Why does a woman, the widow of a famous photographer, murder a seemingly unknown man in a hotel in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon? Her son Théo wants to understand his mother’s actions, with whom he has never been truly close. This sets the stage for a novel about this crime, a family, and its secrets, which Théo will gradually uncover—a past he was unaware of.
His investigation will lead him to Switzerland, to institutions where people—adolescents, young women, and adults—were detained administratively. These practices continued until 1981. Beyond the novel and the dramatic story of a family, Valentin Musso reveals in this ninth book the history of these ‘boarding schools’ and their victims. “Never Forget,” the discovery of a family secret concealed within a lie, which resurfaces after the murder of a man in this hotel in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.
The quest for knowledge and understanding will disrupt Théo’s life. The psychology of the characters, young girls who are victims of violence and can say nothing but cannot forget, and Théo may need to forget certain painful realities to live his life. “Whatever my future, good or bad, at least it will be mine.” Thus concludes this work!
Thierry Jan, writer
