French author Caryl Férey returns with Lakota, a dark crime thriller published by Gallimard in its prestigious Série noire collection. Set within the bleak reality of a contemporary American Indian reservation in the Dakotas, the 400-page novel explores systemic poverty, corruption, and a quest for vengeance following an unexplained death in the Mississippi River.
Known for his socially and politically charged thrillers set across the globe—including Zulu in South Africa, Mapuche in Argentina, and Condor in Chile—Férey shifts his focus to the United States. Lakota centers on Winona, a light-complexioned Indigenous woman, and her younger brother, Duane. Convinced that their father’s drowning was no accident, the siblings launch their own investigation across the northern plains.
Over a career spanning decades, Férey has established a distinct reputation as a globe-trotting writer who embeds himself within the socio-political landscapes of his stories before putting pen to paper.
From Global Hotspots to the American Plains
Férey’s journey into the literary world began decades ago. Growing up in Montfort-sur-Meu, a small town near Rennes in Brittany, he gravitated toward rock music and adventure rather than traditional academics. At the age of 20, he traveled to New Zealand, which served as the backdrop for his early crime novels, Haka and Utu.
Before achieving commercial success and international recognition, the French writer took on various odd jobs to sustain his writing habit. His subsequent works explored the dark legacies of colonialism and dictatorship across South America, yielding titles such as Mapuche in Argentina, Condor in Chile, and Paz in Colombia. One of his most widely known novels, Zulu, examining post-apartheid South Africa, was adapted into a 2013 feature film directed by Jérôme Salle and starring Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker.
Despite his extensive travels across Bogota’s rough neighborhoods and African savannas, Férey maintains a rigorous creative routine. “I love to travel, but above all, I have a blast writing, seven days a week,” the author noted.
Investigating the Reality of Modern Reservations
To prepare for Lakota, Férey undertook a road trip through the northern United States to meet residents of the reservations firsthand. In the novel, he portrays a stark environment marked by economic hardship and institutional neglect, detailing communities grappling with historical trauma and systemic disadvantages.
Despite the difficult conditions depicted in the book, Férey reported a surprisingly warm reception from the Lakota individuals he encountered during his travels. According to the author, residents expressed astonishment that a European writer would take an active interest in their lives and hold a positive view of Indigenous cultures, given the widespread marginalization they experience within the United States.
Within the narrative framework of the thriller, local authorities—including the local sheriff—embody a system of corruption and oppression, reflecting the author’s stated aversion to abuses of power. “I cannot stand oppression, people who crush others,” Férey explained regarding his thematic focus.
Future Projects and Literary Schedule
Beyond his work in the crime fiction genre, Férey writes children’s literature and comic book scenarios. Following the release of Lakota, the author is slated to publish a graphic novel in collaboration with illustrator Alex Mach titled This is London Calling, focusing on the Second World War through the publisher Glénat.
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