Another little gem from Pascal Garnier. In this one, “vermin exterminator” (the term vermin being used somewhat loosely) Simon is coming to the end of his life but has one more mission to accomplish. A chance meeting sees him recruit naïve and rather simple Bernard to be his chauffeur. It’s not long before Bernard’s duties turn out to be rather more than just driving a car. Full of Garnier’s trademark black humour and his unlikely but always somehow just about credible scenarios, this is a wonderfully enjoyable and macabre short novel and I think one of the best Garnier tales I have so far read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Gallic Books for allowing me a free copy of How's The Pain? Never having read Mr Garnier's work I was interested to see what it's all about. Firstly it should be noted that it is more a novella than a full length novel but it seems to be the right length for what it has to say (plenty). It opens with Simon preparing for his suicide and then flashes back to how he got to that point. Simon is a pest controller, only the pests in question are human. He is on his last job but is seriously ill so, on a whim, he hires Bernard to drive him to the job. What happens on the journey is seriously funny.
The contrast between Simon and Bernard is stark. Simon doesn't much care for people and seems to be hard through and through whereas Bernard is pretty thick, naive, unambitious and easily taken advantage of but he is full of goodness with a kind heart. It is never said why Simon picks him as his driver but, at the end of his life, maybe he wants a little light in his life or, more in keeping with his character, he wants to corrupt a simple soul.
Mr Garnier packs a lot in to this short novel - human relationships, alcoholism, manipulation and through it all the malignant presence of Simon and his illness, the metaphor of sick body reflecting the sick mind. As I said the novel is savagely funny but Simon's manipulation of Bernard is heartbreaking. If you want a short, sharp read which is out of the ordinary in the crime genre then I heartily recommend How's The Pain?

More amusing than heavy noir. The adventure has a few misfires as plans derail. As with any road trip, plenty of amusing characters stumbled upon. Life changes for all parties involved including spectators. No ones life will be the same in the end.

Story has an overall balance with the scales leaning towards clever satire with a touch of gritty.

As always the translation is well done, great job by Emily Boyce.

Thank you Net Galley. This is a tightly written novella which, like many of the author's books is a dark, humorous, crime/noir piece of writing. It is well translated too. The book is perfect for reading any time and will keep you turning the pages. Thank you once again for introducing me to this author.

Right up there among the many Garnier books I've had the pleasure of reading through netgalley, this acerbic look at rural French life is perhaps not his most cohesive book, in that it opens out to several locations and strands, but is one of the better. It's just remarkably fresh and breezy – compellingly easy to read – and yet so dark, concerning as it does a most unlikely family formed of loners. Death natural and forced is ever-present, and for once the famed comedy of the author really does come across – at times in other books I've never been close to seeing them as humorous. Lifelike and truthful, yes, but comedic no. This slice of life is well worth a look. Four and a half stars.

this is the classic best of French 'noir' - alongside Manchette, and the other great noir-ist writers: a naif is taken on by a dying hit man and the genius of the novel is that we know where it's going right from the beginning - giving us the inside track to watch events unfolding toward just where we know they're going - and strangely the hit man is redeemed by his embrace of the naif, and yet he makes Bernard complicit in a crime - white washed by the time we get to the conclusion chapter. Utterly gripping and I could not stop reading. A real find for me.

Perhaps my experience was tainted because I had too much exposure to Garnier's work over too short of a period of time - but this novel was disappointing through and through. Noir gone Gallic with characters that fuzz with unreality.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The title of this Garnier novella comes from an African greeting. Rather than ask how one is doing, it is their custom to ask “How’s the pain?” That sums up the tone and style of this darkly humorous tale perfectly.

This is my fourth Garnier book and I must say that he uses the novella style to maximum effect. Precisely the correct length so that the humor remains sharp and the darkness does not overwhelm—a perfect balance.

I am becoming quite a fan of Garnier. He is clearly a master of the noir novella, so much so that I started off by comparing him favorably to the great noir masters yet now I believe that I should stop making comparisons altogether because his voice is so distinctive and original.

Ironic, yet realistic. Darkly fatalistic yet quite funny at times. Vicious and unredeemed/unredeemable characters that nonetheless are sympathetic because of their understanding and acceptance of their own flaws.

Each Garnier work is a jewel in its own right and this is no exception.

A blackly comic, page-turning contemporary French noir

This is another excellent translation of a book by an outstanding storyteller. Again, it is a tightly written story with none of the extended description that can sometimes spoil the glow of a story. The characters are well drawn with humour too. The assassin who disguises his occupation from the naive young man burdened by his mother and seeking life and love are winners. The story content is original too and keeps the reader engrossed. This really is pleasure to read.