“La maison Dieu”, flammable novel by Camille Laurens

In the tarot deck, the “House of God” card features a tall square tower on fire from which the occupants fall. In the novel of the same name, Céline Laurens causes an Ariège mansion to go up in smoke, the owners of which die in the flames. So the fall will be harder, but for whom?

Like in a Cluedo, each character will tell their life story, before or even after the drama : the son, the daughter, the maid, the mother, the father, his mistress, Justin, the neighbor and spurned lover, the arsonist himself, the priest, the policeman… Then will the truth come to light? on a land conducive to “ on dit » ?

Noise travels quickly through our streets. It rushes down, from the shutters to the stalls, from the steps to the beds. It is perhaps because we are still in the flat area of ​​Ariège that the rumor spreads so widely among us.

Misfortune never happens alone it seems. The first real thing for Esther will be to get pregnant. She does not want to gain weight, suffer or even avoid the sun which is now not recommended for her. “ Stay in », « guard against life “, it’s not for her who “ is dying » and the love she has for Armand with it.

Their house will become as cold as their hearts. Esther is tough. Is she even capable of loving ? As evidenced by this scathing outburst towards the one she rejects after meeting Armand (a man more in line with his rank): “ Justin respected my departures, my mood swings, my absences. Proud yet, he allowed me everything. What’s the point then? You don’t beat an animal if it doesn’t defend itself. »

She will have just as much brutality for Adelaide, the maid, in whom she sees, with premonition, a serious competitor. “ She looked at me and a smile of suppressed hatred was already making her mouth tremble. She struggled to maintain her modest demeanor. Bad luck, I was the one holding the purse strings. Saint Adelaide was going to suffer. »

In this context, the children, Mallora and Abel, grow up as best they can, pampered by the next governess, Élise, half-witch, half-old maid. Mallora will also be heartbroken. Abel doesn’t care. He doesn’t want to grow up and feeds curious (and guilty ?) passions.

I have always loved the effect that flames have on me. They soothe me and lull me. When a fire breaks out somewhere, Élise buys the newspaper, then she gives it to me and I add it to the collection (…) I would set a fire myself, well ! They would know what I was made of.

But beyond the plot itself, it is the style of this novel that deserves to be highlighted. The fire also smolders in certain sentences or situations. Like when Armand talks about his lost love with his wife : « I miss you. I’m going to go look at our photos. We are there what we really are and not these current shadows. Above, you look at me, Esther. »

Armand who no longer ages. “ Is it the sudden cessation of certain hopes that keeps him like this? ? “. There is also this magnificent chapter where Nicolas, the gravedigger, recounts the relationship (love ?) linking it to the death that accompanies it on a daily basis : « We grew old together, in the memory of the people she sought out and me in that of those I buried. ».

We want murderers to look like murderers. It would be simpler if the vice was visible…

And don’t be fooled by the soft blue eyes of Céline Laurens, on the back cover. The author does not shy away from pure cruelty. Like when she makes the murderer speak: “ You have to know how to take your time. Highlight, tell a story around it. Being interested in characters, in those who are going to burn, is fundamental. Otherwise we don’t care if we lose them. What’s the point of opening the chapter? ? »

So don’t expect a happy ending. How can there be when there is no more love. So what’s the point of opening “ The God House » ? Because as Mallora rightly says to her brother : « Abel, books are life, worse or better. But at least it leaves no room for boredom »