Michaud’s Victor Lessard crime thriller series was originally published in French and so popular that it was a television series there. It’s a dark series thematically and, with the discovery of a family murder-suicide, Lessard is pulled back to his childhood trauma and guilt at not being there in time to save his brother. In fact, Lessard is haunted by his brother’s ghost both in his nightly dreams and his waking hallucinations, often at inopportune moments. While he tries to maintain a solid front on the outside, he is falling apart on the inside, not just from his childhood terror, but from failed relationships with women and with his son. There’s little foundation left to his life except his ability to solve cases in the face of all odds. Even that comes into question when he persists in exploring a case against his superior’s orders and even when he’s supposed to be on medical leave, leading to public gunfights and corpses in unlikely spots.

Lessard thus is not quite the debonair man-about-Town Detective, but he’s quite an interesting case study and the case he digs his teeth into nearly proves his undoing.

This series and this novel gives readers a different taste of Montreal than the ordinary tourist gets, particularly the dark and seamy sides. Indeed, in investigating this case, Lessard comes across every kind of perversion and sin imaginable, but even his fertile imagination could not conceive of what lay behind the family slaughter or who was involved even passively.

A thrilling read that shows us crime readers what we’ve been missing, but now get to enjoy in what is really a great translation.

A highly compelling thriller with both a very dark storyline and a dark protagonist, Victor, the detective investigating an apparent murder suicide of a young family. Like a lot of thriller heroes, Victor is something of a lone wolf on the darker streets of Quebec, but the author successfully tells the story of his tenacious yet intuitive revealing of the sinister truth behind the crime.

Detective Victor Lessard, it's fair to say, had an horrendous start in life but in many ways he's made a success of what came next. When he's called to a murder/suicide however, a lot of bad memories come to rest just below the surface, and his struggle becomes real once again. Knowing he's missing something, and not wanting to fail the victims, Victor resolves to look harder and delve deeper not realising how much danger he and those close to him are about to be in.

This is the second of Martin Michaud's Victor Lessard novels but the third to be translated. Some things are known because of this but with a decent amount of time between each book's publication it is less of a problem this time around. The storyline is told mainly through Victor's eyes, some of the many antagonists, and the occasional insight from other protagonists along the way. There were also a few sections slotted in from the aftermath which didn't seem to do anything other than show in advance who survived and consequently weren't really necessary.

I enjoyed this book but found it complicated in part with sections which seemed to add nothing to the storyline. That said I would read any further Victor Lessard novels as he is, in all three installments, a very likeable, endearing, and easy to root for main character.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this but with definite reservations.

A Victor Lessard Thriller book #3

(La Chorale du Diable), book#2, the French version

An orgy of bloody violence and ghosts from the past haunts Victor Lessard on his latest investigation. What a nightmarish chamber with horrific murders he faces while he struggles to solve the puzzle and put an end to this insanity. Where does Lessard fit in this equation? What is his connection between missing girls and the savage murder of a family and who are the lethal operatives behind a highly secretive organization the detective needs to evade?.....

What an exciting read this well-run thriller is. The author writes with a rather particular rhythm; not hectic, but rather jazzy. The background is bloody, the heroic character just right and the intrigue very complex. The plot is super well put together with the perfect ending: original and well flared. I particularly liked the fact that behind this family drama hides a twisted secret and reality about today's world. At the forefront: pedophilia, rape, murder, Satanism, belief and Catholicism. Surely not a pleasant topic meant for everyone. What a complicated investigation with so many characters that cross the pages no wonder at times I couldn’t picture what was going on...but as in any good mystery it all comes together slowly and by the end leaves you very satisfied....The predominant character is Montreal City with its good and bad. In vivid cinematic scenes the beauty of the vibrant city shines in the author’s words. The atmospheric and chilling details give goose bumps.....

If you like a dark and thrilling mystery played by well-rounded although complex characters you will enjoy "The Devil's Choir"

Thank you netgalley for this ARC of the devil's choir.

This is my first book by Canadian author Martin Michaud but it certainly ly won't be the last.

This book has a multilayered plot which slowly builds to a crescendo. Lots of information and people are involved and at the centre we find Lessard, a detective who is barely clinging on to any part of his life.

The subject matter is dark and unrelenting and its definitely a slow burner but I enjoyed it and I'll be seeking out the other Lessard books as a matter of urgency.

Highly recommended

440 pages

4 stars

Victor Lessard’s past is in the forefront of this novel. He is assigned to investigate a family annihilation - or so it seems at first. It sure looks like a murder-suicide, but something about it is bothering Victor.

The ghosts of Victor’s past are intruding on his investigation and he is having problems with his live-in son.

When Victor and his team begin to investigate, they discover a conspiracy that involves some of the “cream” of society. Before he knows it, Victor is on the run himself. Darn good thing he has loyal colleagues.

This story is rather convoluted and difficult to follow in places, but it is well worth sticking with the book. Mr. Michaud has woven a complicated and winding plot. And, it works! I’ve read the previous Lessard novels, and I can’t say that I enjoyed this one as much as the previous ones. I believe it was the bad guys. I usually try to steer away from that.

I want to thank NetGalley and Dundurn Press for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Synopsis

Victor Lessard is a troubled detective. His adult son has moved in with him and their relationship is strained as it also is with his ex-wife. His current relationship with girlfriend Veronique appears doomed and he spends his nights sleeping in a Layzboy chair. He cannot even find solace in his favourite coffee due to his recurring reflux.

He gets called to an apparent murder/suicide incident where the husband has murdered his wife and 3 children with an axe before cutting out his own tongue and then ending his life. The murder site is horrific and made worse by masses of flies in the air and a thick carpet of dead ones which need to be cleared before the techs can work. A seemingly ‘open and shut’ case bothers Victor and he feels the need to investigate further despite warnings by his superior Tanguay.

Victor is clearly disturbed by this case, his colleagues notice this, but they are unaware of his past. Victor’s own father murdered his family and committed suicide as well, Victor being the only survivor as he was late home that day. This torments him and begins to see vivid images of his brother Raymond such that they can seemingly communicate with each other. Eventually Tanguay stands him down for his own good.

Suspension isn’t going to stand in Victor’s way though and he surreptitiously contacts his partner Fernandez to continue investigating. They turn up a similar case of murder suicide some years earlier outside Montreal which is the break he is looking for. He gets access to the case files and after demonstrating that there are matters unexplained the original investigating officer agrees to get involved thereby helping to legitimise Victor’s efforts. In doing so a sexual abuse and imprisonment is unearthed and a paedophile ring exposed.

Victor is convinced that the sinister forces are work are being controlled by a priest or a group of them. Is a satanic sex cult at the centre of it all? The answers are eventually revealed on home ground back in Montreal.

My thoughts

There’s certainly a lot crammed in here. The plot when distilled down is the hunt for a serial killer. However, there is so much complexity added in, layers of confusion and red herrings that play out, such that the reader is never certain where the story is going or who is controlling the killer, if indeed anyone is.

Most of the story is told in third person but parts are in first person which initially confused me a little until I realised those passages were reserved for past recollections or when Felix was writing in his diary. The writing style is un-fussy, and it comes as no surprise that the author has written extensively for television. Indeed, this novel reads like it would adapt perfectly for a multi episode series.

I’ve not read much fiction based in Canada other than Kathy Reich’s Temperance Brennan books so it’s always nice to cover a new setting. Here we see mainly the seedier side of Montreal away from the big city glare and the French/Canadian duality adds a nice twist to the narrative. However, much of the novel covers the major city problems of drugs, HIV infection prostitution and homelessness could be set anywhere. These are problems that many care to ignore but are all around us. Here they add an air of authenticity and grimy reality to a far-reaching plot. What violence there is muted and gory bits kept to a minimum.

Essentially this is an incident driven story but the characterisation of Lessard is extensive, and his back story is complex. We learn about how he becomes orphaned, his time in foster care and on the street, his past dealings with Monsieur Antoine’s outreach and his final mentoring phase with the gay policemen. All covered with a nice level of sensitivity.

The tale of troubled cop who is suspended but continues to investigate is one that is very familiar to readers and viewers alike. However, when told with a bit of panache can still be very entertaining as this one is. The main character remains engaging and one I would stick with to see how his future plays out and his troubles are resolved if they are at all. A crime thriller that is a little different and I would certainly be looking to read the next novel in the series.



https://peterturnsthepage.wordpress.com/2021/08/16/the-devils-choir/

I read this book as an ARC.
This is the first murder mystery that I've read from this author. It is a gritty, dark urban setting with a very troubled detective. The plot and sub-plots grow bigger than usual and I found it difficult to work out who the perpetrator might be, which made it exciting to read, if violent and gruesome. Characters are unexpected and many. The story felt alarmingly real and kept me reading long into the night.
Highly recommended for lovers of contemporary urban mysteries.

DNF at 42%

The writing is just so confusing! And the plot is not coherent enough but mainly it's the writing that I despised

Wow …I think I just found my new favorite author! I stayed up till 3:00 in the a.m. to finish reading this novel … I had to know how this played out! This book rates a solid 5 stars …and I will admit, I don’t give those out too readily! I have huge respect for an author who is able to entertain us with his imagination …to put his creativity into such story telling …I am quite envious! There were lots of twists and turns that kept the story entertaining and fresh! There was a great job done in the development of the main character and the seconds! The story line is set in Montreal, Quebec, my birth place, and I was quite familiar with all the settings so that was a bonus for me to read. This is the third book I have read from this author and I would definitely recommend this book and any others that are available!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of his work

What a thrilling read, lots of twists and turns. Love how I didnt need to read the other 2 Victor lessard books to enjoy this one. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this great book.

Fans of Dan Brown will find this right up their street. A thriller that comes at you from many different directions. It is a story you have to really concentrate on as there are many threads that do not add up until the end end of the book. It can leave you confused in places but is well worth persevering with. Lead policeman Victor Lessard find’s his past overwhelms him when he is called in to investigate an apparent murder suicide where a family is killed in horrifying circumstances. When Victor gets too close to a cover up that goes to the highest people in society he ends up going on a run for his own life. Victor is a character who has many layers but also has the support of his colleagues when all seems against him.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of The Devil’s Choir, the third novel to feature Montreal detective Victor Lessard.

A father annihilates his family and then kills himself. Case closed to everyone but Lessard who suspects the involvement of a third party, but who and why? He is determined to find out, but with few clues and the ones he has not making sense, a ghost from his past clouding his thoughts and a lack of support from his boss, he is on his own against a dangerous opponent.

I enjoyed The Devil’s Choir, which is a challenging read with what ends up being a rather fantastic plot that pushes the reader’s credulity. That’s not a very encouraging introduction, but, after a slow start, I was absolutely hooked on the journey to the said ending.

The novel opens with a few scenes from the eighties. I only realised their relevance when I re-read them after finishing the novel, so pay attention to everything. It then switches to Lessard in the hospital and proceeds to go back to the events that got him there. It also switches points of view between several different characters with no hint of how they connect to the investigation or to each other. It’s slow and confusing, but bear with it as the novel soon becomes engrossing, tense and exciting as the links gradually establish themselves. It is also long and detailed in its interconnections and false assumptions on Lessard’s point. It is not a novel for skim reading.

I hesitate to mention the themes in the novel as some are quite distressing, but unfortunately not uncommon. I give the author full marks for his imaginative motive, which only becomes apparent in the concluding chapters, but don’t ask me to believe it could be real, although with my conspiracy theory hat on there are enough nutters out there that anything is possible.

Lessard is in a bad way in this novel in terms of his mental health, but the past has a way of causing trouble in the present and this case brings back bad memories for him. I like him as a character, far from perfect but striving to be a better person.

The Devil’s Choir is an intriguing novel that I can recommend as a good read.

A real true grit style of police murder mystery from Canada we get a police antihero who is living on the edge of reality
Well worth the read though dark at times

This was an okay book I would rate it 3/5 it wasn’t bad just wasn’t really interested in it. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this over to me to read.

Victor lessard the modern ultra age Sherlock Holmes ! An amazing read , I just got lessard locked. It's always an element of surprise to see the protagonist as a vulnerable individual which makes us connect more to the character, such emotions make it all real. Lessard is spectacular as always. Loved how he uncovered the uncouthed events unfolding before his eyes.
Lessard is certainly joining the carefully curated list of my favourite protagonists of all time ! This book will make you get totally and truly immersed within its pages and you wouldn't want to float .

An old fashioned crime story but well told with great characters. I shall find the author's other books.

Hell, death, good vs evil.
Victor Lessard is back fighting them all.
He becomes involved in a case of murder suicide of the Cook family. Has the father gone crazy? Killing himself after killing his family or is there something/someone else at work here?
Victor, the maverick cop is the only one who thinks everything is not straightforward and is determined to discover the truth.
There are a lot of strands, twists and red herrings in this story so the reader has to pay attention to every detail to follow it .
This book is very different from most crime thrillers and very well written. You can’t skim over anything as you may miss something that is important later.
If you like Dan Brown books - this is better written and more enjoyable.
4 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

3rd in the series and in my mind the best yet! Definitely a book to read. I was pulled into the story and it did not let go. The book is well written with a strong character driven story and many a twists and turns
Recommended 4 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another fast paced thriller from Mr. Michaud. The writing is uniform and the tension is well maintained, but the plot is too convoluted taking the readers and the investigators down blind ends. The events are also quite gruesome and the mental state of Lessard seems to be very fragile. Balancing these are the supporting characters and the city itself with its bright and dark sides. 4.5 stars