The story is about the Mara family, an ordinary family. The mother Madeline is a fire-fighter, she is very committed to her job and her missions. She is married to Christian, a city hall employee who spends a lot of time taking care of their three children: Eliot, Anna, and Michael, Madeline's son from her first marriage. The family has always dreamt of a bigger apartment. So when Christian is offered the job of guardian at the Bercy cemetery, which includes a big company house, they think their lives could change completely.
But you can't do what you want when you live at the heart of a cemetery. They are compelled to stay inside. And the house isn't the dream house they hoped for: it is damp, and poorly heated.
This is how the family starts falling into pieces: Michael no longer goes to class
Anna keeps getting sick
Eliot is bullied at school
and Christian spends more time painting strange pictures than taking care of his family as he used to.
Madeline knows that something's wrong, and that staying in this house might completely break her family. So she will be the one to save them all.
- In an extremely original atmosphere and setting, family is the main subject.
- The story begins with a light atmosphere, which becomes darker and darker, until words are released, secrets are revealed and the family can find its way to a common and bright future.
Sophie Loubière dedicated herself to journalism for 17 years. She published her first novel in 1999. She's the author of nine novels, along with numerous short stories and radio dramas. In 2011, she gained international recognition with her novel The Stone Boy and the support of her now dear friend, Thomas H.Cook.
In addition to being a novelist, Sophie is an Associate of the SACD (Dramatics Authors and Conductors Society), and thus works to defend, promote and support authors in their environment. She's also a specialist in film music.