Description
The Griffintown Carriage Stable
Book Summary
A novel that combines detective suspense with a love story set in the heart of the most authentic Montreal. Young Marie arrives in the Griffintown neighborhood looking for a summer job that will bring her closer to horses. There, John takes her under his wing and love blossoms, but the world of the city's last carriage drivers, rough men clinging to their trade, is governed by its own laws. The murder of the stable owner triggers a plot of revenge that will put everyone to the test, as the neighborhood fights against the real estate speculation threatening to erase its history.
What is it about?
The story plunges us into the twilight of Griffintown, an old working-class neighborhood in Montreal where a group of carriage drivers eke out a living from seasonal tourism with their calèches and horses. Marie, a young woman passionate about equines, arrives at the stables in search of a summer job. There she meets John, a seasoned carriage driver who integrates her into an environment of harsh codes and unwavering loyalties. The romance between them flourishes amidst a tense climate: the murder of the stable owner unleashes a thirst for vengeance among the local men. As the investigation progresses and real estate developers stalk the land, the novel portrays the last summer of this small urban "Far West," caught between tradition and modernity.
Main Themes
- The conflict between tradition and urban progress, represented by the real estate speculation threatening Griffintown.
- The life of Montreal's last carriage drivers, a dying trade, and their bond with their horses.
- Love and loyalty in a hostile, masculine environment with its own codes of honor.
- Murder and revenge as the engine of the detective plot.
- Nostalgia for a working-class neighborhood and its cultural identity in the face of gentrification.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers looking for a novel that successfully mixes the detective and romance genres, with a strong sense of place and atmosphere. Also for those who enjoy stories set in transforming urban environments, with marginalized characters and prose that portrays trades and communities in danger of disappearing. Especially suitable for those interested in contemporary Canadian narrative and in plots where horses and rural life intersect with the city.
What this book offers
- An immersion into a little-known world: that of Montreal's carriage drivers and their fight to survive in a city that ignores them.
- A suspenseful plot that maintains tension while exploring human relationships in a closed environment.
- A credible and restrained love story that does not overshadow the social portrait and critique of speculation.
- A vivid and nostalgic portrait of a working-class neighborhood in its twilight, with an atmosphere almost like an urban western.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Poitras, Marie Hélène
- Publisher: Editorial Bóveda
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION
- Collection: GENERAL FUND - NARRATIVE
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition Date: May 2019
- Number of pages: 224
- Weight: 310 g
Editorial Review
A novel that strikes a solid balance between thriller and romance, without giving up a highly interesting social and urban perspective. The author builds a fascinating microcosm in the stables of Griffintown, where the characters, both human and animal, take on unusual strength. The plot advances with rhythm and the setting is so vivid that the neighborhood becomes a character itself. Ideal for those seeking an entertaining read with substance that portrays a world on the verge of disappearing.