Gabriel is a stranger in a small Breton town. Nobody knows where he came from or why he's here. Yet his small acts of kindness, and exceptional cooking, quickly earn him acceptance from the locals.
His new friends grow fond of Gabriel, who seems as reserved and benign as the toy panda he wins at the funfair.
But unlike Gabriel, the fluffy toy is not haunted by his past . . .
Pascal Garnier is a leading figure in contemporary French literature, in the tradition of Georges Simenon. He lived in the Ardèche. Pascal Garnier died in March 2010.

The Panda Theory: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

Literature & Fiction

Garnier, Pascal

Humor & Satire

Gallic Books

'Masterly' John Banville 'Action-packed and full of gallows humour' Sunday Telegraph Death is Simon’s business. And now the ageing vermin exterminator is preparing to die. But he still has one last job down on the coast, and he needs a driver. Bernard is twenty-one. He can drive and he’s never seen the sea. He can’t pass up the chance to chauffeur for Simon, whatever his mother may say. As the unlikely pair set off on their journey, Bernard soon finds that Simon’s definition of vermin is broader than he’d expected… Veering from the hilarious to the horrific, this offbeat story from master stylist Pascal Garnier is at heart an affecting study of human frailty.

How's the Pain?

"A most wonderfully wry noir murder mystery you'll not soon forget."—Durango Herald
"Garnier's sly, cynical take on life will strike a chord with readers of every age."—Publishers Weekly
"Ultimately a very dark novel, but a very impressive one."—The Complete Review
Bernard lives with his sister Yolande who hasn't left the house since 1945. Bernard is now in the final months of a terminal illness. With no longer anything to lose, he becomes reckless—and murderous.
Locally the A26 is under construction. Concrete still wet, it stands ready to serve as a discrete cemetery for lost girls.

The A26: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

Genre Fiction

"Combines a sense of the surreal with a ruthless wit."—The Observer
Given the choice, Martial would not have moved to Les Conviviales. But Odette loved the idea of a new retirement village in the south of France. So that was that.
At first it feels like a terrible mistake: they're the only residents and it's raining nonstop. Then three neighbors arrive, the sun comes out, and life becomes far more interesting and agreeable.
Until, that is, some gypsies set up camp just outside their gated community . . .
Pascal Garnier is a leading figure in contemporary French literature. He died in 2010.

Moon in a Dead Eye: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

Fabien and Sylvie had both known their marriage was over. But when Sylvie is involved in a fatal car accident, Fabien is stunned to discover that she died alongside her lover. He decides to find out about the lover's widow. First by stalking her, then by breaking into her home.

The Front Seat Passenger: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

"Dark enough to sink the hook deep into fans of noir."—Publishers WeeklyJust before Christmas in Versailles. Olivier has come to bury his mother, but the impending holidays and icy conditions have delayed the funeral.While trapped in limbo at his mother's flat, a chance encounter brings Olivier back in touch with childhood friend Jeanne and her blind brother, Rodolphe.Rodolphe suggests they have dinner together, along with a homeless man he's taken in. As the wine flows, dark secrets are spilled, and there's more than just hangovers to deal with the next morning . . .

The Islanders: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

‘Garnier plunges you into a bizarre, overheated world, seething death, writing, fictions and philosophy. He’s a trippy, sleazy, sly and classy read.’ A. L. Kennedy Brice and Emma had bought their new home in the countryside together. And then Emma disappeared. Now, as he awaits her return, Brice busies himself with DIY and walks around the village. He gradually comes to know his new neighbours including Blanche, an enigmatic woman in white, who has lived on her own in the big house by the graveyard since the death of her father, to whom Brice bears a curious resemblance… Reviews ‘…this one will help reinforce his cult status among noir fans.’ Publishers Weekly 'It’s dark, stomach-twisting stuff, and the mysteries surrounding Emma’s whereabouts and Brice’s striking visual similarity to someone in Blanch’s past keep you turning the pages hungrily.’ La Friction ‘Quirky and unsettling…’ Fiction Fan’s Book Reviews ‘..a horribly funny novel about bereavement: appalling and bracing in equal measure.’ John Banville ‘I would recommend Boxes by Pascal Garnier to anyone who enjoys reading a mystery. Garnier adds a plot twist at the very end that will have you grabbing for another one of his books.’ San Diego Book Review ‘Garnier calmly peels back the revealing layers, leaving a raw sort of horror all the more devastating for its believable simplicity.’The Complete Review ‘It is an achievement for an author to write in finely crafted prose but for a translator to convey that in another language is significant too. This story kept me reading without stopping! Not the first time from Gallic Books. It also has an unexpected ending. It is good to leave a book feeling there is more material in it for your mind to conjure with and this does just that!’ D.Olser, NetGalley reviewer ‘The story is told in clear concise prose and although there is plenty of dark matter there are also surreal touches, and moments of real humour. This is quality writing; those who enjoy Highsmith and Simenon, in particular, may find it to their taste.’ Crime Review ‘It’s an atmospheric and absorbing tale, an exploration of loss and abandonment, often quirkily amusing and sometimes very moving.’ M.Jenkinson, NetGalley reviewer

Boxes: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

Literary

A crime author writing the story of Louis, who decides to do his cash-strapped friends a favor by hastening their parents' demise, finds reality and fiction overlapping during a stay in Normandy.
Pascal Garnier combines the style of Simenon, the insight of Camus with a wit that is all his own.

The Eskimo Solution: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

Recently widowed grandmother Éliette is returning to her house in the mountains when her car breaks down. A stranger offers help and Éliette gives him a lift, glad of the company and interruption to her routine.
A tale of retirement and calm domesticity, with a hint of menace about to explode.

Too Close to the Edge: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

After losing his wife and suffering a stroke, Édouard has retired to the mountains with his nurse. One day a man arrives claiming to be his long-lost son. This seems to bring about a softening of Édouard’s temper, but it isn’t long before the local vultures begin to circle . . .

Low Heights: Shocking, hilarious and poignant noir

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Books by Garnier, Pascal