I was so pleased when my good friend Ali of the Heaven-Ali blog announced she was doing another Daphne du Maurier Reading Week and I was lucky enough to be able to borrow one of the remaining ones I had to read and fancied (I’ve previously read “Rebecca“, “Jamaica Inn” and “My Cousin Rachel” for her 2020 and 2021 Weeks). I had a choice of a few but came back with “The Scapegoat” and what can I say? Another cracking read!
Daphne du Maurier – “The Scapegoat”
(April 2022, borrowed from Ali)
He was my shadow or I was his, and we were bound to each other through eternity. (p. 210
It’s hard to review this one without giving away the plot. Basically, an English gent called John with no ties or family and a sort of job lecturing in French history on a part-time basis for a university is wandering around northern France on his way home from another summer’s trip when he encounters his double! Next thing he knows, he’s been duped, tricked and drugged and is faced with the temptation of taking on a different person’s life – someone with a full life, living in a chateau with a large extended family, but also someone who turns out to be Not Very Nice, having led an idle life of minor cruelties, complete with wife and two mistresses, not engaging in the family firm; a wastrel.
Of course John could go to the police but where would the book be then? When family retainer Gaston appears with a car, off he sweeps to the chateau and what is surely longer than a week trying to work out who he’s supposed to be. And here du Maurier is her usual expert self at both instilling alarm and suspense and also at the details. How will John/Jean work out where his room is? What exactly did Jean to do ruin his siblings’ lives? Who are these gifts for and why? What happened during the Second World War, now 15 years ago, to divide the family?
Through a mixture of detective work, happenstance and having the truth shouted at him by various exasperated family members and employees, he works out what’s what and then starts to seek to change things – especially when a couple of events really shock him. Why does he do this? The chance to engage with a family, I think – he loves them, and he says he does. Only one activity of his goes wrong, when he thinks he’s being clever. When he acts out of a redemptive motivation, you begin to think his plans might work and improve matters.
Of course, all good things will come to an end. Where is Jean? Has he taken up John’s quiet life in London? Well, um …
The humour. and the justice, struck me at last. I had played about with human life; he had not. I had done my best to change his household; he had merely yawned and taken his ease. I had meddled; he had only spied. (p. 358)
I really could not work out what was going to happen. I wish the ending could have been different, but how could it have been, really (I see this is what I thought of “True Biz”, too, that very different novel: how interesting!). And who guessed John’s secret? Only those you would think might do. One weird thing I noticed was that the language read in a slightly stilted way I’ve noticed before with DdM which reminds me very much of the translation of Alain-Fournier’s “Le Grand Meaulnes” – more obvious here as it also treats ancient chateaux in the French countryside. An excellent read which I’m very glad was chosen for me!
What have you read for this Week? Have you read this one? Do link to your review in the comments if you did.
MarinaSofia
May 10, 2022 @ 08:28:48
I know I read this one when I was in my teens but I cannot remember the ending now… Embarrassing!
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Liz Dexter
May 10, 2022 @ 08:47:37
It’s quite a complicated plot so that’s fair enough! I feel like everyone else read DdM in their teens, it’s funny coming to her in my late 40s / 50s!
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MarinaSofia
May 10, 2022 @ 08:53:39
I adored her back then but am almost afraid to go back now, in case she doesn’t live up to my memory!
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Liz Dexter
May 10, 2022 @ 08:55:29
I know what you mean, but I can confirm she is an exciting page-turner at any age!
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mallikabooks15
May 10, 2022 @ 09:28:06
This is one I been wanting to read but have still not found a copy of. But a very intriguing plot and I love how she manages to lead one down the wrong path quite convincingly.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 17:56:20
Yes, or you just don’t know which of many paths she will take. I highly recommend this one!
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mallikabooks15
May 12, 2022 @ 14:58:16
I hope I can find one in time for next year. I’m quite enjoying Branwell Bronte, which I also planned to read so, happy I picked that up finally.
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Laura
May 10, 2022 @ 09:37:43
Ah, I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I must re-read it. I’m a bit obsessed with doppelgänger novels – they offer writers so many possibilities.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 17:57:06
Ooh, which ones do you recommend? I have read Brat Farrar years ago and always feel I’ve read the book that G. Depardieu film was based on …
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Laura
May 12, 2022 @ 14:31:47
My favourite doppelgänger novel is The Likeness by Tana French. I don’t think it’s strictly about doppelgängers, but I also enjoyed James Hogg’s classics The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, which deals with ‘shadow selves’, and James Robertson’s modern take on Hogg, The Testament of Gideon Mack.
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Brona's Books
May 10, 2022 @ 10:26:07
I haven’t read this one Liz. I read her short story, The Birds last year (it was all I had time for then!) So I was determined to finish the collection this year. I only have one more to go tonight. They have been tremendous, all so different in setting, mood, tone etc. Can highly recommend them.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 17:57:39
Oh fabulous, well done! I think they might be a bit scary for me, to be honest, but I know lots of people rate them highly.
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Helen
May 10, 2022 @ 11:43:44
I’m glad you enjoyed this! I’ve read all of du Maurier’s novels now and this one is in my top three or four.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 17:58:23
Oh goodness, that is a project, there are so many. I don’t fancy all of them, but I’d put this up there with Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel and above Jamaica Inn which was a bit too disturbing for me!
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Cathy746books
May 10, 2022 @ 11:46:44
I read this one last year and really enjoyed it.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 17:58:53
I recall reading a good few reviews of this one last year which made it one of the two I wanted to try this time round!
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CLM (@ConMartin)
May 10, 2022 @ 12:18:34
I don’t think I ever reviewed this one but I really like it and persuaded my book group to read it about five years ago, which was a reread for me. I also wondered what would happen at the end. I do love impersonation stories although they also scare me – you root for the person not to get caught but maybe they deserve to be caught! You also need to have a certain suspension of disbelief. Brat Farrar is more convincing than impersonating someone a family saw a few days ago. Or that Tana French where the police detective moves into a house where they know the missing woman extremely well, which did not seem a big plausible, although fascinating to read.
I read The Glass-Blowers this week and so was also thinking about The Scapegoat because both are set in the rural countryside.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 17:59:50
I loved the rural French setting and I’m thinking about The Glass-Blowers – I’ll look out for your review, and I think Ali might be reading it, too. Certainly a lot to think about and yes, nail biting and she did all the tiny details so well!
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Lisa Hill
May 10, 2022 @ 13:23:28
Loved this book, she’s such an insightful writer…
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:00:09
She is, and so technically good!
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hopewellslibraryoflife
May 10, 2022 @ 14:44:29
“It’s hard to review this one without giving away the plot.” Isn’t that the way with each of her books? Amazon gives a huge spoiler away in The King’s General–no wonder so many haven’t found it is exciting as I did–I didn’t read that blub. In spite of this problem with her books, your review is very good.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:00:36
Oh, that is a shame! And thank you, I’m glad I hit the mark with the review!
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madamebibilophile
May 10, 2022 @ 17:59:20
I nearly bought this in my favourite charity bookshop last week, then didn’t as I’m making half-hearted attempts at book-buying restraint. I knew I’d regret it – this sounds marvellous! Book-buying restraint is a terrible idea 😀
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:01:31
Oh no! Can you get back there though of course someone will have snaffled it in the meantime. I try not to ban myself as I know what happens then, although I have paused now my enlarged TBR bookcase is completely full!
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kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2022 @ 19:23:02
I haven’t read this one, Liz, though I *have* read about it and it sounds fascinating. I have two possible DDMs but alas I doubt I will get to them this week – but maybe the book will push me into reading them!
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:02:03
Ooh, I bet you’d like this one, with its suspense and French setting!
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heavenali
May 10, 2022 @ 19:40:28
So glad you enjoyed this so much. 😁 it’s very compelling. I always find DDM is hard to review without spoilers.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:02:37
Thank you so much for the recommendation and loan! Do I need to submit it somewhere or are you just keeping a list?
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heavenali
May 11, 2022 @ 18:24:39
I am putting links on the ddmreadingweek-2022 page on my blog.
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JacquiWine
May 11, 2022 @ 08:53:29
I’ve heard so many great things about this book, and your enticing review leaves me feeling all the more intrigued by it. My next DdM novel, I suspect!
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:03:13
Knowing that I and other people I trust really liked it, I’m pretty sure you will, too. Hope you get to it soon and enjoy it!
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Grab the Lapels
May 11, 2022 @ 14:30:31
“Of course John could go to the police but where would the book be then?” Hahaha, this cracked me up, as whenever I ask my husband, “Why did they do ____?!” during a movie, he replies, “Because it helps the plot.”
This one sounds rather interesting and has loads of Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith in it, a book that I loved. I already have this one on my TBR, so thanks for reassuring me about it!
Today I’ll be finishing Frenchman’s Creek and will put up the review next week.
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Liz Dexter
May 11, 2022 @ 18:04:13
I do think that quite a lot and it struck me hard here! Ha! I hope you are able to pick this off the TBR and give it a go, and I’ll look forward to your review of Frenchman’s Creek, not one I’ve read myself.
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Simon T (StuckinaBook)
May 13, 2022 @ 19:31:00
I loved this novel – agree that the ending isn’t what I’d have chosen, but I can see why she chose it.
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Liz Dexter
May 19, 2022 @ 13:21:26
Yes, indeed – but I’m glad you agree with me!
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thecontentreader
May 19, 2022 @ 13:06:35
Unable to follow any reading challenges for the time being. However, I have been thinking of reading all of du Maurier’s books. Hopefully, get around it soon.
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Liz Dexter
May 19, 2022 @ 13:22:00
That would be fun, although all that drama would put you through the wringer somewhat!
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Book reviews – Maud Cairnes – “Strange Journey” | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
May 29, 2022 @ 07:46:41
State of the TBR – June 2022 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Jun 01, 2022 @ 09:34:21
marymtf
Jun 23, 2022 @ 03:27:21
I first read The Scapegoat when I was nineteen. Been rereading it every few years since then. At nineteen, I liked my happy endings and all preferred loose endings tied up in a nice bow. Came across a black and white movie and it had a satisfying Hollywood ending, but I was older then and not satisfied with it, and glad I hadn’t watched it before I read the book. Life is too messy for happy ever after endings. 🤭
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Liz Dexter
Jun 23, 2022 @ 09:27:55
Welcome to my blog and thank you for your comment! How lovely to have got to this one so early and had the chance to re-read it often – I love tales of re-reading, and how books change as we change. I agree the ending was done well but I just wanted the other possibility to happen!
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peterleyland
Feb 26, 2023 @ 09:48:32
Don’t know that one Liz but the reading group read the excellent My Cousin Rachel recently and I used Rebecca in a WEA Romantic Novel course. An underrated writer, I believe.
This weekI have begun The Lonely Londoners which we discussed. What an amazing style Sam Selvon has. Will probably finish soon and be ready for Giovanni’s Room, another book group choice…
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Liz Dexter
Feb 26, 2023 @ 10:33:24
Yes, I have liked both those in other DDM reading weeks. I’m glad you’re enjoying The Lonely Londoners, let me know thoughts when you’ve read it!
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