Bed of Nails

It's as if he's being mocked from beyond the grave...

When John Nichols arrives to identify the body of an old friend, he is instantly caught up in the wreckage of Alan Mustgrave's life. This is the side of Paris the tourists don't see, where everyone has a past but very few count on a future. But what can he expect from a man who bled to death in his own S&M show?

Now there's a maverick police lieutenant on the prowl who thinks that Mustgrave was murdered. As the horrific extent of police abuse is revealed, the race is on to find the link between a slew of apparent suicides - and the key to it is buried deep in Nichols' past.

Winner of Prix du Meilleur Polar des Lecteurs de Points 2010
Winner of Prix Michel-Lebrun de la Ville du Mans 2009

“'Imaginative and disturbing' The Times.”

'An intriguing read, with a bold and surprisingly moving ending' Guardian. Guardian
The Times
'Both the plot and the characters are strikingly original, and the story's pessimism is balanced by Varenne's inexhaustible human sympathy' Sunday Times. Sunday Times
'Simply superb' Joan Smith. Joan Smith

Antonin Varenne was awarded the Prix Michel Lebrun and the Grand Prix du Jury Sang d'encre for Bed of Nails, his first novel to be translated into English. His second, Loser's Corner was awarded the Prix des Lecteurs Quais du polar - 20 minutes and the Prix du Meilleur Polar Francophone.

It's as if he's being mocked from beyond the grave... When John Nichols arrives to identify the body of an old friend, he is instantly caught up in the wreckage of Alan Mustgrave's life. This is the side of Paris the tourists don't see, where everyone has a past but very few count on a future. But what can he expect from a man who bled to death in his own S&M show? Now there's a maverick police lieutenant on the prowl who thinks that Mustgrave was murdered. As the horrific extent of police abuse is revealed, the race is on to find the link between a slew of apparent suicides - and the key to it is buried deep in Nichols' past.

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