The Chalk Circle Man

The Chalk Circle Man is the first book featuring Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, one of the most engaging characters in contemporary detective fiction.Winner of The Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie International DaggerJean-Baptiste Adamsberg is not like other policemen. His methods appear unorthodox in the extreme- he doesn't search for clues; he ignores obvious suspects and arrests people with cast-iron alibis; he appears permanently distracted. In spite of all this his colleagues are forced to admit that he is a born cop.When strange blue chalk circles start appearing overnight on the pavements of Paris, only Adamsberg takes them - and the increasingly bizarre objects found within them - seriously. And when the body of a woman with her throat savagely cut is found in one, only Adamsberg realises that other murders will soon follow...'The hottest property in contemporary crime fiction' Guardian

Winner of CWA International Dagger 2009

“Rich and witty”

Independent
She wants to surprise, unsettle, frustrate and amuse - and succeeds in writing a gripping novel that takes readers out of their comfort zones The Scotsman
The hottest property in contemporary crime fiction Guardian
The novel shows Vargas in riveting form right from the start of her writing career The Times
Witty, inventive and vaguely surreal, this novel should win over the most diehard crime fiction fans -- Melissa McClemets Financial Times

Fred Vargas was born in Paris in 1957. A historian and archaeologist by profession, she is now a bestselling novelist. Her books have sold over 10 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 45 languages.

'The hottest property in contemporary crime fiction' Guardian 'Vargas is a sharply honed writer and this is a strange and thrilling book' Metro 'Cunningly constructed... Vargas is everything Grisham is not: witty, intriguing, disconcerting and being French, seductively romantic' Sunday Telegraph Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg is not like other policemen. He doesn't search for clues; he ignores obvious suspects and arrests people with cast-iron alibis; he appears permanently distracted. In spite of this his colleagues are forced to admit that he is a born cop. When strange blue chalk circles start appearing on the pavements of Paris, only Adamsberg takes them, and the increasingly bizarre objects found within them seriously. And when the body of a woman with her throat savagely cut is found in one, only Adamesberg realises that other murders will soon follow... 'Rich and witty' Independent ' The novel shows Vargas in riveting form right from the start of her writing career' The Times

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