Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite his father mingles with. But the two have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price - and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever.
A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex's father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: to discover who really killed his father. Yet as he searches for answers and atones for the sins of his past, Alex uncovers a disturbing truth with far-reaching consequences.
Playing out against a backdrop of corruption, fake news and civil unrest, The Messenger exposes the gritty reality of a changing city through one son's journey to redemption and the truth.
I grew up in mining towns in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and Singapore. I worked for many years as a lawyer in the film industry and my credits include The Constant Gardener, Atonement, Eastern Promises, In Bruges, Pride & Prejudice, and the Bourne films. In the film industry I encountered the world of corruption and white-collar crime and have worked in the field ever since. I am currently an associate at Spotlight on Corruption.
I have an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. The Messenger won the Bridport/Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award for a First Novel in 2018, judged by Kamila Shamsie. The Messenger won the 2021 Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize.
I am currently an associate at Spotlight on Corruption an anticorruption NGO. I’m very interested in whistleblowing, having been a whistleblower myself when I worked in the financial sector. I also participate in a coalition lobbying the government to bring in laws to stop the intimidation of journalists and others uncovering financial crime and corruption around the world by oligarchs and other powerful individuals who abuse British courts to silence their critics.
My Thoughts
Alex Giraud now lives in Paris with his father, Eddy, after being in the US for a number of years. Alex is rich and in the elite group. Goes to a private school. He is not happy in this situation and often disagrees with his father. Eddy continually berates Alex for various things.
To avoid his father, he takes to the French streets and meets Sami who seemingly shows him the way of the streets. A plan is formed, just a robbery, that leaves Eddy dead. Sami is charged with the murder and sentenced to 25 years and Alex gets 7.
Time passes and Alex is released from prison a very cynical person now, he still professes his innocence. But how does he prove it? He feels guilt about Sami because he knows that he did not kill his father. Now his purpose is to find out who actually did the crime.
As he searches for the truth, he comes across a plot that can and did change the streets of Paris. Can he survive and will he be able to find the truth?
This story is very intense, in that there are so many twists and turns, and I was surprised by the ending. Plus Alex learned about some aspects of his parents, especially his father that opened up his eyes to who he really was.
I think if you enjoy a novel that is in the noir genre, I think that you would love to read this book! I enjoyed it! I give it 5 stars!
I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher for review purposes only and was not monetarily compensated for said review.
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