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Description

Bar Balto is a whodunit set in a dead end town near Paris. Joel, AKA 'The Rink' because of his bald pate, the very unpopular owner of the only bar in town, has been murdered. When he is found dead in his flat, naked, covered with multiple stab wounds and surrounded by rivers of blood, it's not so much a question of who killed him but who didn't kill him, and it seems that most of his customers have strong motives.

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4 reviews
An enjoyably odd insight into the lives of various people living in a Parisian suburb. Poverty, depression, racism and all the fun stuff.
An average at best detective novel but an excellent bit of cultural/class tourism!
Dans ce roman policier, Guène s'exerce à donner à ses personnages chacun une voix. Chaque chapitre est raconté à la première personne du singulier et le lecteur retrouve ainsi les idiomes générationnels, expressions personnelles et accents culturels de chacun. Elle se débrouille en général très bien, la langue est très colorée et parfois franchement drôle, à l'exception d'un jeune homme autiste qui n'est absolument pas crédible. L'histoire elle-même est originale mais légère. Un livre qui a du potentiel mais qui a besoin d'être encore travaillé.

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4,052 works; 110 members

Author Information

Picture of author.
6+ Works 844 Members

Some Editions

Ardizzone, Sarah (Translator)

Awards and Honors

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Bar Balto
Original title
Les Gens du Balto
Original publication date
08/2008
People/Characters*
Joël Morvier 'Jojo'; Tanièl 'Tani'; Quetur (Tanièl); Magalie Fournier; Ali Chacal; Nadia Chacal (show all 16); Yéva; Yenzig; Jacques 'Jacquot'; Vincent Bergues; Joseph Frédéric; Virginie Fournier; Karine Z.; Denis Forgeron; Arnaud; Marcel
Important places*
Joigny-les-Deux-Bouts, Île-de-France, France
First words*
Je m'appelle Joël Morvier et j'ai décidé de raconter mon histoire moi-même.
Last words*
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Prêt pour le lever du rideau.
Original language
French
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Mystery
DDC/MDS
843.92Literature & rhetoricFrench LiteratureFrench fiction1900-2000-
LCC
PQ3989.3 .G84 .G46Language and LiteratureFrench, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese literaturesFrench literatureProvincial, local, colonial, etc.
BISAC

Statistics

Members
44
Popularity
672,098
Reviews
3
Rating
½ (3.34)
Languages
5 — Danish, English, French, Spanish, Swedish
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
12
ASINs
1