Philippe Auribeau

'Écarlate' or 'Scarlet' (as the colour of the cover clearly shows) is a Lovecraftian crime-novel, written by the French author Philippe Auribeau, who also wrote [b:L'Héritage de Richelieu|53201122|L'Héritage de Richelieu|Philippe Auribeau|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587220736l/53201122._SY75_.jpg|68976495], a sort of follow-up of the [b:Les Lames du Cardinal|11166805|Les Lames du Cardinal (Les Lames du Cardinal #1-3)|Pierre Pevel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328083434l/11166805._SY75_.jpg|16090938] trilogy by Pierre Pevel, like many other books, still on my TBR-pile. The book, not Pierre Pevel.

'Écarlate' takes the reader to Providence (home of Howard Phillips Lovecraft aka [a:H.P. Lovecraft|9494|H.P. Lovecraft|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1299165714p2/9494.jpg], who makes a guest appearance in this book; he will help inspector Jefferson seek leads in the occult spheres of life) in the year 1931, after the crash of 1929, which means the country is still recovering, has not yet reached its full strength again. It's a world in which poverty, misery, racism and corruption reign.

The title stand for a certain shade of red, for a lot of blood was shed: A local troupe (group of actors) had come together in The Palace, the theatre, to rehearse for their play based on 'La Lettre Écarlate' ([b:The Scarlet Letter|12296|The Scarlet Letter|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296._SY75_.jpg|4925227]), a novel by [a:Nathaniel Hawthorne|7799|Nathaniel Hawthorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1291476587p2/7799.jpg]. However, the play would never see the day, as all actors were deprived of their lives in a horrible fashion. Their bodies were laid in a certain pattern, as if part of a ritual. All actors? No, one survived the assault. She ended up in hospital, closely guarded by the police. Inside the theatre, blood soiled the stage, traces were found outside the building and inside, near the theatre's director's office.

Soon enough, police is there to examine the scene of the crime. One young police agent, O'Riley (from Irish descent), will prove to be a cunning and helpful partner for inspector Thomas Jefferson (yes, like the president; each time someone asked that question about his name, he would mark it in his little notebook).

Speaking of characters, we follow the doings of Thomas Jefferson, inspector at BOI (Bureau of Investigation, which would later become the FBI) and his two assistants: Ms Diane Crane (young, feisty, and intelligent enough to undertake proper investigations, take initiative, though it's Jefferson who calls most of the shots, who is the calculated one) and Caleb Beauford, who's been his friend and ally for many years. Caleb will serve mainly as his driver, but will also be sent out to find traces and information that could help solve the puzzle. Especially in a world where people of colour (in this case, black) aren't well-regarded, Caleb will prove to be a valuable addition and aid to acquire information about the killing from the local black community. Then again, Diane Crane would also get her share of misogyny and violence, but would fight back and show who's boss, or rather, brains before brawn.

Investigations would get our trio in touch with friendly and not so friendly, rather obscure, people. People who have power, who deal in businesses that may not see the light of day (like a centre for psychiatric patients, including one important character, related to the woman who survived the assault). Trying to connect the dots, find leads, would be a tougher job than expected. Even the flimsiest detail, like a signed poster, would be considered a lead. Providence is where it's at, but trips to Boston and Durham, for example, would also be undertaken to be able to fill certain holes or connect certain dots.

'Écarlate' counts over 450 pages, but fear not, for Mr Aribeau's style makes you glide through the book, while your eyes are locked on every page, absorbing also the historical bits of information (events, locations, people, culture, and more) that contribute to a very vivid representation of the past. Better yet, sometimes it may feel like you're part of team Jefferson, even if you have no input whatsoever. Think you know "whodunit"? The choices are legion, but it's only at the end that you'll be enlightened or left in the dark.

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I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.… (meer)