A light summer read, 30 Jun 2009

After a bit of a slow start, this book became a quick, enjoyable read, let down at the end by a slightly silly finalé.

Set during the long hot summer preceeding the First World War, the narrator is a young doctor on his first posting. He finds himself in a French village with little to do, in a practice devoted to pampering wealthy middle-aged women. When the mysterious Katya appears requiring medical aid for her brother, he is besotted.
The book's strengths lie in the atmospheric rendering of that Summer of 1914 and wonderful descriptions of a traditional Basque fete.
The characterisations are a little weak but the book is short and to the point, a good beach read, let down by a slightly unbelievable ending. ( )

Jean-Marque Montjean is a new qualified Doctor, working in Salies, France, in 1914, under the management of the bumptious Doctor Gros. Jean-Marque’s first patient of his own is the sardonic and mercurial Paul Treville. When Jean-Marque meets Paul’s sister Katya, the attraction is instant and undeniable. Montjean is enchanted by Katya’s enthusiasm for life, in contrast to her twin brother’s cynical outlook and disdain for others. Paul constantly warns Jean-Marque to stay away from Katya and it becomes clear that the Trevilles are hiding and running from a dark secret in their past. When Jean-Marque is informed that the Trevilles are planning to leave Salies, he insists on one last meeting with Katya, to see if he can persuade her to stay with him…



I enjoyed this book almost all of the way through. It was a very easy read, with an easy to follow storyline, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. However, the ending was something of a let down, because it felt confusing and over-written. For the first time since starting the book, I found myself having to look back at parts I had read in order to make sure I understood what was happening.

Katya and Paul are both very well drawn characters, and Paul in particular was a character I enjoyed reading about, although he is not portrayed in a particularly sympathetic light. The minor character of Doctor Gros was also great fun. However, Jean-Marque himself is not so easy to care for one way or the other. Although he is the narrator of the story, I found that he was actually the least well rounded out of all of the ‘cast’. I suspect that had he been easier to empathise with, the ending would have been more exciting and enjoyable.

All in all though, this is a mostly enjoyable book, and perfect if you fancy a bit of mystery, but nothing too heavy. ( )

Set the year before the Great War, a young doctor arrives at a clinic in a Basque spa town. He meets the Treville family from Paris and falls in love with Katya. But the family has secrets ...
Originally published in 1983, this is a beautifully written pyschological drama from an author better known for his high-quality thrillers. The drama unfolds at leisure, but you always feel something is going to happen! ( )

This is an odd, compelling book. It's beautifully written, and evocotive of place (moreso than the pre-WWI time period in which it's set), and takes some time coming to its conclusion. I was expecting an international thriller, as the only other Trevanian I've ever read was Shibumi (which was terrific); this book is nothing like that. I'm not sure I found the ending satisfying. ( )

One of the most haunting stories I've ever read...I think it's Trevanina's Best. ( )