Scene of the Crime: A Novel

Patrick Modiano's novel "Suspended Sentences" is a haunting exploration of time and memory, following the character Jean Bosmans as he becomes aware of disturbing coincidences and uncovers the tragic legacies of his past. The book is praised for its crisp translation and evocative writing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

In his acclaimed semi-autobiographical novella "Suspended Sentences," Patrick Modiano recounted a dramatic season in his childhood, of the home he shared with sinister surrogate parents, the mysterious events that took place there, and an infamous heist that was never solved. In "Scene of the Crime," Modiano conjures the aftermath of those years. A decade has passed, and Jean Bosmans, now in his early twenties, becomes aware of a set of disturbing coincidences involving an elusive woman, his childhood home, and a host of disquieting characters who seem inordinately interested in his past, for reasons he can't fathom. As he journeys into the echoes of memory, past and present become increasingly intertwined, forming a web spanning half a century. With the taut suspense of a detective novel, this book slowly peels away layers of time and forgetfulness to reveal the haunting, threatening, ultimately tragic legacies of what we think we know about our lives.

In his acclaimed semi-autobiographical novella "Suspended Sentences," Patrick Modiano recounted a dramatic season in his childhood, of the home he shared with sinister surrogate parents, the mysterious events that took place there, and an infamous heist that was never solved. In "Scene of the Crime," Modiano conjures the aftermath of those years. A decade has passed, and Jean Bosmans, now in his early twenties, becomes aware of a set of disturbing coincidences involving an elusive woman, his childhood home, and a host of disquieting characters who seem inordinately interested in his past, for reasons he can't fathom. As he journeys into the echoes of memory, past and present become increasingly intertwined, forming a web spanning half a century. With the taut suspense of a detective novel, this book slowly peels away layers of time and forgetfulness to reveal the haunting, threatening, ultimately tragic legacies of what we think we know about our lives.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 137 x 205 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300265934