NEVER FORGET

4 stars out of 5

Why the decision was made to translate to English the third book in this series instead of the first remains a puzzle to me, but I'm sure my enjoyment of it suffered as a result (as well as from a few glitches in the translation). While this book stands on its own fairly well, knowing more about the main characters' backgrounds and previous interactions would have made my reading more enjoyable. Nor was I comforted by the author's suggestion that readers are "not to worry" about the lack of background because we "will be able to learn more" when the first two books are translated later this year and next. Sorry, but it's rare that I go back and read prior books in any series.

So for the first half or so, I struggled. But I hung in there, and for the most part, my overall experience was positive as the pace - and my understanding of the rather complex plot - picked up. Detective Victor Lessard of the Montreal Police is an interesting and, for the most part, likable character; hints reveal that he's been shaped, for better or worse, by his background (hence the desire to learn more about what that was). Fighting demons of his past and dealing with two grown children and a new love - a woman named Nadja - keep him on the edge of self-destruction throughout.

His partner, Jacinthe Taillon, doesn't fare so well in my eyes. She and Victor have a contentious yet cautiously respectful relationship, which certainly adds spice. On the other hand, I couldn't help the feeling that considerable effort went into making her unappealing - and I must say that for the most part it succeeded. She's mouthy, irreverent, impatient and basically portrayed as a fat slob who never saw a French fry she wouldn't eat (at one point, for instance, she "came up behind him [Victor] with the grace of a dump truck." Maybe it stems from my feminist leanings, but the overweight digs seemed a bit excessive (pun intended).

The plot is complicated mostly by rather abrupt shifts and an abundance of characters - sometimes called by their first names, sometimes by their last and sometimes by something entirely different - but it's definitely intriguing. At the beginning, a woman's body turns up in a warehouse sporting some very strange markings; later, it's discovered that she was a retired psychiatrist. Then, a homeless guy jumps off a roof, leaving behind a couple of wallets. One belongs to a recently murdered man (also a psychiatrist), and the other to a ritzy corporate attorney who has gone missing.

While constantly dealing with Jacinthe's disagreeable nature, Victor has to work around a few health issues of his own. And unbeknownst to Victor, his son Martin finds trouble of his own, putting him in danger and causing friction between Victor and Nadya. As the police investigation into the suicide and murder victims and missing lawyer continue, evidence of an almost unbelievable conspiracy with ties to the United States begins to emerge, and even more bodies turn up - done in by a fiendishly wicked weapon.

In the end, things are wrapped up rather nicely, making this is a worthwhile read (albeit not an easy one to wade through). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to a new series by way of an advance review copy.

Never Forget by Martin Michaud (Dundum, January 2020); 544 pp.