The Readers’ Room

Book Review

Reading time: 2 minutes

by Philippa Hadlow 

The Readers’ Room
by Antoine Laurain

Gallic Books, 2020 
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon 

The plot is already thickening as this page-turner opens with our injured protagonist Violaine Lepage trying to chat with the ghosts and imagined images of several famous novelists. Heroes Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf and Patrick Modiano all make an appearance as Violaine recovers from the accident that sees her facing her worst fears.

Those writers remain in Violaine’s imagination, perhaps inspiring her as she attempts to track down the talented author of a debut crime novel. Called Sugar Flowers, the manuscript arrives at her Parisian publishing house for reviewing in the readers’ room. The writer is unknown, yet Sugar Flowers immediately receives the readers’ highest accolade – a sun symbol: publish as soon as possible. Violaine’s people are convinced Sugar Flowers is something special, but who, and where is the mysterious author? 

When the book is shortlisted for the Prix Goncourt, its elusive author still can’t be traced, even as a flurry of email exchanges fly between him (or her) and Violaine. Simultaneously, police begin investigating a series of murders mimicking the book’s plot in parallel real-time scenarios. 

Violaine is confused and is suffering memory blanks following her accident. She begins to question what role she might play in the story and discovers an intricate web of intrigue.

This is an ultimately poignant novel for those readers fascinated by the glamour of publishing and the exotic lifestyle of someone like Violaine Lepage. It’s a charming novel of mystery, love, and the power of books.

‘Like fine wine, Laurain’s novels get better with each one he writes’ — Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper. 

About the Author

Antoine Laurain is the award-winning author of six previous novels including The Red Notebook (Indie Next, MIBA bestseller) and The President’s Hat (Waterstones Book Club, Indies Introduce). His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than 180,000 copies in English. He lives in Paris.

This review was first published in BiograView, May 2021

Get more than 20 stories in the original issue in PDF PRINT.

PDF Issue 1, May 2021
NZ$5.99