The Reunion by Guillaume Musso

Author : Guillaume Musso
Title : The Reunion
Published : 2018
Publisher : W&N
Pages : 320
Genre : Mystery / Thriller

     FRENCH RIVIERA, WINTER 1992 On a freezing night, as her high school campus is engulfed by a snowstorm, 19-year-old Vinca Rockwell runs away with Alexis, her philosophy teacher. No one will ever see them again. FRENCH RIVIERA, SPRING 2017 Formerly inseparable, Thomas, Maxime, and Fanny - Vinca's best friends - have not spoken in twenty-five years. But when they receive an invitation to their school reunion, they know they must go back one final time. Because there is a body buried in that school... ..and they're the ones who put it there.

     Whilst Guillaume Masso is an internationally renowned author, very few of his books have actually been translated into English. Of which most are more focused on romance. A friend of mine has read a great deal of the crime novels also in translation but she kept telling me how great they were. So when I saw The Reunion was now being put out in English I jumped at the chance to see the other side of his writing.  

     The thought of going back to school is one that holds very little appeal for me. But I can see how it works as a great narrative. Especially when for our leads they have no choice but to go back. I have to feel for Thomas, here is a place that holds secrets and pain that he would rather forget. Despite doing well for himself his connection to the school has weighed heavily on him since living. I have to hand it to Musso he allows these traits to flow and breath without them becoming annoying. To easily it could make the character become unlikable and whiney. Maybe it is simply that french way of looking at life. That bad things happen but all must go on regardless. It is also through Thomas that we learn of the others at the school. How each small move played an integral part in a much big play that none were aware of. For each, it was a secret burning a hole deep down inside of them. And for me, it was interesting to witness the psychological effects that played on them between the disappearance and them finally coming back to face their demons. 

     As the book takes place in two different time periods we not only get to see how the characters have aged but also the school. It's always a weird experience going back to your school long after you left. Both familiar and so very different at the same time. I feel for the most part Masso managed to show that and also those awkward interactions of running into people you went to school with. What do you say to someone who only played a small part in your life? Once these moments pass the story starts to heat up as we see get to the heart of the novel. This is, after all, a book about keeping secrets. It is also a story of how when we don't communicate properly things can spiral out of control very fast. This is ever more so present when we take into account our floored heroes.  Some truly ugly events take place in the course of this book and I find it fascinating how minds can justify almost anything to themselves. And that is what gives this book its bones.  This was a book that passed quickly for me. With the author's usual style, it made for an enjoyable read, although it was interesting to see that style transposed from romantic to criminal. 

      For me, Musso has delved again and I can see why this book was such a big hit in its native France. With it's dueling timelines and interesting but floored charters we get to experience a reunion that no one would want to go to.