Black Water Lilies by Michel Bussi

Author  : Michel Bussi
Title : Black Water Lilies
Published : 2011
Publisher : W&N
Pages : 368
Genre : Mystery / Thriller

     Giverny, where the lilies lie waiting and the weeping willows shiver in the breeze. During the day, tourists flock to the former home of the famous artist Claude Monet and the gardens where he painted his Water Lilies. But when silence returns, there is a darker side to the peaceful French village. This is the story of thirteen days that begin with one murder and end with another. Jerome Morval, a man whose passion for art was matched only by his passion for women, has been found dead in the stream that runs through the gardens. In his pocket is a postcard of Monet's Water Lilies with the words: Eleven years old. Happy Birthday. Entangled in the mystery are three women: a young painting prodigy, the seductive village schoolteacher and an old widow who watches over the village from a mill by the stream. All three of them share a secret. But what do they know about the discovery of Jerome Morval's corpse? And what is the connection to the mysterious, rumored painting of Black Water Lilies?

     This was my second time coming to this author, the first being After The Crash. It was a beautifully crafted contemporary French thriller. So I figured it was time to reacquaint myself with this author. Once again the author has managed to craft a beautiful world to let his characters play out the stories of heartache betrayal and murder. For me, he managed to capture the essence of what should have been a quiet and sleepy little French village. But if not for one very famous french painter. Too often I find that with the introduction of such a plot devise it feels shoehorned in. In some vain attempt to give there story more gravitas.  But here much like the flowing stream that feeds the Lillie ponds, it feels natural. Like something that has always been there. Anyone who grew up in a small town will recognize the types of characters that pass in and out of this story. I would say that they are the people we pass every day on our way to work or eating at the local cafe. We say hello to them because we recognize them but it usually goes no further. But here the author gives them that interesting story we always wished they had. 

     Despite everything, this is a very female lead crime thriller. They are the heart and the driving force that wraps this story up. Be it through there direct actions or for the very unfortunate for simply being who they are. It is the insanity that drives men to do the most stupid of things for no rhythm or reason. Even if they say it it is done for love I feel that there is something else writhing around deep inside them. It is also about a pure love of art, the ability to create something that only needs to be looked open to create a sense of joy in the viewer. Bussi takes all of these elements and creates his own masterpiece. There is something very gentle and dreamlike about the story he has created, that if not for the murders could easily have become a tale of love and remembrance. But this is not what this author is all about. Once again creating a grand tragedy set against a small backdrop. It becomes soothing about greed and control. How it is never enough for some people and that they will go to any lengths to get what they want. 

     This book whilst not surpassing my previous encounter did live up to it. He created a book that I was truly happy to have spent a few hours with. The great mix of fiction and historical fact created a book that I would be more than happy to suggest to anyone. I feel that this book keeps up with the fine tradition of french thriller and I'm sure I will be just as happy the next time I dip into this authors world.