Camille

“Justice is a luxury reserved for those who can afford it.”

Part One

The novel opens with Anne Forestier, a successful art dealer, being brutally attacked in her Paris apartment. Left for dead, she survives but suffers severe injuries. Commandant Camille Verhoeven, a diminutive but brilliant detective, is assigned to the case. His personal connection to Anne—they had a brief romantic history—complicates the investigation.

Part Two

Camille discovers that Anne’s attack is linked to a notorious criminal, Serge Clarsen, who recently escaped prison. Clarsen seeks revenge against Camille for imprisoning him years earlier. Meanwhile, Anne, recovering in the hospital, begins piecing together fragmented memories of her assault, unaware that Clarsen is still hunting her.

Part Three

Camille’s team tracks Clarsen’s movements, uncovering a trail of violence. Clarsen kidnaps Anne from the hospital, forcing Camille into a desperate race against time. The detective’s unorthodox methods and emotional turmoil drive the investigation forward, revealing Clarsen’s plan to inflict maximum suffering before killing Anne.

Part Four

In a climactic confrontation, Camille faces Clarsen in a remote location. Anne, though physically broken, plays a pivotal role in outsmarting her captor. The resolution is brutal and morally ambiguous, leaving Camille to grapple with the cost of justice and his own vulnerabilities.

Key Ideas

• The fragility of justice and revenge as intertwined motives.
• The psychological toll of violence on victims and investigators.
• Moral ambiguity in the pursuit of retribution.
• Themes of resilience and survival against overwhelming odds.
• Exploration of trauma’s impact on memory and identity.