The Three Evangelists by
Fred Vargas
pbk out January 06
(Harvill)
at £12.99
Fred Vargas is a highly successful female French crime writer. Do not be
confused by the name. Fred is short for Fréderique and Vargas is a nom-de-plume that
apparently was inspired by her artist sister's adoption of the name, taken in its turn from
Ava Gardner's character in the film, Barefoot Contessa. Vargas being by training an
archaeologist and historian, it is perhaps no surprise that the detectives in this book – the
eponymous three evangelists – are all historians.
All three are down on their luck, there being little call for historians at the present.
Marc Vandoosler is an expert on the Middle Ages, and calls on his equally unsuccessful
friend Mathias Delamarre to share the cost of renting a dilapidated house. They need a
third, and with some trepidation select Lucian Devernois, who is hardly an historian at
all, as he researches the Great War period. It is Marc's uncle, disgraced flic Vandoosler,
who dubs them the Three Evangelists, Saints Mark, Matthew, and Luke.
They happen to be living next door to Sophia Simeonidis, Greek former opera
singer of some reputation, and her husband Pierre. When a tree is mysteriously planted
in her garden overnight, she resorts to the three impecunious historians for help. But
when they dig underneath it, no dark secret is revealed. Matters could have been left
there, but Vandoosler organises the historians in further investigations, and contacts his
old colleague, Leguennec. On the other side of the historians' house is the residence of
brother and sister, Juliette and Georges. Juliette runs a restaurant, and Mathias is smitten
by her, and begins to work in the restaurant.
Then Sophia disappears, just as her niece Alexandra turns up with her young son.
Marc takes a fancy to Lex, but soon Sophia's body is found burned to a crisp in a car.
The historians are more determined than ever to solve the crime, but the solution seems
dangerously close to home.
Originally published as Debout les morts in 1995, this tale of dusty research and
police action, makes us eager for more translations of Vargas's work. And a splendid
translation this is by Siân Reynolds. The story flows smoothly and unobtrusively
forward, never relying on bravura and band-standing. It is a classic style of detective
novel brought bang up-to-date with a quirky amateur team of odd-ball historians using
their innate skills to dig out the truth that's hidden in the past. Amusing and horrifying
by turns, we are never sure which if any of the central cast of characters may turn out to
be the murderer. We are held in suspense until the final classic denouement by St Mark,
and end up wanting the next story. That may not be the three evangelists again, but there
are other titles by this excellent author awaiting translation thank goodness.
(
Ian Morson
Author of Falconer books and short listed for 1999 Ellis Peters Historical Crime Dagger)
The Three Evangelists by
Fred Vargas
