Patience Portefeux is a 53-year-old widow who is just getting by. Working as a translator for the Paris drug squad she can barely cover the cost of university for her two daughters, as well as the care her elderly mother requires. She comes in contact with the mother of a drug trafficker through information received from the police wiretaps and is able to secure a large amount of hash. Taking on an alias as "The Godmother," Patience become financially secure—she even has to launder money.
With a fascinating woman at its core, The Godmother is an unflinching look at the gritty side of Paris in contemporary France.
What struck me about this book was the subtly and understatedness—it was clever without being trite or predictable. What Cayre makes up for with ingenuity, she alienates with the slightly formal tone and quirkiness of the book.
The story itself was well executed, however, (dare I say) lacking in morals. At times it was rather dark and twisted so if this is your bag, you will love it. Readers are taken to the underbelly of Paris—forget the glamour one associates with the City of Lights, this is the drug infested criminal underground. For me the difference between 3 and 4 stars was the slow start. It took several attempts to get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed the book.
BUY NOW
HANNELORE CAYRE is a criminal lawyer, film director, and writer.
She currently resides in France.
No comments:
Post a Comment