Syndrome E

By: Franck Thilliez, Mark Polizzotti - translator

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

The classic police procedural meets cutting-edge science in this huge international best seller. Already a runaway best seller in France, Syndrome E tells the story of beleaguered Detective Lucie Henebelle, whose old friend has developed a case of spontaneous blindness after watching an extremely rare - and violent - film from the 1950s. Embedded in the film are subliminal images so unspeakably heinous that Lucie realizes she must get to the bottom of it - especially when nearly everyone who comes into contact with the film starts turning up dead.

Enlisting the help of Inspector Franck Sharko - a brooding, broken analyst for the Paris police who is exploring the film’s connection to five murdered men left in the woods - Lucie begins to strip away the layers of what is perhaps the most disturbing and powerful film ever made. Soon Sharko and Lucie find themselves mired in a darkness that spreads across politics, religion, science, and art while stretching from France to Canada, Egypt to Rwanda, and beyond. And just who is responsible for this darkness will blow listeners’ minds, as Syndrome E forces them to consider: What if the earliest and most brilliant advances and discoveries of neuroscience were not used for good but for evil?

With this taut US debut, Thilliez explores the origins of violence through cutting-edge and popular science in a breakneck thriller rich with shocking plot twists and profound questions about the nature of humanity.

Franck Thilliez is the author of several best-selling novels in his native France. Syndrome E is his first novel to be translated into English in the United States.

©2010 Editions Fleuve Noir, Department d’Univers Poche. Translation 2012 by Mark Polizzotti. (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Blending science and neurology into the intrigue of his excellent thriller, Thilliez takes us into the maze of the human brain, with all the evils it can unleash.” (Elle, Paris)

“A tour de force.... A captivating plot that keeps the reader in his seat until the final moments.” (Le Monde)

“Franck Thilliez leads his story like a beating drum, multiplying the reverberations without ever losing track of the psychological development of his characters.... A reflection on the origins of violence that is as playful as it is erudite. Essential reading!" (Metro, Paris)

Always interesting, but uneven. Worth a listen.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If they are into mysteries, yes. Not sure if the plot made sense at times and it was hard to see how everything connected in the end, but it is a unique plot.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It had a lot of twists and turns and I wanted to see how the different plot strands tied together at the conclusion. Alas, for me, it wasn't done to my complete satisfaction.

What does Gildart Jackson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Can't really think what he did do, but I know what he didn't do: he didn't take me out of the story. In other words, I never really thought about the narrator as I was listening, which is a good thing. Too many times, with other narrators, I find myself annoyed at a voice they adopt for a character or a too dramatic tone they take when describing something.

Creepy French thriller

Which character – as performed by Gildart Jackson – was your favorite?

Sharko

Any additional comments?

This is a French thriller, in the vein of Stieg Larsson or Dan Brown. The story has the twists and turns Dan Brown is known for but is quite dark, similar to Larsson's Millennium books. Gildart Jackson's narration was excellent. With plenty of range and emotion, Jackson captures the characters superbly. I found the cliff hanger ending a little frustrating, but only because the other books in the series are not yet available in English.

Loved it.

This was a chilling and interesting read that kept you guessing until the end. As a fan of mysteries, this work stood out. Perhaps because it was a French book translated into English?

Hooks you at times

It's slow and then it hooks you in and then it's slow again. Apparently there are adventures about the two lead characters in prior novels me thinks. I thought it might have been convoluted at times. Meh for the conspiracy theory.

Strong beginning, peters out before it concludes.

I got this book on sale and had no idea that it was part of a series, but after some investigation, it turns out that it is: this makes more sense... Sharko did not feel like a 'new' character here, and I kinda wish I had read the back stories before this one.

That being said, I really enjoyed the tone (dark), the vigilante-feel, and the flawed characters in this book. The first part of the book is better than the latter (and final) parts of the book. The pacing changed from an un-folding story to a 'lecture-style' exposé. And the vigilante component just goes away. In fact, the resolution of the story is based on the description of events by several 3rd parties (some of whom are added in at the last minute) rather than by the detectives discovering clues that lead to the resolution. And I think there are a few too many characters... some just popping in long enough to set the stage for the next scene, and then they disappear (or are killed) .

Originally, I hadn't realized that it was a translated book, but even that makes more sense now - some of the wording is, ahh... heavier ... than it would be in a North American written novel. And the settings and travel methods are definitely European.

I am actually going to go read the previous books in the series now... I really like Sharko as a main character - he is so different from the usual detective.

The narration is very good and there is no graphic violence or sex in the novel.

great story

loved it, couldn't stop listening . great narrator as well. I have already downloaded the next book

Plot and romance

I loved listening to the story. The plot exploded and the imploded. The narrator was calm and forceful. I'm intrigued by the ending... We're the twins real or missing?

Entertaining Enough, Ends On A Whimper

Entertaining enough mystery story, but ends on a whimper. Too much hyperbolic prose for my taste. Sounds like this author thinks really highly of his own treatment for a short film. Narrator is good, but his American accent is laughable and sometimes his Frenchmen sound like Emperor Palpatine. [AUDIBLE]

Kept My Attention But.......

Wish the science had been better explained. Glad the romance was kept at a minimum. Hated the cliff hanger at the end!

Great, fast paced and well researched!!

Franck is the European Stephen King! This book is so well written and researched. As a medical professional it is nice to read something well done and factual. I cannot say enough about this book. It is a must read if you like a thrilling story that is new and well done!