Caryl Férey

Paz, la Paix en espagnol, drôle de titre pour un roman de Caryl Férey ! Pour ceux qui ne le connaissent pas, c’est le spécialiste ex-routard des crimes barbares inscrits dans la réalité politique et sociale d’un pays aux prises à des violences politiques proches d’une guerre civile sur fond de corruption organisée en système. Pour celui-ci, même ambiance en Colombie avec en plus des relations familiales pathologiques.
Le roman s’ouvre lors de la campagne des élections présidentielles où le processus de paix initié en 2006 est un enjeu considérable mais fragile. Diane « le plus beau cul de Bogotta » se fait jeter après une nuit d’amour « Tinder« . Du coup, son partenaire d’un soir devient son obsession. Vraiment dommage pour elle mais très chouette pour nous! Il s’appelle Lautéro « un tournesol qui tourne à l’envers ». C’est le chef de police de Bogota et à la tête d’une patrouille assez spéciale sous le lien hiérarchique direct du procureur général, Saùl, son père. Pour compléter cette tendre famille Bagater, un autre frère, Angel, plus romantique à l’idéal plus social, est sorti de prison après avoir combattu avec les FARC et se fait oublier sous une fosse identité.
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https://vagabondageautourdesoi.com/2019/11/03/paz-caryl-ferey/… (meer)

Oh geez.... oh crap.... this was quite the intense noir thriller ride! Having previously read Ferey's Utu, a noir crime novel set in New Zealand, I thought I had an idea of what I was in for with this one. I should mention that I don't do well with hard core violence or pretty much anything produced by Quentin Tarantino but I have to say, Ferey even blew away my expectations with this one, producing a fascinating, A page-turning story that gripped my attention to the very end. Yes, some of the violence was a little hard - okay, really darn difficult - for me to take. That beach scene was OMG bad. I found myself putting the book down more than a couple of times and walking away for 20 minutes, just to let me digest what I had just read and prep myself for potential further uneasiness. Wow. Just Wow. Some of the graphic violence depicted is really intense - which some readers may wish to avoid - but if you do, you will be missing out on a spectacular crime noir read.

Ferey digs deep and really brings home social criticism of the post-apartheid landscape, a place still very much heaving with violence, drug lords and overall corruption. Seriously, after reading this, I would be horrified to visit Cape Town. Ferey has done such an amazing job showing the underbelly of the playground for the rich and the shocking destitution of the shanty townships. Ferey wrote this story in real time - against the looming backdrop of the 2010 World Cup that would take place in 2 years time, post publication. The South African apartheid was both political and racial. This story focuses on the multicultural nature of South Africa and the myriad of opportunists that flooded the region, morals be damned. I can totally see why this one was the 2008 winner of the French Grand Prix for Best Crime Novel. A worthy win, IMO.… (meer)