The Birthday Party

By Laurent Mauvignier, Daniel Levin Becker (translator),

Book cover of The Birthday Party

Book description

Buried deep in rural France, little remains of the isolated hamlet of the Three Lone Girls, save a few houses and a curiously assembled quartet: Patrice Bergogne, inheritor of his family's farm; his wife, Marion; their daughter, Ida; and their neighbour, Christine, an artist. While Patrice plans a surprise for…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Birthday Party as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Les Wood

Author

I loved the slow, almost glacial pace of this hostage thriller set in an isolated farmhouse in rural France. Over the course of the single day of a surprise birthday party, it gradually generates an almost unbearable, edge-of-your-seat intensity as it builds towards a final, nightmarish climax.

I really enjoyed the literary narrative style, which cleverly guides the reader through the inner thoughts of each protagonist, seamlessly shifting points of view within single paragraphs without us even noticing. We are never too sure why the events in the book are taking place (who are these intruders, why have they singled…

From Les' 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Martin S. Fridson

Author

I love the author’s style, which goes deeply into character and motivations in an unhurried way.

The suspense in this noir builds powerfully as it takes the time to detail the remote setting of the events and interactions. Here is one thriller that definitely cannot be called a guilty pleasure, given the intense involvement to which it compels you.

From Martin's 3 favorite reads in 2023.