The Harry Quebert Affair by Marcus Goldman

Thanks to NewEngland.com

Title: The Harry Quebert Affair 

Author: Marcus Goldman

Publisher: Schmid & Hanson, NYC

Source book: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker

Marcus Goldman’ first book is very successful, selling a million copies. But he then succumbs to writer’s block and is quite unable to begin a second book so he goes to stay with his old college Professor, Harry Quebert, the man who taught him how to write.

Harry has achieved huge fame from his book The Origin of Evil, which [so many spoilers you will have to read the source book to find out] is about a love affair. He becomes such a well known figure in the small town of Somerset that there’s even a little plaque on table 17 of Clark’s restaurant to commemorate the fact that Harry wrote his book there in the summer of 1975. Except [more spoilers], the book Harry actually wrote was called The Seagulls of Somerset, also a love story, but he never submitted it to his publisher.

When the body of 15 year old Nola Kellergan is dug up in Harry’s garden, thirty-three years after she disappeared, Harry is arrested and charged with murder. Marcus is certain his friend had nothing to do with Nola’s death and begins his own investigation. 

Marcus writes The Harry Quebert Affair giving his take on the murder. His book is hugely successful and he is mortified when he realises he has got several vital points totally wrong. So he then plans to write a further book: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair because at last the truth about Nola’s murder has come out. And it’s not what we were expecting.

Finally, The Seagulls of Somerset is published by Schmid & Hanson and attributed to Luther Caleb because [more spoilers]. 

It’s really quite hard to believe that The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair was originally written in French even though it’s set in New England. The thing that really gives it away is the most improbable surname of the local police sergeant: Gahalowood. I’m not even sure how to pronounce that it’s so weird, and I don’t believe an anglophone author would ever have chosen such a bizarre name.

I honestly don’t think I have read a book with so many unexpected plot twists for a very long time. Hence the spoiler alerts. Only, I’m not sure if I actually enjoyed it. Fairly unputdownable though.