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Trois jours et une vie

Trois jours et une vie

CrimeMystery
Pages
281
Published
2016
Language
French

Synopsis

In the quiet French countryside of Beauval, the end of 1999 brought a chilling turn of events. The disappearance of young Rémi Desmedt sent shockwaves through the community, seen by many as a dark omen. For Antoine, who found himself at the heart of this tragedy, it all began with the death of a dog.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

DarkTenseMysteriousEmotional
Coming of AgeRevenge

Genres

Crime Mystery Suspense Thriller

About the author

P
Pierre Lemaitre

Pierre Lemaitre is a French novelist and screenwriter, born in Paris on 19 April 1951. He spent most of his working life in adult education — teaching literature and general culture, and running training courses for librarians — and did not publish his first novel until 2006. He became known first for crime fiction, notably the series featuring the Paris police commandant Camille Verhœven, before turning to historical fiction. In 2013 he was awarded the Prix Goncourt for Au revoir là-haut (publi...

Characters

Antoine CourtinProtagonist

A withdrawn 12-year-old boy whose fit of rage over his dog's death leads him to accidentally kill a neighbor's son; the novel follows the secret's grip on the rest of his life.

Rémi DesmedtSupporting

The 6-year-old neighbor's son who dies at Antoine's hand and whose disappearance haunts Beauval.

Blanche CourtinSupporting

Antoine's mother, who lives alone with him and becomes entangled in covering for what he did.

Émilie MouchotteSupporting

Antoine's classmate and neighbor, whose presence in his life continues in the years after Rémi's disappearance.

All characters in Trois jours et une vie

Frequently asked questions

  • Is there a film adaptation of Trois jours et une vie?

    A film adaptation of "Trois jours et une vie" was released in 2019, directed by Nicolas Boukhrief. It stars Philippe Torreton and Charles Berling.

  • How does this book connect to Pierre Lemaitre's other works?

    While "Trois jours et une vie" is a standalone novel, it shares Pierre Lemaitre's characteristic exploration of moral ambiguity and the long-term consequences of a single event, themes also prominent in his acclaimed "The Great Swindle" (Au revoir là-haut) series.

  • Does Trois jours et une vie have a non-linear narrative?

    The story unfolds across different time periods, specifically focusing on the events of 1999 and then jumping forward to 2011, allowing the reader to see the lasting impact of the initial tragedy.

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