The Avenue of the Giants

by Marc Dugain

Overview

Based on a true story, this “extremely compelling novel” delves into the mind of a murderer (Booklist).

The Avenue of the Giants follows Al Kenner as he progresses from antisocial adolescent to full-fledged serial killer in the turbulent 1960s and ’70s. A giant at over seven feet tall with an IQ higher than Einstein’s, Al was never ordinary. His life is tainted by his parents’ divorce and his mother’s abusive behavior, and it takes a chilling turn on the day of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Al spends five years in a psychiatric hospital, and although he convinces the staff that he is of sound mind, he continues to harbor vicious impulses. He goes on to lead a double life—befriending the Santa Cruz, California police chief and contemplating marrying his daughter, all the while committing a series of brutal murders.
Delving into the mind of this complex killer, this novel by the prize-winning author of The Officers’ Ward was inspired by the real-life case of Edmund Kemper, and powerfully evokes an America torn between the pacifism of the hippie movement and the violence of Vietnam.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609452001
Publisher:	Europa Editions, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/27/2014
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Born in Senegal in 1957, Marc Dugain is the author of numerous successful novels. His novel The Officers’ Ward (2001, Soho Press) recounts his grandfather’s experiences in World War I and was made into a 2001 film of the same name.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Compelling” - Booklist

“A striking and disturbing novel.”—Le Figaro
 
“The power of the subject, the intelligence of the plot, the quality of the writing, the skillful use of irony and humor, and the sophisticated construction of the novel ensure that you won’t put it down without an urgent desire to pick it up again.”—Les Echos
 
“With Avenue of the Giants, Dugain subtly slips into the character of a Californian serial killer.”—L’express
 
“What strikes you, in this novel, is the coherence and the infinite complexity of the character, whose thoughts drive the implacable narration.”—Télérama

Editorial Reviews

Compelling” - Booklist

“A striking and disturbing novel.”— Le Figaro
 
“The power of the subject, the intelligence of the plot, the quality of the writing, the skillful use of irony and humor, and the sophisticated construction of the novel ensure that you won’t put it down without an urgent desire to pick it up again.”— Les Echos
 
“With Avenue of the Giants , Dugain subtly slips into the character of a Californian serial killer.”— L’express
 
“What strikes you, in this novel, is the coherence and the infinite complexity of the character, whose thoughts drive the implacable narration.”— Télérama

From the Publisher