Ever since I read Fiona's review at Euro Crime, I've been very keen to read The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr, published by Bitter Lemon press and translated from the German by John Brownjohn. So keen, in fact, that I bought the book on the basis of the review. I didn't begin it until this morning, and so far (85 pages in) it is living up to my expectations, and more.
The story is about desperate housewife Cora Bender, who is so depressed that she decides to kill herself, even though she has a nice(ish) husband, sweet young son, interesting job and pleasant home. Cora has some (as yet) unknown trauma in her recent past that is causing feelings of intense panic, desperation and despair. She has also had an awful childhood at the hands of a religious maniac mother, dying younger sister and caring but weak father. One day, Cora can't take it any more and decides to commit suicide by going to the lido with her husband and son and drowning herself while swimming - she plans it this way so that her death will not be considered suicide and, by not killing herself in the car or the house, causing minimal inconvenience to her husband. Once at the lido, however, events turn out very differently.
This book is brilliant so far, I can't wait to continue with it.
Petra Hammesfahr has written more than 20 crime fiction and suspense novels, and writes for TV and film. She has won numerous prizes for her work. The Sinner seems to be the only book of hers that is available in the UK in English (according to Amazon).
Review of The Sinner at International Noir Fiction, the blog of Glenn Harper.
Review of The Sinner at Mostly Fiction, by Tony Ross (includes brief author biography).
The Lie will be published in October. Different translator - it'll be Mike Mitchell who did the Glauser books (v well). John Brownjohn also did Ice Moon I believe.
Posted by: Euro Crime (Karen M) | 29 March 2009 at 16:02
This one sounds really good. It will be interesting to hear if the rest of the book lives up to the promising beginning.
Posted by: Dorte H | 29 March 2009 at 17:55
Ooh, thanks Karen, looking forward to that one, then (if as Dorte says, The Sinner continues to be strong). And thanks for the comment, Dorte - I think I shall probably be reviewing this one.
Posted by: Maxine | 29 March 2009 at 19:05