L'île aux trente cercueils

French language

Published Nov. 3, 1969

ISBN:: 978-2-253-00473-8

(1 review)

The Seret of Sarek (L'Île aux trente cercueils / The Island of Thirty Coffins) is a French novel by Maurice Leblanc, 1919. The action begins in France in 1917. The heroine of the story is Véronique d'Hergemont. Fourteen years ago, in 1903, her father, Professor Antoine d'Hergemont, kidnapped her baby and received the news that the two had drowned in the sea. It was her father's revenge on Véronique's marriage to Count Vorski. While watching a film, Véronique spots her childhood signature "V d'H" mysteriously written on the side of a hut in the background of a scene. Her visit to the location of the film shoot deepens the mystery, but also provides further clues that point her towards long-lost relations and a great secret from ancient history: She finds a prophecy: "Four women on the cross, stone of God that gives life or death. Thirty sacrifices for thirty coffins". …

The Seret of Sarek (L'Île aux trente cercueils / The Island of Thirty Coffins) is a French novel by Maurice Leblanc, 1919. The action begins in France in 1917. The heroine of the story is Véronique d'Hergemont. Fourteen years ago, in 1903, her father, Professor Antoine d'Hergemont, kidnapped her baby and received the news that the two had drowned in the sea. It was her father's revenge on Véronique's marriage to Count Vorski. While watching a film, Véronique spots her childhood signature "V d'H" mysteriously written on the side of a hut in the background of a scene. Her visit to the location of the film shoot deepens the mystery, but also provides further clues that point her towards long-lost relations and a great secret from ancient history: She finds a prophecy: "Four women on the cross, stone of God that gives life or death. Thirty sacrifices for thirty coffins". When Véronique arrives on the island of Sarek, the prophecy comes true. Many people die horrific deaths and Véronique also ends up in a torture chamber. She faces the sinister forces. It's a secret that will require the services of a particular man to unravel.

2 editions

ganache@bouquins.zbeul.fr reviewed L'île aux trente cercueils by Maurice Leblanc

Review of 'LÎle aux trente cercueils' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Prenez une légende bretonne, une île isolée creusée de tunnels, un prince germano-polonais, des affaires de famille (mariage sans consentement du père de la mariée, enlèvement de la mariée, puis du fils), deux douzaines de bretons qui meurent dans les 30 premières pages et secouez bien. Il ne reste plus qu'à insérer Arsène Lupin dans le rôle de sauveur/clown et voilà.

Un Arsène Lupin assez noir : on ne rigole pas tous les jours seul sur une ile avec des tueurs invisibles et omnipotents. On meurt à tours de bras, mais on ressuscite aussi (seulement si on n'est pas breton). Et le gentleman comique cambrioleur n'arrive que sur la fin pour que l'on puisse finalement se marrer de cette aventure où 31 personnes meurent (sans compter les resurrections bien sur).