Moment Before Drowning by James Brydon
Moment Before Drowning by James Brydon
Thanks Alice Wertheimer of Akashic Books, I am giving away one print copy of ‘Moment Before Drowning’ by James Brydon.
Description Moment Before Drowning by James Brydon
In 1959, a French Resistance hero investigates a murder in a small Breton town, while awaiting his own trial.
December 1959: a furious anticolonial war rages in Algeria. Captain Jacques le Garrec, a former detective and French Resistance hero, returns to France in disgrace, traumatized after two years of working in the army intelligence services, and accused of a brutal crime.
As le Garrec awaits trial in the tiny Breton town where he grew up, he is asked to look into a disturbing and unsolved murder committed the previous winter. A local teenage girl was killed and her bizarrely mutilated body was left on display on the heathland in a way that no one could understand.
Le Garrec’s investigations draw him into the dark past of the town, still haunted by memories of the German Occupation. As he tries to reconstruct the events of the girl’s murder, the violence and guilt intertwine with his own recollections of Algeria and threaten to submerge him.
Praise Moment Before Drowning by James Brydon
This is a remarkably assured debut by a gifted new writer.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
“An exploration of political oppression wrapped in a carefully constructed mystery. In Brydon’s auspicious debut . . . the characters are alive and the mystery is mostly satisfying. An erudite and entertaining addition to the shelf.”—Kirkus Reviews
“From the Battle of Algiers, to the austere abutments of the Brittany coast, The Moment Before Drowning is a carefully weighted novel that strips the glamour from what people can do without ever simplifying the reasons why they do it. An engrossing and expansive tale.”—Luke McCallin, author of The Ashes of Berlin
About James Brydon
JAMES BRYDON grew up in North Shropshire, England, and studied English at Oxford. For over a decade, he has worked as a cryptic crossword setter. Under the name Picaroon, he sets two puzzles a month in the Guardian,and he compiles for the Spectator, the Times of London, and the fiendish Listener puzzle, drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as the films of Akira Kurosawa and the six-fold symmetry of snowflakes.
He is fluent in French and Serbian, is currently polishing his German, and can hold a conversation in passable Chinese. He lives in St. Albans, England, with his wife and daughter. The Moment Before Drowning is his debut novel.
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Giveaway Moment Before Drowning by James Brydon
This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on July 20, 2018 midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
The plot and location sound interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
This novel sounds intriguing and fascinating. The story, era and characters interest me greatly. Thanks.
This sounds very interesting, we’re always looking for new crime stories with quirky and damaged characters. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Sounds very interesting perfect for me,
I am interested in This book because it has great reviews by both Kirkus and publishers weekly.
My kind of book, love mysteries. And a new author for me. Thank you for this chance to read a copy of this novel.
I hope I win this book, but I hope even more that way when David Bell’s book.
I’m interested in this as I’ve never read a book with this time or location before so it should be informative.