Time Is a Killer - by Michel Bussi (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the summer of 2016, Clotilde is spending her vacation in Corsica with her husband Franck and her teenage daughter Valentine. It is the first time she has been back to the island since the car accident in which her parents and her brother were killed decades earlier. She was in the car too, but miraculously escaped with her life ... When a mysterious letter signed "Palma", Clotilde's mother, arrives, the truth about her family, her parents' death, and her childhood is called into question"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

From the acclaimed author of After the Crash-- "Harlan Coben fans will enjoy Bussi's . . . mystery with its intriguing characters and twisty conclusion" (Library Journal).

A fatal accident in the past, broken lives, family secrets . . . Michel Bussi serves up a gripping thriller, set amid the beautiful scenery of Corsica.
In the summer of 2016, Clotilde is spending her vacation in Corsica with her husband, Franck, and her teenage daughter, Valentine. It is the first time she has been back to the island since the car accident in which her parents and her brother were killed decades earlier. She was in the car too, but miraculously escaped with her life. This return plunges Clotilde back into the deepest recesses of her adolescence. She reacquaints herself with her paternal grandparents, Lisabetta and Cassanu, members of a powerful Corsican family that reigns over the island.
When a mysterious letter, signed "Palma"--Clotilde's mother--arrives, the truth about her family, her parents' death, and her childhood is called into question. Time Is a Killer is a voyage into the complexities of Corsican society, a compelling portrait of a woman's awakening, and a masterfully executed novel of psychological suspense.

"Michel Bussi's writing always rings true. His crime novel is a bomb."--Le Parisien

"Michel Bussi's psychological crime novels are beyond masterful."--Le Figaro Littéraire

"Bathed in the perfumes and flavors of Corsica . . .Time Is a Killer will be read with bated breath until the final twist!"--Le Magazine des Livres

"Don't open these books if you have anything more pressing to do."--Elle (France)

"Gripping noir."--Publishers Weekly

Review Quotes

Praise for Time is a Killer

"A well-constructed literary thriller with a strong sense of place and deep understanding of human nature."
--Kirkus Reviews

"[A] gripping noir..."
--Publishers Weekly

"In beautiful language, French author Bussi [...] constructs an engrossing, multilayered tale of family, love, and death."
--Booklist

"Harlan Coben fans will enjoy Bussi's [...] mystery with its intriguing characters and twisty conclusion."
--Library Journal

"Bathed in the perfumes and flavors of Corsica [...] Time is a Killer will be read with bated breath until the final twist!"
--Le Magazine des Livres

"Michel Bussi's writing always rings true. His crime novel is a bomb."
--Le Parisien

"Don't open these books if you have anything more pressing to do."
--Elle (France)

"Bussi has never been better. He leads his readers down twisting paths that court the void and depict the Mediterranean."
--Gala

"Michel Bussi's psychological crime novels are beyond masterful."
--Le Figaro Littéraire

Praise for Michel Bussi

"Michel Bussi is one of France's most ingenious crime writers."
--The Sunday Times, about Don't Let Go

"After the Crash is a jolt to the senses and a jolt to the heart--both rollicking and labyrinthine, both wildly propulsive and yet rich with grand drama, and with a cast of characters--particularly its sumptuously powerful women--you won't forget."
―Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

"After the Crash opens with a wrenching scene that will serve as the mystery's terrifically compelling central conceit . . . sit back and go along for the ride . . . Bussi's tucked a lot of enjoyable--and enjoyably surprising--pieces into his puzzle."
―Boston Globe

"This fascinating tale of intrigue and murder delves into complicated family bonds as it builds to a surprising and shocking conclusion."
--Publishers Weekly on After the Crash

"Fast-paced and action-packed, this thriller is adrenaline pumping. Bussi offers a smart, complex mystery with plenty of plausible twists and surprises . . . An engrossing story that's almost impossible to put down."
--Shelf Awareness on After the Crash

"[A] dazzling, unexpected, and haunting masterpiece."
--The Daily Mail on Black Water Lilies

Praise forTime is a Killer

"A well-constructed literary thriller with a strong sense of place and deep understanding of human nature."--Kirkus Reviews

"Bathed in the perfumes and flavors of Corsica [...] Time is a Killer will be read with bated breath until the final twist!"
--Le Magazine des Livres

"Michel Bussi's writing always rings true. His crime novel is a bomb."
--Le Parisien

"Don't open these books if you have anything more pressing to do."
--Elle (France)

"Bussi has never been better. He leads his readers down twisting paths that court the void and depict the Mediterranean."
--Gala

"Michel Bussi's psychological crime novels are beyond masterful."
--Le Figaro Litteraire

Praise for Michel Bussi

"Michel Bussi is one of France's most ingenious crime writers."
--The Sunday Times, about Don't Let Go

"After the Crash is a jolt to the senses and a jolt to the heart--both rollicking and labyrinthine, both wildly propulsive and yet rich with grand drama, and with a cast of characters--particularly its sumptuously powerful women--you won't forget."
―Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

"After the Crash opens with a wrenching scene that will serve as the mystery's terrifically compelling central conceit . . . sit back and go along for the ride . . . Bussi's tucked a lot of enjoyable--and enjoyably surprising--pieces into his puzzle."
―Boston Globe

"This fascinating tale of intrigue and murder delves into complicated family bonds as it builds to a surprising and shocking conclusion."
--Publishers Weekly on After the Crash

"Fast-paced and action-packed, this thriller is adrenaline pumping. Bussi offers a smart, complex mystery with plenty of plausible twists and surprises . . . An engrossing story that's almost impossible to put down."
--Shelf Awareness on After the Crash

"[A] dazzling, unexpected, and haunting masterpiece."
--The Daily Mail on Black Water Lilies

Praise forTime is a Killer

"Bathed in the perfumes and flavors of Corsica [...] Time is a Killer will be read with bated breath until the final twist!"
--Le Magazine des Livres

"Michel Bussi's writing always rings true. His crime novel is a bomb."
--Le Parisien

"Don't open these books if you have anything more pressing to do."
--Elle (France)

"Bussi has never been better. He leads his readers down twisting paths that court the void and depict the Mediterranean."
--Gala

"Michel Bussi's psychological crime novels are beyond masterful."
--Le Figaro Litteraire

Praise for Michel Bussi

"Michel Bussi is one of France's most ingenious crime writers."
--The Sunday Times, about Don't Let Go

"After the Crash is a jolt to the senses and a jolt to the heart--both rollicking and labyrinthine, both wildly propulsive and yet rich with grand drama, and with a cast of characters--particularly its sumptuously powerful women--you won't forget."
―Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

"After the Crash opens with a wrenching scene that will serve as the mystery's terrifically compelling central conceit . . . sit back and go along for the ride . . . Bussi's tucked a lot of enjoyable--and enjoyably surprising--pieces into his puzzle."
―Boston Globe

"This fascinating tale of intrigue and murder delves into complicated family bonds as it builds to a surprising and shocking conclusion."
--Publishers Weekly on After the Crash

"Fast-paced and action-packed, this thriller is adrenaline pumping. Bussi offers a smart, complex mystery with plenty of plausible twists and surprises . . . An engrossing story that's almost impossible to put down."
--Shelf Awareness on After the Crash

"[A] dazzling, unexpected, and haunting masterpiece."
--The Daily Mail on Black Water Lilies

Praise forTime Kills

"Bathed in the perfumes and flavors of Corsica [...] Time Kills will be read with bated breath until the final twist!"
--Le Magazine des Livres

"Michel Bussi's writing always rings true. His crime novel is a bomb."
--Le Parisien

"Don't open these books if you have anything more pressing to do."
--Elle (France)

"Bussi has never been better. He leads his readers down twisting paths that court the void and depict the Mediterranean."
--Gala

"Michel Bussi's psychological crime novels are beyond masterful."
--Le Figaro Litteraire

Praise for Michel Bussi

"Michel Bussi is one of France's most ingenious crime writers."
--The Sunday Times, about Don't Let Go

"After the Crash is a jolt to the senses and a jolt to the heart--both rollicking and labyrinthine, both wildly propulsive and yet rich with grand drama, and with a cast of characters--particularly its sumptuously powerful women--you won't forget."
―Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

"After the Crash opens with a wrenching scene that will serve as the mystery's terrifically compelling central conceit . . . sit back and go along for the ride . . . Bussi's tucked a lot of enjoyable--and enjoyably surprising--pieces into his puzzle."
―Boston Globe

"This fascinating tale of intrigue and murder delves into complicated family bonds as it builds to a surprising and shocking conclusion."
--Publishers Weekly on After the Crash

"Fast-paced and action-packed, this thriller is adrenaline pumping. Bussi offers a smart, complex mystery with plenty of plausible twists and surprises . . . An engrossing story that's almost impossible to put down."
--Shelf Awareness on After the Crash

"[A] dazzling, unexpected, and haunting masterpiece."
--The Daily Mail on Black Water Lilies

Praise forTime Kills

"Bathed in the perfumes and flavors of Corsica [...] Time Kills will be read with bated breath until the final twist!" --Le Magazine des Livres

"Michel Bussi's writing always rings true. His crime novel is a bomb." --Le Parisien

"Don't open these books if you have anything more pressing to do." --Elle (France)

"Bussi has never been better. He leads his readers down twisting paths that court the void and depict the Mediterranean." --Gala

"Michel Bussi's psychological crime novels are beyond masterful." --Le Figaro Litteraire

Praise for Michel Bussi

"Michel Bussi is one of France's most ingenious crime writers." --The Sunday Times, about Don't Let Go

"After the Crash is a jolt to the senses and a jolt to the heart--both rollicking and labyrinthine, both wildly propulsive and yet rich with grand drama, and with a cast of characters--particularly its sumptuously powerful women--you won't forget." ―Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

"After the Crash opens with a wrenching scene that will serve as the mystery's terrifically compelling central conceit . . . sit back and go along for the ride . . . Bussi's tucked a lot of enjoyable--and enjoyably surprising--pieces into his puzzle." ―Boston Globe

"This fascinating tale of intrigue and murder delves into complicated family bonds as it builds to a surprising and shocking conclusion." --Publishers Weekly on After the Crash

"Fast-paced and action-packed, this thriller is adrenaline pumping. Bussi offers a smart, complex mystery with plenty of plausible twists and surprises . . . An engrossing story that's almost impossible to put down." --Shelf Awareness on After the Crash

"[A] dazzling, unexpected, and haunting masterpiece." --The Daily Mail on Black Water Lilies

About the Author

Michel Bussi is a professor of geopolitics and one of France's bestselling authors of the past decade. His novels have been published in 35 different countries. He is also the author of After the Crash (Hachette, 2016) and Black Water Lilies (Hachette, 2017). Shaun Whiteside is a Northern Irish translator of French, Dutch, German, and Italian literature. He has translated many novels, including Manituana(Verso, 2010) and Altai(Verso, 2013) by Wu Ming, The Weekend(Pantheon, 2010) by Bernhard Schlink, and Magdalene the Sinner(Harper, 1997) by Lilian Faschinger, which won him the Schlegel-Tieck Prize for German Translation in 1997.