Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire

The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain

Although I could write about many books, I have recently enjoyed a shortish book ‘The Red Notebook’ by a French writer Antoine Laurain. Before readers have the wrong idea, I have not changed my political spots and it is not a left-wing tract. The author is a Parisian and the book is part detective story, part romance. He evokes the beauty of the city and the busy tempo of life in the French capital. The book has been wonderfully translated into English by Emily Boyce. Laurain is well-known for another book ‘The President’s Hat’ and I believe this is even better. It starts with a robbery and the journey which follows is exciting, as two lives become intertwined. I won’t spoil the story, but it is a good read.