Family secrets, petty grudges: a perfectly constructed noir novel of social import. A new voice to discover!

Seventeen-year-old Marie, daughter of the village pharmacist, is found dead a few hundred yards from her home. Her thirst for freedom had brought her into conflict with her parents and sparked rumors in the village that she was promiscuous. Born in the same Breton hamlet, Marguerite, known as the simple-minded daughter to peasants toiling away in their farmhouse, may know something, but she remains silent. The gendarmerie's investigation will have to contend with family rivalries, long-standing resentments, and the silence of the inhabitants.
A harsh portrait of a rural community where tradition and prejudice weigh heavy as a yoke on its people.