Specimen
When “Adolescence” meets “Anatomy of a Fall.”
In Marseille, Carmina is trying to rebuild her life after escaping an abusive relationship. But when her 19-year-old son Rafael is arrested, accused of an unthinkable crime, her world shatters—and so do her most deeply held beliefs. As the investigation unfolds and conflicting versions of the truth emerge, Rafael’s moral ambiguity confounds everyone. Is he a victim—or a perpetrator?
Specimen probes the fault lines of a society that breeds its own monsters. As Rafael’s trial unfolds, it becomes more than a legal battle— it becomes a mirror held up to a system where perversion festers and spreads unchecked.
A gripping blend of psychological thriller and social drama, at its core this novel asks a haunting question: How far will we go to protect our children? With journalistic precision and unwavering empathy for her characters, Pauline Clavière explores the darkest corners of the human soul.
Reviews
“A triumphant, masterfully crafted work.”—Maxime Chattam, author of 8.2 secondes
“Unputdownable.”—Europe 1
“Pauline Clavière tackles the theme of youth with great sensitivity.”—Paris Match
“A deeply human, utterly absorbing, and strikingly contemporary novel about the devastating wounds of our time.”—Télématin
“A high-tension page-turner in which the intimate tips into the unsettling.”—Le JD Mag