Book Review: The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous Deception

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous Deception     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Emmanuel Carrere
Class/Genre:   Non-Fiction   Mystery   True Crime
Picador, Jan 2002, $13.00, 191 pp.

Jean-Claude Romand lived his life based on a series of lies starting with persuading his family, friends, and mistress that he worked as a doctor for the World Health Organization. He became so good at BS piling higher and deeper that almost two decades pass before the mountain of deception crumbles. When his layers of mendacity becomes known starting with the fact that he never completed medical school, Romand covers up by killing his family and attempting to commit suicide.

Emmanuel CarrŠre tells the true crime story of Monsieur Romand while also trying to dig deep into the psychological base that led Romand to outrageously fabricate a fantasy to his loved ones and ultimately caused him to murder them to protect his prevaricated life. Though intriguing in many ways and easy to read and follow, Monsieur Carrere breaks the first rule of the genre by bringing too much of his own life and philosophy into the narrative. Still, THE ADVERSARY remains a fascinating work that hard core genre fans will want to read.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner