Daniel Pennac, Au bonheur des ogres (MAY-JUN, 2025)

Daniel Pennac’s Au bonheur des ogres is a quirky and fast-paced novel that blends crime, humor, and social satire in an irresistibly offbeat way. Set in 1980s Paris, the story follows Benjamin Malaussène, a professional scapegoat who works in a department store, taking the blame for every mishap and customer complaint. Surrounded by his eccentric and endearing family—a tribe of younger siblings he practically raises on his own—Benjamin’s life takes a chaotic turn when a series of mysterious bombings shakes the store. Suddenly, he finds himself the prime suspect in a case that’s as absurd as it is dangerous. With his sharp wit, an unlikely cast of allies, and an investigative journalist who may be his only hope, Benjamin must navigate a world where bureaucracy, capitalism, and human folly collide in the most unexpected ways.

Beyond its playful detective story, Au bonheur des ogres is a sharp and tender critique of modern society, exploring themes of family, responsibility, and the absurdity of institutional power. A former teacher, Pennac is as well known for his progressive views on education as for his fiction, championing literature as an inclusive and joyful experience. Pennac’s writing is a whirlwind of humor, irony, and warmth, making this novel as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. As the first book in the Malaussène Saga, it sets the tone for a series that masterfully balances laughter and depth, where crime and comedy go hand in hand. A cult classic in contemporary French literature, Au bonheur des ogres is a joy to read—a novel that turns the conventions of detective fiction on their head while delivering a heartfelt tribute to the power of love, resilience, and family in a world that often seems to have gone mad.