Introduction

"A beautifully written and elegantly structured novel of a woman's attempt to solve the central mystery of her life, along with several other mysteries along the way. It captures the reader from the first page, and never lets go."-- Thomas H. Cook, winner of the Martin Beck Award, Barry Award for Best Novel, Edgar Award for Best Novel

Winner of the Grand Prix Sang d'Encre crime fiction award in 2011, for the first time in English.

As a child, Catherine Monsigny was the only witness to a heinous crime. Now, she is an ambitious rookie attorney in sophisticated modern-day Paris. On the side, she does pro bono work and hits the jackpot: a major felony case that could boost her career. A black woman is accused of poisoning her rich farmer husband in a peaceful village in central France, where the beautiful, rolling hills hold dark secrets. While preparing the case, Catherine's own past comes back with a vengeance. This fast- paced story follows Catherine's determined search for the truth in both her case and her own life. Who can she believe? And can you ever escape from your past? The story twists and turns, combining subtle psychological insight with a detailed sense of place.

"This is a complex tale, skillfully told, that will keep you in suspense to the very end."--Patricia MacDonald, Edgar-award nominee

"Full of surprises and twists that will keep you reading late into the night."--Cosmopolitan

"This is a suspense novel with an absolutely perfect atmosphere. The writing is subtle, racy, controlled. It is written with great art!"--RTL.be

"Everything in this book--the plot, the atmosphere, the characters, and the style--is perfectly mastered from beginning to end."--L'Echo

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Excerpt

1

One early afternoon, in all other ways like any other afternoon, her mother takes her out in her stroller, soothing her with a laughing mom’s voice. She tells her about the wind that sings and then softens among the branches and the swallows that compete in skill to skim the pond for a few refreshing drops of water before flying off again in perfect circles into the clouds. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

A central theme of this book revolves around truth and lies and how they affect our lives. For the author, “lies can kill.” How does this play out in the story and how much truth is there to that statement?

One character says, “There is no prison worse than memory.” How are the characters in the story stuck in variations of this prison?

Did Myriam poison her husband?

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
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»	About the Author

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