The second novel by Ghislain Gilberti, released in early October by Anne Carrière editions. A powerful thriller of absolute darkness, a gripping story that Nice Premium invites you to discover and urgently acquire!
Cécile Sanchez is still hunting down criminals with the special section of the OCRVP – Central Office for the Repression of Violence against Individuals. Shortly after the Feast of the Serpent case, she is once again faced with a killer with particularly sadistic methods: enucleation, genital mutilations, facial abuse, all ante mortem. The victims, young women who bear a striking resemblance to one another, are piling up. But, just when the killer’s profile seemed established, he crosses a new threshold into horror, as if embodied Evil had spawned its own nightmare. The tension rises. The pressure from her superiors pushes Cécile to work even faster, relentlessly.
With this new novel, readers can expect a plunge into horror. The Baptism of Darkness rivals in darkness and realism to offer a narrative of very high quality. It features the same mastery, the same quality of writing as The Feast of the Serpent. A precision as sharp as a scalpel that does not overlook well-developed and endearing characters. We find once again Cécile Sanchez’s team – David, Romane, Anne, Paul – but also the technical and scientific team led by Karine Perrin. Yet, Gilberti knows how to enrich his gallery of characters and introduces us to Captain Olivier Arpino’s group, the Specialized Intervention Company responsible for all inspections of sewers, quarries, and catacombs, and which will accompany Cécile in her investigation.
The author demonstrates once again his perfect knowledge of the subject, very well-documented and precise, whether concerning judicial or technical procedures, as well as historical details. Thus, he offers readers a genuine history lesson on a little-known part of the capital.
As for the killer, quickly nicknamed The Chimney Sweep, he is a disturbing character whose monstrosity is beyond doubt.
The author’s style, always cinematic, allows us to experience this investigation at a frantic pace, with imagination and ingenuity that will surprise more than one reader.
A true baptism of blood, with the last hundred pages being a pure adrenaline rush into the killer’s mind.
