The Stain on the Snow

Notes

The Stain on the Snow by Georges Simenon is a story of horrific cruelty and pointless, senseless, inexplicable violence.  It has its fans…

“I read this only a year or so ago and was blown away by it. If you only know Simenon for his Maigret novels, this may come as a revelation. It is the chilling account of a venal young man in second world war France who is eventually imprisoned by the Nazis. We start off despising him and end up rooting for him.” ~ Ian Rankin

One of Simenon’s romans durs, not to be confused with his Inspector Maigret series.

Publisher’s Synopsis

At nineteen, Frank Friedmaier is a thief, pimp and murderer. He has never known his father, his mother keeps a brothel. His mind is cold and inhospitable. But Simeonon reveals the obsession with self torture that lurks within it, and explores the intricate psychology of a young criminal, even lending the repellant Frank a chilling grandeur as he faces remorseless interrogation and his fate. A bleak and brilliant masterpiece from Simenon at his superlative best.

“I doubt whether it is possible for the crime novel to rise to greater heights than it does in Simenon’s hands here.”  ~ H.R.F. Keating

Raed a full review of The Stain on the Snow by Georges Simenon at What are You Reading For…?