Alex: The Commandant Camille Verhoeven Trilogy (The Commandant Camille Verhoeven Trilogy, 1) Paperback – August 5, 2014

This book was royally screwed up and wonderful!Alex appears to be an ordinary 30 year old. Then one day while on her way home from work she realizes she is being followed. Thinking that maybe running into the same guy three times in one month is just a coincidence, Alex doesn’t take any extra precautions when walking home at night on an abandoned street.After being kidnapped and beaten by her attacker, Alex is forced to strip and is placed inside a torture box that is suspended from the ceiling. The box was deliberately made too small for her to lay flat or sit comfortably. She is fed dog food and given water, but other than one short phrase her attacker has not revealed why he is doing this to her. When she asked him why he was doing this, he responded that he wanted to watch her die.This book was first written in French and is book two of the Verhoeven Trilogy; however, this was the only book to be translated to English. Detective Verhoeven is assigned the task of uncovering who the kidnapper is as well as who it is that he kidnapped since no one has reported a woman missing.There are so many twists and turns throughout this story that it will keep you guessing right up until the very end. An amazing crime thriller that I really enjoyed. ***Lot’s of adult content***

This book is like none I have ever read before. Words escape me. I recommend doing a buddy read so you have someone to discuss it with. Truly mind blowing.

'Alex' is a remarkable, breathless thriller that's surprisingly unpredictable. You're captivated by the story as if you were the kidnap victim; you can't escape being drawn to the well-crafted characters and plot turns.In the beginning, what looks to be a kidnap-ransom caper, soon becomes something completely different and totally unexpected.An unlikely commandant, or detective, Camille Verhoeven, is drawn out of self-imposed exile after losing his wife, and into a case not unlike the one that nearly destroyed him. He not only has to unravel the mystery of the kidnapped victim, but also overcome his past failings. In the midst of this drama, we learn about his complicated relationship with his late mother.The kidnap victim, Alex Prévost, is, like Camille, dealing with an unpleasant past, at the same time trying to stay ahead of her tormentors who not only include the kidnapper, but also menacing, tactical rats, threatening her while curled up in a cage suspended from a ceiling by ropes.But Alex is not just a kidnap victim. She's more than that, and commandant Camille's job is to find her to untangle a web she's weaved. The detectives job is made a little harder by an ambitious, arrogant investigating magistrate.'Alex' is the first novel by French author, Pierre Lemaitre, that's been translated into English, and considered one of the best crime novels of the year, and for good reason.

Continuation of the trilogy featuring Camille Verhoeven of the Parisian Brigade criminelle. I admit to being a squeamish reader, find descriptions of grotesque acts of violence to be offensive and have developed a skill for glossing through such passages if a thriller holds enough interest and is written well enough to pursue. This trilogy is such a series. Lemaitre, a former professor of literature, writes well and his plots hold until the last page. I'm not a fan of French humor, but of French noir, and yet there is much humor between these pages: "...his dog, a creature ... looking like something that God cobbled together on an off-day." "When you become the main character in your own life, it's no longer interesting." "....drinks like a Pole, which makes him a good Frenchman." The plot has enough twists and irony that at the end, the reader goes back over certain pages and exclaims aha. But, warning, it is grisly.

This is a fantastic read. I finished it in two days - couldn't put it down. It is really three linked stories. The first is the abduction/kidnapping of "Alex," a 30 year old woman, for essentially (at that point in the book) reasons unknown - presumably random cruelty. She is subjected to a horrifying experience, so those of you with tender stomachs beware, there are very graphic descriptions of torture and suffering. Miraculously, through a believable chain of events and realization she is a determined, smart woman, she escapes. The French Police are involved, and we are introduced to (in more detail) to the lead inspector "Camille", who reminds me (in a very positive way) of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. Very small in stature but with millions of "little gray cells", he leads us on a combined action and mental deductive path as he works the case. The second "story" is that of Alex escaped and in the world. As it turns out, she is not what we thought she was - an innocent victim, and without spoiling the story, murders occur, and she is the likely suspect - but no one can find her. The third story begins when Inspector Camille begins to unravel her life, relentlessly tracking down her past through friends, co-workers, neighbors, and finally her mother and brother. The final denouement is the detainment and questioning of her brother, and this is where Camille's supreme detective and intuitive powers come into play. He is masterful - every bit Poirot's equal, both in the mental and verbal sparring with Alex's brother as he slowing reveals the facts at exactly the right moment, drawing the case closer and closer to a most satisfactory, but somewhat surprising (you won't realize it until the final paragraphs) ending. A masterful work, and one of the best books I've read this year. Inspector Camille is the star, but the author paints all of the supporting characters extremely well. If you like detective stories, police procedurals, and just plain can't put it down reading, this book is for you. Highest recommendation.

The second book in this trilogy and it's even better than the first volume; Lemaitre keeps the reader guessing and (cleverly) shifting sympathy with the characters as the plot twists and unfolds.As with the first novel, this is another police procedural novel with characters from “Irène” - the Brigade Criminelle headed up by Camille Verhoeven.The writing is well-paced and it's very much a page-turner.An enjoyable read – it could be read as a stand alone novel, even with some references to the first book it is well-contained as a plot.I look forward to reading the next volume.

elevates this from three to four stars.Excellent translation preserves the distinct Gallic flavour of the novel which doesn't have to rely on constant references to French cuisine to maintain it - there is never any doubt we are in Paris ( in the main) for this fast-paced crime novel which starts with the kidnap and imprisonment of a girl.The book is uncompromising in its description of violence - some reviews have been critical of this but, in my view, unfairly. All the violence is integral to the plot and is not gratuitous.Other reviewers have criticised the characterisation as somewhat formulaic, particularly in relation to the main character's close colleagues, and to some extent this is true. However, it does not detract from enjoyment of the plot and, as this is the first in a series, the author has to apply some differentiation to his main characters who will doubtless develop along individual lines from book to book.Superb twist in the plot which performs a very neat volte-face - thoroughly enjoyed it and will continue with the series.

The French, e.g. Vargas, Varenne, do a nice line in off centre crime fiction, a tradition that goes back as far as writers like Malet and Simenon. Edgy and gritty but witty and subversive. Lemaitre's first Camille Verhoeven novel, published by the excellent MacLehose Press, is in that vein. An unknown young woman is kidnapped off the street by an unknown assailant and so begins the police hunt. For Verhoeven it becomes more than just a race to find the girl, Alex. The why of the crime comes to the fore as the plot shifts (not twists but actually shifts - not once but twice), but to say more would spoil things. Expect the unexpected. Character and plot driven this is a really interesting tale and I will be looking out for more Verhoeven next Spring.

It was actually my Mum who told me about this book. I wasn't sure as we have very different tastes, but she said it was very gory and really thriller-ish, so I gave it a go. It is in 3 parts and after I finished the first part, I couldn't work out where the story was going to go, but I carried on through the 2nd part, getting a bit more intense the 2nd part finishes, again, I wasn't sure how the 3rd part was going to keep me interested. but damn, it was amazing. I was literally having to slow down to take it all in as I was getting so intrigued. it was a really great book, even though I was questioning it a lot of the time.

I liked the detective characters - it's an interesting set up with a classic range of different characters and motivations working together. I enjoy the French - Parisien context. However, the actual crime - a mad serial killer on a killing spree - is too gruesome for my enjoyment. Torture and misery for the victims. I've bought the trilogy but don't think I'll read the rest.