The Slow Waltz of Turtles: A Novel

The Slow Waltz of Turtles is the second novel in the Joséphine series by French journalist and author, Katherine Pancol. It is translated from the original French by William Rodarmor. Some six months after Paris learned the truth about Joséphine Cortès novel, things are very different: she and Zoé live in a spacious apartment; Hortense is studying fashion in London; Iris is in a psychiatric clinic; Phillippe and Alexandre are living in London, as are Shirley and Gary; Marcel, Josiane and Junior are living happily together; Henriette is bent on revenge.

Despite her success as a novelist, Jo shuns the limelight, continuing to lead a quiet life: she gradually gets to know her building's tenants; catches sight of a familiar face on the Metro; encounters a reclusive-looking walker on her daily jogs around the lake; finds herself adopting a dog; shares a forbidden kiss in the kitchen at Christmas; all the while trying to gain inspiration for another book.

Jo is shocked when an acquaintance is brutally stabbed to death, moreso because the attack closely resembles one Jo suffered just weeks earlier, in which she narrowly escaped death. When a third woman is stabbed, also fatally, and again known to Jo, she begins to wonder about those around her.

In this excellent sequel, Pancol develops her characters further: Joséphine is still frustratingly lacking in self-confidence, but getting better at standing up for herself; Hortense is becoming a remarkably mature young woman; Zoé hits her teens and falls in love; Iris remains unsurprisingly shallow; Phillippe seems to oscillate between resolute and uncertain; Shirley continues to provide wise counsel from afar; Marcel and Josiane may seem a bit stereotypical, but Junior is an absolute delight.

Pancol certainly packs a lot into this dose of Joséphine and co: murders, suicides (successful and not), a lost dog, divorce, assaults, young love, a precocious baby, a schizophrenic, a busy-body, depression, witchcraft, mental illness, an acrimonious residents' co-op meeting and an apparent serial killer.

With a last paragraph that will bring a smile to the most cynical reader's lips, this is another brilliant read from this best-selling French author, and fans will wonder how long they have to wait for an English translation of the third book, The Central Park Squirrels are Sad on Monday.

With thanks to Bookstr and Allen&Unwin; for this copy to read and review.