Chief Inspector Georges Gorski finds himself mulling the appearance of a mysterious stranger, a woman claiming her son wants to kill her and the death of a businessman, over many a beer and wine in the bars of Saint-Louis. Whilst there he considers his life, how he has ended up back at home looking after his mother who suffers from dementia. Is there anything behind the three incidents and what does the future hold for Gorski?

This is a book featuring a fictional detective written by a fictional author, though it’s easy to forget until the end that this is the case. It does though, I think, add a layer to the story, making it seem a little more mysterious and opaque, as if read through a gossamer layer, which adds to the idea it is a translated work.

It’s set in an undated past but which seems to be around the 1970s/80s. There’s a tone to it which gives the impression it’s viewed through sepia tones, by which I mean there’s an old, contemplative almost whimsical tone to it.

I listened to this and I think that added to the atmosphere. I could imagine the old French town, the cars of the time, passing on the streets, the smoke filled bars and cafes.

This is the third book in the Georges Gorski trilogy. I haven’t read the other two books but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of A Case of Matricide.

This is more of a character study than a crime novel. Yes Gorski is a police officer. Yes there are events he investigates, yet it’s more focussed on Gorski and his personality, his guilt still felt for childhood misdemeanours, at his mother’s declining health and his former marriage.

A cleverly played out story which takes the reader down unexpected narrative paths.

A book within a book, a story within a story. Inspector Gorski, a police chief in a small French town, is contacted by an elderly woman who insists her son is trying to kill her. As he looks into her son’s movements and starts visiting her more frequently, questions arise and comparisons are made to other cases, other lives. It’s curiously engaging with surprising turns at the end.
While this is the third book featuring Inspector Gorski, it is not necessary to have read the earlier novels…but I now intend to!
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook for review purposes.

A local woman calls the police to report that she suspects her son of plotting her death. Inspector Gorski decides to keep a close eye on them and visits with increasing frequency, trying to understand why and how a man might murder his mother.

This is the third book featuring Inspector Georges Gorski and the small town of Saint-Louis in France but it's not necessary to have read the previous books. I do recommend the whole series though. I have a hard time expressing why this author's writing appeals to me. There's certainly nothing deep or earth-shattering about the stories or the characters but I'm drawn to them anyway. Inspector Gorski carries on much internal dialogue as he debates with himself about how he or his actions or inactions might appear to other residents of the town and he is constantly preparing answers to questions never asked.

Graeme Burnet has a most unusual style of writing. We learn from the foreword that this story (as with the previous two in the series) was written by Raymond Brunet (a close spelling to Burnet!) and translated from the French by the narrator but then we spend most of the time in the head of the main character. It's almost like burrowing down throught the layers of an onion. There are a couple of different covers for this book but this one is my favourite!

I think I've read everything Graeme Macrae Burnet has written but this is the first audiobook of his work that I've listened to. The book is narrated by Geoffrey Breton and his narration is extremely fitting even though he has a British accent and the story takes place in a small town in France. Much as I enjoyed the audiobook, I'd still like to read the physical book if and when the library gets copies. I can't wait to see where Mr. Burnet goes from here as I suspect we're done with Inspector Gorski.

My deepest appreciation to Bolinda Audio via Netgalley for approving my request to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: October 3, 2024

I don't read many detective novels and so I never had a favourite detective. But after three Gorski-novels, now I do!

Gorski has changed though, he drinks more and is less sharp. In 'A Case of Matricide' a mysterious Slave visits sleepy St Louis for no apparent reason, a local writer threatens to murder his mother and a rich industrialist dies in mysterious circumstances. Gorski suspects the cases may be connected, but then he takes a decision that upends everything.

I recommend reading the first two installments before starting this... not because the cases are connected, but because you follow Gorski's development and especially because of the meta-games that GMB is playing with us and which are good fun and perhaps the true mystery...

The prologue announces this is, unfortunately, the final part in the Gorski-trilogy, but with Macrae Burnet you never know - a lost manuscript by his 'Gallic Doppelganger' may yet turn up...

(The narrator of the audiobook is great, but in my mind Gorski had a very different voice)

A Case of Matricide is an intriguing tale of a man becoming everything he never expected to be. The third Gorski book is an interesting listen, that I have often found my thoughts returning to with an odd feeling of piqued curiosity despite it being some time since I finished it.

Thank You for the opportunity to listen to A Case of Matricide by Graeme Macrae Burnet.

It was quite an interesting listen. Initially, I thought Georges Gorski would unearth the murderer in their town and that would be the main course of the plot but I was surprised when it became about him breaking the law.

I don't want to give much away. So, I will say it is definitely worth a listen. Quite intriguing and different, I must say.

Graeme Burnet is truly innovative. In a trio of titles, he’s created a scenario which played with my head. At one point I wasn’t sure if the background detail was real or part of his invention. It’s a very clever device, to create a backstory involving newly discovered manuscripts, only to be published after some individuals are deceased, Burnet clearly had the characters and events in mind as part of a skilled trio of titles with Gorski, the central police officer the thread through all.

I love the small town of St Louis and the way minor characters are dealt with in minute detail. He takes the ordinary and turns mundane trivia into compelling reading or listening. I read the first in the series but I missed the second. I’ll definitely be buying it to complete the picture. Beautifully written and well paced, this is an amble through a murder mystery but it’s essentially a series of profound character studies I devoured in a couple of sittings

Sorry not my type of book but an OK storyline felt a bit too inspector Clouseau for me I like a good physiological modern thriller

Chief Inspector Georges Gorski seems to spend a lot of his time drinking while working in the French town of Saint Louis. He has returned to the family home and is looking after his elderly mother. He ponders the death of a manufacturer and encounters a stranger in town.

Enjoyed this well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Quirky characters who are not all they seem to be. Things are going on in the background in this well paced novel. Will a death be resolved and are there more to come? Enjoy being intrigued.

Review for audiobook.


I was fully drawn in by this one, and it made no difference that I hadn't read the previous books .
Firstly I was far too interested in all the goings on of the small town, but then when we solely looked at Gorski, it was even more intriguing.
He was an interesting character .
I appreciated the afterword too, to put some context to the character.
Nicely narrated, and very enjoyable .

A mystery thriller set in France, a canny read, I’m wondering if it was translated or not? Either way it was decent. The characters had great depth and that made the book/audio. The plot was engaging and worked well with the initial premise of the book. Unexpected twists kept me on board. I think I’d maybe have a more modern style of cover, although it doesn’t detract from the overall book too much. Great narrator. Waiting to hear if girls in my book club also enjoyed it so we can discuss