In London nowadays, curious crimes frighten citizens. An old English cop, an American criminologist and a depressed lawyer will be involved in this strange investigation. Will they come out unscathed?
Horrific murders shake Scotland Yard. Several individuals were found disemboweled, their bodies staged according to the funeral rites of their religion. Crime scenes are brimming with blood and mystical objects. The assassins are found covered in blood, disoriented. They don't remember anything and can't stop crying. They all killed their dearest being in the world. Chief Detective Inspector McKenna is in charge of the investigation. The gruff old cop will have to team up with a young American criminologist: Dahlia Rhymes. This strange duo will engage in a race against time with death. The victims will follow one another and reality will fall into a supernatural and disturbing universe.
A pleasant read
René Manzor, the author of The One whose name is no more, is a regular in the detective genre. He has written several episodes of French police series such as Sister Thérèse.com, Alice Nevers, the judge is a woman or RIS Police scientifique. For his second novel, René Manzor signs a sympathetic story without being unforgettable. The suspense is present enough to push the reader to finish the novel. The story is not exceptional enough to be totally unpredictable and bluffing. The ending, however, reserves a little surprise that allows to end this book on a slightly positive note. The weakness of this thriller remains its characters. The grumpy cop who is completely devoted to his family is as stereotypical as the young woman who plays tough guys to hide her childhood traumas. On the other hand, lawyer Nils Blake is a very sympathetic character. His quest for identity raises some interesting metaphysical questions.
Without being extraordinary, The One whose Name is no longer is a detective novel that will make you pass the time pleasantly. René Manzor won the 2014 Polar Prize at the Cognac Festival for this novel. It is available in pocket version at 7€50.
