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Bar Balto

A small-town murder mystery with unexpected twists

Faiza Guene author Sarah Ardizzone translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:30th Nov '17

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Bar Balto cover

In Bar Balto, the murder of the town's bar owner uncovers a tangled web of secrets and motives among a diverse cast of characters.

In Bar Balto, the small-town atmosphere is shattered when Joël, known as 'The Rink' due to his shiny bald patch, is found murdered. As the only bar owner in town, Joël's death sends shockwaves through the community, leaving everyone on edge and questioning their neighbors. With a myriad of suspects, the narrative unfolds in a way that keeps readers guessing about the true identity of the killer.

The list of potential suspects is extensive and varied. There's Magalie, a temperamental teenager with an obsession for celebrity culture, and her rebellious boyfriend, Tani. Tani's mother, Madame Levi, adds another layer of complexity, along with her husband, who is more interested in daytime television than his family. The couple's younger son, Yeznig, possesses a unique gift of perfect recall, which could either be a blessing or a curse in the investigation. The arrival of Ali and Nadia, Muslim twins who are trying to find their place in the town, further complicates the dynamics.

As the story unfolds, the tension escalates, leading to a climax that is both tragic and unexpected. Bar Balto explores themes of community, identity, and the hidden depths of human relationships, ultimately leaving readers to ponder not just who committed the crime, but the underlying motives that drive people to the brink.

The various monologues very cleverly paint the picture of a day in the life of this deprived society; [it] is very thoroughly and convincingly done... She writes with intelligence and sympathy, with humour and understanding -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *
Engaging... Along with the corpse himself, [the suspects] tell their stories in a series of monologues, and this is where Guène, with the help of an excellent translation by Ardizzone, really shines -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *
One of the most exciting novelists to emerge in recent years * Irish Times *
Brilliantly paced... and utterly distinctive -- Daniel Hahn * Independent *
Guène is praised as a multicultural heroine. And to her credit, she turns stereotypes on their heads; the people of Making-Ends-Meet are an authentic community, whose humanity endears them to us, however gritty or kitsch their veneer * Times Literary Supplement *

ISBN: 9781784707392

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 9mm

Weight: 117g

160 pages