Brian Moore (aka, Bernard Mara and Michael Bryan) is best known for writing the screen play for Alfred Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain. Several of Moore’s novels were adapted for the movies including Intent to Kill, The Luck of Ginger Coffey, Catholics, Black Robe, Cold Heaven, and The Statement.
The Statement is Brian Moore’s 18th novel. The novel begins in southern France where Pierre Brossard is hiding out. Brossard, under the Vichy government during World War II, massacred fourteen Jews in the town of Dombey. Once the Allies retook France, Brossard went underground. For over 50 years, Brossard has been hiding from justice. Elements of the Government and the Catholic Church protect Brossard by moving him around France and allowing him to stay at monasteries and churches.
However, all that changes when Brossard learns he’s being hunted by a vigilante organization of Holocaust avengers. As Brossard tries to find a safe place to hide, he learns his allies are aging and lack the power to protect him. New forces in the Government and Church find no reason to shield a mass murderer from justice.
Moore captures the dangerous life of a man on the run for over 50 years. The chase is on and Brossard’s desperation and fear fuel this thriller. GRADE: B
I really liked The Black Robe (also a good film). I always liked the variety of Moore’s novels.
Steve, same here. I’ve read a handful of Brian Moore novels and liked them all. I have five more Brian Moore books sitting on my shelves waiting to be read.
This reminds me of the (in…)famous ratlines after WW2 where Catholic bishops etc gave horrible Nazi killers the chance to flee to South America eg.
When this was found out we (especially the young people) went like WTF???
There’s a detailed article on this horror in wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratlines_(World_War_II)
So I don’t want to read about this.
PS:
That’s another reason why I really detest the catholic church – of course there are more …
Wolf, I can only speak about Western New York Catholic Churches, but they are in dire straits. The Catholic diocese of Buffalo is in bankruptcy because of the sexual abuse of priests and the costly legation that entails. Several Catholic Churches have closed here, others have merged, but overall the number of parishioners is declining. A number of Catholic schools have also folded.
The book of his I remember reading is CATHOLICS.
Jeff, I have CATHOLICS on my shelf waiting to be read.
One of my favorites. I especially liked THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE and THE LUCK OF GINGER COFFEY
Patti, I consider THE LUCK OF GINER COFFEY my favorite Brian Moore book so far. I also enjoyed THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE, too.
Moore is one of those writers (Walter Tevis is another) that I really need to get around to. I’m due for a good used bookstore run and will keep my eyes open for some Moore. I remember the film adaptation of “Black Robe” being something of an art house hit back in the day. I saw it twice in the theaters and still think it’s Bruce Beresford’s best film.
Being a former catholic (I bailed in my adolescence) it doesn’t surprise me that the church seems hell-bent on its self-destruction but it continually amazes me how many catholics I meet are smart people of good conscience who refuse to leave the faith simply because that’s what they grew up with. There are plenty of seemingly decent, quite progressive other branches of Christianity one could make a lateral move to that have enough of a Catholic vibe (sans the craziness) to satisfy the nostalgic ache for the faith you were raised in. Unlike most fellow former Catholics I meet I generally have good memories of parochial school and even church (ours was grand with the incense, choir and monster organ) and while I sometimes miss Christmas midnight mass there’s no way in, uh, hell, I’d set foot in a church again. I’ve never been a militant agnostic/atheist (depends on the day of the week) but going through that transformative process did leave me with the conviction to cut and run without a shred of hesitation.
Byron, many of the parochial schools in Western NY have closed along with the Catholic Churches that supported them. The sexual abuse scandals have caused a mass exodus. The institute that trained priests also closed last year because of the shortage of applicants.
Eighteen books and I never heard of him! Guess I’m not in the loop anymore!
Bob, Brian Moore’s novels are well worth reading!
George, thanks so much for pointing me to this review of one of Brian Moore’s books. I am glad you reviewed The Statement because if I had seen a summary of the book I might not have been so interested. But your review motivates me to find a copy. He has written so many different kinds of books.
I have read The Black Robe and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, and liked both of them.
All of the comments here are useful too.
Tracy, like you I’ve enjoyed Brian Moore’s novels. You are so right about Moore writing so many different kinds of novels! I think you’ll enjoy THE STATEMENT.