Les Mauvais Garcons (The Bad Boys) by Gary Hetherington

The title is not catchy at all. It's ordinary, plain, and even bland. I thought the novel is about a gang of adolescent boys getting into trouble like smoking, truancy, and other teenage misdemeanors that border to comical. However, as I read the first page, I was immediately proven wrong.

The novel tackles difficult global issues such as prostitution, poverty, addiction, and corruption in high places. These main themes may have been used in movies and other books before, but the author - Gary, presents them in a more relatable manner through impeccable writing and well-rounded characters.

This book is the 8th book in The Hugo Dechamp Investigates Series. This novel can be read as a stand-alone because the backstories of the key characters are strategically written throughout the rest of the story. The flashbacks perfectly tie in with what the lead characters are investigating.

The story is set in the romantic and glamorous city of Paris where everything seems to be cinematic and fabulous. Behind the veneer of a dreamy backdrop for the hopeful lovers, the city hides one of the gritty realities, a profession as old as time - prostitution. The lead character, Hugo is tasked by Jean Lenoir, the Minister of Justice to go to Paris to clear his name from a possible scandal when he was photographed with the young man who jumped from the Eiffel Tower. The photo was taken in the trendiest club in Paris days before the boy jumped to his death. The club is famous for its expensive service - young and beautiful prostitutes who are hooked on substances.

Hugo will work with a no-nonsense female investigator - Coco Brunhild, who is my favorite character in the novel. At first, Hugo is hesitant to leave his beloved town Montgenoux as he already established himself as the Captain of Police. His home life is also settled and blissful since he got married to a wonderful man named Ben. As Hugo and Coco dig deeper into the connection of Jean Lenoir with the young man photographed with him, the unlikely duo slowly realizes that they are untangling webs of lies, deceit, and secrecy hidden for years which implicate the most powerful people in the country - including the Catholic Church.

This novel is not your usual investigation plotline/cop action. There are no over the top car chase scenes or shoot outs. The investigation process is more cerebral - chasing paper trails, interpreting motives and actions, and fitting the missing pieces of the puzzles to form a bigger picture. If this style of investigative narrative is not your cup of tea, then this novel is not for you.

The stroke of genius displayed by the author is not in the description of overt violence, but in the painful portrayal of insidious psychological damage that abuse, addiction, and manipulation can do on anyone's psyche. There are a lot of twists and turns in this novel. In the hands of an over-ambitious writer, this narrative style can be easily abandoned by the readers. However, Gary's clever way of ending each chapter with a cliffhanger made me eagerly turn the next page to find the answers.

The characters in this novel are also well-rounded which makes them more relatable. Hugo can appear as stoic, but his stoicism makes him see through lies. He also has his trauma because he clearly has abandonment issues, but he is not the brooding type that uses his issues to act immaturely. He uses his issues to his advantage which makes him mature and intelligent. He also acknowledges his weaknesses, and he is never afraid to confront them. These characteristics in a protagonist are more relatable because being human is a complex combination of good, bad, and everything in between. The only time that a person can be considered evil is when he/she shows no signs of remorse. Hugo's character never compromises on his integrity, but Gary writes him in a way that he doesn't come off as overly righteous. Nothing is more annoying than a character who seems to be always right and always sees himself as the victim of circumstances. Gary also dares to make Hugo's character completely different from the mold - he is LGBTQ who is slowly embracing his sexuality while commanding the respect of the police force. This character is the reflection of our times - we are slowly seeing LGBTQ members beyond their sexuality. We see them with their strengths, weaknesses, and we are even ready to fight for their rights for equality especially in the thorny subject of marriage. The more we read about LGBTQ characters, the more we can see past their relationship and gender expression choices.

My favorite character is Coco Brunhild. She is messy, easily-frazzled, but above all, highly intelligent. She is unapologetic when it comes to embracing who she is at the core. Yes, she is a mother and a brilliant detective, but she never loses sight of who she is before she became either of the two. Coco's character challenges the expectations that we as modern women face. Yes, we can have it all - children, family, relationships, and friendship. However, to a certain degree, we are still expected to be calm, composed, and even presentable as we juggle the messiness of life. Modern women are expected to hold everything with grace and ease. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating for losing your shit in public, but the moment we say that we are having a hard time, most women are told to keep it together for the sake of the family. Coco allows herself to get overwhelmed especially in raising four children while having a promising career. She shows her vulnerability as a human being, but it never diminishes her capabilities as a mother and an investigator. Her blue-dyed hair represents her commitment to who she is as a person. It tells the reader that aside from being a mother and an investigator - she is first and foremost Coco. As a woman, I find that very empowering.

The unexpected ending of the story makes me want to read the next book to know what will happen to the mastermind of the prostitution ring. As I read the last page of the novel, I know that the next book will be thrilling and more engaging than this one. I cannot wait for how justice will be served to the men involved.

This novel is a must-read even if you haven't read the previous books in the series. The plot is cleverly written, but it will not make you feel dumb. You will not get lost in the technicalities of the investigation process but will be drawn to the emotional experiences of the investigators, the victims, and the suspects. This novel is an engaging read because the author never lost sight of the universal appeal of why people read. More than gaining knowledge, we read to feel so we can empathize with the life and plight of other people.