Reviews

Quand sort la recluse by Fred Vargas

gadrake's review against another edition

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4.0

French author Vargas offers another riveting, twisty read in a consistently popular series. In Paris, Commissaire Adamsberg leads a team of committed and distinct individuals. Adamsberg seems to follow the rules generally, until it suits him to go his own way. This seems to happen when he feels compelled to extend compassion to an individual in a tough and compromising position. The story begins with a poignant example of that.

Adamsberg exhibits some of the same wise and introspective characteristics as Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache. When the mysterious deaths of several elderly men, allegedly from a recluse spider, prove elusive he becomes almost obsessed with multiple meanings of the word 'recluse.' Dipping back and forth in time, with piercing insight he very slowly pieces together the motivations and steps behind more than one awful crime. Sad truths emerge about bullying and rape.

One particular value in this story is that it illustrates some changing perceptions about rape and harassment, criminal sexual deviancy, lasting psychological and physical effects of bullying, and aging. Readers will learn quite a lot about spiders, too, which is more explanatory rather than frightening. All in all, a fine mystery that stretches the limits of probability a bit in the end.

kiwikathleen's review against another edition

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4.0

I love this series - the characters are really interesting, the setting is fantastic (France, grounded in Paris but with frequent forays), and the crimes are fascinating.

jessiclees's review against another edition

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3.0

Sadly not up to her usual greatness in terms of story line. Characters still wonderful though

tonydragon's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A thinking person's who dunnit. Beautifully crafted by Fred Vargas

clea's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

thehosk's review against another edition

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5.0

Great story, interesting characters and learn about spiders and history. This Fred book is up there with the best of them, read and remember why Vargas books are so good.

rita89's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

marielotus's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

angeladobre's review against another edition

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4.0

Autoarea construiește intriga ca pe o plasă de păianjen ce, cu fiecare indiciu nou apărut, se întinde și atinge o plaja din ce în ce mai mare de suspecți. Singurul punct comun găsit este legătura dintre două victime care și-au petrecut copilăria în același orfelinat, unde erau recunoscuți ca făcând parte dintr-o banda ce teroriza ceilalți ocupanți minori ai stabilimentului. Una dintre cele mai abominabile și sadice fapte comise de această bandă a fost mutilarea mai multor copii cu ajutorul mușcăturii păianjenului în cauză, fapt ce le-a atras și denumirea de Banda păianjenului pustnic. Se pare că mușcătura acestui păianjen era destul de periculoasă în cazul copiilor și bătrânilor, a căror imunitate nu era suficient de puternică pentru a lupta cu necroza.
https://booknation.ro/recenzie-cand-iese-pustnica-paianjen-fred-vargas/

msmori's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.0