There is a killer in Paris targetting women based on the a romantic poem by Gerard de Nerval. The three evangalists and Ludwig Kehlweiler investigate. Set (and written) in 1997 the unorthodox protagonists aim to find out if Clement Vanquer (the accordionist of the title) is guilty of murder. Despite its modern setting the novel has a gothic feel (cloisters, graveyards and the 'dosshouse'). There are few crime writers who write in Fred Vargas' style and whilst the characters are well-written and the story is engaging the ending does feel rushed. However, well worth a read. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Uk.

Following a spate of brutal murders in Paris suspicion has fallen on a young accordionist seen loitering near the victim's homes. Clement is a simple young man and when he realises he is being set up he seeks out the only person he trusts, an old prostitute called Marthe. She takes Clement to her erstwhile lover and he recruits the 'three evangelists' to help solve the mystery.

Fred Vargas has a knack of writing about horrible crimes but with a real sense of humour and emotional intelligence, her characters are quirky and interesting. So whilst this is not her most engaging book, it is still streets ahead of most fiction in the genre. The investigator with the pet toad and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the police departments of France is a new and interesting character. However I did find the ending a little messy and too convenient.

French novelist Fred Vargas writes two separate crime series which have been translated into English. The Commissaire Adamsberg investigations are more conventional, although even they exist on the outer fringes of idiosyncrasy. The Accordionist belongs to her other ‘Three Evangelists’ series, and it veers from quaintly quirky into absolute obscurity without following a straight line at any time. It’s the literary equivalent of trying to hold a conversation with a cat. The direction of travel is uncertain and your companion may be a genius. Or not.

Which shouldn’t suggest any absence of creative flair from The Accordionist, far from it. The plot is cunning and craftily constructed. It revolves around a seemingly charming new character – the accordion player of the title, a somewhat simple young man. He’s the obvious suspect when two young women are horribly murdered, not least because he was seen stalking them. But is he a convenient fall-guy or actually someone rather more sinister with dark secrets in his obscure past?

The story plays out as Louis, previously a man from the Ministry of the Interior and now an amateur, cold-case detective, ropes in the eccentric trio of Marc, Mathias and Lucien to hide the fugitive simpleton while Louis determines his innocence or possible criminal involvement. This is where the narrative deviates in every direction with the Evangelists themselves adding little more than confusion. The three men (four, actually, as they’ve been joined by an uncle) aren’t especially well defined as distinct individuals in this story. There’s more than enough meat in the central story to engage the reader, while most of the characters from The Accordionist’s past are themselves surely strange. The actual Evangelists were, for me, simply surplus to requirements, although I appreciate that other folk will enjoy the entertaining interludes in their quirky commune.

The Evangelists novels were written a long time before Vargas moved onto the Adamsberg stories; they’re now 20 years old, and I prefer the author’s more recent crime fiction. While she still writes wonderfully weird fiction, frequently at right-angles to reality, her recent books are rather more focused and streamlined.

There’s a great story in The Accordionist and some truly memorable characters. Vargas’ writing is never less than evocative and original. Even so, much of the effect was obscured by all the detours and deviations.

7/10

This is a great choice for readers who feel that most recent publications are too similar. First published in France in the 90's, it is excellent for anyone nostalgic of that decade. Other than that, [book:The Accordionist|34470672] has a delicious non-anglophone flavour.

In spite of it being the last installment of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I hadn't read any of the previous novels and had no difficulty following the story/characters. (Now, I want to go back and read the other two.)

(Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!)

I've heard good things about Vargas but this is the first of her books I've read: there's certainly a strong sense of Gallic charm about this but I couldn't help feeling that the self-conscious quirkiness of the characters becomes excessive - I yearned for just one 'normal' person without a pet toad or other eccentricity!

Perhaps it's unfair in that I haven't read the earlier two in this series but while I enjoyed the Parisian atmosphere and the complicated plot, I'm not jumping to put Vargas' back-catalogue on my TBR. Not for me, I suspect, but I can imagine fans developing an affection for these characters. Me, I'm more of a Maigret girl with his laconic wit and pared back style.

As I'm only lukewarm about this I'm not posting on Amazon and Goodreads - this feedback is just for you. Thanks for the ARC!

The last installment in the Evangelist trilogy, as usual as for every other Vargas' book, as less to do with a crime to solve but mostly it describes the (strage) life of the people involved. We already met some of the characters and we will meet more but the story is slow and farraginous. Not the best of the three in my opinion.

L'ultimo volume della trilogia degli evangelisti, che come la maggior parte dei libri della Vargas, é piú impegnato a descrivere la vita (strana) delle persone coinvolte, piuttosto che a risolvere un crimine. Alcuni dei personaggi sono noti, altri li conosceremo, ma stavolta la storia é lenta e farraginosa. Non il migliore dei tre secondo me.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Fred Vargas is not for everybody. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, set in Paris, go find another book. If you are looking for a very well written, intelligent and thought-provoking story, with lively and interesting characters and a good plot, set in Paris, then read The Accordionist.
I did not read The Accordionist as the third part in a trilogy, as I wasn’t really it was a third book in a series. I’ve read Dog will have his day, the first part, and although it’s been some years ago, I immediately recognized the main characters. Now all I have to do is read the first part, because I really liked Dog will have is day and of course, The Accordionist.
This book has it all for me: interesting setting, good plot and very entertaining characters, including Bufo! Old Martha is an interesting person too. For me, Clément was the weakest one. I would have liked to hear more about his music and singing. It wasn’t really hard to find out who the murderer was, because there were only a limited number of suspects but still it was a wonderful read.

I hadn't read any of the previous Three Evangelists books, but this did not hinder my enjoyment or understanding of this book at all.

The book opens with Clement looking for his old friend Marthe who used to ply her trade in Paris. Clement knows he is in trouble, and needs her help.

Through Marthe we are introduced to firstly, Louis, who is a former Minister of Interior Investigator, who has doubts about Clement, and thinks he is guilty, to the three evangelists, Marc, Lucien and Matthieu who cannot decide either way of the innocence or guilt.

This is a very enjoyable book, easy to read, maybe a little quirky in parts, but that is what sets it apart from others in this genre.

I especially like the fact, that ironing is a part of this book, especially for a man, sexist I know!

Highly recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Vintage for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an ARC

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for an advance copy of The Accordionist, the third Paris based novel in the Three Evangelists series.

Clément Vauquer, the eponymous accordionist, is in trouble as the suspect in two grisly murders. In a panic he contacts Marthe, who mothered him as a child. Convinced of his innocence she, in turn, contacts former Ministry of the Interior investigator, Louis Kehlweiler for help. He enlists the help of his unofficial collaborators, the three evangelists.

The Accordionist is another quirky read from Ms Vargas. It has an excellent plot with a real mystery to it which, I admit, baffled me until the reveal. Louis's approach, however, is rather scattergun and as he works on intuition there are plenty of feelings but not much proof. He does normally find the right path by instinct so it makes for interesting reading.

It is the characterisation that drives the novel. Louis is smart but very much an oddball with his pet toad and initial fascination with sorting out his shoes. The evangelists are Mark, Lucien and Matthieu, all struggling historians who cohabit the "dosshouse" with Mark's uncle. In our modern world they could be regarded as failures but they have a rich intellectual life, a strong friendship and a desire to see justice done. I like the humanity and naturalness of the characters as they don't hesitate to disagree and argue if required. Louis's castigation of Lucien is a prime example.

I like the sense of place as well. Paris really comes alive as a living breathing city, rather than as a tourist Mecca with a repository of historical buildings and sites.

The Accordionist will not be for every reader but I enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

This is the final novel in the Three Evangelists Trilogy and it was an absolute thrill to read. Vargas specialises in the quirky and the eccentric with its distinctly French style and this is no different. It has been a while since I had read the first two, but as the familiar characters appeared, it all began to slowly come back to me. The German, Louis Kehlweiler, has retired from the Ministry and is translating a book on Bismarck whilst trying to stay away from murder articles in the newspaper. Clement Vauquer is a simple minded but gifted accordionist who is in trouble and makes his way to Marthe. He is the prime suspect in the murder of 2 women that he gave plants to, followed for a few days, on the orders of a mysterious man on the phone. Marthe contacts Louis, and asks for his help to protect Clement, who she is adamant is innocent.

Louis ropes in the 3 Evangelists, Marc Vandoosler, who is now taking in ironing and doing cleaning to supplement his income, Lucien, Mathias, and Marc's Uncle, the retired cop. Louis and Marc are not so certain about Clement's innocence and organise round the clock guarding duties. They interrogate Clement but it is not so easy to get information from an apprehensive and nervous man with learning difficulties. In their investigations, they end up in Never, Burgundy, where Clement intervened in the raping of Nicole Verdot by 3 masked men by hosing them with cold water. One man is recognised, seemingly committing suicide later, and Nicole is murdered in her hospital bed. With his pet toad, Bufo, in his pocket, Louis tries to identify the two other men, and uncovers another murder in the town with the same MO as the women in Paris. With further murders, a poem by the nineteenth century poet, Gerard de Nerval that Lucien is convinced is vital in identifying future victims, visits to Montparnesse Cemetery to visit Secateurs, and bees in many bonnets, the Evangelists and Louis endeavour to get to the truth that leads them to the ruthless killer.

As always, Fred Vargas has delivered on her particular brand of intelligent, character driven, crime fiction. It is a shame that we have reached the end of this trilogy because it has been a true delight to read. The offbeat characters and the relationships between them are what has made this series such a joy. Vargas's character development is second to none, and Clement is a wonderful creation of subtlety and complexity. The plotting is impeccable and the underlying humour ensnares the reader with its wit and charm. A brilliant read that I highly recommend. Thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.