Not as Far as Velma

by Nicolas Freeling

Book Overview

After professional troubles in Paris, Inspector Henri Castang is sent to the north of France to find a middle-aged hotel-keeper. But soon the case becomes complicated with a bombing, dead nuns, and a Jewish painter, and Castang has his hands full with a routine case.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0445408111
• ISBN13: 9780445408111
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

"The shadows which you fear, you march straight at."

Not As Far as Velma is one of the most interesting and puzzling of Freeling's books. Certainly, it was the most engaging book that I have so far read from the Castang series. (I tend to favor the more popular Van der Valk.) I was moved and curious while reading this novel. I may have to read more widely in the Castang works to see if I change my mind about which series I prefer. As usual, the focus for Castang is less on a straightforward crime, but on a disappearance which may or may not be a crime. There are certain signs-- a forged name, some birds left behind. But generally, it is not clear if anything has really happened. It is not until a bombing occurs with ties to the people in question that Castang has the occasion to take a deeper look... If Freeling had stopped the novel somewhere around page 175, I would have given it five stars without any hesitation. However, the book has a very oddly structured ending, with several false endings before it finally closes. I want to admire that, because I find it daring. But I found it oddly unsatisfying, as though it tied up too much without really tying up enough. Four-and-a-half stars then, but still a very strong recommendation. If you like Freeling in general, you'll really enjoy this book. It also would not be a bad place to begin with Freeling, although bear my reservations about the structure of the ending in mind.