Jacquot and the Waterman [Hardcover]

There are scores of serial killer novels. It almost became a trademark of a mystery writer lacking inspiration. Lets make up a gory, twisted killer, spice it up with endless images of torture and suffering, and that should be enough... Well it is far from enough. It is almost impossible to shock the jaded mystery fan. It takes the real feat, good plot, creative and plausible puzzle and lively characters.
Martin O'Brien debut is sort of a serial killer novel, but combined with oodles of other crimes and minor puzzles, as a busy cop in Marseille would encounter. Refreshingly original, but a minor complaint. Far too many similar French names and surnames. It is hard to remeber them all, and tell who is who.

This debut crime novel from longtime magazine writer O'Brien introduces the reader to Chief Inspector Jacquot, a ruggedly handsome, ponytailed ex-rugby player turned policeman in his native Marseilles. The story revolves around serial killer dubbed "The Waterman" due to his signature M.O. of drugging, raping, and then drowning young women. However, this main plotline has to compete with another more complicated one involving shady public officials, crooked developers, sexual blackmail, drug-running, and all kinds of nasty business. Indeed, the first 150 pages or so of the book are a bit of slog, as the very short chapters bounce between various characters, perspectives, and plotlines in rapid succession, introducing the large cast and setting everything up. The pacing leaves quite a bit to be desired as we are never with each character long enough to develop a strong sense of them, and it takes a while to sort out all the relationships and agendas.

Fortunately, we do at least get a sense of Jacquot, who is smarting from having just been dumped by his live-in girlfriend, and whose regular partner is laid up in the hospital with a broken leg. O'Brien is perhaps writing to the traditional mystery reader audience, as Jacquot is somewhat of a fantasy figure for the ladies in terms of physique, intelligence, instinct, and even soulfulness. Still, he is interesting enough to capture one's attention and drive the story forward. Naturally, his investigation of the serial killer ends up overlapping with elements of the other storyline, and while the reader must accept a certain number of coincidences, O'Brien manages to keep one guessing as to whether there's a direct connection or not. The unveiling of the serial killer, while possibly more realistic than one may be used to in a crime story, is nonetheless anticlimactic, and most readers will probably find the villain's capture and identity to be wholly unsatisfying after 390 pages of buildup.

Although the book is reasonably entertaining, it has to be said that in addition to the slow start and weak finish, there are plenty of other imperfections. Rather surprisingly, considering O'Brien's extensive background as a travel writer, he never manages to generate a real sense of place for Marseilles. Scenes certainly take place in all the right locations (docks, alleys, dim bars, restaurants, fancy villas, boats, etc.), but the city never really comes alive as a vibrant setting, as it does in, for example, Jean-Claude Izzo's book "Total Chaos." Another problem is a certain amount of fat in the prose. For example, each victim of the serial killer is introduced via a chapter in which an innocent bystander's day is described up until they find the body (in particularly lame case, we are given the thoughts of a seagull). None of these are necessary or add much to the proceedings. Still, on the whole, Jacquot is an appealing enough character that it's a promising start to a series which I will look forward to continuing.

More than just a police procedural, this is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. The characters are well developed, the mystery is not contrived, and although the author is British, he knows Marselles like a native. I couldn't wait to read the sequel, ordered it from England.

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