by Joël Dicker
The beach at Goose Cove, October 17, 2010
“Rumor has it you have a new book, writer.”
“That’s true.”
I was sitting next to Gahalowood, facing the ocean. We were drinking beer. The sun was going down.
“To the latest success of the talented Marcus Goldman!” Gahalowood declared. “What’s it about?”
“I’m sure you’ll read it. You’re in it, after all.”
“Really? Can I take a look now?”
“No chance, Sergeant.”
“Well, if it’s bad I’ll expect a refund.”
“Goldman doesn’t offer refunds anymore, Sergeant.”
He laughed.
“Tell me, writer, what gave you the idea of rebuilding this house and turning it into a retreat for young writers?”
“I don’t know. It just came to me.”
“The Harry Quebert House for Writers. It’s got a nice ring to it. You writers have a great life, you know. Coming here to look at the ocean and write books … I’d like a job like that. Have you seen today’s New York Times?”
“No.”
He took a newspaper clipping from his pocket and unfolded it, then read out loud: “The Seagulls of Somerset is a must-read new novel. Luther Caleb, wrongly accused of murdering Nola Kellergan, was a brilliant writer whose talent was never discovered during his lifetime. Schmid & Hanson do honor to his memory by publishing a posthumous edition of the scintillating novel he wrote about the relationship between Nola Kellergan and Harry Quebert. This wonderful novel tells how Harry Quebert was inspired by his love for Nola Kellergan to write The Origin of Evil.”
He stopped reading and laughed.
“What’s funny, Sergeant?” I asked.
“Nothing. You’re just brilliant, Goldman. Brilliant!”
“The police are not the only ones who can dispense justice, Sergeant.”
We finished our beers.
“I’m going back to New York tomorrow,” I said.
He nodded. “Drop by from time to time, writer. Just to say hi. It would make my wife happy.”
“I’d love to.”
“Oh, you never told me—what’s the title of your new book?”
“The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair.”
He looked thoughtful. We walked back to our cars. A flock of seagulls crossed the sky; we watched them for a moment. Then Gahalowood asked: “So what are you going to do now, writer?”
“One day Harry said to me: ‘You must give meaning to your life. Two things can make life meaningful: books and love.’ Thanks to Harry I already have books. Now I am setting off in search of love.”
BURROWS COLLEGE
congratulates
Marcus P. GOLDMAN
Winner of the University Boxing Championship 2002
And his trainer:
Harry L. Quebert
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My heartfelt thanks to Ernie Pinkas, of Somerset, New Hampshire, for the valuable help he gave me.
Also to Sergeant Perry Gahalowood (New Hampshire state police) and Officer Philip Thomas (Alabama state police highway patrol).
Last, special thanks to my assistant, Denise, without whom I would not have been able to finish this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Day of the Disappearance (Saturday, August 30, 1975)
PROLOGUE
October 2008 (thirty-three years after the disappearance)
PART ONE
Writers’ Disease
(eight months before the book’s publication)
31. In the Caverns of Memory
30. Marcus the Magnificent
29. Is it Possible to Fall in Love with a Fifteen-Year-Old Girl?
28. The Importance of Knowing How to Fall (Burrows University, Massachusetts, 1998–2002)
27. Where the Hydrangeas Were Planted
26. N-O-L-A (Somerset, New Hampshire, Saturday, June 14, 1975)
25. About Nola
24. Memories of Independence Day
23. Those Who Knew Her Well
22. Police Investigation
21. On the Difficulties of Love
20. The Day of the Garden Party
19. The Harry Quebert Affair
18. Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts, late July, 1975)
17. Escape Attempt
16. The Origin of Evil (Somerset, New Hampshire, August 11–20, 1975)
15. Before the Storm
PART TWO
Writers’ Cure
(writing the book)
14. August 30, 1975
13. The Storm
12. The Man Who Painted Pictures
11. Waiting for Nola
10. In Search of a Fifteen-Year-Old Girl (Somerset, New Hampshire, September 1–18, 1975)
9. A Black Monte Carlo
8. The Identity of Anonymous
7. After Nola
6. The Barnaski Principle
PART THREE
Writers’ Paradise
(the book’s publication)
5. The Girl Who Touched the Heart of America
4. Sweet Home, Alabama
3. Election Day
2. Endgame
1. The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair
EPILOGUE
October 2009 (one year after the book’s publication)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
JOËL DICKER was born in Geneva in 1985. The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair was shortlisted for the Prix Goncourt and won the Grand Prix du Roman de l’Académie Française and the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens. It has sold more than two million copies across Europe.
SAM TAYLOR’S translated works include Laurent Binet’s award-winning novel HHhH. His own novels have been translated into ten languages.