The 10:30 from Marseille (1962, France)

Original title: Compartiment tueurs

Locations: the story takes place in ParisIle-de-FranceFrance

The 10:30 from Marseille 1962 crime mystery book

When a young woman is found dead aboard a night train from Maresille the police starts the routine investigation, but soon they discover nothing is simple in this case. Since it was a sleeping car, they have to find any witnesses especially those, who shared the compartment with the victim. But unfortunately the list provided by the railroad company contains only the names and it is up to the detectives to find them. With no better options at hand, the police share the list with the newspapers, hoping the witnesses will come forward. Their plan works and one of the passengers, Rene Cabourg, phones them with information. While he provides them with the description of the others, but at the same time keeps some of the details of what happened that night to himself. Soon after Cabourg is shot dead in the toilets of a sport arena. While the detectives are trying to track down other witnesses, someone is one step ahead of them and shoots the passengers, who knew what happened that night aboard the night train.

Classic crime novel by Sebastien Japrisot has all the elements needed to get the readers gripped - interesting plot, atmosphere and a mystery that is hard to solve until the very end. In style it is a bit similar to the books of Georges Simenon, where the police investigation is mixed with the back stories of the passengers, which builds a unique narration and unique portrait of the French society of the era.

Creators of The 10:30 from Marseille

Sebastien Japrisot

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