Irene    by Pierre LeMaitre Order:  USA  Can Mobius, 2015 (2014) Hardcover, Softcover      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth If you are in the least bit squeamish, maybe you should give Irène by Pierre Lamaitre a pass. However, if blood, gore and a real, honest-to-goodness psychopath with an electric saw is more your style, this is definitely your book. Obtain a copy, settle down and prepare for the read of your life. Irène is the first of a trilogy. Alex and Camille are the second and third. The Commandant of police, Camille Verhoeven, looks more like Toulouse-Lautrec than Sherlock Holmes! And while being confronted by murders no investigator would wish thrust upon them, his wife is expecting their first child. A very important point in the plot. Ghastly murders are, of course, headline news – eventually going global. As investigations continue, Verhoeven realizes that each murder is set up to copy a murder/mystery novel. His attempts to get on the same wavelength as the murderer to forestall any more killings create some pretty tense police work. When the criminal goes one step too far, the plot moves ahead in leaps and bounds. As the tension builds, the Commandant takes a bold step to stop what the murderer feels is the ultimate action – one that will make his name live on. The last few pages will have you gasping for breath as you read of the final act of this very riveting and absorbing book. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews