This post is bilingual, scroll down for the English language version
Traducción de Aurelio Crespo. Título original: Sous les vents de Neptune (2004). Primera edición en lengua española Siruela, 2006. Punto de Lectura, 2008. 492 pages. ISBN: 978-84-663-2007-8.
El comisario Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, junto con siete de sus hombres, está preparando un viaje a Quebec para asistir a un cursillo sobre ADN. Pocos días antes de partir, la noticia de un asesinato en Schiltigheim capta su atención. La víctima, Elisabeth Wind, recibió tres heridas de arma blanca en el abdomen que le causaron la muerte. El principal sospechoso ha sido arrestado inmediatamente; estaba completamente borracho la noche del crimen y no se acuerda de nada. Adamsberg está convencido de que conoce al verdadero asesino, el juez Fulgence. Lleva años coleccionando recortes de periódicos de casos que tienen el mismo modus operandi, entre ellos uno en el que el principal sospechoso fue su propio hermano Raphaël. Sin embargo, el juez Fulgence murió hace varios años y, Adamsberg, asistió a su entierro. Una vez en Canadá, se descubre un crimen similar y Adamsberg se convierte en el principal sospechoso.
Tengo que reconocer que los libros de Fred Vargas están llenos de imaginación y me encantan. Probablemente mi opinion es parcial. Aunque la trama parece completamente inverosímil, el argumento ha captado mi atención y lo he disfrutado mucho. Su originalidad está fuera de toda duda. Siempre estoy dispuesto a leer más sobre este personaje interesante, único y extraordinario. Tal vez lo que más lamento es no poder leer los libro de Vargas en su idioma original. Para más información me permito sugerir la lectura (en inglés) de Contemporary French crime fiction – a search for the hidden with particular reference to Sous les vents de Neptune by Fred Vargas – por Sue Neale (Caution, there are spoilers in part III).
Mi valoración: 4/5.
- Siruela
- Punto de Lectura
- Atracciones perversasartículo de Rosa Montero en El País
- Página de Fred Vargas en español
Review: Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand, by Fred Vargas
Commissaire Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, along with seven of his men, is planning a trip to Quebec to attend a workshop on DNA. A few days before leaving, the news of a murder in Schiltigheim captures his attention. The victim, Elisabeth Wind, received three stab wounds in the abdomen that caused her death. The main suspect was immediately arrested, he was completely drunk the night of the crime and can’t remember anything. Adamsberg is convinced he knows the real murderer, Judge Fulgence. He has spent years collecting newspaper clippings of cases that have the same M. O., including one in which the main suspect was his brother Raphaël. However Judge Fulgence died several years ago and, Adamsberg, attended to his burial. Once in Canada, a similar crime is discovered and Adamsberg becomes the prime suspect.
I must admit that Fred Vargas’ books are brimming with imagination and I just love them. Probably my opinion is biased. Even if the plot seems completely implausible, the argument has captured my attention and I’ve really enjoyed it. Its originality is beyond question. I’m always ready to read more about this interesting, unique, and remarkable character. Perhaps my greatest regret is not being able to read Vargas’ books in its original language. For additional information I suggest reading Contemporary French crime fiction – a search for the hidden with particular reference to Sous les vents de Neptune by Fred Vargas– by Sue Neale (Caution, there are spoilers in part III).
Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand (French: Sous les vents de Neptune, lit. “Under Neptune’s Winds”) is a crime novel by French author Fred Vargas, originally published in France in 2004. The novel is part of her Commissaire Adamsberg series. As with many of Vargas’ novels in English translation, the English title is not a literal translation. It adroitly chooses a quote from Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth (Act II, Scene ii, 57-8): “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?”. In 2007 the book won the Crime Writers’ Association Duncan Lawrie International Dagger, the second year in a row Vargas won the award (The Three Evangelistshaving won the previous year). This was the first time an author has been shortlisted for a main CWA Award for three successive novels. Vargas also won the International Dagger award in 2008, the first time an author won the CWA award for three successive novels.
My rating: 4/5.
Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand has been reviewed by: Karen Meek at Euro Crime, Karen Chisholm at Euro Crime, Maxine Clarke at Euro Crime, Geoff Jones at Euro Crime, NancyO at the crime segments…, Rhian Davies at It’s a crime! (Or a mystery…), Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise, among others.
A Crime is Afoot 