A plot orchestrated by Jérémy Ergas

Tuesday's books - Lauriane Pipoz

The Swiss author’s fluid prose draws the reader into the trail of a Machiavellian killer through the investigations of law enforcement—represented by a district attorney and two detectives—and those of three writers whose talent is not sufficiently recognized. But these strong-willed characters are not the only victims of the conspiracy: the press, public opinion, and the reader are also manipulated. And willingly so, because the plot is well-crafted and the series of crimes is masterfully woven together.

Well-developed characters

The story opens with a chapter written from the killer’s point of view: we begin the story inside the killer’s head. This kind of opening has the merit of plunging the reader right into the thick of things by helping them understand what’s at stake in the plot… Or at least by giving them a glimpse of it. There are no drawn-out character introductions or descriptions. And in a crime novel, that’s effective!

This narrative choice isn’t the only thing that keeps us from getting bored. We follow the main characters not only as they grapple with the series of crimes but also in their private lives. In addition to giving the narrative a steady rhythm, this approach helps sketch out their psychology: the omniscient narrator gives us direct access to their thoughts. These are sometimes very explicit, particularly in certain scenes that the protagonists fantasize about in great detail.

«She had no idea that Rodolphe’s desires were of an entirely different nature. He imagined himself lifting her skirt and taking her from behind against the back of the leather armchair where he was sitting, with her still holding the tray, moaning with pleasure but careful not to spill anything while he pulled her hair.»

These frequent shifts in perspective naturally keep the suspense alive. And the author handles this suspense particularly well, leading us along alongside the investigators and delighting in making us suspect everyone and anyone. The reader is treated to numerous plot twists before discovering a surprising conclusion.

The characters have a priori a very—too?—distinct personality, almost caricature-like at times. But even though their main traits are exaggerated, they aren’t predictable, and Jérémy Ergas is careful not to fall into the trap of black-and-white thinking: the killer is defended by the writers, and certain episodes are shown from different points of view. Finally, glimpses into the private lives of some of the protagonists, coupled with numerous flashbacks, sometimes explain their behavior and help us understand them better.

Not a single thriller strictly speaking

This attention to the characters' psychology certainly reflects one of the key points of this book: it is not just a thriller. At times taking the form of social satire, at other times delving into emotions like a romantic tale, this is a complex work: Under the guise of a series of crimes, Jérémy Ergas also tackles criticism of bourgeois circles, the (re)birth of love, art, family, and even the pursuit of happiness. These themes are described and analyzed with great subtlety. And at times, they even manage to make us forget the main story—whether through a chance encounter in a library or a trip to Rome.

We experience intense emotions alongside the characters. Finally, touches of humor are added to this well-balanced and skillfully crafted mix—and they’re all the more delightful for being unexpected. Even if you feel completely manipulated—I’m still not sure I fully understood the ending, and I’ll admit I loved spending a good hour second-guessing it—this addictive immersion in Geneva’s literary world proved to be a well-rounded and enjoyable experience, and I highly recommend it.

Write to the author: lauriane.pipoz@leregardlibre.com

Photo credits: © Lauriane Pipoz for Le Regard Libre

Jérémy Ergas
The Conspiracy
Slatkine & Company
477 pages