french fried by chris dolley

Title: French Fried
Author: Chris Dolley
Pages: 229 (pdf)
Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):

Animals behaving badly, other people's misfortunes and the most bizarre true crime story ever. French Fried is the unfortunately true account of Chris...more Animals behaving badly, other people's misfortunes and the most bizarre true crime story ever. French Fried is the unfortunately true account of Chris Dolley’s first eight months in France and has been described as ‘A Year in Provence with Miss Marple and Gerald Durrell. Just when Chris and Shelagh think nothing more could possibly go wrong, they discover that Chris’s identity has been stolen and their life savings – all the money from their house sale in England that was going to finance their new life in France – had disappeared. A bank account had been opened in Chris’s name in Spain to take the proceeds. Then they’re abandoned by the police forces of four countries who all insist the crime belongs in someone else's jurisdiction. The French say it’s an Irish crime as that’s where the money was held. The Irish say it’s French as that’s where all the correspondence came from. The British say it’s nothing to do with them even though forged British passports were used to open the bank account in Spain. And the Spanish are on holiday – and can’t even think about investigating any bank account for at least four weeks. So Chris has to solve the crime himself. But unlike fictional detectives he has an 80 year-old mother-in-law and an excitable puppy who insist they come along if he's going anywhere interesting - like a stakeout.

My Say:

While this is my first time ever reading a true crime memoir, I found it very very interesting and I totally love it! Since I always love crime/ suspense/ thriller or what-so-ever close to that genre, this one is not hard to adore straight away. The good thing is, it's hilarious! Have you read a hilarious true crime memoir in your life? Well, this one is a good start. Very good.

First few chapters are full of unfortunate events happened to Chris. He can't speak French fluently, the wind roof off his horse transporter, his new house has serious plumbing system, with 5 toilets everywhere; next to each room, under the stairs, anywhere that you think that it is impossible. Then it got worse from there. I felt sorry for him for all those circumstances but I couldn't help myself laughing or have a big grin while reading all the silly stuff he thought about his house and his fate in France. When I read the part when he's investigating with his wife, mother-in-law and oh-so-energetic dog with him, it was even more funny and that is very exciting to read someone else's adventures!

I was very astonished with how he composed his adventures and made it very exciting and told in serious way but I felt is very funny to read his misfortunes. Or maybe he was so lucky to have all the exciting unfortunate events happened to him. Even every chapters of his story has a very interesting and intriguing unfortunate title! I was hooked up, fully absorbed and felt like he's telling his story personally to me, very convincing! The last part is a blast for me when he told about his football game, how he scored and brought victory to his team. It was something like a closure to all his unfortunate events which it finally has ended.

I'm fully recommend this true crime memoir to whoever loves memoir. It is fun, a light reading and you can finish it in one sitting. Satisfaction assured.

Disclaimer: I received the review copy courtesy of the author, Chris Dolley. Though I received the book in exchange for review, these are my honest opinions and in no way will ever reflected my review.

*Credit: This review is taking part in Radiant Reviews, hosted by Crissie @ Chrissie Corner. Click HERE for more information