[Rédactrice]
A Dark underground, and a story that is even more so – The catacombs of Paris of Magali Laurent
The collection Extreme destination editions Mortagne takes us to breathtaking places … or squarely to freeze it. Sometimes heavenly, sometimes dismal, the destinations are never trivial, especially when they meet stories as twisted as fascinating. And in The catacombs of Paris, Magali Laurent Strong strong.
We plunge into the world of Mathys, a rather discreet young man, apparently harmless, but who hides a much deeper darkness than one might think. Ready to do anything to seduce the beautiful Lily – a girl as free as it is destabilizing, who swears by open relations – Mathys agrees to follow her on the other side of the world for a dato trip, organized to the minute by the agency Destination Extreme. Paris, the city of love … or horror?
What first strikes is the prologue: a disturbing childhood memory, a fantasy of murder in a labyrinth while he watched his little sister during a family activity … A disturbing scene, treated with an icing realism. We quickly understand that Mathys is not an ordinary character. The continuation, in adulthood, presents us an apparently changed boy, ready to make compromises, to follow a couple of strangers, to risk everything for the approval of a girl. But the brilliance of departure tarnishes quickly.
Mathys quickly feels uncomfortable in this quartet a little too open to his taste.
However, after a too watered evening, a corpse appears in their Parisian apartment. Who killed him? For what? Was it an accident? A drive? One of them? All? From there, the suspense settles down and never lets go.
The group, now linked by a morbid secret, tries to follow the Dato program without awakening suspicions, while trying to get out of this petrin. We then discover how social pressure, toxic relationships and the need to please can push someone to the edge of madness. Although … maybe madness was already on the doorstep.
One thing that I particularly loved is the narrative choice: The narrator is also the main characterbut it is addressed to us as a witness to his own fall. We feel sitting in front of him, like around a fire, listening to him unroll his story calmly and what we think is a lucidity … while the content is anything but quiet. This direct address to the reader creates a strange, almost unwilling proximity, and makes experience even more immersive, because we see madness taking the queens.
Another strong element: The concept of “chosen family”. The four travelers, united by the circumstances, form a dysfunctional but terribly human group, where links carried out by explosive tensions, and unhealthy solidarity mixed with a survival instinct. Everyone reveals their flaws, their flaws, and its secrets.
Over the chapters, the catacombs become as much a physical decoration as a Mathys’ inner labyrinth symbolon this part of the shadow which was sleeping in him. By confronting death in the undergrounds of Paris, he finds himself facing the one he has always carved.
With a hard -hitting style and an effective narrative construction, Magali Laurent mixes horror, psychology and social criticism In a cocktail as disturbing as it is addictive. The themes of mental health, power, manipulation and the desire for love are treated with lucid, sometimes gore, often overwhelming cruelty.
Will they succeed in getting out of it? Can we really come back unscathed from such a trip?
I tell you: You will stay on the end of your chair until the last word. And wait until you see the final punch … you’re going to curm.
To buy or order:
Mortagne website: https://editionsdemortagne.com/livres/catacombes-de-paris/
Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Destination-extr
Leslibraires: https://www.leslibraires.ca/livres/cataco
The catacombs of Paris of Magali Laurent
Edition: Mortagne
Year: 2 avril 2024
Auteur: Magali Laurent
ENGLISH version
A dark underground, and an even darker story – The catacombs of Paris by Magali Laurent
The Extreme destination collection from Éditions De Mortagne takes us to places that will either take your breath away… or chill it to the bone. Sometimes heavenly, sometimes sinister, these destinations are never ordinary—especially when tangled up with stories as twisted as they are fascinating. And in The catacombs of ParisMagali Laurent delivers a brutal punch.
We dive into the world of Mathys, a seemingly quiet and harmless young man who hides a much deeper darkness than one might expect. Willing to do anything to win over the free-spirited and unpredictable Lily—who only believes in open relationships—Mathys agrees to follow her across the world on a DATO trip, meticulously organized by the Extreme destination agency. Paris, the city of love… or of horror?
What hits first is the prologue: a disturbing childhood memory, a fantasy of murder in a maze while babysitting his little sister during a family outing… A chillingly realistic scene. You quickly realize that Mathys is no ordinary character. The story picks up in adulthood, where we meet a seemingly reformed young man—one who’s ready to compromise, to follow a couple of strangers, to risk it all for a girl’s approval. But the shine fades quickly.
Mathys soon begins to feel uncomfortable in this overly open foursome.
Then, after one too many drinks, a corpse appears in their Paris apartment. Who killed him? Why? Was it an accident? A sudden impulse? One of them? All of them? From that point on, the suspense locks in and doesn’t let go.
Now bound by a morbid secret, the group tries to stick to the DATO itinerary without drawing suspicion, all while desperately trying to escape the mess they’re in. We begin to see how social pressure, toxic relationships, and the need to be liked can push someone to the edge of madness. Although… maybe the madness was already knocking.
One thing I absolutely loved was the narrative choice: the narrator is also the main character, but he speaks to us as though he’s recounting his own downfall. It feels like we’re sitting across from him, fireside, listening to him calmly tell his story with what seems like lucidity… even though the content is anything but calm. This direct address to the reader creates an eerie, almost uncomfortable intimacy, making the experience all the more immersive as we watch the madness take hold.
Another standout element: the theme of “chosen family.” The four travelers, thrown together by circumstance, form a dysfunctional yet deeply human group, with bonds forged through explosive tensions and an unhealthy mix of solidarity and survival instinct. Each character reveals their cracks, their flaws, and their secrets.
As the chapters progress, the catacombs become more than just a physical setting—they symbolize Mathys’ inner labyrinth, the dark part of himself that’s always been there. As he confronts death in the undergrounds of Paris, he’s also forced to face the death he’s been carrying inside him all along.
With a sharp style and effective narrative structure, Magali Laurent blends horror, psychology, and social commentary into a cocktail that’s as disturbing as it is addictive. Themes like mental health, power, manipulation, and the yearning for love are tackled with a raw, lucid cruelty—sometimes gory, often deeply unsettling.
Will they make it out? Can you ever truly return unscathed from a trip like this?
One thing’s for sure: you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the very last word. And wait till you hit the final twist… It’s going to blow your mind.
by Molly Caisse-Vee