This book was a DNF for me. I suspect that at another time, I might have enjoyed it, but it just didn't grab me when I tried to read last year. I still think it is a stunning cover. Thank you for allowing me access to this early edition. I am sorry that I was unable to file a review at this time. I wish you all the best of luck with the book and I am interested in trying other books by this author.

Though I liked the book, I made the decision at the time I finished not to review it on my site. Maybe in the future I will include it in a book list post or another article.

This is my first by Pierre Lemaitre and I found it fascinating. It is essentially a look at the effect of a murder on a small town. The story is well-written with plenty of suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat. It was very much a psychological suspense of a novel.

“The wheel was coming full circle.”

Pierre Lemaitre’s novel, Three Days and a Life is essentially a study of guilt, the fallout of violence, and small town prejudices in the aftermath of a murder. Murder is an irrevocable act, and the consequences, as we see in this novel, are unpredictable. The story begins in 1999 with Antoine, a twelve-year-old boy, the son of the divorced Madame Courtin. Antoine and his mother live in the small, dying town of Beauval–a place where everyone knows everyone else. You can live there for years and still be an outsider.

Antoine is a normal twelve-year-old who longs for a Playstation of his own, and with a sudden awareness of his own sexuality, he has a crush on blonde Émilie. The Courtins live next to the Desmedts: the brutish Monsieur Desmedt, his wife and two children: Valentine and 6-year-old Remi. The Courtin household is rigid whereas the Desmedts’ home is chaotic. but the best thing about living next to the Desmedts is that Antoine can play with their dog Ulysses.

three days and a life

One day in the woods, Antoine accidentally kills Remi, and in a blind panic, he hides the body. Will he get away with murder? ….

About 2/3 of the book follows Antoine’s actions as the townspeople realise that a child is missing. Paralyzed with guilt, and waiting for the police to knock on his door, Antoine watches events unfold from his home. Unpopular residents are rounded up and questioned, and then nature intervenes.

The second, last third of the novel opens in 2011. Antoine now lives in Paris, is in a wonderful relationship, and is close to becoming a doctor when he reluctantly agrees to return home He is being recalled by fate to meet his punishment. ….

Truth be told, the terror never went away. It dozed, it slumbered, and it returned. Antoine lived with the knowledge that, sooner or later, this murder would catch up and ruin his life.

I’m very glad to have finally read a Lemaitre novel. For this reader, the first section with Antoine as a boy was good but overly long–especially when he repeatedly imagined various scenarios. However, the second part paid off in its conclusion. To say more would spoil the novel for other readers, but Fate shows, once again, that one cannot escape, no matter how hard we try to run. In the case of Lemaitre’s tale, do not expect simple retribution. The plot is far too subtle for that.

Reading the acknowledgments, I saw the name Patrice Leconte pop up. This made me mull over the idea of this book as a film. The first two-thirds are introspective while Antoine wrestles with his guilt, but with the right script, this would make an excellent film.

Review copy

Translated by Frank Wynne

This book gave the impression that we would get a larger glimpse into the life of Antoine after the murder. It stated in the description
"Will Antoine finally be forced to confront his crime? And what is he prepared to do to keep his secrets buried in the past?" This was literally the last 20% of the book. The full NetGalley description does not really describe the book..
The majority of the book is right after the murder. Then it so quickly jumped to adulthood and sped through. The last 20% of the book is so rushed it was not enjoyable. You get no answers at all. It left me hanging and feeling disconnected.
Plus, Antoine is such a despised character that it was hard to feel anything for him except disgust.

This s a psychological novel in the truest sense. A young 12 year old boy, Antoine, commits an horrible act, accidentally but he hides the evidence. Twelve years later he makes another mistake, which will alter his life's path. These two mistakes will haunt him, and it is the chance of discovery of his first act that creates the suspense, his second mistake will help bring things full circle.

I never read this authors first three, highly rated books because from the many trusted reviews I read I felt they might be too grisly for me. This one was close to perfect. Any author that can create such a feeling of suspense, without resorting to untold violence, descriptions of blood and gore, with characters it is easy to dislike, and do it as well as I thought this author did, is a fantastic writer in my book. The feelings of desperation that haunt Antoine at times, trying to figure out what to do, where to go, were fantastically portrayed. How the author ties up the loose ends and brings everything to a surprising close was amazingly done. Was quite blown away by this book, dark yes but a satisfying read. Just when you think you were ready to give up psychologically twisty novels, one like this comes along, and makes one second guess themselves.

ARC from Netgalley.

Wow...so many thoughts about this book! I loved it from start to finish.
This is a literary work of fiction that reads like a thriller. I couldn't put down the book until I was finished. It is a quick read and not very long (only 208 pages) and packed full of quality characters, a page-turning plot, and a seamless ending, including a twist I didn't see coming.
I sympathized so deeply with the main character, Antoine, despite his flaws and poor impulsive choices. The lifelong devastation that occurs because of one emotionally driven mistake is heartbreaking. The message is clear- think before you act! Beauval, a central character itself, is a small town in France, but can be compared to countless other towns like it. You can sense the dread in Antoine's heart whenever he visits or thinks about the town. And Beauval is filled with loathsome people.
The plot, flowed well from the very first page. The pacing was well-timed throughout. Dark storytelling at its best. A Series of Unfortunate Events for grown-ups.
Thank you NetGalley and Quercus.

{My Thoughts}

What Worked For Me
An Unlikely Killer – Twelve-year-old Antoine proved to be a most unusual killer. He acted on impulse, striking out in grief and anger never intending to kill his young neighbor, but he did. From the moment it happens, Antoine was racked with grief, remorse and above all fear. He did not want to leave his single mother alone or go to jail. So, Antoine covered up his crime and lived with his guilt.

“He is overcome by the sheer scale of the tragedy. In a few fleeting seconds, his whole life has changed course. He is a murderer.

These two thoughts seem irreconcilable, it seems impossible to be twelve years old and a murderer…..

The wave of grief crashing over him is terrifying.”

Antoine had to go on to watch the parents of his victim fall apart as days passed and their son wasn’t found. Antoine was sick with fear and regret, very nearly turning himself in, but he didn’t.

Catastrophes – In three short days the small town of Beauval was hit with three major catastrophes, the first being the disappearance of young Remi. With the town on high alert and searches ongoing, two other catastrophes strike in rapid succession leaving the town with much more to focus on than a missing boy. At a glance this trio of events may seem unlikely, but Lemaitre, built them in such a way that it was entirely believable. The last two save Antoine or did they?

Dual Timeline – I loved when the story moved from Antoine in 1999 to Antoine in 2011. Still holding onto his guilt, Antoine had escaped Beauval and was just finishing medical school. Engaged to be married, Antoine was on the brink of having it all. A short visit home, and another poor choice changed all that. From there the story moved to 2015, where the reader meets Antoine one last time. I guessed the ending in part, but still found the final twist very satisfying.

What Didn’t
The Killing Itself – To me the actual killing of Remi and the hiding of his body seemed so unlikely, but it was something I was quickly able to overlook.

Out of Balance – I’d have liked to see a little more balance between the two parts of Antoine’s story. The three days around the murder took up 65% of the book and sometimes felt a little repetitive. I’d have liked to see a little more of Antoine as an adult and how he had managed to stave his guilt for so long. I also thought that a couple of Antoine’s adult choices seemed unwise and perhaps a little more background would have helped me to better understand those adult decisions.

{The Final Assessment}

Three Days and a Life was a fun, fast suspense novel that I very much enjoyed. I would definitely read more books by Pierre Lemaitre who is known for getting into the minds of killers. That’s exactly what he did with young Antoine, leaving the reader with a killer you couldn’t help but care about. Grade: B

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

A slow book that crawls along but keeps your attention, even if it's hard to like or identify with the main character. Antoine is a man whose life has been shaped and molded by two terrible decisions twelve years apart. As a child, he lashed out in violence... resulting in the death of a six year old friend. Twelve years later, as a man who has never faced punishment for that crime, he cheats on the woman he loves. Both of these actions irrevocably change his life. Considering how far apart these actions take place, you'd think they'd be spoilers... but they aren't. They're both featured in the blurb for the book. This story isn't really about mystery or suspense, it's about Antoine. He's a man who despite everything, has his freedom, a promising future as a doctor, and the love of a good woman... but can he hold onto them?

An enjoyable piece of noir fiction, and a quick read at just over 200 pages. I read it in two sittings. It was quite different from the books I usually pick up, but I'm glad I did. At times the names and characters were hard to keep track of, so I was happy to read an e-book where I could easily highlight and look back. This book won't be for every mystery fan, but if you're in the mood for a slow burn more character driven and a little different, give it a shot.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Quercus, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I have read most of Pierre Lemaitre's books that have been translated into English. I was introduced to Lemaitre with the trilogy that centered around the fictional character Commandant Camille Verhœven. They were detective mystery and thriller at it's best. Then I read The Great Swindle, a book about World War I. Also a wonderful book but completely different in style and focus. This past week, I read Three Days and a Life, the story of a young boy who accidentally kills his six year old neighbor and is too terrified to tell anyone.

Once more, Lemaitre surprises. The style of writing isn't similar to either of the above. It is more noir than thriller. The pace is slow but not so slow that you want to put the book down. It is written from the boy's point of view so you are living with him as he makes different decisions that set the course for his life. The concept seemed so simple in the beginning but as the book progresses and we, the readers, get to know more and more characters in the village that Antoine, the young boy, lives in, the complexity of the plot becomes masterful. It is a small village in France. Everyone knows everyone else. Most people know everyone's business. It is quite difficult to keep a secret in a small village like this one. Some reviews have called this book a character study and not crime fiction. If it is a study, it is the age old Noir study of decisions and more decisions altering the course of a life. And as with most Noir, the ending fits perfectly with the crime.

LeMaitre's writing is elegant. That goes across the board for all his books. He won the prestigious Prix Goncourt, France's top literary prize, for Au revoir là-haut. He later wrote the screen play for the film of the same name.
Three days and a Life is beautifully written. If you enjoy well-paced suspenseful noir fiction, you will love this book as much as I did.

A fascinating story from Pierre Lemaitre about how split second choices made at a young age can shape and mold the rest of ones life. Well written and paced with complex, interesting characters.

Three Days and a Life is Mr. Lemaitre's modern nod to the classic story of the Tell Tale Heart, in my opinion. Young Antoine is haunted by his accidental killing of his 6 year old next door neighbor and subsequent disposal of the body. He imagines scenes where he is accused and apprehended for the crime. This continues on throughout his life. Ironically, despite his attempts to escape the small town and his past, Antoine finds himself jailed by his own life within the small town. In contrast to many of the books by Mr. Lemaitre I have previously read, this story is written in what feels like a fairy tale fashion, lighthearted but with evil lurking within the words. I almost can't describe it. Definitely worth the read!

This book is stunning. Initially, it is the story of a young boy who impulsively and unintentionally murders a younger boy and conceals his body in a forest outside their small French town. Given the title, I assumed it would take three days for him to be found out or to find a solution to his dilemma. As authorities search for the missing boy, the tension is unbearable. I can't think of anything I've read where I've felt so bad for the suffering of a murderer as he waits for his crime to be uncovered. I don't want to spoil anything but that there is no immediate resolution to the disappearance of the small boy does not mean the murderer escapes. He is unable to forget what he has done and it warps his life until the time comes for him to return to the town where he grew up and murdered his neighbor. When he does, the tension and dread again becomes unbearable as the reader waits for the inevitable. Something does happen but not at all what might be expected. A sentence of a different sort will be served for this crime. Rarely have I read something so powerful, gripping, and agonizing and that has a convincing ending. Though this is not Pierre Lemaite's first novel it is the perfect book to start reading this great French writer.

Le Maitre means The Master and I can't think of a more aptly named author. This is a very hard story that feels like a punch in the gut. Antoine is a regular kid. He is lonely and his only real friend is Ulysses the dog. When Ulysses is killed, Antoine is so upset that he lashes out against his younger neighbor accidentally killing him. This is the story of Antoine's life from then on, haunted by the crime forever. The constant fear of being caught and judged evolves as he ages (his plans for running away changing from a backpack where he packs his Spider Man action figure to joining an international aid organization). This is not a whodunit and the investigation into the child's disappearance is not the point, it is Antoine's thoughts, hopes and fears. Like life in the French countryside, not much happens while everything changes. My sympathies would normally lie with the victim and his family, who are obviously unbearably sad; but Lematire's mastery lies in making you care for the killer. The ending took my breath away. Lemaitre is one of the best contemporary writers.

This is the 5th novel I have read by Pierre Lemaitre who I have enjoyed very much. the Camille Verhoeven trilogy were some great stories with interesting characters, great ploting and twists. and last years Blood Wedding was a great standalone featuring another good mystery and twists. this new one Three Days and a Life is a bit of a departure. while the other books do feature in depth characters this one is more of a singular psychological study of what a child goes through following an incident resulting in deadly consequences. we follow Antoine as he is fraught with guilt and worry in the days and weeks and eventually years since a childhood acquaintance falls at his hands. not much of a mystery but what keeps the pages turning is will Antoine get caught or give himself up. this was a quick read and while the pages turned I just did not feel it was as good as his previous books. some parts felt a little rushed, the ending was a bit of a letdown as for me it came out of left field, but sometimes that is life. besides Antoine, the other characters did not have any real development, and Antoine himself reveals himself to be not that likable. it did feel in a way like a rough draft and maybe if it was fleshed out or some parts developed more it would have resonated better with me.

Thanks to Quercus US and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this novel. I was already a fan of Pierre Lemaitre which led to my request for this book. It did not disappoint, although it was not quite what I was expecting. I would categorize this as a psychological suspense novel, were there such a genre. Lemaitre did a great job getting into the mind of the main character, especially when he was a child and thinking the way children think. Although the plot was fairly straightforward, I did not see one big twist coming and I enjoyed the surprise. I would recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Publishing for the eARC.
Antoine Curtain, a 12-year old lonely boy in a small town in France spends most of his time in the company of his beloved neighbor's dog, building a treehouse in the woods. As he watches the shocking death of his canine friend, his life is forever changed. Heartbroken and furious, he destroys the treehouse and accidentally kills the neighbor's small son. A nightmarish hiding of the body and subsequent fear of being arrested is the beginning of the rest of his life. His emotional equilibrium will forever be disturbed.
Fast forward 10 years, he is studying medicine in Paris, engaged to a beautiful young woman and outwardly a successful man. When he has to visit his old town, he is extremely reluctant. After leaving a party slightly worse for wear, he makes a fatal mistake, once again changing the course of his life.
The story is a sad, very tense one with an ending that was bittersweet. I felt much empathy for Antoine; his lifelong punishment, trapped not in a cell, but in his mind, was painful to read. It illuminated that one small moment in life can forever change it, irrevocably.
If you like a psychological mystery, this is the book for you. It's one of those that lingers in your mind.

*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy of Three Days and a Life.

Three Days and a Life is the story of twelve-year-old Antoine Courtin, a boy from Beauval, France who, following the tragic death of a beloved canine, lashes out at six-year-old Remi Desmedt with grave consequences.

Struggling in the aftermath of an unintentional murder, a good portion of this book is spent covering the guilt-wracked days of a boy who we know from the blurb is about to get away with murder.

I commend Pierre Lemaitre on his brilliant writing style. Evocative descriptions in an easy-to-read style that is admirable, particularly from a translation, but as well-written as it is, Three Days and a Life suffers a terrible lack of pacing.

The book opens with such impact that I couldn’t wait to see how the story unfolded, but with each subsequent chapter of Antoine musing about his mother, the town, and how he thinks he’s going to get caught (or is afraid he might), I start to wonder if this isn’t a great concept poorly executed.

Perhaps maybe this is a disservice of an overly-descriptive blurb, which basically gives away the entire plot (thus ruining any tension the author has worked to create). Maybe it’s as simple as that the writer became so involved in Antoine Courtin’s childhood that he couldn’t see the plot flaws because of the character. Maybe it’s me, and this book will appeal to someone who is looking for a small town France story about a boy and his conscience. Regardless, I’m disappointed in Three Days and a Life, a slow burn novel that ultimately falls flat.

"...a lot of time has passed, these things don't really matter anymore...you ask yourself a lot of questions, of course...I sometimes wondered...and then, one day, you stop."

This was a departure from the other books I've read by Pierre Lemaitre -- most notably my 3 favorites ALEX, IRENE and CAMILLE -- great suspenseful and somewhat grisly thrillers. Unlike those police procedurals, this was more a psychological study of the main character, Antoine Courtin. The synopsis describes completely the plot, leaving out only the conclusion to the depressing story. The first half of the book seemed very slow and plodding as it focused entirely on the day that Antoine kills the little boy and the immediate aftermath. The narrative picks up intensity when it resumes 10 years later -- Antoine is finishing up medical school, is in love with Laura, and has almost -- but not completely, forgotten what happened back in Beauval. He has managed to put what happened to Remi Desmedt safely away and feels he has finally escaped events and his home town. Unfortunately Antoine becomes enmeshed in yet another drama while visiting his mother back at home.

The writing is interesting and full of details about small town life and the inhabitants of Beauval. The character of Antoine is multidimensional and one is not sure whether to hope he gets away with his crime or to wish for him to get his just punishment. Antoine's resignation and acceptance of his defeat are such that I willed for him to get some sort of backbone, to make a stand, rather than to continually let events wash over him. The sword of Damocles constantly over his head...

I'll always read the next books by this author, but I prefer the suspense thrillers to angsty dramas. Fans won't want to miss this one even so.

The suspense in this book builds slowly, much like a classic tale from Alfred Hitchcock. Twelve-year-old Antoine Courtin accidentally kills six-year-old Remi Desmedt in a fit of rage. Fear, dread, shame, and guilt claw away at Antoine as each day passes, hoping beyond hope that Remi's body is not discovered and he will not be fingered as the killer. The bulk (2/3) of the story takes place in 1999 over the span of three days. Then we flash forward to 2011 for a few chapters before ending in 2015.

Antoine's life can be summed up as a series of unfortunate events. First he accidentally kills the young boy. Then, more than ten years later, he had a fling with a childhood friend and she ends up pregnant. Not long after this they discover Remi's remains and there is trace evidence they are testing for DNA. Then, shortly after the discovery of the remains, Antoine is threatened with a DNA test to prove that he is in fact the father of his former friend's baby. Antoine is in a catch 22. A fight rages inside him about doing the right thing, resigning himself to an undesirable fate, and the possible consequences that go along with his choices. The question is how far will he go to keep the truth hidden. The conclusion to this story is shocking and chilling.

The author had a smooth, succinct writing style that makes the story flow well. This text has been translated from French, but several key words (?) have been left in French for some reason. However, this in no way detracts from the story or the reader's comprehension.

I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and suspense. I received this as a free ARC from MacLehose Press, Quercus on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.