks into Nola’s murder with the aim of proving Harry’s innocence and finding the real murderer. Of course there are many different twists and turns in this book ,and not everything is at it seems in the sleepy town of Somerset New Hampshire or with its residents.

There are  a wonderful cast of characters in this book, many of whom are hiding secrets and not happy with their lot in life.  There is very much the small town mentality in Somerset, those with self importance, those who gossip about others lives to hide the disappointment of their own, but all don’t seem to be able to see what is going on under their noses, or are burying their heads in the sand.  Harry Quebert is an interesting character, you can’t get away from the fact that he was in his thirties and having a relationship with a fifteen year old girl, which is wrong, but there was a love story there. Harry never married or moved from his house incase Nola came back to find him.  The love story is touching, but at the same time a bit sinister, but I still had sympathy for Harry for losing what was the love of his life and being accused of her murder.  Marcus is between a rock and a hard place with his publisher, and finds himself writing the book about what really happened to Nola.  He is dogged in his approach, and through him there is revelation, after revelation and the plot goes on many different tangents it leaves you in a spin and never quite sure what is true or where the investigation is going. There is also an interesting subtext on what it means to be a great author and what makes a masterful piece of fiction.

The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair is an intelligent crime thriller, with added humour, that held my attention throughout.  The intricate plot, the fascinating characters and the fast paced murder investigation make this a riveting and at times shocking read. The translation from the original French didn’t seem to loose the atmosphere or nuances  of the plot and characters which can sometimes be lost.  This hugely entertaining and gripping read that will captivate you until the final verdict; a breathtaking debut novel.

 

I chose to read and review The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair as I saw that it was being dramatised on television.  I much prefer to read the book first then see how the dramatisation compares, I. have yet to watch episode one so I have no comments to make yet.  I hope you will consider adding this book to your ever growing tbr pile, and sharing my review with others.  Thank you for liking, sharing and following me, your continued support is wonderful.