If you’ve read any of Valérie Perrin’s previous novels – Forgotten On Sunday, Fresh Water For Flowers and Three, all translated into English by Hildegarde Serle – you won’t be surprised by Tata, a captivating and gripping new novel.
When Agnes, a celebrated film director, receives a call informing her that her aunt Colette has died, it lands with a shock. This is her Tata that was laid to rest three years ago. Determined to unlock the truth, Agnes sets off to the town of Gueugnon, where her aunt had lived all her life. In anticipation, her aunt had recorded a suitcase full of cassette tapes, enabling Agnes to unravel the mystery surrounding the infamous resident.
Along with family secrets and domestic abuse, football features heavily as a theme threading through the narrative. Inspired by the author’s personal links to FC Gueugnon, it’s fitting that Tata is being published amidst World Cup fever this summer.
The ambitious scope of the novel, featuring a wealth of beautifully drawn-out characters, provides the perfect immersive read. As soon as one thread is tied up within the story, so another is unwound, adding layers to the drama and suspense. Set against the beautiful French backdrop this is another thought-provoking and memorable book from the masterful storyteller.
