Description

Book Synopsis

**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**

On the Saturday morning of January 9, 1993, while Jean Claude Romand was killing his wife and children, I was with mine in a parent-teacher meeting…

With these chilling first words, acclaimed master of psychological suspense, Emmanuel Carrère, begins his exploration of the double life of a respectable doctor, eighteen years of lies, five murders, and the extremes to which ordinary people can go.

Discover the true story that is ‘beyond the imagination of even the best crime writer' (Sunday Times)

'A disturbing look at the dark side of human nature that is powerfully written and beautifully told' Louis Theroux

'Mesmerising' Sunday Telegraph

'Stunning' Evening Standard

'Unputdownable' Washington Post

'A masterpiece' New York Times



Trade Review
A disturbing look at the dark side of human nature that is powerfully written and beautifully told -- Louis Theroux
The story told here is truly beyond the imagination for even the best crime writer * Sunday Times *
The mesmerizing true crime tale of an apparently ordinary man whose life mutates in the space of a few blood-splattering hours from the realm of Renoir to that of Stephen King * People *
He’s the best kind of writer, not just a bestseller but a man who is not afraid to leave the comfort zone of his desk, go out into the world, take risks, and get his shoes dirty * Observer *
Unputdownable... Imagine a sleek, twenty-first century version of In Cold Blood * Washington Post *
A triumph of insight and concision, brilliant both as a psychological study and as the portrayal of a community * Independent on Sunday *
A masterpiece... It's a level of moral discomfort almost without equal in literature * New York Times *
Savagely intense and utterly compelling... This is his paciest and cleanest-cut book...few books could better deserve a second chance to find new readers * Sunday Times *
The Adversary is exactly the idea I have of a modern novel: struggling deftly with facts and with itself
An absolutely stunning piece of work, totally involving and unforgettable * Evening Standard *
This is the sort of story I dreamed of covering when I was a journalist. The sort of story for which the phrase You couldn’t make it up was invented. The Adversary takes a deep, mesmerising dive into the darkness of a human soul. There were moments when I truly could not believe what I was reading. But unlike other serial killer noirs sitting on my shelves, this horror is real. And so much more chilling for that.
[A] book that fairly struck me over the head was The Adversary… it’s the coexistence of almost unimaginably variant realities within a family that haunts you. -- Megan Nolan * New Statesman, *Books of the Year* *
A remarkably thoughtful and unnerving book...mesmerising * Sunday Telegraph *
Profoundly disturbing...a remarkable and undoubtedly important book - perhaps even a necessary one * Daily Express *
A fascinating meditation on Jean-Claude Romand and what his bizarre life might mean... Carrère's inquiry is highly personal, written in lucid prose...the narrative is often mesmerizing, and revealing about the fragility of human relationships * New York Times *

The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous

    Product form

    £9.49

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £9.99 – you save £0.50 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 17 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Emmanuel Carrère

    15 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous by Emmanuel Carrère

      Publisher: Vintage Publishing
      Publication Date: 06/07/2017
      ISBN13: 9781784705800, 978-1784705800
      ISBN10: 1784705802

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      **SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**

      On the Saturday morning of January 9, 1993, while Jean Claude Romand was killing his wife and children, I was with mine in a parent-teacher meeting…

      With these chilling first words, acclaimed master of psychological suspense, Emmanuel Carrère, begins his exploration of the double life of a respectable doctor, eighteen years of lies, five murders, and the extremes to which ordinary people can go.

      Discover the true story that is ‘beyond the imagination of even the best crime writer' (Sunday Times)

      'A disturbing look at the dark side of human nature that is powerfully written and beautifully told' Louis Theroux

      'Mesmerising' Sunday Telegraph

      'Stunning' Evening Standard

      'Unputdownable' Washington Post

      'A masterpiece' New York Times



      Trade Review
      A disturbing look at the dark side of human nature that is powerfully written and beautifully told -- Louis Theroux
      The story told here is truly beyond the imagination for even the best crime writer * Sunday Times *
      The mesmerizing true crime tale of an apparently ordinary man whose life mutates in the space of a few blood-splattering hours from the realm of Renoir to that of Stephen King * People *
      He’s the best kind of writer, not just a bestseller but a man who is not afraid to leave the comfort zone of his desk, go out into the world, take risks, and get his shoes dirty * Observer *
      Unputdownable... Imagine a sleek, twenty-first century version of In Cold Blood * Washington Post *
      A triumph of insight and concision, brilliant both as a psychological study and as the portrayal of a community * Independent on Sunday *
      A masterpiece... It's a level of moral discomfort almost without equal in literature * New York Times *
      Savagely intense and utterly compelling... This is his paciest and cleanest-cut book...few books could better deserve a second chance to find new readers * Sunday Times *
      The Adversary is exactly the idea I have of a modern novel: struggling deftly with facts and with itself
      An absolutely stunning piece of work, totally involving and unforgettable * Evening Standard *
      This is the sort of story I dreamed of covering when I was a journalist. The sort of story for which the phrase You couldn’t make it up was invented. The Adversary takes a deep, mesmerising dive into the darkness of a human soul. There were moments when I truly could not believe what I was reading. But unlike other serial killer noirs sitting on my shelves, this horror is real. And so much more chilling for that.
      [A] book that fairly struck me over the head was The Adversary… it’s the coexistence of almost unimaginably variant realities within a family that haunts you. -- Megan Nolan * New Statesman, *Books of the Year* *
      A remarkably thoughtful and unnerving book...mesmerising * Sunday Telegraph *
      Profoundly disturbing...a remarkable and undoubtedly important book - perhaps even a necessary one * Daily Express *
      A fascinating meditation on Jean-Claude Romand and what his bizarre life might mean... Carrère's inquiry is highly personal, written in lucid prose...the narrative is often mesmerizing, and revealing about the fragility of human relationships * New York Times *

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account