Cécile Duquenne

Many authors join forces to write books, be it under their own names (Weis & Hickman, for example) or using a pseudonym, like [a:James S.A. Corey|4192148|James S.A. Corey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573162332p2/4192148.jpg]. In this case, the French authors [a:Étienne Barillier|5586907|Étienne Barillier|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] and [a:Cécile Duquenne|5222877|Cécile Duquenne|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] stuck to their own names, as each has already written a certain number of books to get their names out.

In Mr Barillier's case, I've read only two of his works: [b:Le Guide Steampunk|44587944|Le Guide Steampunk|Étienne Barillier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553502859l/44587944._SY75_.jpg|25641020] (my review) and [b:Le guide Philip K. Dick|49443478|Le guide Philip K. Dick|Étienne Barillier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576706631l/49443478._SY75_.jpg|27368700] (my review), both revised / updated versions of the original works. Ms Duquenne's catalogue is completely unknown to me.

'Les Brigades du Steam' (translation: The Steam Brigades), based on mobile police forces that have existed before/after 1910 (see Wikipedia), takes us back to the early 20th century, when France and Prussia were competing for European (or world?) domination in terms of augmented/upgraded police forces. More and improved technology for agents to battle crime and suppress the evil in the world. To achieve this result, the respective governments set up entire laboratories, have scientists (and doctors, for the medical side) investigate and examine the possibilities and goals.

Solange Chardon de Tonnerre, said to be one of the best agents of the Thirteenth Mobile Brigade in Aix-en-Provence, is one of the victims of a terroristic attack in Paris, where she and her partner-in-crime Pierre investigate a suspicious case. She survives, but only barely, her partner unfortunately doesn't and leaves behind a wife, whom he dearly loved, and kids.

Solange is hospitalised in Aix-en-Provence, in a secret hospital where only special agents are to be treated. She vowed to avenge the death of her partner, but as she lost an arm, it was the ideal moment for the French government, led by Georges Clemenceau (aka The Tiger, Wikipedia), to set in motion and speed up the project of "augmented police forces" and link up the various mobile Brigades across the country (too bad Paul Andret, one of the people behind the project, only appears in the Prologue; I would have like to see him again at the end of the story). Thus, she was provided with a new arm, a robotic one, giving her more than extra strength and possibilities. A sort of Robocop "avant la lettre". Having this new "tool" takes some time, but her nurse Fermin knows how to deal with difficult patients.

Because of the severity of the attack and the whole project (France vs Prussia), Solange is tasked find out who was behind it and report her findings. She may have lost her partner, but Auguste Genovesi, a new, young recruit, is sent to assist her. Young and inexperienced as he is, he soon enough learns the ropes. One of the key properties of a good agent is: keep a cool head, don't trust anyone. Ever! Auguste's inexperience will indeed get him almost killed, as he pretends to be a simple guard at a hospital. By Solange initiative and idea, they decided to spread a rumour about Solange. To specify, even in the hospital she wasn't safe, as there too someone tried to take her out. Hence trying to find a way to lure her assassins into a trap.

Auguste thus trusts very rapidly a man who promised him to provide details of who could possibly have been behind the attacks. Also because Solange's attacker, despite having been killed by her in a brutal and lethal fight - no one falls from the second floor and survives, but they and especially she did -, suddenly disappeared from the scene of the crime, leaving no trace behind.

With the help of the main guard, Canonnier as nickname (because of all the weapons he collected), a pan is set up.

All this leads to surprising results: There is a mole - as August's so-called informant (who's part of the bad guys and misled Auguste to take him out at a deserted plant) told him and Solange -, someone with a lot of influence in government circles. Two against two in the battle France vs Prussia, with the latter having more henchmen. Our duo Solange-Auguste sets out to arrest the mole during a secret meeting with his Prussian partner, Gruber (any reference to the British tv-series 'Allo 'Allo!? ;-)), but that plan fails and both have to take one of the steam-driven cars and flea. Or rather, it results in a hot pursuit. Before this pursuit, the mole, De Talpa (advisor), is indeed taken out... by Auguste, who's never shot a gun in his entire life.

When two authors write a book together, it's not easy to see who wrote what. As good as both authors may be separately, I found the description of the pursuit and how good was fighting evil a bit too simple, too easy. Outnumbered six cars to one, x-times more guns on the Prussian side, very bad weather conditions (heavy rainfall), steam cars that weren't ergonomically designed (let alone safe), ... But it wouldn't be a good story if it didn't have a good ending. What I also found remarkable was this: Auguste loves mechanics, working on machines, that's his speciality. The steam cars only have a limited range and can't drive at high speeds (100 km/h is not possible). Auguste sees that their car is soon to run out of juice or steam, so to speak, but somehow the car keeps going on while Solange deals with their pursuers... in those life-threatening circumstances. Sure, it's fantasy, imaginary, but this aspect of the book didn't feel right for me.

I do understand that it was part of the setup, that augmented agents have new technology at their disposal, making them stronger and more dangerous than you regular soldier. It just felt to me like Hercules in the eponymous television series.

Ultimately, what matters is: Good conquered evil, for the time being. France was again a safe(r) place, thanks to Solange and Auguste. And let's not mention the ending, which might end the book on a positive note, but it's way too cliché, in my humble opinion.

So, action scenes which were, at least to me, a bit of a weak spot, but what I do appreciate - aside from the "steamy" descriptions, is the addition of historical names and publications. Georges Clemenceau was already mentioned, Gustave de Molinari (politician), Claude Faivre (commissioner), Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, L'Aurore (newspaper), Le Temps (newspaper), and so on and so forth.

Each chapter begins with an extract of the Brigades' internal regulations, a quote by a politician or commissioner, an extract from a newspaper, ... which makes the story, the setting more alive, more attractive to read.

Long story short: The story is set in Europe's past that has existed, as the addition of historical data (persons, documents, quotes, extracts, ...) confirms, and that makes it a worthwhile read in itself. The elaboration, the development, how the story was set up... was less to my liking, unfortunately. Mind you, the ideas were fine, but the novel was not profound enough (for my taste). It's a pretty light read, but could have been much more.

Is it due to the author's styles? Their way of working around such a historical event? Or simply, as the saing goes: de gustibus et coloribus non disputandum est?
What if someone like Bernard Cornwell, Jean-Laurent Del Socorro, Fabien Cerutti, Guy Gavriel Kay, .had written it?

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I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.… (mehr)