Retribution Road
by Antonin Varenne translated by Sam Taylor
This book begins in 1852 Burma where Sergeant Arthur Bowman, a member of the East India Company, is sent on a mission during the 2nd Anglo-Burmese War. The expedition fails and he and his men are captured and subjected to horrible torture, only ten escape with their lives.
Years later we join Sergeant Bowman in London, battling his demons through alcohol and opium. When he finds a mutilated corpse in a sewer, the victim appear to have suffered the same torturous torments he was subjected to in the Burmese jungle. Convinced that the culprit is one of the men who shared his fate in Burma, Bowman resolves to hunt the killer down.
Plunged into darkness Arthur Bowman (now a transport police officer) will search for vengeance and redemption for the events that happened in 1852.
"After I had found the main places and acts of the story and had ordered and read books about them, I started writing and researching online simultaneously. I must say I discovered some bloggers who had gathered precious information for a writer looking for the price of bread and beer or salaries of workers in London in 1858! I sent them emails with all my gratitude"
"To transform and change a man like Arthur Bowman, well you have to hammer him very hard! Bowman tries to destroy himself. But he survives anyway. That's his curse. This life doesn't let go of him, he will try to give it a new purpose: finding the killer, one that comes from the same place as him."
My Thoughts
This book began at a very slow pace and for Part I of this story I was wondering if this would be for me however, the nature of the writing is so dark and compelling and the historical descriptions so intense I felt drawn back to Arthur Bowman and his time in Burma.
Plot Development
"After I had found the main places and acts of the story and had ordered and read books about them, I started writing and researching online simultaneously. I must say I discovered some bloggers who had gathered precious information for a writer looking for the price of bread and beer or salaries of workers in London in 1858! I sent them emails with all my gratitude"
How the author created the hero of Retribution Road
"Bowman's character had not only to survive what life (meaning me the author...)had prepared for him, but also the vanishing of the world he knew and was born in.""To transform and change a man like Arthur Bowman, well you have to hammer him very hard! Bowman tries to destroy himself. But he survives anyway. That's his curse. This life doesn't let go of him, he will try to give it a new purpose: finding the killer, one that comes from the same place as him."
My Thoughts
This book began at a very slow pace and for Part I of this story I was wondering if this would be for me however, the nature of the writing is so dark and compelling and the historical descriptions so intense I felt drawn back to Arthur Bowman and his time in Burma.
This was not a fast read for me however, the historical insight provided by the authors writing and development style had me strangely drawn to its conclusion.
I did feel this was a book aimed at a Wilbur Smith type of audience however, so if this is a style of writing you enjoy with an element of Saga, this would be for you.
I gave this book 3/5 stars primarily for the character development of Arthur and the time and detail spent by the author in creating the world in which he resided.
About the Author
Antonin Varenne was awarded the Prix Michel Lebrun and the Grand Prix du Jury Sang d'encre for Bed of Nails, his first novel to be translated into English. His second, Loser's Corner was awarded the Prix des Lecteurs Quais du polar and the Prix du Meiller Polar Francophone. Both titles are available in English by MacLehose Press.
Sam Taylor is an author and translator. His translations include works by Lauren Binet, Hubert Mingarelli, Joel Dicker and Maylic de Kerangal.
www.maclehosepress.com
@quercusbooks
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