Really exciting book to read. Had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. The plot is fantastic. Very different. The relationship between Rose and John is a very strange one. One that just adds to the heightened suspense of the book. Very well written

A bomb has exploded in a street in the Paris suburbs, it's not a terrorist device. A young man walks into a police station claiming to have set the bomb and that there are others primed to go off, one per day, until his demands are met. The man is John and he wants his mother released from jail. Detective Camille Verhoevan has to find the other bombs and discover what motivates John before disaster strikes.
This is a novella rather than a novel and no words are wasted. The pace is fast and the narrative gripping but it is written with such a delicacy of touch that the reader finds they are completely absorbed in the story. As ever with Lemaitre the motives are still murky at the end but this is a great tale.

Camille is one of my favourite detectives, I love his quirky nature, his unusual view of the world and his utterly reliable nature.

This is a short, clever novel, just exactly what I'd expect from this author, no messing around, just straight into the action. A bomb explodes in a Paris street, a young man confesses almost immediately to setting it and then tells the police that there will be a bomb explode every day until his mother is released from jail and they are given safe passage to Australia. The police are determined to make him break down and confess to the location of the bombs, but this young man is not telling. Not now, maybe not ever. Disaster may not be able to be avoided.

Of course Camille is central to the storyline, as this story twists and turns you see his clever mind whirring away, sifting through the threads.

It is great. A little gem.

International best-selling author Pierre Lemaitre pens this novella following the cases of Commander Camille Verhœven of the Brigade Criminelle in Paris. Camille is four foot eleven inches, but his small stature greatly contrasts his renowned experience and reputation as one of the greatest French detectives.

At 5 pm on the run Joseph-Merlin in Paris, a timed bomb explodes and rocks the area leaving behind twenty-eight injured and shockingly no fatalities. Still, it could have been much worse if not placed underground in the building with scaffolding covering the outside. While the police start the investigation, Jean (John) Garnier walks into a police station, claims responsibility for planting the bomb and gives them details that prove he is the bomber.

“He is prepared to tell all, but in his own time, things have to play out exactly as he imagined. He is meticulous. “The mortar shells . . . I planted seven of them. There are six more. One explosion every day. That’s how they’re rigged.” “But . . .” Camille is dumbfounded. “What is it you want?” Jean wants his mother [Rosy] (who is on remand) and himself (he is about to be taken into custody) to be released.”

He goes on to request new identities, a flight for them both to Australia and €5million. To add to Jean's compelling motivation, his mother Rosy is on remand for murdering his girlfriend. The secrets that mother and son hold tightly are bemusing, insane and potent.

The authorities are not quite sure how to handle Jean and uncover the location of the other 6 bombs. Do they play good cop, bad copy or play tag between the two? The interest in the case goes to the very top, and anti-terrorist forces are brought into forcibly discover the information they need. It becomes clear that while the authorities read Jean as someone bemused, laughable (but for the seriousness of the bombing), and naïve, they may have jumped to premature judgement. With beatings to reveal the location of the other six bombs, Jean remains silent and behaves as though this is what he was expecting. Eventually, control comes back to Camile Verhœven, and we see another shift in approach. The dialogue is fully engaging, and the writing around this interplay is extremely clever to draw the shifting power between Jean and the authorities. The count down to the remaining bombings is dramatic, and the uncertainty on how to handle the situation adds a wonderful sense of peril for everyone.

The positive feelings of; I wish this had been longer, and I can’t believe so much was covered in a novella, reflects on the wonderful story, which can surely be said of this book. I would recommend this book, and I would like to thank Quercus Books, MacLehose Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.

What a very intelligent and totally gripping story. My first read of Pierre Lemaitre’s work but with such a facinating plot and interesting characters especially the unlikely Camille Verhoeven I will be on the look out for more. This does seem like a perfect book group summer read.

I first came across Pierre Lemaitre's work when a blogger (I wish I could say who but I barely remember last week, let alone 2018!) recommended the first of the Camille trilogy, 'Alex'. I was thrilled to discover Rosy & John on Netgalley recently would have Camille returning for a new crime thriller.

In this, Jean Garnier has planted bombs across Paris in undisclosed locations, one for each day whilst be negotiates the release of his mother, Rosy.

Lemaitre's work is translated from French almost perfectly, but I was glad to be reading an ebook with the option to instantly translate a few words even so. They didn't detract from the story as they were easily understood in context, as are the various positions and status of the ranking officials in the novel.

Being familiar with Camille's character and the french judicial system from Lemaitre's previous works was a benefit heading into this novella but again isn't a necessity for new readers.
I'd recommend this as an introduction to the character of Camille and definitely suggest you follow up with the original trilogy.

Told in third person Rosy & John starts with a literal BOOM and races to an abrupt but perfect ending making this a quick stand alone read at under 200 pages with a brilliant fast moving plot.

Perfect for a long commute or an afternoon thrill.

This is a novella written by the French crime fiction master, Pierre Lemaitre who is well-known to the global readership for his gruesome, violent thrillers that often illustrate the dark sides of the French society. Rosy & John is the interlude between Alex and Camille, the second and the fourth installment, respectively, in the renowned Camille Verhoeven series. Verhoeven is a man of minimal stature who, nevertheless, is one of the most experienced and valued members of the Brigade Criminelle in Paris. His physical handicap is counterpoised by a shining intellect and a killer instinct that usually helps him to apprehend some of the most heinous criminals in France. Readers who are familiar with Lemaitre's previous work will certainly be aware of the methods that Camille employs in order to get results and his tense relationships with some of his colleagues and superiors in the force. In this novella, however, Lemaitre focuses more on the main storyline which is explosive enough to keep the readers' attention focused from the beginning until the end. Camille will have to embark on a race against time when a bomb explodes in the center of Paris and the man responsible for the attack surrenders and tells the authorities that he has planted six more devices in various spots in the city.

Everything begins when a massive blast sends shockwaves to the residents of the eighteenth arrondissement in Paris. The impact is tremendous and it is a miracle that nobody dies, even though there are several men and women severely injured by the explosion. Camille listens about the event in the radio and decides to make a detour and visit the blast site in order to see with his own eyes what have happened. The forensic specialists conclude that the explosive device dates from World War 1, it is a 140mm mortar shell that remained unexploded somewhere on the outskirts of the city. The culprit doesn't hide from the authorities and surrenders himself immediately. He is a young man called Jean -"John"- Garnier and he demands to speak only to Camille. During his initial interrogation, Jean confesses to Camille that he has planted six more similar bombs in six different places and he is ready to tell the police where they are if they agree to release his mother, Rosy, who is incarcerated for the last eight months. Rosy was convicted for the murder of Jean's girlfriend, Carole, and Camille is dumbfounded as he cannot understand the motivation behind Jean's actions. If his mother really killed his girlfriend, then why Jean goes to such lengths in order to set her free? What is the secret that binds mother and son?

Due to the limited length of the book, the story unfolds in a frenetic pace and Lemaitre proves that he is a master of suspense, keeping the reader constantly on his toes as the threat of a possible carnage is always present and strong. Furthermore, the mystery revolving around the exact nature of the relationship between Rosy and Jean is equally captivating. The story has a lot of twists and turns and as the story reaches its climax all bets are off as nothing is what it seems. Camille's brilliance shines once again and the reader takes also some glimpses into his personal life and his relationship with Anne, the woman that he loves. It is always fascinating to delve into Camille's inner thought process and even though Rosy & John is just a novella, it bears all the trademarks of a Pierre Lemaitre novel: mystery, intrigue, an ominous sense of foreboding, quirky characters and many surprises. I was lucky enough to get this e-book through Netgalley and I want to sincerely thank the publisher for providing a free ARC. It's a delightful read, destined to challenge your wits and entertain you fully. Fans of Lemaitre should definitely add this novella to their TBR list and keep in mind that it's an ultra-fast read that can be completed in just one sitting.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for a review copy of Rosy & John, the fourth novel to feature Commissaire Camille Verhoeven of the Brigade Criminelle.

John Garnier is desperate, his mother is on remand facing a murder charge and he wants her out. He sets off a bomb in a busy street, gives himself up and refuses to divulge the location of the six other devices he has timed to go off every 24 hours unless his mother is released. And he will only negotiate with Camille.

Wow, what a read. Rosy & John is a short, novella length read but it packs a punch. The format means that everything is compressed and there is no room for padding. The tension is palpable as Camille races to uncover the location of the other bombs and Jean, as he prefers to be called, is holding out for his mother’s release. The novel is told mostly from Camille’s point of view so Jean remains an enigma until Camille starts thinking out of the box and uncovers some secrets. The twists are amazing and the ending… I was glued to the pages from start to finish.

Rosy & John is a great read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Piërre Lemaitre is a master storyteller!
I don't often read novellas because I like to get invested in a story and with novellas you don't normally get the meat. In this 1 I got  the meat and the bones (well not literally speaking!)
You still get the small details as you do in a novel, the story is just told more compactly.
A bomb goes off in Paris but fortunately, nobody is killed. Was this purely out of luck or was this the plan all along?
To make things weirder the bombmaker hands himself over to the police and demands to speak to Camille Verhoeven. Why did this seemingly normal guy called John (Jean) do this? What is up with his weird demands and will there be bloodshed soon.....

A masterpiece in dynamite form!

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

A fast read but a pulse-pounding, absolutely gripping and totally addictive page-turner that will have you racing through the pages

One of my all-time favourite crime writers. This is a novella that slips in before the third novel in the Camille Vanhoeven series. As a novella, it has all the hallmarks of Lemaitre's masterful ability to grip the reader with an unfolding horror and sense of urgency, however its short, as a novella is, and so just as the story line begins to truly grip, it's over. I feel that this could have been a book and feels underdeveloped as a result. Still, gripping and satisfying for an hour's reading.

Like all of Pierre Lemaitre's books, Rosy & John kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a fast-paced and exciting novel with a cast of interesting characters. I always look forward to renewing my acquaintance with Camille Verhoeven and his unique approach to crime and criminals. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I could have done with a hundred more pages of this thrilling drama! It’s dark and gritty with some really complicated relationships. It was difficult not to empathise with the young man who laid siege to a city, in spite of all he did. This is a sure sign that the author knows how to make a character real.

This is a relatively quick read but don't let the meagre page count fool you. It definitely packs a punch. It stars Lemaitre's detective Camille Verhoeven who we already met in Irene and Alex, although you don't need to have read these to enjoy this one, as he races against time to stop a bomber with a strange agenda. John has set 7 bombs. The first has already gone off, after which he handed himself into the police with an ultimatum. He has set 6 more bombs, to go off 1 a day for the next 6 days. He will give them the locations in return for money and tickets to Australia for him and his mother who is currently on remand awaiting trial.
I'm going to say no more about the story contained herein as it's only short but it definitely packs a punch as it progresses along its narrative. Delivering the odd curveball as it meanders towards a rather shocking, and surprising, ending. Shocking & surprising maybe but also quite satisfying. Once I had picked up my jaw from where it dropped.
I will just say that I thought the relationship between mother and son, mostly described not acted out, was rather strange and piqued my interest somewhat. Pivotal so I am not going to expand on anything here.
All in all, a short satisfying read that would suit both already established fans of the author, as well as providing a good introduction to him. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Pierre Lemaitre is the master of the shocking unexpected. This novella also features Commander Camille Verhoeven of the Brigade Criminelle in Paris but is not gruesome like his previous books Irene and Alex. Verhoeven is a fantastic character. His short stature belies his intellect and gritty determination.

In this story Jean Garnier (John) has planted a series of seven unexploded WWI mortar 140mm mortar shells around the country. The first one detonates on a busy Paris street but luckily no one is killed. He doesn’t hide and is quickly arrested. However he doesn’t talk, he just wants to be flown to Australia with his mother Rose Garnier (Rosy) with €4 million. The only problem is - his mother is on remand in prison for killing his recent girlfriend. When the police agree to his demands he will tell them the locations of the other six bombs, set to go off one per day.

Nothing is as it seems in this dark drama. The relationship between the son and his mother is a strange one indeed. Verhoeven suspects there is more at stake than meets the eye, but what? And how can he prove it? This was a delicious vignette that took just over an hour to read. While anyone could enjoy this story, I think if you have read any of the previous books you will definitely appreciate this book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy and I’m reviewing it voluntarily.

An interesting fast paced novella that ensured i kept turning the pages. The book moved at a good pace which helped in keeping the tension high.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy.

Loved this novella. As with all previous books by Pierre Lamaitre he has written a great story. I wasn't sure I was going to like this one when I read the blurb but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great plot and characters that kept me totally engaged, just was disappointing it was so short. Looking forward to his next instalment. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to rea this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pierre Lemaitre is one of those authors. Pick up one of his books, read it, love it and then rush to read everything he's ever written.

His Paris Crime Files Trilogy of Irene, Alex and Camille is classic dark crime, featuring Camille Verhoeven ('four feet eleven of towering rage'). The books are vivid, violent and brutal and feature deeply human characters in plots full of threat and tension.

I was excited to read a continuation of the trilogy, even if just a novella.

Rosy & John opens with a bomb in central Paris, quickly followed by the bomber handing himself in, threatening that pre-set bombs will detonate one a day for the next six days unless his mother is released from prison.

A unique concept that develops into a very tense thrill ride. It is very clever the way locations of the bombs are described and the carnage they will cause is chillingly described just before they are set to detonate.

Camille is his usual calm under pressure, no nonsense character.

It is great for what is it, a taut, tense and explosive novella. I just wish there was another full length addition to the series.

If you loved the trilogy you won't be disappointed, if you haven't read the trilogy, read it now!

Thanks to Netgalley & Quercus

Rosy and John is a short read featuring Pierre Lemaitre's diminutive Detective Camille Verhoeven and is a continuation of the very popular Trilogy featuring his exploits.
An explosion causes chaos,but not much more than a few light injuries,in a Paris Street. The culprit gives himself up and claims that another bomb will be detonated every day for the next 6 days unless his rather unusual demands,his Mother's release from prison,a new life in Australia and a vast sum of money, are met. Jean Garnier is not a terrorist,he doesn't belong to any political faction, he's rather a sad and lonely character that life has kicked in the teeth once too often.
Garnier refuses to speak to anyone other than Verhoeven who finds himself fighting against the clock to prevent possible mass murder.
This is a quick but satisfying read from an author that has become a favorited of mine. There's plenty of tension and a neat twist in the tale . It's not essential to have read the Verhoeven Trilogy to enjoy this book but I think those that have will particularly enjoy being reunited with the quirky and slightly odd French Detective.