Book Review for

Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand

by Fred Vargas

The 3rd Commissaire Adamsberg mystery.

A woman is found dead with three stab wounds in her stomach. This matches
other murders in France that occurred over a thirty year period. In each case,
the three wounds form a perfectly straight line and the convicted murderers are
vagrants who got drunk and couldn't remember what had happened. A knife is
always found nearby with their fingerprints. But the most disturbing similarity
of them all is that it matches a murder thirty years earlier in which Inspector
Adamsberg's older brother was convicted for the crime. Adamsberg has
always been convinced of his brother's innocence.

Now, after Adamsberg and his colleagues fly to Canada to consult with fellow
police officers about DNA procedures, Adamsberg wakes up after having gotten
drunk and passing out on his favorite path through the woods. His hands are
bloodied and a woman has been killed with three stab wounds all in a line,
but Adamsberg cannot remember what happened. He now must run from the
Canadian police in order to catch the real killer. He knows who it is, a reclusive
judge who kills with no apparent pattern, and who has left no trace of evidence.
Adamsberg is aided by a great cast of colorful characters, including his older
brother, who still wonders if he committed a crime years ago.

This is the type of story you can't wait to finish.


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