Simone Lafray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball

Book Review of S.P.O’Farrell ’s novel, Simone Lafray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball 

My Rating: 5*

Pages: 138

Publisher: Brandylane Publishers, Inc

Holidays bring in unsurprising excitement regardless of one’s age or station in life. Close on its heels accompany memories of our younger days, age of innocence and idealism. For the young, it is always a time to indulge in all their fantasies, be intrepid and embark either on some adventure or drown oneself in a book that voyueristically affords the pleasure of being in one. 

S.P.O’Farrell’s  brilliantly evocative, racy detective fiction, Simone Lafray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball, fulfils all of these desires and is also in a league of its own. 

From the cover page, akin to one of those beautiful fairy tales, this 138 page novel draws you into its world of espionage, patisserie and carries you to a crescendo at the Chocolatiers’ Ball, giving you a crash course in French, pastry-making as well as into the workings of an Intelligence Service. From the opening lines, the first person narrative with Simone talking to us about her consuming Moby Dick in a couple of hours, to her analysis of how adults are guilty of compartmentalising children into two stereotypes, the easy tone, diction that is appealing to both adults and the adolescents, nothing about this novel would limit it to 12 year olds. The erudite Simone, admits to her plain appearance cleverly revealing how invaluable it is for an espion to be indistinct. She ensures that we marvel at her skills and accomplishments by candidly sharing that she is one of the best sleuths at the Intelligence and we see her in action when she cleverly displays this perception by identifying the location from where her mother calls. The exposition in short, is masterly and you are hooked straight away. 

Thereafter, Farrell ensures that we notice the stark contrast in characterisation by depicting the vivacious, adorable younger sister, Mia and their energetic little pet, Gigi. He peppers it to perfection, by presenting the vibrant friend, the V, who appears at crucial points in this quick read. As we seamlessly move from one “rue” in Paris to another, and marvel at the goings on in a small but a legendary Lafray’s Patisserie, the novel, like a Keatsian poem, is a treat to the senses. While the action in the patisserie indulges our senses with delectable descriptions of truffles and tarts, quick trips to Simone’s room and her cherished balcony gets us to ruminate with her. Likewise, spending time with Mia’s exploits in the park and at her father’s patisserie delights us and breaks the tension ushered in by the malevolent and mysterious “La Volpe Rossa” or The Red  Fox. It is impossible to not applaud the discretion and discipline of this young espion, who negotiates her way through the world of adults and those younger than her so effortlessly. 

Her trip to the museum is a treat to the readers as we glean insights into the Impressionist artworks of Jean Patrice Claude, and are transfixed by renowned museums of Paris such as the Musèe d’Orsay, while constantly being aware of the ever-vigilant Intelligence and the sci fi gadgets that usually accompany the exploits of the Secret Service the novel despite being a detective fiction, essays familial relationships, sibling rivalry that leads to a catastrophe, honour even in an outlaw, ego that fawns crime and the good old importance of values and virtue. At times, it is hard to believe the protagonist is merely 12 years of age, but instances such as Simone being wide-eyed at the Marcel’s Couture, where she lets herself be a young girl in the company of the vibrant V, nudge us to acknowledge the genius of this young sleuth. So, for all of these reasons, and to especially revel in the penmanship of SPO’Farrel, his felicity with words, imagery and eye for detail, pick up a copy of Simone LaFray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball. Psst. This newest detective on the block is here to stay and has all strappings of a legend. Moreover, this is the first book in the series of the 6-8 books that Steve Patrick O’Farrel plans to write. The latest feather in the cap for Farrell is that his book has already made it to the top 100 books in the US. 

An added pleasure to the reading of this engrossing novel was my interaction with its writer, S.P.O’Farrell, wherein he recounts the tale behind the tale in an equally captivating manner. Once you complete reading the book, I recommend you watch him in conversation on The Writer Talks! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl38tsNMS3M

- Asha G Kumar

8 January, 2021