In this novel, it discusses Chechens, Ukrainians, bandits, mobsters, escort girls, crooked commissioners, and corrupt dignitaries: In short, a beautiful discovery of the Côte d’Azur from Saint-Tropez to Menton, isn’t it? But through this detective novel “both realistic and imbued with humor,” a story of the embezzlement of Western funds meant for environmental protection and the cleaning of radioactive sites is highlighted. A story that concerns everyone. Through “Crim’ Sur La Prom’,” Bernard Deloupy conveys “a serious message without pretension.”
This novel, easy to read, can be savored in 4 hours on the beach or in the shade of an olive tree. On the occasion of the Nice Book Festival, Nice-Premium had a brief custody with the Nissart author, Bernard Deloupy.
Nice-Premium: What led you to write a detective novel about our region?
Bernard Deloupy: I’ve always loved the Côte d’Azur. I find it’s a land that deserved to have a series of detective novels. With all the myth one can find on the Côte d’Azur, all the plots that unfold there, and the cinematic settings present, it was surprising that no real detective series existed yet about this southern land. I just had to look around, and it all came out quite naturally.
N-P: A sort of trigger?
B.L.: Trigger? No, because through my profession, I’ve been led for years to promote the Côte d’Azur. First, as a tourist on the foreign market when I was the communications director at the Chamber of Commerce, and then for clients when I crossed over to the other side of the barrier. I was a development director in my communication agencies. I had many clients: tourist offices, the CRT, the General Council, the towns … I naturally wanted to promote the Côte d’Azur both to tourists and its residents through a literary genre that’s quite accessible and interesting: the detective novel.
N-P: Tell us about this main character, quite caricatural, “Lazy as a snake and a partner in minimal effort,” who “possesses only one talent: a memory like an elephant.”
B.D.: This character is a true Nissart. Garri Gasiglia, Dgé-Dgé to his close friends, is a somewhat offbeat Nice detective whom his friends call “Colombo of the pissaladière.” He follows the investigations. In this investigation, there’s a message beyond the story because it takes place in the context of environmental protection. Thus, he fights against environmental scams. It’s quite interesting.
N-P: According to something I’ve heard earlier, it seems the reader comes out changed after reading “Crim’ sur la Prom’.”
B.D.: Do they come out changed? It indeed provides an image of the Côte d’Azur that’s both fun and playful. There are a few messages that come through. It’s somewhat of a gag form. But I mainly hope this novel finds its audience and that it will please them.
N-P: Such a visual novel, could we imagine it on the screen?
B.D.: Yes, I would like that. Later, I’ll try to contact producers to see if they might like it. It’s true that when I staged it, I spent a lot of time writing the descriptions of the locations where it occurs. I saw it as a film. So why not? Maybe producers or directors will find a way to bring it to the screen. Possibly crafting a script with a cinema screenwriter, that would be a pleasure.
N-P: Bernard Deloupy, which book would you recommend for us this summer?
B.D.: “LE PARLER DE NICE ET SON COMTE” by Cairaschi.
● Friday, September 21 in NICE: Meet author Bernard Deloupy. Crim’ sur la Prom’ is the first detective novel published by Editions Gilletta•nice-matin and creates a new genre: the tourist detective novel at the Fnac forum in Nice, level +3 at 5:30 p.m.
