Out of Order Book Club: Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand (2004)

In this week's episode, we'll be taking a look at the award winning 'Wash this Blood Clean from my Hand' by Fred Vargas translated by Sian Reynolds. It was originally published in France in 2004, and translated in 2007. In this episode, Mal will take a look at how deceptive first impressions can be, will wonder whether you need to spend time with a detective right from the start so you can recognise if he is having an epiphany or just "a bit of a moment", and how going a little deeper in your usual your research can cause a bit of a revelation.

Content: Contains swearing

You can contact Mal on Blue Sky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social

Helpful links and useful sources:

London Review of Books - Lorna Scott Fox- This is a fascinating analysis of Vargas' writing as sometihng that is more playful and fantastical within crime writing. (Apologies, I think I go through this podcast saying 'Lorna Scott' for some reason!)

Hungry Unlike the Wolf: Ecology, Posthumanism, Narratology in Fred Vargas’ Seeking Whom He May Devour - John Parham - Did I fully understand this research? Not 100%, but it is a great insight to Vargas' social purpose and the use of nature in her writing.

It’s not all about the crime but it’s also about the food: translating references to French regional food in Fred Vargas' Adamsberg novels - Marjorie Huet - A really interesting read into the choices that translators make when working, the choices made on behalf of those reading who are not part of this culture. This is best read with the two part interview below with Sian Reynolds.

Detectives Beyond Borders Interview with Vargas translator Sian Reynolds

Detectives Beyond Borders Interview with Vargas translator Sian Reynolds Pt. II

Literary Review Review

Book Group of One