Death in the Truffle Wood

by: Pierre Magnan

Published by: Thomas Dunne Books

Reviewed by Diane Keyes

Death in the Truffle Wood, by French writer Pierre Magnan, is loaded with delightfully eccentric characters and an even more delightfully eccentric plot. This book puts me in mind of Twin Peaks, an equally eccentric TV evening mystery/drama popular sometime in the late 1980’s or early 90’s.

However, I wasn’t a fan of Twin Peaks and I’m really not much of a fan of Death in the Truffle Wood either. It’s not that there aren’t some charming moments—for example the truffle seeker Alyre Morelon’s fondness for his truffle-finding pig Roseline is both sweet and poignant. And when a doting husband discovers his material-girl wife really does love him—the scene is truly touching. But there simply isn’t enough to love.

I spent the entire time reading the book wondering what was wrong. I enjoy both Mystery Theatre and Masterpiece Theatre on PBS, so I’m used to working a little for my entertainment. And I readily accept the fact that I won’t understand all the cross-cultural references. Still in all, the book simply didn’t work for me.

I reread the first forty pages twice and still wasn’t engaged. And the rest of the book wasn’t any better. I took a second and even third look at passage after passage trying to make things fit but I never seemed to quite grasp what was being written. The pronouns seemed obscure and the references vague. An enigma wrapped in a mystery!

I am happy to say though that my own astute powers of observation have prevailed. Death in the Truffle Wood, although written by Pierre Magnan has been translated from the original French by Patricia Clancy—which incidentally is not mentioned on the cover. Even though I can’t be positive that translation is the problem I do believe it’s highly likely. I suggest you should either read it in French or Monsieur Magnan should find a new translator.

Armchair Interviews agrees.