Changes

That's not to say it ever gets overly fantastical, and the creepy is limited to daylight hours, as opposed to the nightmarish darkness of other books. The plot does hang on a certain key factor that's a little on the unsurprising side, but it's what the creators did with it that counts. They have a wonderful story, perfectly rooted in a strong sense of place, and all the characters are worth your time and empathy. Again, the book may go a little too far for those who really dislike genre reads, but for me it was wonderful to see this realism devoted to such a story, and when you get to certain exceedingly dramatic images late on, to me they felt perfectly plausible, and fully justified their place alongside the mundane, modern coastal village scenes.

The book we get in English is the full two-part work (French serious 'comics' still like to be forced out in two parts once each gets to about the fifty -page mark), and a very easy-on-the-eye sketch gallery, complete with some reference photography. Mention is made of a potential sequel, although this is five years old now in its original French, and seems not to have been given a follow-on. But you know what? I seriously doubt it ever needed it. This is just a completely pleasant novel, and it has to be heartily recommended. I did have to take off a smidgen of a star for the overly-eager way with which Marion narrates to herself, as a true classic graphic would show us what we needed to know without her talking to herself so much. But for visual deftness, lightness of touch in conveying the mystery, and for sheer intrigue in such an immediately recognisable and real location, this book can hardly be faulted for leaving memories of its own.

For more great French comic books to be taken seriously, we recommend [[The Lyrical Comics of Dillies Set: Including Abelard, Bubbles & Gondola, Betty Blues by Renaud Dillies]]. You might also enjoy [[Fatale by Jean-Patrick Manchette, Max Cabanes and Doug Headline]].