New Novel by Acclaimed Author Disappoints with Conventional Plot

Maylis de Kerangal's latest novel, translated into Finnish, showcases the author's signature elaborate sentence structure, drawing comparisons to Proust. However, the novel's narrative framework, built around a conventional mystery, fails to captivate, leaving the reader with a sense of unmet expectations.

The story begins with a familiar trope: a dead man is found on the beach in Le Havre, his pocket containing the narrator's phone number. This discovery prompts a police summons, setting in motion a plot that the reviewer initially suspected might be a clever literary device. Yet, the mystery unfolds in a predictable manner, undermining the initial intrigue.

While the prose itself is acknowledged for its complexity and stylistic flair, the conventionality of the plot becomes a significant drawback. The reviewer, who admits to not being a particular fan of mystery novels, finds that such plots often feel gratuitous, serving merely as a reason to read through the book. In this case, the predictable mystery fails to provide a compelling reason to engage with the narrative, despite the sophisticated writing.