The Murdered House

For mystery fans . . . for fans of just plain good books, here is a novel, both well written and well translated . . .

Darkly atmospheric, The Murdered House is a mystery cloaked in tragedy, begun in 1896 and finished in 1920 when orphan Seraphim Monge returns from the war as a road worker, arriving at his ancestral home only to take it apart, brick by brick, until nothing remains. Clutching a rusted key, Monge opens the door to the past, hindered by a lack of knowledge and an urge to destroy the place of his birth. His entire family murdered one dark winter night, only baby Seraphim is left alive. Villagers still remember the murders and the swift retribution for the three assumed assailants. But when the story of that night is revealed to a stunned young man, he is cautioned, "It can't have happened like that." Seraphim attempts to untangle a troubling history, befriended by another returning soldier whose face is badly disfigured, Monge's sweet face in sharp contrast to that of the horribly ruined Patrice Dupin. Plagued by nightmares about his mother's final moments, Seraphim is single-minded in his mission, demolishing the building until nothing is left, oblivious to the overtures of two local young women who are fascinated by the giant of a man with an angelic face. Monge betrays nothing of his inner turmoil, even when a dying monk reveals what he has witnessed the night of the murders. Rather than the thrill of danger evoked by many mysteries, this story bears an ominous tone, a building of unbearable tension, the weight of time in a French village, world war, poverty and the sinister deeds of greedy men. The contrast between Monge's size and beatific face, his inner agony and outward calm, the villagers' friendly overtones and secret agendas- all these things contribute to a sense of foreboding and the realization that even if Seraphim eventually learns the truth, the tale will end tragically. The Murdered house reeks with the burden of its history, Seraphim Monge shadowed in his quest for revenge by a mysterious figure and a shocking resolution that leaves the protagonist reeling. Luan Gaines/2009.

A reasonably entertaining murder mystery (both plausible and mentally challenging) but more so a wonderful historical portrait of post WWI Provence. The character development was such that following the narrative was relaxing and watching their day to day activities engrossing. If it were suggested that this had been written in another century I would have easily agreed. The writing is that beautiful. I could only imagine how fantastic the original French must be. Highly recommended and someday a wonderful movie.