Michel Bussi ‘Omaha Crimes’

This is Bussi’s first book (pre dating Black Waterlilies and After the Crash both published in English) originally written 20 years ago and recently republished, his twisted story lines were already in place, the premise the story is built on, a D-day story which leads to a string of events over France and the USA including disappearances, suicide, accidents, greed, deception and murder over a 45 year period, is original.

On the 6th June 1944, a troop of 178 rangers have the task of landing on the beach then one at a time carrying explosives in open machine gun fire to breach a wall before getting to the bottom of the cliffs, they estimate that the first 30 rangers at least will die in the attempt and decide to draw lots to decide their order of assault. The rich Oscar Arlington who draws the number 4 begs to swap his number for another against a large sum of money which subsequently is never paid (maybe).

an enjoyable read including however, one or two points which the writer would handle differently today such as the relationship between Alice and her private detective.

First published in French as ‘Omaha Crimes’ by PTC (company since dissolved) in 2007.
Republished in French by Les Presses de la Cité as ‘Gravé dans le Sable’ in 2014