How's the Pain?

Booker-winner John Banville has long heralded Pascal Garnier as 'the true heir to Simenon'. Now, with a dozen of Garnier's noirs available in English, Banville introduces a new edition of one of Garnier's masterworks as part of a collection of contemporary and classic jewels of French literature.How's the Pain? sees ageing 'pest exterminator' Simon take on one last job on the Riveira, aided by young chauffeur Bernard. As the unlikely pair set off on their journey, Bernard soon finds that Simon's definition of vermin is broader than he'd expected... Veering from the hilarious to the horrific, this offbeat story from master stylist Pascal Garnier is at heart an affecting study of human frailty.

Pascal Garnier, who died in March 2010, was a talented novelist, short story writer, children's author and painter. From his home in the mountains of the Ardèche, he wrote fiction in a noir palette with a cast of characters drawn from ordinary provincial life. Though his writing is often very dark in tone, it sparkles with quirkily beautiful imagery and dry wit. Garnier's work has been likened to the great thriller writer, Georges Simenon.