The Prix du thriller romand 2022 was awarded Thursday evening in Morges to the Geneva author Alain Bagnoud, for his novel “From the occult avenger”. The jury praised a satirical and effective work.
The Romand thriller priceendowed with 3000 francs, was given to Alain Bagnoud on Thursday evening at the Casino de Morges, as a curtain raiser for the Livre sur les quais festival.
With “From the occult avenger”, published by BSN Press in Lausanne, the 63-year-old writer was preferred to the other two finalists, Marie-Christine Horn for “In the lake of fire and sulfur”, and Catherine Rolland with “The Inexistents”.
A first experience in the thriller
This is the first time that Alain Bagnoud, who has a long literary career behind him, has embarked on the thriller. “He handles all the codes, while adding a satirical and playful tone”, notes Isabelle Falconnier, delegate for book policy for the City of Lausanne and member of the jury.
The novel, which takes place in Geneva, plunges the reader into the worlds of politics, contemporary art and business. The jury liked this “contemporary” novel which reproduces “the magic formula” of good thrillers, namely “social outlook, humor and dark atmosphere”, continues Isabelle Falconnier.
A modestly Balzacian work
One of Alain Bagnoud’s reference authors, he confided in an interview with RTS, is Balzac. “I don’t write like him at all, but he shows the power of money, intrigue, social class,” he explained. “I may have tried to do a bit of the same thing, modestly, on my scale, in this thriller”.
Alain Bagnoud will again be present at Le Livre on the quays all day Sunday for signings.
oang with ats