Review
(My review on goodreads)
As others have noted, the commissaire Adamsberg series is enjoyable mostly for the characters: Adamsberg, Veyrenc, Danglard, Retancourt, and a couple others. Other aspects of the series, and this novel, not so great. Let me explain.
First, every one of the books in this series has a supernatural element, for no good reason. For example, in A Climate of Fear the supernatural being is called the afturganga, a sort of invisible Icelandic thingus that is able to invade thoughts from a distance and yada yada yada. Absolutely not needed for the story - all the afturganga tricks could as easily have occurred without any supernatural intervention.
Second, there is always at least one, usually more, thrilling action scenes from which Adamsberg has a narrow escape, sometimes with grave injury. I donĀ“t think these add much to the novels (though they may be a not-so-subtle attempt to attract a Hollywood producer). In this novel Adamsberg has a shoot-out with the serial killer, shortly after a violent encounter with the afturganga. Yawn.
Despite my objections this is an enjoyable read, overall, mostly for the Adamsberg, Danglard, Veyrenc, Lucio conversations. It scratches an itch, you might say.
Metadata
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Metadata Info
- Title: A Climate of Fear
- Author: Fred Vargas
- Published: 2017
- ISBN: 1101992239
- Buy: Amazon search
- Check out: Seattle library
- Rating: 3.0 stars