Treasure Hunt Answers
Chapter 1
-(p. 6) What is William doing, and what does he call a “Beamer”?
He's spotting car badges and calling them out. a BMW
-(p. 6) What is a “spur-of-the-moment decision” and what is Joe referring to?
A sudden and unplanned decision. Here, following Mel to surprise her.
Chapter 2
-(p. 10) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to end a phone call”. to hang up
-(p. 11) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to understand (a situation)”. to work out
Chapter 3
-(p. 14) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to star to move, to leave”, e.g. for a car. to pull off
Chapter 4
-(p. 15) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to light a cigarette”. to light up
-(p. 17) Find three words or phrases referring to Joe, suggesting that in Ben's opinion he is 1° a loser or nonentity; 2° weak because as an ordinary teacher he has no real experience of competition; and 3° not as successful as he could have been (p.16-17)? 1° “an also-ran”; 2° “just another private-sector softie”; 3° “classic underachiever” (= performing below expectations)
-(p. 17) Convert “six inches” and “three stone” into metric measurements. 6 inches = approx. 15 cm; 3 stone(s) = approx. 19 kg.
-(p. 19) Find a phrase meaning that an event occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning or preparation. out of the blue
Chapter 5
-(p. 25) Find a phrase meaning to set something going in the right direction again. to get it back on track
- (p. 25) Find the past participle of a phrasal verb meaning "isolated”. cut off
Chapter 6
-(p. 30) Why is Joe relieved when William explains to his mum why he said that his dad had been bad? Joe first thought that his son was going to tell Mel about his fight with Ben, but instead the little boy talks about his not being allowed to have a hamster.
-(p. 31) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to break into pieces”. to fall apart
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 1 to 6
- In chapter 1, how does Joe make sure that the car his son spotted is actually his wife's? It's the same make and model (a VW Golf), same colour (powder-blue = bleu pastel), has five doors and a SpongeBob SquarePants sun shade (= pare-soleil Bob l'Éponge), and above all, the registration number plate is the same.
- While waiting for Mel in the hotel car park (ch.3), what does Joe hear on the radio, and how does it affect him? What is Joe's own family situation? A programme about dating websites, with interviews of women describing their ideal man (with criteria that would be virtually impossible to combine). Their expectations are so high that Joe finds it exhausting “just keeping track of it all” (and probably depressing). Joe and Mel have been married for nearly ten years, and he is planning to offer her a diamond.
- In chapter 4, what first impression do Ben's car and clothes convey about him? wealthy (expensive designer clothes, expensive car), successful, a winner (cf number plate: W1NNR). cf also p.16: "compared to his usual alpha-male demeanour".
- Why does Joe suddenly panic and decide to leave Ben lying in the car park? His son Will is having a severe asthma attack and he has no inhaler, so instead of taking care of Ben to make sure he's all right, he rushes home to get an inhaler.
- What does Joe do later (ch.5), as he attempts to make up for this behaviour? He first phones the hotel receptionist to ask him to go and check if Ben is OK, but as the young man won't do it, Joe drives back to the hotel to find that Ben, his car and Joe's own mobile phone are no longer there.
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Chapter 7
-(p. 33) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to earn”. to bring in
-(p. 34) Find a phrase suggesting that a thought made Joe suddenly stop what he was doing. to bring sb up short
-(p. 36) Find a phrase meaning that something is scarce or infrequent. few and far between
Chapter 8
-(p. 40) Find an image suggesting that this is a small world. “It was like suddenly realising you lived in a goldfish bowl”. (un bocal à poisson rouge)
-(p. 41) Find a phrase meaning “I was realising”. it was dawning on me (il m'apparaissait, je comprenais)
Chapter 9
-(p. 42) Find a phrase meaning “to defeat someone by superior strength or ability”. to get the better of somebody (l'emporter sur, prendre le dessus)
-(p. 42) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to trick someone in order to make them seem guilty of something they have not done”. to set sb up (piéger qqn, préparer un coup monté)
Chapter 10
-(p. 46) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to reduce the number of possibilities or choices”. to narrow sth down (to)
-(p. 46) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to give someone a warning or a hint about something”. to tip sb off (avertir, prévenir)
-(p. 48) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to give someone little or no punishment for something that they did wrong”. to let sb off
Chapter 11
-(p. 56) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to hit someone hard and repeatedly”. to beat up
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 7 to 11
- At the beginning of chapter 7, how does Mel react when Joe tells her he saw her at a hotel? She laughs and lies self-assuredly, claiming she was playing tennis.
- What does Joe find out at the end of chapter 7? His phone is missing and his facebook account has been hacked or tampered with.
- In chapter 8, what does Joe explain about his facebook account? And what comments are prompted by the new status update (p.39)? Although he initially wanted to make his profile private, he has never taken the time to do so, so anyone can see what is posted from his account, including friends, colleagues and family members. People who comment on his status update are mainly surprised and intrigued.
- In chapter 9, what makes Joe suspect Ben of hacking his facebook account (pp.42-43)? Joe thinks that by getting him in deep trouble, Ben is seeking revenge for being “on the losing end of a confrontation”, and as a “smartphone app developer” it would be very easy for Ben to crack a mobile phone password, etc.
- In chapter 10, according to Mel, what did Ben tell her about his former employee Matthew Goring (p.47)? He sensed that he was about to be dismissed for gross misconduct (because he was excluded from some meetings, etc.) and in the few hours before he was actually fired (“to get the chop”), he managed to code pornographic images into a game app aimed at young children, which could have caused Ben's company to go bankrupt.
- In chapter 11, what does Joe find when he googles Ben's name?
In addition to Ben’s company website, LinkedIn profile and media accounts, Joe finds articles in the media mentioning him, his career and rise to fortune, notably one in the Evening Standard which draws on his rags-to-riches story, and a more qualified one in the Daily Mail which mentions an incident involving Ben and Alex Kolnik.
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Chapter 12
-(p. 61) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to encourage someone to put more effort into something”. to urge on
-(p. 63) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to leave furtively, quietly, in secret”. to sneak out
-(p. 67) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to shock and upset somebody”. to shake sb up (secouer, bouleverser)
Chapter 13
-(p. 70) Paraphrase “In normal circumstances I would have taken the hint and made myself scarce”. “Normally, I would have understood and gone away.” (to take a/the hint: to understand sth that is communicated indirectly (comprendre l'allusion); to make oneself scarce: to go or stay away in order to avoid a difficult or embarrassing situation (s'esquiver))
-(p. 75) Why does Joe compare Beth to a “little old lady”? Because she never swears or use coarse language: she uses euphemisms such as “effing”, “blummin’ ”, “Lord” or “blimey” instead of more offensive words.
-(p. 76) Paraphrase “Work was getting on top of him and he just had to let off some steam”. “He was getting overwhelmed with work and he simply needed to release his emotions.” (se défouler)
Chapter 14
-(p. 79) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to arrive, to come back”. to roll in
-(p. 80) Find an idiom meaning “to do what someone else wants one to do”. to dance to someone's tune (faire les quatre volontés de qqn, lui obéir au doigt et à l'œil)
Chapter 16
-(p. 90) Which car make does “Say-dees” refer to in William's baby talk? Mercedes
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>>>>Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 12 to 16
- In chapter 12, why does Mrs. Pendlebury's face look vaguely familiar to Joe, and what do the two parents mainly talk about in the kitchen (pp.63-64)? They happen to be friends on Facebook (although Joe had forgotten about it), so they start talking about Facebook (which can be used to spy on other people – or “stalk” them) and about the recent posts from Joe's account (regarding the lost leather bracelet).
- What does the word “fraped” (p.67) mean, and what does it suggest?
- In chapter 13, what lie does Mel make up as the reason for Joe and Ben's “falling out”, and how does Joe explain that lie? p.75
- What does Beth tell Joe and Mel about Ben's recent behaviour?
- In chapter 14, how does Joe interpret Beth's answer (“He wouldn't hurt us.”) after his suggestion that she needs to protect her daughter Alice? p.79
- At the beginning of chapter 15, how does Joe feel when Beth finally leaves, and what does he do as a result?
- In chapter 16, what does Mel refer to as the “mistake” she made a couple of years ago?
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Chapter 17
-(p. 95) Find a verb meaning “to punch someone very hard, knocking them to the ground in some cases”. to deck
-(p. 97) Find an idiom meaning “to sound familiar, to remind one of something”. to ring a bell
Chapter 18
-(p. 102) Explain what Joe means by “some of the blame lay with” his wife Mel. He suggests that Mel was partly responsible for the drunken kiss with Ben she has told him about.
-(p. 102) Find a phrase meaning “to give a warning to someone to stop or change what they are doing”. to put a (warning) shot across someone's bows (tirer un coup de semonce)
-(p. 105) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to lead someone to the door when they are leaving”. to show sb out
Chapter 19
-(p. 107) Find a phrase suggesting that Joe is the only one talking. “our rather one-sided conversation” (unilatérale, à sens unique)
-(p. 107) Find an idiom meaning “full of energy, not at all tired” (especially after a good night's sleep). fresh as a daisy (frais comme un gardon)
-(p. 112) Which sentence suggests that William might wake up any moment? He was a light sleeper. (il avait le sommeil léger)
Chapter 20
-(p. 118) Find a phrase meaning that someone wants to join in, to be included in an activity. Count me in (je suis partant(e), je m'inscris).
-(p. 119) Find two phrases conveying the idea of “relaxing” or “having a rest”. to put one's feet up (se détendre, se reposer); to take it easy (se laisser vivre, se la couler douce; y aller mollo)
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 17 to 20
- In chapter 17, how does Mel account for her argument with Ben at the hotel, and how does that alter Joe's interpretation of Ben's general attitude to him? p.96
- In chapter 18, what prompts Joe to tell PC Khan that he too had seen Ben at the hotel? p.102
- In chapter 19, what does Mel keep doing while having dinner with Joe at a Chinese restaurant, and how does Joe attempt to change that? pp.106-110
- What happens at the Stratford at the end of chapter 20, and how does Joe instinctively react? pp.120-121
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SECTION 2 : CHAPTERS 21- 39
p. 122. an alarm, a burglar alarm, a fire alarm, a siren, an alarm clock, a firework
p. 122 process
p.123. peered
p. 124 must
p. 125 must
p.125 read aloud
p. 125 read out
p. 125 high-pitched
p. 126 clutched
p.126 hood / un break
p.127 except (for), apart from, save, besides, beside, excluding, exclusive of,
p.127 till death us do part. = a subjunctive. An archaism.
p.128 man cave
p. 128 ‘occurred to me’
p.128 a nightcap (littéralement, un bonnet de nuit)
p.129 ‘All the fight had gone out of her.’
p. 130 ‘had been spot on’ : to be spot on
p. 130 spaghetti hoops : des spaghettis en forme de petits anneaux
p. 130 lounge
p.131 ‘I stood my ground beside the window.’
p.131 ‘a lump in my throat’
p. 132 ‘I’ll go for full custody and fight you every inch of the way, and you’ll lose.’ ‘Custody’ also means ‘détention’. eg. To be placed / remanded / held in custody .
p.134 ‘they bumped into each other’
p.134 a ‘do’
p.135 a roller coaster
p. 136 to get on with it
p. 136 ‘That brought me up short.’
p. 136 ‘she had stuck it out’ : to stick something out
p.136 ‘A-level results’
p. 137 Postgraduate Certificate in Education. It is Joe’s teacher training year ( théorie et stage) which he includes as one of his teaching years. nb. Il n’existe pas de concours de l’enseignement comme en France au Royaume-Uni. Il s’agit d’un diplôme obtenu après la Licence.
p.137 ‘deputy’ : ‘deputy head’ = directeur adjoint ou proviseur adjoint. ‘Un député’ = an MP, par exemple. nb. Deputy sheriff.
p.137 water / rut : Mel asks Joe if he has been ‘treading water’ ( se maintenir ou faire du sur place dans l’eau.. = Joe stagne dans sa carrière..) Or lets himself be carried by a nice, steady ‘current’ ( il s’est laissé emporter par son quotidien confortable) until he has ‘got into a bit of a rut’ : ‘a rut’ = une ornière… (Joe est coincé dans sa routine, dans une ornière.) The metaphor shifts from water to land.
p.139 ‘He had insisted that she send one of herself as well.’ As in French, ‘insister pour que quelqu’un fasse quelque chose.’
p.140 ‘worn down’
p.145 a venue : = a place where an event, usually entertainment, takes place. Par ex. Une salle de concert. eg. The venue for the next Ed Sheeran concert is the Stade de France. He’s playing at several venues this summer.
p.146 ‘to go down’ here = ‘susciter une réaction’ / ‘être accueilli’ , eg. ‘The message of this film went down badly with the public.’ In this context, « Je n’ose pas imaginer comment il ( Ben) a réagi quand tu as lâché cette bombe-là. »
p. 146 Phrasal verbs : went down, to fall into place, calling the whole thing off, went off, staying away, made up, carry it on, went out, split up, came along, gave up, look after, go back
p.147 ‘It was a cheap shot but I couldn’t resist it’
p. 148 ‘I can’t cope with it.’
p.148 to get something off one’s chest. : se soulager/ dire ce qu’on a sur le coeur : ‘But also relieved, as if she was glad to have finally got it off her chest.’
p. 150 in a bad way. ‘She’s (Beth) in a bad way.’
p. 153 Truth or Dare (Action ou Vérité / Vérité ou un gage)
p. 153 ‘blurry tail-end of a house party’ = flou / vaseux ; La fin d’une soirée dont ses souvenirs ne sont pas très nets/ clairs
p.153 15 or 16. Fifth form or Year 11 = La classe de Seconde.
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 21-25
1) Intimate text messages and topless or naked photos of Mel found on one of Ben’s mobile phones.
2) Joe feels as if he is out of his own body, watching someone else. He feels like a spectator of his own life. But the sentences in italics, parts of his and Mel’s wedding vows show that he feels his whole marriage has been betrayed. He feels like ‘the world’s biggest sucker’…. A fool who has let himself been tricked ( un pigeon).
3) He threatens to throw Mel out on the street with only what she can fit into the two suitcases he has opened on the bed and says he will apply for and obtain full custody ( la garde) of William, if she lies again.
4) Mel says Ben had started to be interested in her and pursued her. Then at the Park Lane hotel their first sexual encounter ‘just happened.’
She says Ben was different, suggesting she was a bit fed up with her daily routine of ‘Work, commute, home, bed’. She hints that she wants life to be exciting and not miss out on her dreams as her mother had. She hints at Joe’s lack of ambition, saying that he is in ‘a rut’ in his career and that Joe also has a closer relationship, a special ‘bond’ with William, their son, than she does. Then Ben started the game of sending naked selfies . Mel says her resistance to Ben had been ‘worn down’ by Ben and Ben also said he loved her and wanted to dump everything to be with her.
5) He suddenly wonders whether William is really his son.
6) She seems to be ‘relieved’ as if she has ‘finally got it all off her chest’.
7) During a party game before they were even engaged, Mel admitted a single infidelity when she was in Fifth form, so she says it doesn’t count.
8) Perhaps it suggests that the ‘meeting’ will also be ‘distorted’, that something about it will be wrong or will go wrong.
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p. 155 ‘We were in uncharted territory : my marriage was a shipwreck and I had been washed up on some strange shore where I didn’t speak the langage.’ = ‘Nous nous retrouvions en terrain inconnu : mon marriage avait fait naufrage et m’étais échoué sur la côte d’une contrée étrangère dont je ne parlais pas la langue.’
p. 163 peeled. ‘Keeping my eyes peeled and my hands out of my pockets, ready to react if necessary.’ garder l’oeil à l’affût de quelque chose, rester vigilant, les yeux grands ouverts
p. 164 ‘I tried to get my bearings.’ to get one’s bearings = se repérer (dans l’espace) : or, for eg. ‘When I arrived at university it took me a couple of weeks to find my bearings on the campus.’
p. 167 ‘scouring my lungs’ : to scour = récurer / frotter / Ici, ‘l’air froid d’octobre me râclait les poumons’
p. 171 ‘with a day’s worth of stubble on his face’
p. 174 ‘Since we appear to have missed the boat here’ : manquer le coche
p. 174 Naylor’s ‘left ear was cauliflowered’ and ‘a small white scar curling below his lip’. The ‘cauliflowered ears’ ( oreille en chou-fleur) (frippée) suggest that Naylor may have been a rugby player in the position of ‘tight-head prop’ = ‘pilier droit’.
p. 175 cover : ‘Bad doesn’t really cover it, to be honest.’
p. 176 ‘a case in point’.
p. 176 nondescript
p.177 to clock
p. 177 Ben bloody Delaney
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 26-30
1) Joe feels lost (‘in uncharted territory’) and he asks himself a lot of questions. He suspects that Ben’s suggestion of a meet-up might ne a trap.
2) No. He sees a person on the far side of the lake and recognises Ben’s Louis Vuitton jacket and the black baseball cap he had been wearing on Thursday night.
3) He realises it could indeed be a trap and that he is now alone and Ben appears to have a gun in a bag. So he realises he has probably been stupid to get into this situation.
4) He doesn’t like it at all. He finds it as depressing as the one he had been in on a bike-coding day. The walls are bare, the furniture is old and Joe describes the place as ‘dingy’ (miteux).
5) Joe realises that he should be at school teaching Of Mice and Men (by John Steinbeck) to his Year Ten class.
6) He is trying to find out what kind of relationship Joe and Ben have and whether there is any reason why they might not ne friends anymore.
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p. 181 realm
p. 182 on the loose
p. 183 on the deck
p. 183 ‘by the by’ :’All that’s by the by now, of course….’
p.188 ‘the long and the short of’
p. 191 ‘On the back of these blood results’
p. 195 to be on the front foot / ‘to get back on the front foot’
p. 196 pick up the tab. Payer la note. In other contexts ‘payer les frais’( au sans propre par ex. Pay the expenses………...ou parfois plus figuré …. par ex. Le contribuable va payer les frais de cette politique.)
p. 196 ‘when Ben had last raised his head above the parapet’ : la dernière fois que Ben était sorti du bois / s’était manifesté
p. 197 ‘to give up the ghost’
p. 199 to be torn between two things : ‘I was torn between wanting to see the rest of the message and needing to photograph it as evidence.’
p. 200 beeped ( beeping) (émettre un bip), to slam ( poser brutalement/ bruyamment) , with a clatter (bruyamment/ avec fracas), whine ( gémissement), whirring ( un ronronnement)
p. 202 Une fois les formalités d’usage échangées…
p. 202 rates
p. 202 ‘Better safe than sorry’
p. 204 devious / underhand
p. 204 ‘I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.’
p. 204 the boys in blue
p. 205 to end up
p. 205 to take / make an educated guess.
p. 206 break down / set up / break up : ‘break it down’ = décomposer, analyser, diviser ( pour analyser) : ‘Ben’s trying to set me up’ = Ben essaye de me faire porter le chapeau…/ de me faire accuser : ‘break up my family’ = briser ma famille
p. 206 under any circumstances
p. 207 to get one’s head around something : ‘it’s a struggle to get me head around it’
p.207 to wrap up : eg. It’s time to wrap up this meeting and go for lunch.
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 31-35
1) The police are aware that Joe and Ben had an argument on Thursday night, thanks to Mel’s statement, therefore the police are a bit more suspicious about what happened. Joe feels uncomfortable and feels as if he is ‘ten years old again’ because he being forced to admit that he didn’t tell the whole truth to PC Khan and he is also annoyed that Mel has not told the police the same story as him.
2) pp. 186-188 The police have found Ben’s Porsche Cayenne partly burnt out in an alleyway quite near the Premier Inn and it has traces of Ben’s blood in it.
3) Naylor suggests that Joe might be jealous of Ben because Ben is a self-made millionaire while Joe is only a teacher. He also more brutally suggests that Joe is angry with Ben because has has found out that Ben has been sleeping with Joe’s wife.
4) The tone is very formal, official and serious and Naylor smiles without any humour. Naylor has to be careful about legal procedure and is cold and nutral if not defensive.He doesn’t give Joe advice about getting a solicitor.
5) Joe starts to text Mel and to look at Ben’s Facebook timeline and starts to search in the bedroom to see if he can find a clue as to why Mel chose another man over him. He feels quite determined . He wants to be in control of things and react and so to ‘get back on the front foot’. He feels determined not to let Ben have Mel.
6) Someone has been playing games with Joe via his computer. It clearly seems to be Ben who is taunting ( en train de narguer) Joe and is threatening him with messgaes on the screen that Joe does nos have time to photograph or save to give to the police as proof. Because Ben has brilliant computer skills, it makes sense that the person manipulating Joe’s computer from a a distance is indeed Ben.
7) Larssen does nos like Naylor at all and says he is ‘ a devious, ‘underhand little rat’ , that he knows how to accuse people (‘your neck is halfway into the noose’) and that he ‘wouldn’t trust him as far as (he) could throw him.’
8) Joe feels comforted because Larssen says it is quite likely that Ben will probably turn up sooner or later.
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p. 211 detention ( des heures de colle/ retenue)
p. 211 untucked ( débraillée) : nb. To tuck in one’s shirt ( rentrer sa chemise)
p. 211 push boundaries : tester les limites
p.211 unyielding : infléxible, intransigeant
p. 211 detention-bait : bait = un appât : The pupils are ‘une proie à retenue’
p. 211 form rooms : les salles d’appel ( chaque ‘form’ (classe) a une salle désignée pour l’appel de début de journée.
p. 212 He is ‘six feet plus’ ( plus d’un mètre 80) but is only in Year 9 ( so maybe around 14 years old.
p. 212 ‘ a brew’ : to brew = ‘infuser’ ( pour le thé) or ‘brasser’ pour la bière ( to brew beer in a brewery). Therefore in other contexts ‘a brew’ might mean signify beer.
p. 213 ‘En dépit de nos petites blagues à ses ( Carl Draper) dépens…...’
p. 213 to give someone a dressing down : ‘he was going to give me a dressing down for it ( not actually being off sick’. = passer un savon à quelqu’un, réprimander quelqu’un
‘bollockings’ : to give someone a bollocking = engueuler quelqu’un
p. 213 the hatchet man ( littéralement , l’homme à la hâche) : homme de main, tueur à gages
p. 215 reception : ‘He’s in reception at St Hilda’s.’ = ‘Il est en Grande Section à l’école Sainte Hilda.’
p. 215 ‘Good Ofsted.’ Ofsted = Office for Standards in Education : = a non-ministerial (so quite independent) department that inspects a range of educational institutions. For English parents, knowing the Ofsted ratings of a school is very important. ‘Good Ofsted’ means = Elle (l’école) a eu des appréciations très positives de la part d’Ofsted.
p. 216 PR
p. 218 ‘shell-shocked’ : ‘en état de choc’, ‘sidéré’ : Littéralement ‘(un soldat) traumatisé par le bruit des obus’
p. 219 Gotcha !
p.219 tittle-tattle ( indénombrable)
p.219 smallpox (la variole) : Joe says ‘Viral, as it spread like smallpox’ : usually the expresion is ‘to spread like wildfire ( un feu de fôret) but as the photo of Joe has ‘gone viral’, he adds extra strength to his expression by distorting the idiom and comparing it to a real, biological virus. ‘Cela s’est répandu comme une épidémie de variole’.
p. 220 to be given a grilling : a grilling : to be grilled by, for example, the police ( se faire cuisiner par la police)
p. 221 ‘He’s just messing everyone around.’
p. 223 to let on : ‘he knew more than he was letting on.’
p. 225 take one for the team. ‘De temps en temps il faut qu’on se sacrifie pour le bien de l’équipe, mon ami. Seulement il s’avère qu’aujourd’hui c’est ton tour.’
p.225 pound : pound my fist .. enfoncer mon poing dans.. sa gueule
p.226 ‘There’s a good chap.’ = ‘Merci, mon gars.’
p. 229 brazen
p. 231 foul play ; un délit, un crime : eg. The police sometimes suspect foul play when investigating a case.
p.235 put a different slant on ( voir d’un autre angle : slant = angle, d’un autre biais)
p. 235 a smear campaign : smear = une tâche : to smear = entâcher ( par ex. ma réputation) : A smear campaign = une campagne de dénigrement / diffamation
p. 235 to run down
p. 236 ‘a heads-up’ : to give someone the heads-up = to give information about something : to give someone a heads-up = give a hint, a clue, ( filer un tuyeau, une indication)
p. 239 ‘a quick and dirty forensic authorship analysis, done by our friends at Goldsmiths College, of the Facebook post...’ : ‘Quick’= longer than usual standard procedure : ‘dirty’ : probably not done oficially or done in exchange for some favour : perhaps the police have good contacts with the IT specialists there ; Goldsmiths College is part of the University of London.
p.243 le but du jeu / ( le but du jeu est de trouver / une preuve de vie...la preuve que Ben est en vie)
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 36- 39
1) The schoolboys he meets seem to find soemthing amusing about him. One boy has a smirk or a teenage grin on his face and asks Joe if he is all right. His friends are all sniggering.
The atmosphere in the teachers’ staffroom is subdued and all eyes are on Joe.
2) Carl Draper is assistant head in charge of pastoral and disciplinary issues (and staff development). His reputation seems to be of someone who is sinister and strict becuse his nickname is ‘Darth Draper’ as in ‘Darth Vader’. He is the head teacher’s ‘hatchet man’ who does all the unpleasant disciplinary work.
3) The photo shows Joe being led into the police station and someone has photoshopped handcuffs on to Joe’s hands. Draper is chiefly worried about the harm this will do to the school’s reputation.
4) Draper suspends Joe with immediate effect so Joe has to go home and is not allowed to teach or be seen on the school premises. Joe is angry and feels like punching Carl Draper (‘and pound my fist into his smug, self-satisfied face.’)
5) Larssen anounces that the police now suspect foul play might be involved. (p.231) The police are focusing on the theory that something bad might have happened to Ben.
6) Joe says he is being set up by Ben who is taunting him and using his computing skills so as to wreck his career in a kind of smear campaign.Also to get Mel.
7) The police have established that Ben’s mobile phone was in the same place as Joe’s when they exchanged text messages, as if Joe had had Ben’s mobile and sent the messages to himself. Also the punctuation of the messages does not match the punctuation of Ben’s usual Facebook posts, clearly suggesting that it was not Ben who wrote the text messages.
Joe was alone in the park the morning before so no-one else is a witness to confirm that Joe saw Ben and so that Ben was alive.
Also, Joe’s injured hand, with scratches and bruises, also looks supicious, as if he had hit soemone with his right fist.
‘How’s your hand, by the way ? Your knuckles all right ?’ (poing, jointures des doigts).
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SECTION 3 : CHAPTERS 40 to 59
Chapter 40
-(p. 244) to be framed.
-(p. 244) take it easy
-(p. 245) bloke
-(p. 245) albeit
-(p. 246) the GCSEs (i.e. the General Certificate of Secondary Education, an academic qualification taken by 16-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
-(p. 246) take on the world
-(p. 247) to ache (ex: to have a headache / stomachache / toothache)
-(p. 247) I can’t stand it anymore ; I can’t stand someone/something.
-(p. 251) he drops in out of the blue
-(p. 251) (mightily) pissed off
Chapter 41
-(p. 253) thick
-(p. 256) by fair means or foul
-(p. 257) to turn the clock back to (Sundy morning for ex.)
-(p. 258) to spin (past tense : spun ; past participle : span)
Chapter 42
-(p. 259) I can’t make head nor tail of it.
-(p. 261) to make out
-(p. 261) to resume
Chapter 43
-(p. 266) to creep (crept-crept)
-(p. 266) bunch
-(p. 266) rolling pin
-(p. 267) to work (it) out
-(p. 267) to spook someone
-(p. 268) technical (technique, pointu)
-(p. 269) the irony was so thick (la collocation française serait : ‘l’ironie était si forte’) that you could cut it with a knife.
-(p. 270) You should get better security on your back door by the way big fellow, never know who might be waiting for you one of these days.
Chapter 44
-(p. 273) return the favour.
-(p. 273) break cover (sortir de sa planque)
-(p. 274) to start from scratch
-(p. 275) to beat a bloke up
-(p. 277) to take the bait (mordre à l’hameçon)
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 40-44
-Who is Mark Ruddington ?
An old friend of Mel’s, who left a cryptic comment on one of her Facebook post (« The after-show party sticks in my memory for some reason Melissa Lynch »). To try and find out more about him, Joe both sends him a friend’s request on Facebook and goes through his Facebook profile and timeline. There, among boring snaps of his dogs or even of the meals he was eating, Joe finds out something interesting : Mark looks a lot like Ben (as they’re both dark-haired, have the same height and build) ; he, too, is married, has kids and dogs. Joe comes to think he is Mel’s former lover (the one with whom she first cheated on him).
-Which piece of information does Beth give Joe when he pays her a visit at home after their terrible confrontation at the Stratford pub? She tells him about Alex Kolnik, a tough guy going by the name of Kalashnikov, whom Ben drove out of business and who didn’t hesitate to come to their house one day and threaten them before Ben took his shotgun and kicked him out.
-When Joe realizes his house has been broken into, which tool does he grab to defend himself and what does he find out? He grabs a rolling pin in case he should come face to face with the burglar but the latter’s gone. He eventually finds out that, although his house is in a real mess, nothing’s been stolen. On the contrary, an object’s been left behind on his kitchen counter: a shotgun cartridge (la cartouche d’un fusil de chasse).
-Which solution does Joe think he’s found to make Ben break cover? He’s going to try and make Ben break cover for Mel by asking her to send her former lover a text telling him she wanted to get back with him and therefore wanted to see him.
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Chapter 45
-(p. 279) sheepish
-(p. 280) in her living room, by her side, scattered on the table.
-(p. 280) to turn up
-(p. 281) spaced out
-(p. 282) forlorn
-(p. 283) zoned out
Chapter 46
-(p. 285) to split up (to split-split-split)
-(p. 285) elated
-(p. 286) to go by (“went by”)
-(p. 287) “My stomach lurched”
-(p. 288) panted (haleter)
-(p. 288) a set-up
Chapter 47
-(p. 290) sluggish (a slug: une limace)
-(p. 290) clinging to Mel like a limpet (=un type de coquillage= une patelle, un chapeau chinois) : accroché à Mel comme une moule à un rocher.
-(p. 294) wiped
-(p. 294) to go back to square one
-(p. 295) topless
-(p. 297) useless crap
Chapter 48
-(p. 300) trying to keep his voice level (= at the same height as usual)
-(p. 302) dead on your feet
Chapter 49
-(p. 303) it had taken my breath away : j’en avais eu le souffle coupé.
-(p. 303) knocking the wind out of me. To knock the wind/breath out of someone = to hit someone so that they can no longer breathe easily.
-(p. 304) she looked pleased as punch.
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 45 to 49
-Joe thinks he has found a solution to make Ben break cover, but which difficulty does he first face and what does this suggest? He finds it hard to find someone to look after William. His calling his friend Adam has proved useless. The latter has picked up but has come up with excuses not to look after William, so Joe has no choice but to ask Beth, which is delicate given the situation. To top it all, she does not answer the phone and when Joe goes to her place to ask her in person he has to ring the doorbell several times before Alice eventually opens it. (Alice looks sheepish because she knows her attitude (and her mum’s) were inappropriate). All this tends to show Joe is now on his own and can no longer rely on people he or his wife used to be friends with.
-What does Joe find out in Beth’s living room? The room is quite messy. Tablets and pills are scattered all over the coffee table; there’s a tipped over glass of alcohol on the floor, the carpet is stained and Beth is lying on the sofa amid that mess, a shotgun laid across the other sofa.
-After the failed set-up at the mall, which strategy does Joe find to have enough time to go through his wife’s handbag and which object does he find in it? He pretends he needs a drink and asks his wife whether she’d be ok to put their son to bed because he knows the whole “go and brush your teeth then go to the toilet ritual” will buy him some time. Feeling the bag with his fingers, he soon notices a solid shape and eventually finds a cut in the lining, where he finds a mobile phone. A Samsung.
-Does his discovery prove useful? What are the two difficulties he faces? To a certain extent, yes, as he manages to figure out the passcode (thinking of William’s birthday for the 4 digit pin) before the phone locks (=difficulty nb 1: he tried 3 times). Although he doesn’t find anything when hitting the text message and then the history call icons, or even in the Album app (as Mel probably takes care to delete everything) (=difficulty nb 2), he discovers something indeed in the automatic back up file. A JPEG file (an image of Mel, topless), as well as 8 phone numbers.
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Chapter 50
-(p. 309) it is predawn: avant l’aube
-(p. 309) doing chores (corvées, taches)
-(p. 309) stands for
-(p. 311) out of the mouths of babes, indeed. = babies can be wise (la vérité sort bien de la bouche des enfants)
-(p. 311) to put things right
-(p. 313) hack
-(p. 314) an egg timer (un minuteur, sablier)
-(p. 314) innocuous /ɪˈnɒkjuəs/ /ˈhɑːmləs/
-(p. 315) a fling
Chapter 51
-(p. 318) to fill someone in
-(p. 319) to do somebody in.
-(p. 320) pretty (which is an adverb here).
-(p. 321) hunch (un pressentiment)
-(p. 321) rough
-(p. 322) to sort out
Chapter 52
-(p. 323) to stink (stank-stunk)
-(p. 324) to put someone through to someone else
-(p. 325) to deceive
-(p. 326) fuck off
-(p. 327) taken aback
-(p. 327) chillax
-(p. 328) he had now graduated summa cum laude from the arsehole academy.
Summa cum laude: expression latine significant mot à mot “avec la plus haute louange”: ici idée de mention: “avec les felicitations du jury”.
Chapter 53
-(p. 330) screw it !
-(p. 331) drawn
-(p. 332) to fish out
-(p. 332) nosy (also : nosey)
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 50 to 53
-What did Joe use to do for a living? At that point in the story, is he being nostalgic about his past job?
p. 326. He was a teacher until he was fired because of his dealings with the police. No, he is not being nostalgic at all. He casts a rather negative light on this experience as a teacher, focusing on the difficulties of the job, on his pupils’ disrespect and on his having to bite the bullet all the time, trying to stay calm no matter what, because he was an adult and a professionnal.
-Who is Riley Warner? The lanky youth in the dark hooded top and cannabis leaf cap who knocks on the phone booth to ask Joe whether he’ll be soon done with his calls and whom Joe tells off (p. 326-7). Joe eventually realizes he knows the kid he’s just insulted (a former pupil) and that he’s taking pictures of him in the booth.
-Where and when did Joe ask Mel to marry him? What happened on that occasion which shows she wasn’t expecting a proposal (=which shows this came as a total surprise)? Quite romantically, he proposed in Regent’s Park, on the lake, during the summer (9 years before). They were in a rowing boat and Joe went down on one knee, which took her so much by surprise that she stood up all of a sudden and almost tipped them both into the water. (p. 331)
-At one point in the story (chap. 54), Mel feels moved into revealing something apparently important to Joe. What is it that moves her so much and what stops her short of telling him the whole truth? She seems to feel bad because of two things : first, because she can see how much her husband trusts her in spite of her betrayal (he truly believes her when she tells him she had completely forgotten about her secret cellphone, for instance (p. 334). Second, because she understands he’s still very much in love with her, as he plans on offering her a new and bigger engagement ring for their 10th anniversary (p. 339).
However, she’s —literally speaking— saved by the gong, as she is interrupted by a loud sound coming from Joe’s mobile — a text from Larssen, asking Joe to call him back— which puts an end to their conversation.
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Chapter 54
-(p. 335) 49. Biros are a type of ballpoint pens =stylos bille (named after Laszlo Jozsef Biro, the Hungarian inventor of the ballpoint)
-(p. 335) to put up with someone
-(p. 336) startled
-(p. 336) faint
-(p. 339) the shutters had come down (les rideaux s’étaient baissés)
-(p. 339) We’ll get through it.
Chapter 55
-(p. 340) to cheer someone up.
-(p. 340) to have someone’s back
-(p. 342) to freak somebody out. To freak out.
-(p. 343) ant workers.
Chapter 56
-(p. 345) upset
Chapter 57
-(p. 349) stricken
-(p. 349) guilty as sin
-(p. 350) DNA
-(p. 350) to step out of line
-(p. 352) evidence
-(p. 354) to disclose
-(p. 354) « laid » is the past tense of « to lay » (to lay-laid-laid), not to be mixed up with to lie-lay-lain.
Chapter 58
-(p. 360) bullshit
-(p. 361) keep your mouth shut.
-(p. 361) like a razor blade sawing up and down my spine : comme si une lame de rasoir me parcourait l’échine.
Chapter 59
-(p. 363) legwork
-(p. 364) fight your corner (défendre son point de vue)
-(p. 365) give or take
-(p. 367) a dead end
-(p. 368) to keep one’s powder dry
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>>>> Answers to worksheet questions on chapters 54 to 59
-On what ground is Joe being arrested? What new evidence led the police to arrest him? Although Ben’s corpse has not been found yet, Joe is being arrested on suspicion of murder. Three new pieces of evidence came to light indeed : 1/ A DNA match : blood traces were found in the underground car park of the Premier Inn Hotel, which were matched to Ben. 2/ The police also found Joe’s leather bracelet there. 3/ They also found the cellphone that he had claimed he had lost and the metadata tend to incrimate him as well, as they locate him in the underground car park indeed.
-Who is present when Joe gets arrested ? The police of course (and notably Naylor and DS Redford) but also his wife and kid as well as neighbours (i.e people who talked to him on a regular basis, like the widower who lived opposite or the woman across the street, whose children the Lynches sometimes babysat). Bystanders are also present, notably one teenage boy whom Joe recognizes from school and who’s filming it all (in a video which is very likely to end up on Facebook and be watched by a lot of people).
-During the police interrogation, does Joe strictly follow Larssen’s advice? What could this indicate to the police? In a private interview before the interrogation, his lawyer had advised him to stay calm and keep his mouth shut and only answer the questions he’d allow him to answer. Unfortunately, Joe loses his temper, which draws further suscpicion on him, indicating he could have called Ben in a jealous rage. (p. 360).
-Does Larssen believe his client? What does this suggest? Given the amount of evidence against Joe, Larssen, too, seems to doubt him (p. 364-5). This not only suggests that the evidence is quite strong against him but, again, that the people on his side are fewer and fewer and that he’s very likely to en up in prison for murder.
-How come the Facebook posts, the David Bramley account and the Messenger texts can’t count as evidence in favour of Joe? What does it tell us about Joe’s enemy? Because the IP address these posts were sent from can’t be traced (as the sender took great care not to send them from an existing mobile account, or a desktop PC, and didn’t access Facebook via the app on his phone, but used a pay-as-you-go phone and a web browser instead of an app). It tells us Joe’s enemy is particularly clever and au fait with technology (that « he lives and breathes technology »), which is indeed Ben’s case.
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Chapter 60
-(p. 371) “Tonight is when I start to make up for it”? = to compensate for the fact I betrayed you with Ben, had an affair with Ben = me racheter
-(p. 371) “Larssen had told me that if the police did end up charging me with murder, it was highly likely that I would be remanded in custody rather than being bailed.“
si la police finissait par m’inculper pour meurtre (m’accuser de meurtre)/ il était très probable que je sois placé en détention provisoire plutôt que libéré sous caution (mis en liberté provisoire).
-(p. 372) to come up with
-(p. 372) because no phone, no computer, taken away by the police
Chapter 61
-(p. 379) “she seemed to have deleted (most of it) when she upgraded”: Effacé/ quand elle en avait acheté un plus haut de gamme.
Chapter 62
-(p. 388) he was paid to beat some bloke half to death with an iron bar.
-(p. 388) a replacement plan
Chapter 63
-(p. 391) pulled in
-(p. 391) spook
-(p. 392) to give up on sb.
-(p. 393) shaken up
Chapter 64
-(p. 396) The police find useful information in mobile phones in every case today.
-(p. 398) to take it over
Chapter 65
-(p. 402) Charges
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 60-65
1. When he comes back home after being interrogated by the police, Joe says the situation at home is “beyond weird”. Why?
Mel is Joe’s soulmate, the most important person in his life. He would like to confide in Mel, but he can’t because he doesn’t trust her anymore. This is what makes the situation weird.
2. What attitude did Joe and Mel adopt? Mel hugged him, kissed him, plied him with questions. Joe resisted and kept his answers short.
3. “Tonight’s when I start to make up for it”, Mel said. “Perhaps I should hold out”, Joe thought. What attitudes both of Mel and Joe are referred to? Mel expressed love and led Joe to their bedroom to have sex, to make up for her past betrayal (with Ben). At first, Joe felt it wasn’t maybe the right thing to do and he’d better hold out, but then his resistance vanished.
2. p. 369-371, How did Mel interpret the fact he didn’t want to talk? What did she do later to get Joe to relax, and how did he react to it? She said he was in shock exhausted, had had a terrible day, but she did not mention the affair with Ben. She gave Joe three whiskies and seduced him..
3. “Everything else… Mel seemed to have deleted when she upgraded.” What is Joe referring to?
The phone Mel gave him was blank, except for a few pictures of William. Mel had removed all personal items after switching to a high-end, more sophisticated mobile.
4. Why was the second email from bret 911 particularly revealing according to Joe? Why not so according to Larssen? (p. 380, 381).
The second mail gave very concrete information about how Ben had consulted a law firm specialising in family law about his wife’s “unreasonable behaviour”. As this was relevant information, Joe started to wonder whether the first message had really been sent by Ben as a joke, a taunt, or if it was a warning rather, and had not been sent by Ben.
Larssen, on the other hand, is still convinced the first message is a joke (“mischief making”) and hasn’t read the second one yet..
5. Who did Joe forward the email to, and for what reason?
To Beth. Because Joe found Ben’s decision to take legal steps against Beth brutal, but quite in line with how Ben usually dealt with people who annoyed him (“scorched earth”).Joe thought Beth should know “what was coming down the tracks at her.”
6. When discussing the best attitude for Joe to adopt in the future, why do Joe and Larssen differ? (p. 380)
Larssen tells Joe to keep a low profile, keep quiet, not run hither and thither, whereas Joe wants to go on looking for Ben.
7. “I was reminded that looking at a stranger’s Facebook timeline gave a warped view of that person’s life.” (p. 382). What and who is Joe referring to?
To Mark Ruddington, who has just accepted Joe as a Facebook friend. His posts and selfies are of rather low interest. Joe reflects that Facebook posts do not reflect people’s true or better self.
8. “And nobody was going to bust up our exclusive club.” (p. 382). Explain.
The exclusive club is Joe’s family. They mean everything to him, he will not let anything destroy them.
9. At Golders Hill Park, why does Beth mention “yin and yang”? What document did she bring along? (p. 385)
Beth started crying at one point, as if she were a victim and couldn’t cope any more. In Chinese spirituality, the yin and yang is an attempt to balance two opposite forces, to make them complementary. Beth used to believe that ”things turned out ok in the end”, that problems were solved and order restored, but she is not so sure now.
She brought a letter from the Mirage Casino in Sunderland thanking Ben for renewing his membership.
10. How did Joe finally work out the meaning of the STEB post-it note?
p.388. It’s two words actually: Steven Beecham, a bouncer working in the casino.
Joe thinks he is part of Ben’s plan to frame him, that he is Ben’s ‘backup plan”. (“Two is one, one is none”: having only one plan means you have got none actually in case of trouble).
11. Who mentioned the name of Alex Kolnik? What was the reason for mentioning him and what was Beth’s reaction?
p. 389. Joe. Because he saw a car like Kolnik’s in the car park. He believed the car was following Beth. Later Beth said she was worried “they might come” for her if they couldn’t find Ben.
12. What did the forensic people find on Ben’s phone? Why were forensic people called in on this case?
Google searches on points of law and searches about the nearest landfill site (or dump site). They are routinely called in every case now (“ubiquitous”).
13. Why does Joe put much hope in the message he received on his home PC, the threat message from Ben, and why does Larssen’s commentary on it wreck Joe’s hopes?
p. 398. For Joe, the threats (from Ben) should prove that he is being harassed, but according to Larssen, the police will probably think Joe sent the message to himself to pretend to be a victim.
14. “It’s another piece of the puzzle as far as Naylor is concerned. Circumstantial, but telling all the same, in the eyes of a jury.” (p. 399). What is Larssen referring to here, and why does he think it can be serious? The Google searches. This is not direct evidence, but it could influence a jury.
15. Why is the case no longer likely to “fizzle out” contrary to what Larrsen had said earlier? There is too much evidence against Joe now: the Google searches, the police searches in the park. Larssen also knows the police have found some blood in Joe’s car.
16. What evidence apart from the Google searches is likely to be the most incriminating for Joe?
The fact that one of the sample of blood has been matched to Ben.
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Chapter 66
-(p. 405) give me away
-(p. 409) a withheld number (to withhold)
Chapter 67
-(p. 411) rows of semi-detached houses, all alike, usually in working class neigbourhoods.
-(p. 414) cut adrift from everything normal
Chapter 68
-(p. 425) to gamble
-(p. 426) I was marched off
-(p. 428) knocked him out
Chapter 70
-(p. 430) checked in
-(p. 430) tabassé mais pas vaincu
Chapter 75
First, a search history on Google, but he didn”t find anything suspicious.
The he studied the applications. Most of them were familiar, and were preinstalled, except one.The special app was the only one which had been downloaded
-(p. 451) It is a piece of software giving access to other people’s phones. The people who installed it were able to spy on Joe. They knew everuthing that went on through the phone (communications, messages and texts, Google search, location…) Cf. also p. 477/ 491/
It was first developed to warn against intrusions on people’s cell phones, to demonstrate the weaknesses of cellphone operating systems, their vulnerabilities to potential intrusion, by well-meaning people (white hat hackers).
The app has been banned in the USA because of fears over privacy.
-(p. 453) Parts of his conversation with Mel in the park. For Joe, this means that Ben has been secretly listening to them, eavesdropping on them.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 65-76
1. What did Larssen fear for Joe’s family and what did he advise Joe to go back home for?
p. 402-403. After the police found some of Ben’s blood in Joe’s car, Larssen says the police has enough evidence to charge Joe and arrest him. Joe must prepare for this and prepare his family, because it would be terrible for them if they discovered his arrest out of the blue.
2. Joe was eventually prevented Joe from going back home. Why?
p.404. The police are at Joe’s home, Naylor with three other policemen ( he came mob-handed) to arrest him.
3. What is the main difference between Joe and Ben as regards their respective behaviours as decent (or not) citizens? What shows Ben is being more successful than Joe in the present situation by far?
p. 405-406. Joe is a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen who plays by the rules. Ben’s rules are entirely different: the rules of the jungle, red in tooth and claw= not content with winning, he wants everybody else to lose. Here Ben was winning hands down.
4. What course of action did Joe finally decide on as going back home was not an option any more?
Find Ben and prove he is alive. Ben’s email to Mel said he needed to see an old mate, so Joe figured out he had gone to the Casino in Sunderland (to see Beecham).
5. How did Joe manage to get information about Mel’s former deal with the escort agency?
He asked for a repeat booking (that way, he did not have to give specific details).
6. Why does Joe say the Range Rover lead is a bust?
Because they have no means of finding out who rented it from the car rental company.
7. At the mere mention of Joe’s little jaunt, we know Larssen is not pleased. Why? What could Larssen’s and Joe’s conflicting views on the situation result in?
p.412. The word “jaunt” has an ironical connotation. Larssen is not pleased because Joe is doing exactly what Larssen had told him not to do (running hither and thither instead of going to the police).
p. 415-416: Larssen could stop being Joe’s solicitor. (“I am starting to suspect that we no longer have an understanding, Joe…. Our contractual relationship might be terminated.”)
8. Is the reason why Joe doesn’t want to go to the police the fact that he is likely to get bail?
No, he won’t get bail. He is likely to be remanded in custody, and so he won’t be able to see his family, which is what really matters for Joe..
9. What does Joe imply when he says “the die was cast”?
He made a choice, maybe a good one, maybe not, but he now has to go all the way.
10. Why did Joe believe he would find Ben not in the main room but in the exclusive lounge?
Because the high rollers, the people who can afford to gamble a lot of money, like Ben, are in the lounge.
11. What was Joe’s plan when the clients started to leave the room and go outside?
Find Ben and take a picture of him on his mobile phone, as a piece of evidence.
12. Did Joe walk serenely all the way to the hotel after running away from the Casino?
p. 430. No. When he heard a siren and saw blue flashing lights, he was afraid the police were after him. So he hid. (“it made me duck into an alleyway…. I stumbled..…; I crouched behind a wheelie bin”)
13. Did Mrs. Delaney live in a terraced house in a mean street back of town? How did Joe take his leave at the end of his visit?
p. 436. No. She lives in a smart Victorian house with an immaculate garden, in a posh neighbourhood.
p. 445-446. He had to run away to escape from the police, and was bitten by one of the dogs. He smashed through a treillis panel, jumped a wall, and dived headlong into the neighbour’s garden.
14. “Does that include …. giving myself up?” What does Joe mean in his answer to Larssen?
Joe once told Larssen he wouldn’t go to the police to be arrested, and now Joe wants to know if Larssen still thinks it’s what he should do.
15. What are Joe’s ambivalent feelings for his phone? What did his wondering about this ambiguous partner lead him to do and discover?
p. 450-451: His phone was his only companion and his only weapon in the fight, and yet it had betrayed him twice. He explored his phone, the different apps, and found the SysAdminTrack app.
16. How did Joe interpret the fact that he found bits of his conversation with Mel on the phone?
Ben had been eavesdropping on them all along.
17. Why did Mark Ruddington find Joe’s request weird given the occasion he wanted it for?
p. 454-455: The occasion was their tenth wedding anniversary. Joe wants to know about the after-show party. Mark says what happened wasn’t at all funny, that it is not proper for a party speech and Joe should leave it out. He accepts to talk only because Joe insists it’s just for background.
18. On his arrival in London, what new elements or information totally wrecked Joe’s former assumptions? How did his behaviour reflect his sense of shock?
p. 456-458. Two new elements. First Joe understands why the picture of Mel half naked in the kitchen had bothered him. Then he gets a message with a picture from the Escort agency confirming the repeat booking.
He stared at the picture, blinking fast. He stopped walking. He scrolled down to the name and up again to the picture.
19. Would you say that the thought that “crawled out from somewhere dark” in Joe’s mind was crooked or perverted?
Yes. Because of the pictures, he probably understood his wife was trying to set him up.
20. For what reason did he put off his meeting with Larsen?
When Joe got a message for help from an unrecognised number, he believed it was Alice who needed help.
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Chapters 77, 78, 79
-(p. 464) The room was a mess… pictures scattered (to scatter= éparpiller) across the floor… a broken mirror…cracks fom top to bottom a pattern of black marks scored (entaillé) out of the wall which I assumed was from the shotgun I had heard
Chapters 80-81
-(p. 472) take it all in
Chapters 82-83
-(p. 479) Complete and utter humiliation /Capitulate and grovel (= ramper) for another chance/ He was going to screw me.
–(p. 279) What synonyms of « scorched earth », Ben’s usual practise, does Beth give? He gave her an ultimatum: end the affair, admit in writing to everything that had gone on. Apologise to him, his daughter, his mother. Complete humiliation.
Ben would also have obliged her to sign a post-nup agreement after dissolving their pre-nuptial one. There would have been terrible clauses, like total forfeiture of assets (confiscation des biens) and ( forfeiture) of guardianship of Alice (déchéance de la tutelle d’Alice) in case of further adultery. To show who was the boss.
-(p. 488) you’ll never get away with this.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 77-the end
1. How did Joe get into Beth’s house after being called to rescue? What elements made him worry about Beth and Alice’s safety? P. 460. Through the conservatory (the door was ajar). There was shattered glass in the conservatory. The house was silent, and then he heard thuds, then muffled words.
2. What weapon did Joe get hold of in Beth’s bedroom?
p. 461. He smashed the mirror and grabbed the biggest piece. He used the six-inch shard as a makeshift dagger, after wrapping a T-shirt around it.
3. When Mel joined Beth into the room, what transformation did Joe notice in her?
p. 466. All fear had gone from her face. She looked jubilant, like the female lead about to take a bow at the end of a show.
4. What does Joe mean when he says” I had got so spun around these last eight days it had taken me all that time to work out the truth? (p. 467) He was caught in a whirlwind (un tourbillon) of activities (fighting for his defence, investigating, discovering information) and he did not have the time to think properly.
5. “The magician’s flourish with his right hand – while his left hand is flipping open the secret compartment.” Why does Beth mention the magician’s trick at this stage?
p. 468. The magician gets people to look in the wrong direction while he is performing his trick. This sort of misdirection was Beth’s technique: using deceptive red-herrings or bait to send Joe on the wrong track and thus prevent him from looking too closely at them.
6. Joe feels like a rat.” He has followed the trap, all the way in, and now the bait is about to close”, he says. Is the quotation logical?
NO. He followed the bait (l’appât) …. the trap is about to close.
7. What form did the women’s acting take?
Improvisation. Beth tells Joe “you handed us the situation” (leaving a knocked out Ben out in the car park) “and we improvised like a couple of Oscar winners.” (p. 469)
8. Is it true that the obsession with Alex Kolnik was not one of Beth’s ideas and that the women actually found it hard to integrate it into their plan?
p. 469. It’s true that Joe himself provided them with the Alex Kolnik story. Joe who mentioned seeing a black Range Rover at the hotel, giving the women the idea to “throw it into the mix”. Beth says she “had never seen the man.”
They had no problem using it. Beth says they “were really good at (improvising)” … “Oscar winners”
9. Is it true that Ben was going to get a restraining order against Mel?
p. 469. No, against Alex Kolnik, to stop him from harassing him at home (“keep him at arm’s length”). (He was going to make Beth sign a very strict “post-nup agreement” (p. 479).
Ben had asked Mel (at the hotel) to stop her relationship with Beth.
10. What does Joe want to prove when he tells Beth that “there wouldn’t have been a need for any of this... misdirection. I would have gone down for it”? (p. 471) Beth’s argument is that Joe can’t know what really happened and that maybe Ben died because Joe had fatally injured him in the car park. Joe dismisses the argument because, if such was the case, the women would not have been obliged to stage this very complex story. It would have been simple: there would have been a dead body and he would have been charged with murder.
11. Which role was Joe’s and which was Beth’s? Who was calling the shots and who was the fall guy? Explain.
Joe was the fall guy, the perfect patsy who stumbled unknowingly into a play that was going on. Beth was calling the shots: she was the boss, contrary to Mel who was in thrall. (p. 473)
12. What would have happened if Joe had kept plodding along?
p.474-475. If Joe had gone on plodding along, stuck in his rut, he needn’t have been involved, nothing would probably have happened to him.
13. How did Mel and Beth find out that the hang-up call had been made by Joe from a telephone booth?
p. 475-476. Quite by chance, not from the SysAdminTrack app. Some random chav (Ryley Warner actually) had retweeted a picture of Joe in the booth and Mel was one of those who got it.
14. When Joe tells them he phoned the police from a telephone booth, why don’t they believe him?
p. 476. Because, as he had deleted the spying device or so he thought), he felt safe, he believed his mobile was no longer hacked, and so there was no need to use a landline.
15. How did they Know Joe had found out about the app?
Because he did a Google search about it.
16. How did Ben intend to apply his scorched earth policy to Beth?
p. 478-479. Dissolve their nuptial agreement. Humiliate her (end the affair and apologise in writing). Deprive her of important things.(total forfeiture of assets and guardianship of Alice in case of further adultery).
17. What were the two things Joe discovered that made it click for him?
p. 480-481. First, the selfie on Mel’s secret phone. There was William’s Superstar certificate on it, which means it was taken after the scene at the hotel. So the picture was a lie.
Second, the picture from the Escort agency with a photo of a man who was a dead ringer for Ben.
18. What struck Joe in the picture of Mel naked in the kitchen and in the booking confirmation message from the escort agency?
Same answer as 17. He knew Mel was involved in something.
19. How did Beth react when she understood Joe was getting close to the truth?
p. 481. She wanted him out of the way. She sent him a text for help, knowing he would “do the full white-knight routine” (come to the rescue).
20. What thought was uppermost in Joe’s mind as he was dragging himself with his shattered leg towards Beth?
p. 489. Grab her weapon, kill her, to save William (for William to have a chance). He couldn’t accept being killed and letting William be raised by a murderess.
21. What evidence of Joe’s innocence did Alice have and how did she use it?
p. 491-494.She had hidden a spying app in both Mel’s and Beth’s phones, and she recorded all the conversation.
She had emailed it to her phone and forwarded it to the police.
22. Does the fact that Joe has gone cold turkey mean he admits that sharing emotions with people on social media once made him feel calmer, more focused?
p. 497-498. No, on the contrary. He has gone cold turkey on (his) generation’s compulsion and stopped using social media completely. Now that he has ditched social media he feels calmer (and) more focused. He focuses on living.
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mercredi 11 avril 2018
lundi 12 mars 2018
Treasure Hunt on 'Lies'
LIES (T. M. Logan)
Glossary / treasure hunt
SECTION 1 : CHAPTERS 1 to 20
p.1
to doze: sommeiller, somnoler
to daydream: rêver, rêvasser
stodgy: lourd, indigested; dense (ici)
Chapter 1
p.5
badges: insignes, badges, écussons; (fig.) signes, marques
to inch along: advancer petit à petit
sluggish: lent (ici), mou, stagnant
p.6
hands-free cradle: support mains libres
dual carriageway: route à quatre voies
junction: carrefour, croisement, embranchement
a slip road: une bretelle d’accès
rush hour: l’heure de pointe
to squint: plisser les yeux
- What is William doing, and what does he call a “Beamer”?
- What is a “spur-of-the-moment decision” and what is Joe referring to?
Chapter 2
p.8
cue: donner le signal à
to hoot: klaxonner
to whiz(z) off: filer
reception class: 1e année (petite section) de maternelle
p.9
patrons:clients (ici)
to back in: se garer en marche arrière
waistcoated: en gilet (de costume)
rumpled: fripé, froissé, chiffonné
briefcase: serviette, mallette
wearily: avec lassitude, d’un air fatigué
signposted: indiqué (par un panneau)
p.10
downright: franchement, carrément
with our son in tow: (fig.) avec notre fils (to tow: remorquer)
to get back to sb: rappeler, recontacter, répondre
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to end a phone call”.
p.11
the North Circular (road): le périphérique/la rocade nord
grimy: sale, crasseux
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to understand (a situation)”.
Chapter 3
p.12
six-pack (abs): (fig., à propos des muscles abdominaux) une tablette de chocolat
blimey: ça alors! mon dieu!
p.13
rear-view mirror: rétroviseur
p.14
to thread one’s way between: se faufiler entre
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to star to move, to leave”, e.g. for a car.
Chapter 4
p.15
half-heartedly: sans enthousiasme / conviction, du bout des lèvres
casual: simple, détendu, naturel
designer jeans: un jean de marque
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to light a cigarette”.
p.16
sound (adj.): solide, sain
dog-eat-dog: impitoyable, sans pitié
a lead: une piste
reluctant: réticent
shifty: sournois, furtif, fuyant
demeanour: comportement, allure, maintien
to set up on one's own: s'installer à son compte
betrayed: trahi, trompé
p.17
to go bankrupt: faire faillite
to get on the wrong side of sb: se mettre quelqu'un à dos
to make a big deal (out of sth): en faire tout un plat
to catch sb off-guard: prendre qqn au dépourvu
daft: idiot, bête
dense: bouché, obtus
in disbelief: avec incrédulité
- Find three words or phrases referring to Joe, suggesting that in Ben's opinion he is 1° a loser or nonentity; 2° weak because as an ordinary teacher he has no real experience of competition; and 3° not as successful as he could have been (p.16-17)?
- Convert “six inches” and “three stone” into metric measurements.
p.18
playground: cour de récréation, aire de jeu
hemmed in: encerclé, cerné; coincé
to break one's fall: amortir sa chute
pissed off: en colère, en rogne
to prod: pousser légèrement, donner un petit coup
p.19
stab: coup de poignard; élancement (de douleur)
tightness (in one's throat): la gorge nouée
rattle: crépitement
paramedics: services de secours, ≈ SAMU
- Find a phrase meaning that an event occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning or preparation.
p.20
reeds: des roseaux
pinhole: trou d'épingle
conkers: des marrons
lolly, lollipop: sucette
p.21
to strap sb in: attacher qqn (en voiture)
Chapter 5
p.22
to wheeze: respirer bruyamment, comme un asthmatique
surgery: cabinet médical (ici)
to weave: se faufiler, se glisser
glove compartment: boîte à gants
p.23
landline: ligne fixe (de téléphone)
drive (n): voie privée, allée (devant une maison)
relief: soulagement
take it easy: (vas-y) doucement
directory enquiries: les renseignements téléphoniques
p.24
prank: blague, farce
run laps: faire des tours (de piste, etc.), tourner en rond (ici)
to unspool: se dérouler
p.25
floodlights: projecteurs
(away) from prying eyes: à l'abri des regards indiscrets
off-balance: déséquilibré
out of sync: pas synchro
to put sth right: rétablir la situation, régler le problème
to figure out: arriver à comprendre
to take one's mind off things: se changer les idées, penser à autre chose
- Find a phrase meaning to set something going in the right direction again.
- Find the past participle of a phrasal verb meaning "isolated”.
p.26
to gape: béer
Chapter 6
p.27
ugly: vilain, désagréable, fâcheux, mauvais
twinge: sentiment; élancement, tiraillement
p.28
assembly: réunion de tous les élèves
to fend off: parer, éluder
p.29
to stroke: caresser
p.30
to scrabble: chercher désespérément
to think up: trouver
to deflect: détourner, faire dévier
- Why is Joe relieved when William explains to his mum why he said that his dad had been bad?
p.31
out of charge: déchargé, à court de batterie
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to break into pieces”.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 1 to 6
- In chapter 1, how does Joe make sure that the car his son spotted is actually his wife's?
- While waiting for Mel in the hotel car park (ch.3), what does Joe hear on the radio, and how does it affect him? What is Joe's own family situation?
- In chapter 4, what first impression do Ben's car and clothes convey about him?
- Why does Joe suddenly panick and decide to leave Ben lying in the car park?
- What does Joe do later (ch.5), as he attempts to make up for this behaviour?
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Chapter 7
p.32
en suite (bathroom): salle de bain privée / particulière
landing: palier
p.33
maternity leave: congé (de) maternité
to interlock: s'imbriquer
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to earn”.
p.34
to slide away: glisser, s'éloigner en glissant
out of reach: hors de portée
to broach: aborder (un sujet)
assuming: en admettant / supposant que
- Find a phrase suggesting that a thought made Joe suddenly stop what he was doing.
p.35
to root sth: fouiller
no joy: pas de chance, pas trouvé (ici)
a backup: une sauvegarde, une copie de secours
p.36
to miss the point: ne pas comprendre (l'intérêt, le principe, l'importance de qqch), passer à côté de qqch
timeline: calendrier, chronologie
to stay in: rester à la maison, ne pas sortir
dial tone: tonalité
status update: mise à jour de statut
- Find a phrase meaning that something is scarce or infrequent.
p.37
low-angle shot: (image / plan en) contre-plongée
synced: synchronisé
foreground: premier plan
to come off: se détacher
to grapple with sb: en venir aux mains avec qqn
Chapter 8
p.38
to topple over: basculer, tomber
to reach out: (é)tendre le(s) bras
to swap: échanger
sentence: peine
facilities: installation(s), équipement(s)
to process: traiter (ici, comprendre)
p.39
to sort out: arranger, régler, résoudre (un problème)
privacy settings: réglages / options de confidentialité
to get around to sth: arriver à (trouver le temps de) faire
pretty much anyone: pratiquement tout le monde, tout le monde ou presque
to scroll down: faire défiler
p.40
- Find an image suggesting that this is a small world.
mobile provider: opérateur de téléphonie mobile
call handler: interlocuteur (ici)
p.41
hijacking: détournement
upside: avantage, bon côté
to be up to no good: préparer un mauvais coup
- Find a phrase meaning “I was realising”.
Chapter 9
p.42
to come down to sth: se résumer à qqch
to have a blast: s'éclater, bien se marrer
through and through: jusqu'au bout des ongles, à 100%
- Find a phrase meaning “to defeat someone by superior strength or ability”.
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to trick someone in order to make them seem guilty of something they have not done”.
p.43
right up his street: exactement dans ses cordes
to roll one's eyes: lever les yeux au ciel
warning: avertissement, mise en garde
dressing gown: robe de chambre, peignoir
a sip: une gorgée
Chapter 10
p.45
naughty: méchant, désobéissant, vilain
to catch sb red-handed: prendre qqn en flagrant délit, la main dans le sac, sur le fait
p.46
a mole: une taupe
to turn up: apparaître, être (re)trouvé
to sell on: revendre (en faisant du bénéfice)
a culprit: un coupable
employment law: droit du travail
dismissal: licenciement
watertight: étanche inattaquable, indiscutable
HR adviser: conseiller en ressources humaines
high street chains: les grandes chaînes, les grandes enseignes
troubleshooter: expert, conciliateur, médiateur
machete: machette
to chop off: trancher, couper (la tête, etc.)
off-site: hors-site (pas dans les locaux de l'entreprise)
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to reduce the number of possibilities or choices”.
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to give someone a warning or a hint about something”.
p.47
gross misconduct: faute (professionnelle) grave / lourde
vile: infâme, abominable
wary: prudent, sur ses gardes, méfiant
to get wind of sth: avoir vent de qqch
to rip sb off: arnaquer
p.48
thugs: voyous
textbook (compound): typique, classique, parfait
on the straight and narrow: sur le droit chemin
to fib: raconter des histoires
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to give someone little or no punishment for something that they did wrong”.
p.49
to swat: donner une petite tape
a meanie: un méchant
p.50
to get everything back on an even keel: redresser la barre, rééquilibrer, remettre d'aplomb, faire revenir à la normale
to go down as: rester (dans la mémoire, dans l'histoire) comme, être plus tard considéré comme
FRIDAY
Chapter 11
p.53
Year 7 (in the UK): for children aged 11 to 12 (secondary school).
The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean (1858): a novel written by Scottish author R.M. Ballantyne; this Robinsonade (a genre of fiction inspired by Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe) was long considered a classic for school or high-school children in Britain and the US.
to nag: ronger, tourmenter
an itch: une démangeaison
to veer: dévier, changer de direction (ou de sujet, ici)
to bang on: casser les pieds à tout le monde avec / à force de parler d' (un sujet)
benefit cheats: escrocs / fraudeurs aux allocations
p.54
idly: paresseusement, négligemment
property developer: promoteur immobilier
fashion designer: styliste, grand couturier
hedge fund trader: gestionnaire de fonds spéculatif
digital: numérique
a rags-to-riches story: un conte de fée (où on passe de la misère à la richesse, comme dans Cendrillon)
terrace, terraced house: maison mitoyenne
a seven-figure mansion: hôtel particulier, château, manoir, résidence (avec un prix à sept chiffres)
dockyard: chantier naval
p.55
gushing: trop exubérant (ou élogieux), qui se répand en compliments
to shed a light: éclairer, montrer sous un nouveau jour
somewhat: quelque peu, un peu
assault: agression, voie de fait
breach of the peace: atteinte à l'ordre public
gleefully: joyeusement, avec allégresse
p.56
guff: bêtises, idioties
a court case: action en justice, affaire judiciaire
grievous bodily harm: coups et blessures
kneecap: rotule
ankle: cheville
elbow: coude
injury: blessure
defendant: accusé, prévenu
Crown Court: Cour d'assises (in England and Wales)
scowl: renfrogné, hargneux, menaçant
taut: tendu
flat-top: (cheveux en) brosse
high-roller: flambeur
a witness: un témoin
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to hit someone hard and repeatedly”.
p.57
a grand: £1,000 (or $1,000 in the US)
wheelchair: fauteuil roulant
GBH = grievous bodily harm (cf p.56)
charge: chef d'accusation, accusation
grin: grand sourire
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 7 to 11
- At the beginning of chapter 7, how does Mel react when Joe tells her he saw her at a hotel?
- What does Joe find out at the end of chapter 7?
- In chapter 8, what does Joe explain about his facebook account? And what comments are prompted by the new status update (p.39)?
- In chapter 9, what makes Joe suspect Ben of hacking his facebook account (pp.42-43)?
- In chapter 10, according to Mel, what did Ben tell her about his former employee Matthew Goring (p.47)?
- In chapter 11, what does Joe find when he googles Ben's name?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY
Chapter 12
p.61
to doggy-paddle: faire la nage du petit chien
shallow: peu profond
waist-deep: dans l'eau jusqu'à la taille
keen: passionné, enthousiaste
breaststroke: la brasse
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to encourage someone to put more effort into something”.
p.62
armbands: des brassards
sated: rassasié, assouvi
a puppy: un chiot
gear: vitesse
to tear up: déchirer, mettre en pièces
to array: disposer, déployer, étaler
entertainer: comique, artiste; animateur/trice (ici)
jester: bouffon, fou du roi
p.63
mild: léger
hangover: gueule de bois
average (adj.): moyen(ne)
actual: vrai, véritable
an acquaintance: une connaissance, une relation
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to leave furtively, quietly, in secret”.
p.64
to stalk: traquer, rôder, chasser
a stalker: un criminel qui suit ses victimes à la trace
it's an in-joke: c'est une plaisanterie entre nous/eux
a lost art: un art disparu, tombé en désuétude
textspeak: le langage SMS
and what have you: et tout le reste, et toutes les choses de ce genre
wail: gémissement, hurlement
pass the parcel: le jeu du furet (où les joueurs doivent se passer un objet)
plait: tresse, natte
p.65
the aftermath: séquelles, suites (conséquences)
to conjure: faire apparaître, produire
fitful: intermittent, agité (sommeil)
courier: courrier, messager
God forbid: à dieu ne plaise, dieu nous (en) garde
offline: hors ligne, non connecté
p.66
to frown: froncer les sourcils
hacked: piraté (ici)
to line up: aligner
make (n.): marque (de voiture, ici)
hence: d'où
p.67
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to shock and upset somebody”.
p.68
a wobble: un tremblement
to hold it together: tenir le coup
conservatory: jardin d'hiver
wicker: en osier
downcast: abattu, démoralisé
to blink: cligner des yeux
a stray strand of hair: une mèche de cheveux rebelle
Chapter 13
p.69
to waver: vaciller, faiblir
brittle: cassant, fragile
fine china: porcelaine
willowy: élancé, svelte
roll-neck: (pull à) col roulé
the basics: l'essentiel
level-headed: équilibré, pondéré, réfléchi
p.70
counterpoint: contrepoint
achiever: fonceur, fonceuse
to settle in: s'installer, s'habituer, s'adapter
fortnightly: bimensuel, tous les quinze jours
non-organic: non-bio
to cause / give offence (to sb): blesser, offenser (qqn)
- Paraphrase “In normal circumstances I would have taken the hint and made myself scarce”.
p.71
to hunch: arrondir, voûter
to set sth/sb off: déclencher, provoquer
to tail off: baisser, devenir inaudible
p.72
clamped: pincé, serré
mood swings: changements d'humeur
domestic violence: violence conjugale
p.73
to dab: tamponner /essuyer (les yeux)
a tissue: un mouchoir en papier
to trigger: déclencher, provoquer
to storm out: sortir comme un ouragan
p.74
a falling out: une brouille, une dispute
p.75
to cut in: interrompre
to talk over sb: parler en couvrant la voix de qqn
chilling: qui donne des frissons
to understate: minimiser, modérer
- Why does Joe compare Beth to a “little old lady”?
p.76
upbeat: optimiste
- Paraphrase “Work was getting on top of him and he just had to let off some steam”.
Chapter 14
p.77
herbal tea: infusion, tisane
shotgun: fusil de chasse
clay (pigeon shooting): ball-trap
grouse: grouse, lagopède d’Ecosse
Glorious Twelfth: refers to 12 August, the start of the shooting season for red grouse in the UK
the landed gentry: la noblesse terrienne
Barbour coat: manteau ciré (de la marque de luxe Barbour)
Hunter wellies: bottes en caoutchouc (de la marque prestigieuse Hunter)
barrel: canon (d’un fusil)
p.78
to give a statement: faire une déposition
to fill in forms: remplir des formulaires
cross (adj.): de mauvaise humeur, en colère
p.79
to make a mess: mettre la pagaille, le désordre
smart (adj.): habile, astucieux
battered wives: femmes battues
physical abuse: violence physique
to qualify: remplir les conditions, correspondre à la définition (ici)
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to arrive, to come back”.
p.80
- Find an idiom meaning “to do what someone else wants one to do”.
p.81
to break a habit: perdre une habitude, se défaire d'une habitude
to hug: serrer dans les bras
to pat sb's back: tapoter qqn dans le dos
eyes downcast: les yeux baissés
a fraud (= person): un imposteur
peck: bise, petit baiser
commitment: engagement
Chapter 15
p.82
deadbolt: verrou (à bouton)
CBeebies: a BBC television network targeting children aged 6 or under, and encouraging learning through play
pang: coup au cœur, pincement de cœur
rug: carpette, petit tapis
p.83
rolling pin: rouleau à pâtisserie
to career: aller à toute allure
kerb (UK), curb (US): trottoir
terse: concis, laconique, sec
p.84
to tilt: pencher, incliner
on the verge of tears: au bord des larmes
p.85
relevant: pertinent, en rapport avec
p.86
and bugger everyone else: et tant pis pour les autres; et que les autres aillent se faire foutre
wound up: remonté (cf to wind up)
p.87
PC = Police Constable (gardien de la paix, agent de police)
Whatshisname: Machin, Machin Chouette
p.88
tingling (adj.): de picotement, de fourmillement;
to creep up: s'approcher sans bruit
Chapter 16
p.89
tucked in on herself: repliée sur elle-même
to lurch: tituber, chanceler
p.90
posh: chic, huppé
fancy (adj.): de luxe
to fidget: avoir la bougeotte, gigoter
to walk down the aisle [aɪl]: aller vers l'autel (à l'église, pour un mariage)
a blur: masse confuse, tache floue; vague souvenir
- Which car make does “Say-dees” refer to in William's baby talk?
p.91
to fancy sb: être attiré par qqn, s'enticher de qqn
to lean in: se pencher (vers qqn, ici)
a sucker punch: un coup bas, un coup en traître
p.92
penthouse (suite) (in hotel): suite avec terrasse
bombshell: obus; (fig.) grand choc, qqch qui fait l'effet d'une bombe
booze: alcool, boissons alcoolisées
p.93
to have a snog: se rouler une pelle (= s'embrasser)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 12 to 16
- In chapter 12, why does Mrs. Pendlebury's face look vaguely familiar to Joe, and what do the two parents mainly talk about in the kitchen (pp.63-64)?
- What does the word “fraped” (p.67) mean, and what does it suggest?
- In chapter 13, what lie does Mel make up as the reason for Joe and Ben's “falling out”, and how does Joe explain that lie?
- What does Beth tell Joe and Mel about Ben's recent behaviour?
- In chapter 14, how does Joe interpret Beth's answer (“He wouldn't hurt us.”) after his suggestion that she needs to protect her daughter Alice (p.79)?
- At the beginning of chapter 15, how does Joe feel when Beth finally leaves, and what does he do as a result?
- In chapter 16, what does Mel refer to as the “mistake” she made a couple of years ago?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 17
p.94
a cog: roue dentée, rouage
to slot: s'emboîter, s'encastrer
at arm's length: à bout de bras, à distance
to back off: reculer
to relent: se laisser fléchir / toucher
to start up again: reprendre, recommencer
p.95
to uproot: déraciner
scumbag: salaud, ordure
escalation: escalade, intensification
- Find a verb meaning “to punch someone very hard, knocking them to the ground in some cases”.
p.96
once and for all: une fois pour toutes, définitivement
soulmates: des âmes sœurs
an aside: un aparté
lowly: modeste, humble, sans prétentions
a three-bedroom semi(-detached house): une maison jumelée de 4 pièces (T4 ou F4)
comtempt: mépris
p.97
- Find an idiom meaning “to sound familiar, to remind one of something”.
p.98
to tire out: épuiser, éreinter
to pass on: passer, transmettre
p.99
to rev up (rev = revolution tour; rev counter: compte-tours): accélérer, emballer le moteur
to court sb: faire la cour à qqn, courtiser qqn
behind someone's back: dans le dos de qqn, à son insu
to take advantage of sb: profiter de qqn, exploiter qqn, abuser de qqn
it's a one-off: c'est unique; c'est exceptionnel (qqch qui ne se produit qu'une fois)
Chapter 18
p.100
bolted-down: fixé au sol
polish: encaustique, cire
bottle-bottom glasses: lunettes en cul-de-bouteille (= aux verres très épais)
to slice: couper (en tranches, en rondelles)
to tumble: dégringoler
p.101
out in the open: au grand jour, étalé en public
to stretch it: exagérer, aller un peu loin
to be keen to (do): tenir à (faire), vouloir absolument (faire)
to know the whereabouts of sb/sth: savoir où se trouve qqn/qqch
p.102
to fail sb: décevoir, laisser tomber qqn
- Explain what Joe means by “some of the blame lay with” his wife Mel.
- Find a phrase meaning “to give a warning to someone to stop or change what they are doing”.
p.103
further down the line: plus tard
safe and sound: sain et sauf
to set eyes on: apercevoir
to check off: cocher, rayer
p.104
to stack: empiler
to staple: agrafer
demand management: gestion de la demande
assessment: évaluation
current caseload: dossiers en cours
above my pay grade: pas de mon ressort, au-delà de mes compétences
hard and fast rule: règle absolue
a judgement call: un jugement / une décision personnel(le)
p.105
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to lead someone to the door when they are leaving”
Chapter 19
p.106
Outward Bound week: voyage scolaire (outward bound: en partance)
Year Nine (in the UK): for children aged 13 to 14 (secondary school).
newsfeed: fil d'actualités (= a web page or screen that updates often to show the latest news or information)
p.107
to snore: ronfler
hard shoulder: accotement
to turn over: se retourner
oblivious: inconscient, sourd (fig.)
poised: en équilibre, suspendu
chopsticks: baguettes (chinoises)
- Find a phrase suggesting that Joe is the only one talking.
- Find an idiom meaning “full of energy, not at all tired” (especially after a good night's sleep).
p.108
“Bohemian Rhapsody”: a famous 1975 song by the British rock band Queen
E-flat major: mi bémol majeur
to hold sth up: lever, élever
to deem: juger, considérer, estimer
p.109
main course: plat principal
to tidy up:
update: mise à jour
upside down: à l'envers
to cool: refroidir
p.110
grumpy: ronchon, bougon, grincheux
to make a show of (doing sth): faire semblant de faire
Time Team: a British television series (on Channel 4) featuring a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days.
American Psycho (1991): a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, focusing on a serial killer and Manhattan businessman
burial ground: cimetière
pillow: oreiller
to settle sb down: installer (qqn)
p.111
Match of the Day: the BBC's main football programme, usually shown on Saturday evenings.
cheers: (UK and informal) à la tienne/vôtre! (ici); salut; merci
p.112:
groggily: faiblement, de manière chancelante/groggy
utterly: complètement, tout à fait
meltdown: fusion (nucléaire); (fig.) effondrement, débâcle
cuppa = (UK and informal) cup of tea
to surrender: se rendre, capituler
to tuck sb in: border qqn, mettre qqn au lit
- Which sentence suggests that William might wake up any moment?
SUNDAY
Chapter 20
p.115
slide: toboggan (ici)
ball pool: piscine à balles
crash mat: matelas de gymnastique
offspring: rejeton(s), progéniture
rope bridge: pont de corde / de singe / suspendu
crayons: des pastels
place mat: set de table
Frozen: La reine des neiges (2013, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
tiara: diadème
lager: (UK) bière blonde
coaster: dessous de verre
p.116
puddings: desserts
to hang on: attendre (ici); se tenir, s'accrocher; résister, tenir (bon)
p.117
nub: petit morceau, (petit) bout
tab: addition, note
p.118
rib-eye steak: entrecôte
Bollinger: a brand of champagne
- Find a phrase meaning that someone wants to join in, to be included in an activity.
p.119
sheen (n.): le lustre, le poli
to slump down: s'écrouler, s'effondrer
footie: foot
civil service: fonction publique, administration
fast track: voie rapide, promotion rapide/accélérée
fairly: assez, passablement
deputy head: directeur (/trice) adjoint(e)
feeder primary school: école primaire d'où sont issus les élèves d'un collège donné
- Find two phrases conveying the idea of “relaxing” or “having a rest”.
p.120
irrelevant: sans rapport, hors de propos
cutlery: les couverts
particular = fussy: tatillon, pointilleux
to shield: protéger
p.121
to slam sth down: poser bruyamment qqch
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 17 to 20
- In chapter 17, how does Mel account for her argument with Ben at the hotel, and how does that alter Joe's interpretation of Ben's general attitude to him?
- In chapter 18, what prompts Joe to tell PC Khan that he too had seen Ben at the hotel?
- In chapter 19, what does Mel keep doing while having dinner with Joe at a Chinese restaurant, and how does Joe attempt to change that?
- What happens at the Stratford at the end of chapter 20, and how does Joe instinctively react?
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SECTION 2 : CHAPTERS 21 to 39
Chapter 21
p.122 ‘Her words went off like a bomb inside the busy pub.’ From your own knowledge, name at least one other kind of device that can ‘go off’ (cf. phrasal verbs)
p.122 Find the word : When you try to understand new information or a situation that you are experiencing or witnessing you_________________________ it.
p.123 snarled: grogna
p.123 Find a verb on this page meaning ‘looked at with great concentration’
p.124 ‘There will be an explanation for this. A reasonable explanation.’
Which verb could be used as a synonym for ‘will’ here?
p. 124 recoiled : il fit un bond en arrière / (reculer)
p. 125 ‘That can’t be right,’ I mumbled. The positive version of this modal verb to say the opposite meaning would be ____________ .
sob : sanglot
p.125 When you read a text to an audience or for another person to hear, you _______ ________ the text.
p.125 shook her head : hocha la tête
p.125 rolled down her cheek : coula sur sa joue
p.125 Find a word on this page meaning ‘aigu’ or ‘strident’ for a sound.
p. 126 marched her out of the pub : ils l'emmenèrent dehors / ils la firent sortir du pub
p. 126 Find a word meaning ‘held very strongly’.
p. 126. crouched : je m'accroupis
p. 126 Car vocabulary : ‘Beth was in the car park, leaning of the bonnet of her Mercedes estate.’ Which word would an American probably use instead of ‘bonnet’ ? What is the French word for ‘estate’ in this context ?
p.126 her chest rising and falling : sa poitrine qui se soulevait et s'abaissait
p. 127 scrolled : je fis dérouler / je consultai / je parcourus
p. 127 folder : dossier
p. 127 reclining : en position allongée
p. 127 beckoning : faisant des gestes aguicheurs / séducteurs
p. 127 winking : faisant un clin d'oeil
p. 127 pouting: faisant une moue aguicheuse
p.127 ‘……, bar none.’ The usual expression is ‘bar one’. Can you think of at least one synonym of ‘bar’ here ?
p.127 ‘To love and to cherish, till death do us part.’ What form of verb is‘do’ here ?
p. 127 sucker : une bonne poire/ un pigeon
p. 128 When a man has a room in his house which is reserved for his own hobbies or ‘masculine’ pursuits and activities, we often refer humorously as his ________ _______.
p. 128 Find the expression meaning ‘… me vint à l’esprit.’
p.128. An alcoholic beverage, usually spirits such as whisky, that you drink at the very end of the evening before going to bed is commonly referred to as a ______________.
p.128 was running a temperature : avait de la fièvre
p.129 Which expression indicates that Beth has apparently given up resisting the reality of the situation ?
Chapter 22
p.130 stony silence : un silence absolu / un silence de mort
p.130 dabbed at her eyes with a balled-up tissue : s'essuyait délicatement les yeux avec un kleenex / mouchoir en papier comprimé en boule
p.130 sneaking a glance at me : en me regardant furtivement du coin de l'oeil
p.130 I should have felt vindicated : Cela aurait dû me conforter dans mes positions
p. 130 Find an expression meaning ‘to be completely correct’ or ‘to be very accurate or precise’
p130 hollow : creux
p. 130 _______________ __________ are a simple meal served from a tin and are traditionally popular among British children.
p.130 A synonym of ‘sitting room’ or ‘living room’ found on this page is ____________ .
p.131 fit to burst : prêt à éclater
p.131 sheer : pure / absolu / total
p.131 wrenching: déchirant
p.131 a jolt : un sursaut / comme un électrochoc
p. 131 Which expression of military origin here shows that Joe is being firm and is maintaining his position in his discussion with Mel ?
p.131 I felt dizzy : j’avais le vertige
p.131 Which physical detail shows how upset and almost speechless Joe is here ?
p.132 a toddler : un bambin / enfant en bas âge
p.132 cogs and gears : les rouages
p.132 Which expression here shows that Joe intends to legally and exclusively look after his son if he and Mel end up divorcing ? What other meaning can this legal term have ?
p.133 shattered into pieces: brisé en morceaux
Chapter 23
p.134 Find an expression here meaning ‘they met by accident’.
p.134 A general and rather diminutive word for a party, a reception or some similar kind of celebration or gathering found on this page is a _____ .
p.135 If your life is very exciting or thrilling it can be described as being like a ________
____________ .
p.135 Which phrasal verb expression here means ‘to accept difficulties and continue dealing with everyday life’
p.136 Which expression here means roughly ‘It took me by surprise’ ?
p. 136 Find a phrasal verb here meaning ‘to endure something to the end’.
p.136 The equivalent of ‘les resultats du Bac’ here is ____________ .
p. 137 Find a common false friend (faux-ami) on this page.
p.137 Can you find a mixed metaphor used by Mel on this page ?
p. 138 settle for something : se contenter de quelque chose / se résigner
p. 138 I rounded on her : to round on someone = s'en prendre à quelqu'un/ je la défiai
p.139 Find a subjunctive verb on this page.
p.140 they were even : ils étaient quittes
p.140 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘usé’ / ‘érodé’/ ‘vaincu à l’usure’
p.142 chubby-cheeked : jouflu
p.142 lodged like a splinter in my brain : (la pensée) se logea dans mon esprit comme une écharde
p.142 to curl up in a corner : se recroqueviller dans un coin de la pièce / se cahcher dans un trou
Chapter 24
p.144 plucked : arracha / attrapa du bout des doigts
p.144 blew her nose : se moucha
p.144 dainty : gracieuse, mignonne
p.144 crumpled : était décomposé
p. 145 Find a false friend on this page.
p. kidneys : les reins
p.146 ‘Dread to think how that little bombshell went down.’ What does the phrasal verb ‘went down’ / ‘to go down’ have in this kind of context ? Therefore, roughly how would you translate this sentence ?
p. 146 How many phrasal verbs can you find on this page ? You should find at least ten.
p. 147 a crew cut: une coupe en brosse
p. 147 belied her age : qui trahissait son âge
p.147 Which expression on this page expresses the idea of ‘un coup bas’ or ‘un coup vicieux’ or ‘C’était une attaque un peu facile / mesquine »
p.148 Find a synonm of ‘to handle’ or ‘to deal with’
p.148 Which expression here means that Mel has said something private and difficult that she had been keeping to herself for a long time ?
Chapter 25
p.150 Find the expression : When someone is not well, perhaps very depressed or very upset we can say that he or she is ____ ___ _____ _______ .
p.151 flushed : rouges
p.152 mean : méchante
p.152 drizzle : la bruine, le crachin
p.152 streaked with : strié de / avec des stries / des taches
p. 153 Which well-known part game does Joe mention here ?
p. 153 Which word suggests that people were probably drunk and tired at the end of the party that is described here ?
p. 153 If Mel was in ‘Fifth form’ when she committed her ‘single infidelity’, how old was she, roughly ?
p.154 a smear : une tache, une salissure
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>>>>Worksheet questions on Chapters 21 to 25
1) pp. 123-127 What proof does Beth seem to have of an affair between Mel and Ben?
2) p.127 How does Joe react when he is shown this proof?
3) p. 132 What threat does Joe make to Mel?
4) pp.134-140 What are the main features of her version of the story here and how does she partly justify her infidelity?
5) p. 142 What horrible thought does Joe have when he looks at the photos of William?
6) How does Mel appear to feel after the long confession?
7) Had Mel ever been unfaithful before?
8) p. 154 Why do you think the author mentions that the words ‘Let’s meet’ are distorted?
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Chapter 26
p.155 a boulder : un rocher
p.155 my ribcage : ma cage thoracique
p. 155 Which words show Joe is using a nautical or travel metaphor here to describe his and Mel’s situation ?
p.155 a shotgun : un fusil de chasse
p. 155 to even the odds : pour équilibrer les forces (as Joe is bigger and stronger than Ben)
p.156 it still begged the question: cela posait toujours la question
p.156 bystanders : des passants
p.156 uneven ground : un terain inégal, accidenté
p. 157 to bring myself to confide in her: me résoudre à me confier à elle
p. 157 taking a sickie : se faire porter malade
p. 157 a duty sergeant : le sergent de service
p. 157 hummed : bourdonnait
p. 158 glowed : brillait
Chapter 27
p. 161 So be it ; Soit
p.162 chimed : sonna
p. 162 tucked-away : isolé
p. 162 winding track : un chemin sinueux
p. 162 Find the word : When you are looking out for something, searching intensely for something or waiting vigilantly for something, we say you should keep your eyes ____________ .
p. 162 sunlight slanted : des rayons de soleil obliques
p. 163 on that score: à ce sujet
Chapter 28
p. 167 a big head start : une bonne longueur d’avance
p. 168 straining : à l’affût de
p. 168 stood out against : se démarqua par rapport à
p. 168 twigs : des brindilles
p. 168 snagged : s’accrochaient
p. 168 Ducking my head : En baissant la tête
p. 169 ploughed through : avança péniblement
p. 169 level at : viser, pointer vers
p. 170 stumbled into: trébuchai et tombai dans
Chapter 29
p. 171 Which expression suggests that the man had not shaved that morning ?
p. 172 out of shape : pas en forme
p. 174 Which idiomatic expression does Naylor use to suggest that he feels they have arrived too late to have the opportunity to see Ben ?
p. 174 Which of Naylor’s physical features does Joe notice and what is his automatic deduction from this ?
p. 175 squawking : piaillant, criant
p. 175 Which word here basically means ‘describe adequately’ ?
Chapter 30
p.176 bike-coding day : une journée de marquage Bicycode
p.176 Which expression here means ‘ a very good example of’ something ?
p. 176 When something is very plain and ordinary without any specific features it is ____________ .
p.176-7 pock marked with cigarette burns : grêlée/ tacheté de brûlures de cigarettes
p.177 Find a synonym of ‘to see’ or ‘to notice’.
p.177 dingy: minable, miteux
p.177 Which word does Joe use here to show how much disdain or scorn he has for Ben ?
p. 178 scraped loudly : râcla bruyamment
p. 178 establish his whereabouts : le retrouver, le localiser
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>>>>Worksheet questions on Chapters 26-30
1) pp.155-156 How does Joe feel throughout the rest of that day and what does he think of Ben’s apparent invitation to meet up ?
2) Does Joe actually see Ben at the park ?
3) pp. 168-169 What does Joe finally realise about Ben’s arrangement to meet up ?
4) What impression does Joe have of the police station ?
5) p. 177 What shows that Joe’s normal routine has been upset ?
6) pp. 178-180 What is Detective Naylor trying to find out here ?
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Chapter 31
p. 181 that weird run-in : cette étrange dispute/ prise de bec / altercation: ( avoir maille à partir avec quelqu’un)
p.181 Find a word meaning ‘domain’ or ‘field’ or ‘area’ or sometimes ‘kingdom’
p. 182 Find an expression meaning ‘en liberté’ or ‘dans la nature’
p. 183 swooping : plongeant
p. 183 lurching : (faisant des embardées) = Ceci me faisait remuer l’estomac.
p.183 Find a colloquial expression meaning ‘on the ground’.
p. 183 Find an expression meaning ‘not important anymore’
p. 184 a spur-of-the-moment thing : spontanée, sur un coup de tête
p. 184 frowned : fronça les sourcils
p. 184 cocked his head ; pencha la tête sur le côté
p. 185 turned people over : trahir des gens
p. 186 falling out : dispute
Chapter 32
p. 187 arsonist: pyromane
p. 188 ‘That name rings a bell.’: ce nom me dit quelque chose
p.188 Find an expression meaning ‘le fin mot de l’histoire’
p.191 churlish: grossier, brusque
p.191 Find a synonym of ‘Supported by’ or ‘In the light of’
Chapter 33
p.193 mingling : se mélangeant, se mêlant
p. 193 was juddering : tanguait
p. 195 he wanted to drive us apart : il voulait nous pousser à nous séparer
p. 195 Which expression shows that Joe wanted to dominate the situation and to be very active and be aware of all the relevant data.
p. 196 When you pay for something for another person or a group of other people, you
____________ ________ ________ __________ . How might you translate this ?
p. 196 Find an expression meaning ‘to appear’, ‘to appear in public’ or ‘to make one’s presence known to people’. How might you translate it here ?
p. 197 In French, a person or a thing can ‘rendre l’âme’. In English we say ……. ?
p. 197 chugging: soufflant, haletant
Chapter 34
p. 199 When you have to make a very tough choice between two courses of action we say that you are _____________ _______ the two actions.
p. 200 How many different verbs and nouns expressing noises and sound effects can you find on this page ?
p. 200 It’s him all over : ça c’est lui tout craché
Chapter 35
p. 202 How might you translate ‘After dispensing with the pleasantries,…..’
p. 202 Find a synonym for ‘prices’ or ‘fees’
p.202 When you want to say that it is wiser to take precautions than to regret things afterwards you can use the expression ‘_____________ _________ _________ __________’
p. 202 crisp Home Counties accent : son accent impeccable/ très clair des comptés autour de Londres
p. 202 I ran through a potted version of : j’ai raconté une version concise/ abrégée de
p.203 cautioned : averti
p.203 shrugged : haussa les épaules
p.204 niceties : subtilités
p.204 Larssen uses two synonyms, rather redundantly, which both mean ‘sournois’ or ‘fourbe’. They are…. ________________ and _____________.
p. 204 noose : la corde ( à moitié) autour du cou
p. 204 Find the expression : When you don’t trust a person at all, you can say « I………….. »
p. 204 Find a colloquial, humourous term for the police.
p. 204 loaded question: une question tendancieuse
p. 205 on legal grounds : pour des motifs juridiques
p. 205 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘to find yourself somewhere in the end’
p. 205 When you have to try to deduce something by mainly using your general knowledge and intuition about a situation then you say you can ______________ ______
_________________ ______________.
p. 205 fountain pen : un stylo à encre
p. 206 guesswork : la conjecture/ suppositions ou hypothèses
p. 206 Find three phrasal verbs on this page : what do they mean in their contexts ?
p. 206 Which expression might be translated as ‘sous aucun prétexte’ ?
p. 207 Which expression here means, basically, ‘to understand something’
p.207 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘to end’, ‘to bring to an end’
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>>>>Worksheet questions on Chapters 31 to 35
1) p.183 How does the interview with the police develop here and how does Joe feel about these developments ?
2) pp.186-188 What further new evidence makes things look even more problematic for Joe ?
3) pp.188-189 What possible motives does Naylor hint at ( suggest) if Joe had actually wanted to harm Ben ?
4) p.192 On what note does the police interview end ?
5) What action does Joe take when he gets back home and what are his thoughts ?
6) Chapter 34 : (p.200) Why does Joe say to Naylor on the phone ‘this is pure one hundred percent Ben Delaney. It’s him all over, it’s what he’s good at’ ?
7) What does the solicitor Larssen think of DCI Naylor ?
8) How does Joe feel at the end of his first discussion with Larssen ?
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Chapter 36
p. 211 A common form of punishment in secondary schools is _________________
p. 211 If your shirt is left on top of your trousers, possibly looking rather untidy, then it is ___________________ .
p.211 Teenagers often like to challenge authority and see how far they can go without being punished so they _______________ ______________________ .
p. 211 Which adjective shows that the assistant head teacher is totally unflexible in his application of discipline ?
p. 211 Which word shows that Joe sees pupils as potential catches or potential victims of the strict discipline that he can easily catch?
p.211 strolled towards me : m’approchèrent nonchalamment
p. 211 shuffling : marcher en trînant les pieds
p. 211 At the start of the day, British secondary school pupils usually go to their _____________ _____________ for registration and other information before going to class.
p. 212 What suggests that the tallest boy is actually very tall for his age ?
p. 212 smart-arse : petit malin
p. 212 sniggered : ricanèrent
p. 212 subdued : morose
p. 212 a smirk : un sourire narquois, un petit sourire satisfait
p. 212 Find a colloquial word for ‘tea’ or ‘a cup of tea’.
p. 213 In this context how might you translate ‘For all our piss-taking……..’ ?
p. 213 On this page you can find two different words meaning ‘to reprimand someone’ : one very formal and one vulgar : they are _____________________ and _____________________.
p. 213 The person whose job is to do the unpleasant or violent things, such as punishing people, or killing them or perhaps simply firing them, is a _________________ _________.
p. 214 trophy-laden : chargés de trophées, tenant des trophées
p. 215 laid up : alité
p. 215 Which word on this page do you think basically means ‘Grande Section’ ( de l’école maternelle) ?
p. 215 What does Carl Draper say that suggest that William’s school is, quite objectively, probably a good school ?
p. 216 Instead of saying ‘public relations’ or ‘advertising’ we often simply use the term ___.
Chapter 37
p. 218 Which adjective on this page was invented during the First World War and how might you translate it ?
p. 219 A colloquial and humourous way of saying ‘I have got you’ (‘Je t’ai eu!’) is ___________ !
p. 219 Find a word equivalent to the French word ‘potins’ or ‘ragots’.
p. 219 Find the name of a serious disease, (now eradicated), on this page. How does this show that Joe is angry here ?
p. 220 Which words here mean ‘to be intensely interrogated’ or ‘an intense interrogation’ ?
p. 221 pulled a face : fit une grimace
p. 221 Which expression does Joe use to suggest that Ben is simply deliberately annoying and confusing everyone, perhaps as a kind of game ?
p. 222 pot belly : bedaine, brioche
p. 223 Which phrasal verb means ‘to reveal’, ‘to divulge’ or ‘to show’ ?
p. 223 besmirched : souillée
p. 224 school regs : school regulations, le règlement intérieur de l’établissement
p. 224 fickle: inconstant, changeant, volage
p.224 a kangaroo court: un tribunal fantoche
p. 224 the rule of the mob : la loi de la rue, la loi de la populace
p. 225 When you sacrifice yourself or do something unpleasant for the good of the wider community around you, we say, colloquially that you ___________ _________ __________ _________ ______________ . How might you translate this and the sentence that follows ?
p. 225 A synonym for ‘hit hard’ or ‘punch’ here is…………..
p.225 clenched fists : poings serrés
p.226 Which expression does Carl Draper use rather ironically here ?
Chapter 38
p. 227 My progress : Mon cheminement
p. 228 expunged: effacé, expurgé
p. 229 Find a word here which means ‘effronté’ or ‘insolent’.
p. 230 I squirmed on the hook : je me tortillais (comme un ver) sur l’hameçon
p. 231 he’s hounding me : il me traque
p. 231 The opposite of ‘fair play’ is________ ________ . How might you translate this term in this context ?
p. 232 he’s taking potshots at me : il s’amuse à me tirer dessus au hasard
Chapter 39
p. 234 I’m being set up. : On essaye de me faire accuser / me faire porter le chapeau pour un délit
p. 234 he’s taunting me : il me nargue
p. 235 Find the expression : When you want to make something look different or to have people look at things in a different light you ________ ___ _______________ _____________ _____ it.
p. 235 Find the expression : If you want to damage someone’s reputation and, for example, show that he or she is immoral, you can launch a ____________ ________________ against him or her
p. 235 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘to check’, ‘to verify’
p. 236 Which expression here means ‘a clue’, ‘some helpful information’ ?
p. 239 Which expression used by Naylor suggests that the full official procedure of analysing the data on Facebook has not been complied with in the case of Ben’s Facebook and messages?
p. 240 bog-standard : banal, tout à fait ordinaire
p. 240 semi-colon : point-virgule
p. 240 on a par with : au même niveau quelqu'un
p. 240 quills : des plumes, stylos à plume
p. 240 utterly redundant : totalement inutile
p. 242 scabbed-over scratches: des croûtes sur les égratignures
p. 242 stumbled : tombai
p. 243 How might you translate ‘The name of the game’ here ?
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>>>>Worksheet questions on chapters 36 to 39
1) What things at school on Tuesday morning suggest that something is different and that Joe is the centre of it all?
2) What is Carl Draper’s rôle in the school and what seems to be his reputation among staff?
3) What photo on Facebook does Draper show to Joe and what is Draper’s main concern?
4) What action does Draper take and how does Joe feel about this?
5) pp.230-231 What new and unwelcome development does Larssen announce to Joe on the phone?
6) Chapter 39 (p.240): What overall explanation of the situation does Joe give to the police?
7) What items of evidence mentioned by the police seem to suggest that Joe has harmed or possibly killed Ben?
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SECTION 3 : CHAPTERS 40 to 59
Chapter 40
-(p. 244) Find an informal expression meaning “to make someone seem to be guilty of a crime when they’re not”.
-(p. 244) that had blown up in my face: ça m’avait éclaté au visage
-(p. 244) Find an expression meaning “to rest”.
-(p. 244) Notice the use of past participles in the English expression “easier said than done”: plus facile à dire qu’à faire.
-(p. 244) mate: mon pote
-(p. 245) Find an informal noun meaning “man”.
-(p. 245) to stalk: filer, traquer, suivre partout
-(p. 245) Whereabouts = location; the place where someone or something is.
-(p. 245) Find a (rather archaic) conjunction that is synonymous with “although”, but which can’t introduce an independent clause.
Ex: an enjoyable, _______ very short vacation.
-(p. 246) Which degree did Mel get 20 years ago?
-(p. 246) When your’re ready to face whatever challenges may occur in your life, you’re ready to ___ __ __ __.
-(p. 247) Find a verb meaning either “to suffer from a continuous dull pain” or (here) “to feel intense sadness”. This term can be used to form compounds (ex: to have a head___/ a stomach___/ a tooth___)
-(p. 247) A synonym for “I can no longer bear it” is _____.
-(p. 251) If someone comes over to your house without warning, he _______
-(p. 251) Find an informal way of saying “very annoyed”.
-(p. 251) to be on the back foot: to be outmanoeuvred by an opponent, to be at a disadvantage (être en mauvaise posture, être sur la defensive)
Chapter 41
-(p. 252) conservatory : jardin d’hiver, véranda (ici) / le conservatoire (école de musique)
-(p. 252) big enough to seat twenty : suffisamment grande pour contenir/faire tenir 20 personnes assises.
-(p. 253) The antonym of “thin” on this page is ___
-(p. 253) brass : a particular type of metal made from copper and zinc : en laiton.
-(p. 254) stifled a sob : étouffa un sanglot.
-(p. 255) I realised with a jolt : cela m’a fait un choc quand je me suis rendu compte que…(a jolt is either “a sudden violent movement” or “an unpleasant shock or suprise”).
-(p. 255) tarpaulins : des bâches
-(p. 255) christenings : des baptêmes.
-(p. 256) When you try to achieve something by ____ means or _____, you use any method you can to achieve it, even if it’s not honest.
-(p. 257) Find an expression which includes a phrasal verb and means “remonter le temps”.
-(p. 257) Standard = The London Evening Standard, a free daily newspaper.
-(p. 257) Sons of Anarchy : an American tv series.
-(p. 258) there was shouting and swearing : il y eut des cris et des jurons.
-(p. 258) Find the infinitive form of the irregular verb which means “to turn round quickly”.
Chapter 42
-(p. 259) Find another way of saying “I can’t understand at all”.
-(p. 261) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to distinguish”.
-(p. 261) Find a false friend to fill in the following blanks : If an activity ____ , or if you ____it, it starts again after a pause.
-(p. 261) Goodbye, Mr. Chip : a 1939 British film based on a novel written by James Hilton, relating the teaching carrer of a latin teacher at the end of the 19th century (hence the reference to the black gown).
Chapter 43
-(p. 266) Find an irregular verb meaning “to move slowly and quietly, usually to avoid being noticed”.
-(p. 266) A synonym for “group” is ___.
-(p. 266) Find the name of a kitchen utensil usually used to make pastry flat and thin.
-(p. 267) ajar : entrouvert
-(p. 267) landing : le palier
-(p. 267) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to understand, find a solution”.
-(p. 267) Find a verb meaning “to frighten someone”.
-(p. 268) “something arcane and techie” could be paraphrased as “sthg mysterious and ___”
-(p. 269) Find the metaphor Joe makes in order to stress how ironical Ben’s threat is.
-(p. 270) Write Ben’s longest text message in full letters (“you should get better security…”)
-(p. 271) to slam one’s fist on sthg : taper du poing sur qqch. Notice that personal pronouns are required before body parts in English whereas this is not the case in French.
Chapter 44
-(p. 272) the carers : the people taking care of/looking after William at after-school club.
-(p. 272) to matter : compter.
-(p. 273) trolling : the art of deliberately pissing someone off (by leaving an insulting message on the Internet usually).
-(p. 273) Find an expression which would translate as “lui rendre la pareille”.
-(p. 273) When a person or an animal runs out of their hiding place, they ___ ___.
-(p. 274) would make me sound wounded and resentful: laisseraient entendre que j’étais blessé et amer
-(p. 274) Find an expression meaning “to start from the very beginning”.
-(p. 275) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to hit someone hard and repeatedly”, which is here used with an informal noun meaning “man”.
-(p. 277) Find an expression which originally comes from fishing but which can also mean “to fall for something someone has said = to respond to someone's actions or words in the way that they intended”.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 40 to 44
-Who is Mark Ruddington and how does Joe get to know him?
-Which piece of information does Beth give Joe when he pays her a visit at home after their terrible confrontation at the Stratford pub? (a piece of information which makes him want to search Ben’s study).
-When Joe realizes his house has been broken into, which tool does he grab to defend himself and what does he find out?
-Which solution does Joe think he’s found to make Ben break cover?
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Chapter 45
-(p. 279) Find an adjective meaning “embarrassed because you know that you’ve done sthg wrong or silly”.
-(p. 280) tablets : comprimés / pills : gellules, comprimés.
-(p. 280) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to come, appear, be present”.
-(p. 281) When someone is ___ __, they’re not completely conscious of what’s going on, often because of taking drugs or needing to sleep.
-(p. 282) swaying : to move slowly from side to side
-(p. 282) A literary way of saying “alone and unhappy” is : ___.
-(p. 283) Which term does Joe use to say that Beth is not paying attention, not hearing or seeing what’s around her for the moment ?
Chapter 46
-(p. 285) Find an irregular phrasal verb meaning “to separate”.
-(p. 285) Another way of saying “very excited” is ___.
-(p. 286) oblivious to : inconscient de, imperméable à.
-(p. 286) Which phrasal verb here means “s’écouler, passer”?
-(p. 286) a glance : un coup d’œil
-(p. 287) Which expression suggests Joe suddenly had a strong feeling of fear/ shock?
-(p. 287) lanky: tall and thin and moving awkwardly as a result (dégingandé/grande perche)
-(p. 288) to squirm out of my grip: de me faire lâcher prise en se tortillant
-(p. 288) Which verb expresses that Joe breathes quickly and loudly because he’s been running after Ben?
-(p. 289) as far as I could tell: autant que je sache.
-(p. 289) Which expression expresses the idea of “un coup monté”?
Chapter 47
-(p. 290) Find an adjective meaning “slow-moving/lacking energy or alertness”.
-(p. 290) Which comparison is used to show that William is strongly attached to his mother and holds on tightly to her when going to bed ?
-(p. 290) tiptoed back into the hall. Notice how this action translates : the English preposition “back” is turned into a verb and the verb “ tiptoed” becomes a phrase of manner in French (un complément circonstanciel de temps) : retournai dans le hall sur la pointe des pieds.
-(p. 292) a seam : une couture
-(p. 292) the lining : la doublure
-(p. 293) a bead of cold sweat : une perle de sueur froide
-(p. 294) Find another verb meaning “deleted”.
-(p. 294) Find the expression which means “retourner à la case départ”.
-(p. 295) Which term expresses that Mel didn’t have a shirt on when she took the picture ?
-(p. 297) The slang equivalent to “ things which are pointless” is ___ ___ .
Chapter 48
-(p. 297) G&T : an alcoholic beverage : Gin and Tonic.
-(p. 300) Which expression shows that Joe is doing is best to sound calm ?
-(p. 302) Find an informal way of saying “extremely tired”.
Chapter 49
-(p. 303) Which expression indicates that Joe was amazed the first time he saw Mel naked ?
-(p. 303) Which expression does Joe use to go on with the same breathing/air metaphor ?
-(p. 304) Which expression shows that Mel looks delighted on the picture?
-(p. 304) ex-directory : not listed in a telephone directory : pas dans l’annuaire (téléphonique).
-(p. 305) yielded a curious result: produced a strange result.
-(p. 305) well-groomed men : hommes très soignés, bien coiffés.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 45 to 49
- Joe thinks he has found a solution to make Ben break cover, but which difficulty does he first face and what does this suggest?
- What does Joe find out in Beth’s living room?
- Which strategy does Joe find to have enough time to go through his wife’s handbag and which object does he find in it?
- Does his discovery prove useful? What are the two difficulties he faces?
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Chapter 50
-(p. 309) A sliver of sky: un ruban de ciel
-(p. 309) In addition to the time indication (5 a.m.), which element of the setting can more or less tell you what time it is?
-(p. 309) Find an expression here meaning “doing the housework”.
-(p. 309) You know what an acronym ___ __ when you know what its letters represent.
-(p. 310) Notice the comparison Joe makes: “a middle-aged man’s face, emotionless as a tombstone” : “un homme d’âge moyen, au visage aussi dépourvu de vie qu’une tombe / au visage sans plus de vie qu’une pierre tombale”.
-(p. 310) despite extensive police searches: malgré des fouilles policières étendues
-taunt : raillerie, moquerie
-(p. 311) Which expression shows that William is aware that something’s wrong with his parents ?
-(p. 312) Find an expression here used in the passive form and meaning “remettre les choses en ordre”.
-(p. 313) a lieu day : a day off in lieu = some time off instead.
-(p. 313) When you get into someone’s computer system without permission, so as to find out some information, you ___ their computer.
-(p. 314) A device used to count down time is an ___ ___.
-(p. 314) to catch a glimpse of /glimpses of : entrevoir
-(p. 314) Find an adjective meaning “harmless” and rhyming with it.
-(p. 315) ruthless : intraitable, impitoyable.
-(p. 315) An informal way of saying “an affair” here is : a ___.
-(p. 317) was slowly falling to pieces : était doucement en train de perdre pied = s’effondrer, craquer.
Chapter 51
-(p. 318) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to inform someone more fully of a matter”.
-(p. 319) a patch of woodland: une parcelled de bois
-(p. 319) scent dogs: des chiens renifleurs
-(p. 319) my mind was racing: mes pensées fusaient / je réfléchissais à toute vitesse
-(p. 319) Find a slang equivalent to “to kill someone”.
-(p. 320) sighed audibly: soupira distinctement
-(p. 320) An informal way of saying “rather, quite” is ____.
-(p. 321) An idea which is based on feeling rather than fact is a ___.
-(p. 321) he’s always slagging it off = speaking badly of it.
-(p. 321) Find an adjective meaning “difficult”.
-(p. 322) Find a phrasal verb here meaning “régler le problème”.
-(p. 322) “I miss him”. Notice the difference in French: il me manque.
Chapter 52
-(p. 323) Notice the translation of “24h/24”: 24 hours a day (here “a” means “per”).
-(p. 323) grimy: dirty (crasseux).
-(p. 323) Find an irregular verb meaning “to smell bad/ to smell foul”
-(p. 323) I didn’t mind: peu m’importait: (ici, pour le registre, plutôt): ça ne me dérangeait pas.
-(p. 324) Find a phrasal verb meaning “passer quelqu’un (au telephone)”.
-(p. 324) bogus: faux
-(p. 324) pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together: des pièces du puzzle commençaient à s’assembler.
-(p. 325) a phone booth: une cabine téléphonique
-(p. 325) posh: très chic, sélect, huppé (house, neighbourhood, car, clothes) / ici: snob (people).
-(p. 325) Find a false friend meaning “tromper”
-(p. 326) a dark hooded top: un haut sombre à capuche
-(p. 326) ages: des lustres, des plombes (ici) (puisque dialogue avec un adolescent)
-(p. 326) Jeremy Kyle Show: a British talk show presented by Jeremy Kyle and based on confrontations in which guests try to resolve issues (usually family/sex/drug issues) with others. Joe associates the angry teen with a combative guest on the Jeremy Kyle Show because it is very common to see the guests displaying strong emotions, such as anger and distress, on the show.
-(p. 326) Notice the irregular past participle of “to string out”: strung out = a colloquial term meaning either “disturbed” (perturbé) or “under the influence of drugs” (défoncé).
-(p. 326) how about…: et si…
-(p. 326) Find a vulgar expression here meaning “casse toi/ dégage”.
-(p. 327) A synonym for “very surprised” on that page is ___ ___.
-(p. 327) When you want someone to become calm and relax, you can tell them: ___. (informal)
-(p. 327) “to diss” is slang for someone who speaks rudely to someone else or shows them no respect (se payer la tête de).
-(p. 328) Which funny (though vulgar) expression does Joe use to indicate that Riley Warner has turned into an expert jerk (=douchebag)?
-(p. 328) airtight: hermétique
Chapter 53
-(p. 330) Sniggering : ricanant
-(p. 330) Which slang expression is used to express the idea that Joe doesn’t care what happens next ?
-(p. 330) husky : rauque
-(p. 331) scorching : caniculaire
-(p. 331) to steady someone : calmer quelqu’un
-(p. 331) Find an irregular past participle meaning “tiré”.
-(p. 332) Find an adjective which can be spelt differently and means “fouineur/qui fourre son nez partout”.
-(p. 332) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to pull something out of a container” (water, box, drawer, pocket etc.) : sortir, extirper.
-(p. 332) barely a whisper : à peine un murmur
-(p. 333) to draw a line under = to finish something and move on with it : tirer un trait sur
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 50 to 53
-What did Joe use to do for a living? At that point in the story, is he being nostalgic about his past job?
-Who is Riley Warner?
-Where did Joe ask Mel to marry him? What happened on that occasion which shows she wasn’t expecting a proposal (=which shows this came as a total surprise)?
-At one point in the story (chap. 54), Mel feels moved into revealing something apparently important to Joe. What is it that moves her so much and what stops her short of telling him the whole truth?
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Chapter 54
-(p. 335) How many ballpoint pens does Mel have in her handbag according to Joe ?
-(p. 335) Find an expression meaning “supporter”.
-(p. 336) A synonym for “surprised” on this page is____
-(p. 336) Find an adjective meaning “slight/not strong” which can be used before sounds, smells and noises, notably.
-(p. 336) The Stepford Wives is a 1975 American horror film directed by Bryan Forbes and based on the 1972 Ira Levin novel of the same name. It is set in the small town of Stepford, Connecticut, where sweet women are entirely subdued to their lazy husbands, doing all the housework to please them – a situation which eventually raises the curiosity of Joanna Eberhart, who eventually finds out that all of these women are robots. Hence the analogy between the automated voice of the answering machine and that of the Stepford Wives.
-(p. 337) a rowing boat: a small boat which is moved by pulling oars (des rames).
-(p. 337) You nearly tipped us both into the water: tu nous as presque fait basculer à l’eau tous les deux.
-(p. 339) Find an expression which here suggests that Mel has changed her mind and won’t tell Joe the truth /won’t open up.
-(p. 339) dimples: fossettes
-(p. 339) Find another way of saying “we’ll overcome this difficulty; we’ll find a way and eventually be ok”.
Chapter 55
-(p. 340) the sweet shop: le magasin de bonbons.
-(p. 340) Find a phrasal verb meaning “remonter le moral à quelqu’un”.
-(p. 340) Find an expression meaning “to support”.
-(p. 341) stern (person, look, test, opposion): sévère
-(p. 342) Find other ways of saying “to frighten someone” and “to be frightened”
-(p. 343) There are so many policemen coming in and out of Joe’s house that at one point he can’t help comparing them to _____.
-(p. 343) a low-loader : semi-remorque à plateforme surbaissée
-(p. 343) the kerb (Brit) : le trottoir
-(p. 343) gear : équipement, tenue
Chapter 56
-(p. 345) to clutch : to grasp tightly (serrer)
-(p. 345) muffled : quiet, not clear (étouffé, pour un son)
-(p. 345) to scoure : to clean
-(p. 345) to swab : to take a small amount of a substance by using a small piece of soft material.
-(p. 345) Find an adjective meaning “contrarié, troublé, bouleversé”
-(p. 346) to hoodwink : to deceive or trick someone.
Chapter 57
-(p. 349) Find a term which is very much in use as an adjective (in expressions like “to be panic-___” or “ ____ with guilt / grief” etc.) whereas it is rare as a verb : “a North American or archaic past participle” of a verb whose standard past tense and participle are “struck”.
-(p. 349) handcuffs : menottes
-(p. 349) Find another way of saying “unquestionably guilty” (coupable à 100%)
-(p. 350) The English acronym for “ADN” is ___.
-(p. 350) Find an expression meaning “to do something wrong; behave inappropriately”.
-(p. 351) capped his fountain pen : reboucha son stylo plume
-(p. 352) A synonym for “proofs”, but which is never in the plural in English is ____.
-(p. 352) to have butterflies in one’s stomach : ATTENTION à l’anglicisme consistant, comme dans de nombreuses traductions de séries notamment, à traduire par cette horreur : « avoir des papillons dans le ventre », ce qui n’a pas de sens en français. La traduction est « avoir le trac ».
-(p. 353) frowned : fronça les sourcils
-(p. 353) foul play : acte criminel (ici) / en sport, aux cartes : jeu irrégulier, tricherie
foul = disgusting (notably for smells) /bad (for the weather).
-(p. 354) a synonym for “to reveal” on this page would be ___.
-(p. 354) to match something to something else : trouver une correspondance entre ceci et cela.
-(p. 354) What is the infinitive form of “laid”?
Chapter 58
-(p. 355) scuffle: a short and sudden fight (bagarre, échauffourée, rixe)
-(p. 356) a nugget of gold: a small, roughly shaped piece (ici, une pépite d’or).
-(p. 358) knuckles: the bending bony parts on your fingers and hands
-(p. 359) the job of concealment= the job of hiding something (to conceal= to hide)
-(p. 360) DS= Detective Sergeant.
-(p. 360) Find a colloquial expression someone may use when they think someone is talking nonsense to them. (which would translate as: des conneries, tout ça / foutaises!)
-(p. 360) to lose one’s temper: perdre son calme
-(p. 361) Find another way of saying: “don’t say a word”.
-(p. 361) a shiver of fear went trough me: je fus traversé d’un frisson de peur.
-(p. 361) Which image does Joe resort to so as to indicate how scared he is?
Chapter 59
-(p. 362) human remains : des restes humains
-(p. 362) muddy and out of breath : couvert de boue et le souffle court.
-(p. 363) Uncovering a new lead sometimes requires months of ____ (=active physical work to gather information).
-(p. 364) When you have to defend something you truly believe in by arguing, you ___ __ __.
-(p. 365) another way of saying “more or less” on this page is ___.
The expression is used with amounts or time references to indicate that it is possibly a little more or less than the amount or time mentioned. Ex : it will be ready at 5 pm, ____ a few minutes (= à quelques minutes près) ; it costs £200, give or take.
-(p. 367) A road which is closed at one end and doesn’t lead anywhere is a ___.
This term can also be used to describe a situation which has no hope of making progress.
-(p. 368) Find an expression meaning “to remain cautious and be ready for a new challenge”.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 54 to 59
-On what ground is Joe being arrested? What new evidence led the police to arrest him?
-Who is present when Joe gets arrested ?
-During the police interrogation, does Joe strictly follow Larssen’s advice? What could this indicate to the police?
-Does Larssen believe his client? What does this suggest?
-How come the Facebook posts, the David Bramley account and the Messenger texts can’t count as evidence in favour of Joe? What does it tell us about Joe’s enemy?
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SECTION 4 : CHAPTERS 60 - THE END
Chapter 60
(p. 369). “It felt so good, so right, that my guard always crumbled there”= C’était si bon, si parfait, que c’était toujours là/ le moment où d’habitude/ baissais la garde. “
(p. 370): the barb of betrayal= l’épine/ le dard de la trahison
- “the police seemed pretty-gung-ho today”= enthousiaste, excité
- Ben just has to break cover once… (sortir de sa retraite, de sa cachette) for the police to realise he is still very much alive and kicking= bien vivant, en pleine forme
(p. 371) Translate and explain: “Tonight is when I start to make up for it”?
- To hold out= resister, tenir bon
- “I wondered again about the toll all of this was taking on her.” Je m’interrogeais sur les dégâts/ les lourdes conséquences que cela laissait sur elle// le lourd tribu qu’elle devait payer
- Translate the underlined words: “Larssen had told me that if the police did end up charging me with murder, it was highly likely that I would be remanded in custody rather than being bailed.“
(p. 372) Find a phrasal verb meaning to do something unexpected.
-“There was stuff strewn everywhere in the aftermath of the police search.”: il y avait des effets/ des objets éparpillés partout le sol était jonché d’objets) suite à la fouille de la police.
Why does Joe say “They might as well have sent me back in time to 1900”?
Chapter 61:
(p. 375) 1. wary= prudent. 2. smart-alec sass (language): conceited and disrespectful : toupet, culot
(p. 376) a lieu day= a day off
(p. 379) Translate: “she seemed to have deleted (most of it) when she upgraded”? (Mel’s old phone/handsets).
(p. 380): scorched earth: la terre brûlée.
- Mel should be told what was coming down the tracks at her= ce qui allait lui tomber dessus.
(p. 381) mischief-making: jouer un tour, faire une blague, des espiègleries
(p. 381-382) a warped view: faussé (objet : déformé).
(p. 382) Keeping me at arm’s length = me tenant à distance
Chapter 62:
-(p. 383) hazardous= dangereux
-(p. 384) How are you holding up, Beth? = Est-ce que tu tiens bon/ she shrugged: elle haussa les épaules
- Your husband has got them dancing to his tune= il mène la danse, il les mène par le bout du nez, il leur fait faire tout ce qu’il veut/ses quatre volontés.
-(p. 385) It’s all right, Beth,” I said. We’ll figure it out. Together.”= comprendre
-(p. 386) as if mulling something over= thinking something over= méditer, retourner dans sa tête
-(p. 388) charged with GBH a few years ago: grievous bodily harm.
- What sort of GBH was Steven Beecham charged with?
- He got off on a technicality. : il a été relâché pour vice de forme/ erreur administrative
-(p. 388) to frame me= piéger (I’ve been framed: je suis victime d’un coup monté).
- What is a back up plan?
-(p. 390) effing= fucking
Chapter 63
-(p. 391) Find a phrasal verb meaning to park your car.
Find a verb meaning to frighten, unnerve.
-(p. 392) Find a phrasal verb meaning to stop a search, stop looking for someone.
-(p. 393) Find a phrasal verb meaning to be upset.
-(p. 394) a registration plate: plaque d’immatriculation
-(p. 395) a tip-off: un tuyau
Chapter 64 and 65
-(p. 396) the forensic data people= la police scientifique
-(p. 396) What does “mobile phone data being so ubiquitous” mean?
-(p. 397) to bypass= contourner
-(p. 398) Find a phrasal verb meaning to take control of something (of a computer here
-(p. 399) The evidence the police found is « circumstancial, but telling all the same ». Ce sont des preuves circonstancielles (indirectes), mais convaincantes (révélatrices) malgré tout.
-(p. 399) A few days ago Larssen thought the case would fizzle out” = die out, gradually end” = tourner court, s’éteindre, tomber en quenouille, être abandonnée
-(p. 400) a sample : un échantillon
-(p. 403) out of the blue: sans s’y attendre, à l’improviste
Chapter 65
-(p. 402) Find a word meaning accusations
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 60-65
1. When he comes back home after being interrogated by the police, Joe says the situation at home is “beyond weird”. Why?
2. What attitude did Joe and Mel adopt?
3. “Tonight’s when I start to make up for it”, Mel said. “Perhaps I should hold out”, Joe thought. What attitudes both of Mel and Joe are referred to?
2. p. 369-371, How did Mel interpret the fact he didn’t want to talk? What did she do later to get Joe to relax, and how did he react to it?
3. “Everything else… Mel seemed to have deleted when she upgraded.” What is Joe referring to?
4. Why was the second email from bret 911 particularly revealing according to Joe? Why not so according to Larssen?
5. Who did Joe forward the email to, and for what reason?
6. When discussing the best attitude for Joe to adopt in the future, why do Joe and Larssen differ?
7. “I was reminded that looking at a stranger’s Facebook timeline gave a warped view of that person’s life.” (p. 382). What and who is Joe referring to?
8. “And nobody was going to bust up our exclusive club.” (p. 382). Explain.
9. At Golders Hill Park, why does Beth mention “ying and yang”? What document did she bring along?
10. How did Joe finally work out the meaning of the STEB post-it note?
11. Who mentioned the name of Alex Kolnik? What was the reason for mentioning him and what was Beth’s reaction?
12. What did the forensic people find on Ben’s phone? Why were forensic people called in on this case?
13. Why does Joe put much hope in the message he received on his home PC, the threat message from Ben, and why does Larssen’s commentary on it wreck Joe’s hopes?
14. “It’s another piece of the puzzle as far as Naylor is concerned. Circumstantial, but telling all the same, in the eyes of a jury.” (p. 399). What is Larssen referring to her, and why does he think it can be serious?
15. Why is the case no longer likely to “fizzle out” contrary to what Larrsen had said earlier?
16. What evidence part from the Google searches is likely to be the most incriminating for Joe?
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Chapter 66
p. 404. Naylor had come mob-handed today (slang)): accompagné, avec du renfort
p.404. gear= equipment, “high-vis jackets” = high_visibility jackets.
p. 405. Mel did a double take : Mel a vérifié une seconde fois, l’a regardé une seconde fois.
Find a phrasal verb meaning “trahir quelqu’un » (ici: me trahir)
p. 405. red in tooth and claw: impitoyable (sanguinaire) (claw= une griffe, une serre)
p. 405 Find the names of a chain of supermarkets, a chain of Italian restaurants.
p. 406 he was winning hands down= he was winning easily.
p. 409 to withdraw money = take= retirer
What is a phone number which isn’t on display?
Her maiden name= son nom de jeune fille.
p. 410: the name of a train station in London.
Chapter 67
p. 411. What are terraced houses?
p. 411. To outsmart = se montrer plus mzalin, plus ifuté, surpasser
p. 411. To drive a wedge between us: creuser un fossé entre nous, nous séparer (métaphore de menuiserie)
p. 411.to the victor, the spoils = au vainqueur le butin (the spoils), le vainqueur rafle la mise, remporte tout
p. 414. Find a word showing Joe lacks support and direction.
p. 414. The Range Rover is basically a bust = la (piste) de la Range Rover est donc fichue/un fiasco.
p. 414. to be on remand = être en détention proviso ire
Chapter 68
p. 417. the die was cast = dice= les dés étaient jetés
p. 419. Bouncer = videur/ booze (slang)= alcool
to stake the most : miser le plus, avoir les mises les plus élevées
The tables there “were £20 and £40 per deal, still too much like small change for a guy who thought nothing of spending three grand on a Savile Row suit.” Explain.
p. 420. the hoi polloi= la populace / the high rollers: les flambeurs, lesclients à hautes mises.
Chapter 69
p. 424. Punters = clients
p. 425. Find a verb meaning to stake money on something
p. 426. Find a verb meaning Joe was taken away by force
p. 427. Blue Eyes spun me round. il me fit tournoyer/ tourner sur moi-même (to spin, span, spun).
p. 427. an alley= une ruelle
p. 428. Find a phrasal verb meaning to be hit so hard you lose consciousness.
Chapter 70
p. 428 and p. 430 All the words below relate to physical pain (Joe). Make sure you know them, in particular the underlined ones.
(throbbing pain. I blinked, I winced, sat up with a groan….my ribs were raw with pain
(had given me a bit of kicking after) knocking me out/ back tooth felt loose, blood leaking from the gum)/ the world still spinning. walked unsteadily…/ p. 430: bruises/ the cuts and grazes stinging/ a gash above my eye. Cut, bruised and bloodied/ p. 433 a pounding headache, my face sore and my ribs stiff)
p. 428. The bouncers had given me a bit of kicking into the bargain. Les videurs m’avaient balancé des coups de pied par-dessus le marché, en plus.
p. 430. the light…made me duck into an alleyway… I stumbled forward into the shadows and crouched behind a wheelie bin. :1. se baisser vivement 2. trébucher 3. s’accroupir, se tapir (derrière une poubelle à roues)
p. 430 Find a phrasal verb expressing what you do when you arrive at a hotel
Translate: beaten up, maybe, but not beaten (Joe)
Chapter 71, 72, 73
p. 433. Slumber= sommeil
hovering out of my reach= planant, flottant hors de ma portée
p. 437 taut= tendu
p. 441 AWOL=Absent Without Official Leave (Army)= parti sans prévenir
sizing me up: me jaugeant, m’évaluant
p. 445 a hammering on the front door = des coups répétés sur la porte d’entrée
I shook it (the dog) loose = j’ai fait lâcher prise au chien/ j’ai envoyé le chien au loin d’une forte secousse.
Chapter 74
p.446. splinters, shards = échardes
to dodge a slack-looking policeman= éviter (esquiver) un policier à l’air peu sérieux/ décontracté
p. 447. after one drunken night that had wrecked my sporting career= après une nuit où j’étais ivre qui avait anéantit (détruit compètement) ma carrière sportive.
Using his phone to mislead the police: afin d’induire en erreur, tromper
p. 448. giving myself up: me rendre, me livrer à la police
chapter 75, 76
What programmes did Joe specifically explore and what did he find?
crossed spanners: des clés à molette croisées (a spanner= une clé à molette)/ a cog: une roue dentée
p. 451 Explain briefly what the SysAdminTrack consist in. What purpose did it serve when it was originally developed? What proves it is dangerous? What did Joe do with the app?
p. 452. a white hat hacking group, white hat hackers= White hat hackers are usually seen as hackers who use their skills to benefit society. Not destructive.= groupe de hackers bien intentionnés.
p. 453 What audio file was on the phone? How did Joe interpret this?
p. 453 Ben had been eavesdropping on us the whole time: Ben nous a écoutés à notre insu.
p. 455 a production of Macbeth in your GCSE year. What do you know about Macbeth?
You’ll probably want to leave it out=not mention it= omettre, laisser de côté, ne pas mentionner.
It’s just useful to know, for background = le contexte
p. I jerked awake: je me suis réveillé en sursaut.
why the picture had bothered me = upset
p. 458 Translate: 1. I scrolled down the name and description, scrolled back up to stare at the picture. (To scroll down/ up: faire défiler le texte (vers le bas/ vers le haut)
A single horrible thought crawled out from somewhere dark. Une idée…. s’est installée/ insinuée sournoisement dans mon esprit, surgie des ténèbres/ de recoins sombres.
It was so twisted that I didn’t want to look at it head-on. C’était si tordu que je ne voulais pas la regarder de front/ l’affronter.
What do you know for sure? What does everything add up to? The thought wouldn’t go away. De quoi es-tu vraiment certain? Qu’est-ce que tout cela signifie/ à quoi tout cela rime-t-il? Cette idée ne voulait pas se dissiper/ s’effacer// Impossible de chasser cette idée.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 65-76
1. What did Larssen fear for Joe’s family and what did he advise Joe to go back home for?
2. Joe was eventually prevented Joe from going back home. Why?
3. What is the main difference between Joe and Ben as regards their respective behaviours as decent (or not) citizens? What shows Ben is being more successful than Joe in the present situation by far?
4. What course of action did Joe finally decide on as going back home was not an option any more?
5. How did Joe manage to get information about Mel’s former deal with the escort agency?
6. Why does Joe say the Range Rover lead is a bust?
7. At the mere mention of Joe’s little jaunt, we know Larssen is not pleased. Why? What could Larssen’s and Joe’s conflicting views on the situation result in?
8. Is the reason why Joe doesn’t want to go to the police the fact that he is likely to get bail?
9. What does Joe imply when he says “the die was cast”?
10. Why did Joe believe he would find Ben not in the main room but in the exclusive lounge?
11. What was Joe’s plan when the clients started to leave the room and go outside?
12. Did Joe walk serenely all the way to the hotel after running away from the Casino?
13. Did Mrs. Delaney live in a terraced house in a mean street back of town? How did Joe take his leave at the end of his visit?
14. “Does that include …. giving myself up?” What does Joe mean in his answer to Larssen?
15. What are Joe’s ambivalent feelings for his phone? What did his wondering about this ambiguous partner lead him to do and discover?
16. How did Joe interpret the fact that he found bits of his conversation with Mel on the phone?
17. Why did Mark Ruddington find Joe’s request weird given the occasion he wanted it for?
18. On his arrival in London, what new elements or information totally wrecked Joe’s former assumptions? How did his behaviour reflect his sense of shock?
19. Would you say that the thought that “crawled out from somewhere dark” in Joe’s mind was crooked or perverted?
20. For what reason did he put off his meeting with Larsen?.
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Chapters 77, 78, 79
p. 460 the door to the conservatory stood slightly ajar : la porte de la véranda était légèrement entrebaillée.
p. 461 (I) strained to hear a ringtone somewhere in the house = j’ai tendu l’oreille (fait un grand effort) pour discerner/ à l’affut d’une sonnerie
There was a thud upstairs= un bruit sourd/ muffled= assourdi
p. 462 a body sprawled on the floor= étendu, étalé
p. 463 a dressing gown= une robe de chamber, slippers= des chaussons
p. 464 What elements tend to point to a violent aggression?
To assume= supposer, an assumption= une supposition
p. 464. a large mirror …. was smashed in three places, spiderwebbed with cracks from top to bottom= un grand miroir avait volé en éclats en trois endroits et avait des fissures du haut en bas comme une toile d’araignée.
p. 464-465 a makeshift dagger: un poignard de fortune (de remplacement) / the jagged shard : l’éclat de verre déchiqueté
p. 467 steady, measured steps : des pas réguliers, mesurés
p. 466 like the female lead about to take a bow at the end of a show: comme la chanteuse principale d’un groupe qui s’apprête à saluer à la fin du spectacle.
p. 467 She thumped back the hammers on the shotgun: elle arma le chien du fusil de chasse
another piece of the jigsaw slotting into place: une autre pièce du puzzle qui se mettait en place
(a slot: une fente, to slot= insérer)
Chapters 80, 81
p. 468 the bait= l’appât
misdirection= mauvaise direction, (ici) diversion, fausse piste
p. 469 Ben was going to get a restraining order to keep him (Alex Kolnik) at arm’s length= une injonction/ ordonnance d’éloignement.
p. 47. click-cock, tick-tock, and finally the penny drops= ça fait tilt.
I would have gone down for it= j’aurais plongé/ été arrêté.
p. 472 you planted evidence= mettre, placer des preuves (a plant= un coup monté)
screwed up= twisted= tordu
cuckolded husband: mari cocufié, tompé/ a cuckhold= Un coucou (bird)/ un cocu (husband)
the fall guy= le bouc émissaire, le dindon de la farce
p. 472 Find a phrasal verb meaning to understand it all
p. 473 outgoing= extravertie, ouverte, sociale, exhubérante
in thrall= enchaînée à (thrall= les chaïnes)
pulled along in her slipstream= entraînée dans son sillage
Beth was calling the shots= c’est Beth qui décidait/ faisait la loi/ tirait les ficelles
spurned= rejeté, ignoré, délaissé
to have a fling= avoir une aventure
p. 474 plodding along: se traînant, avançant péniblement/ boring old Joe, head down, stuck in your rut….
p. 475 framing me for a crime I didn’t commit: me faire porter le chapeau
the hang-up call = l’appel où on a raccroché
some random chav had retweeted…. Riley Warner = un voyou qui passait par là par hasard
p . 476. a full factory reset = une réinitialisation en usine
I’ve always kept up with Ben’s line of work … I made sure I kept up to speed = je me suis tenue au courant de ce que faisait Ben / de son activité professionnelle…..j’ai suivi le rythme, le tempo
line of work: métier, carrière
p. 477 unflustered= impassible
you make the perfect patsy = tu es le pigeon parfait (la bonne poire, le bouc émissaire)
even though we couldn’t figure out what you were looking up STEB for at first = comprendre pourquoi tu cherchais à retrouver/ localiser
Chapter 82, 83
p. 479. He was going to screw me over completely, either way= il allait ( avait l’intention de) me rouler/ de me piéger, dans les deux cas.
What synonyms of « scorched earth », Ben’s usual practise, does Beth give?
he found you out = il t’avait démasquée, il avait découvert la vérité
he was way ahead of you, Joe= il était très en avance sur toi, il avait compris bien avant toi, Joe.
He asked me to meet him … for some off-the-books HR advice= informel
p. 479. various clauses covering total forfeiture of assets and guardianship of Alice= diverses clauses comprenant la confiscation des biens et la déchéance/ l’interdiction de la tutelle/ la garde d’Alice.
monitoring his calls= surveillant ses appels
p. 480. poor old Joe, about ten miles off the pace as usual, stumbling into the game …. It was in play= loin derrière de dix miles...tombant par hasard (to stumble= trébucher) sur le jeu…en cours.
what was it that finally clicked it for you?= qu’est-ce qui t’a fait piger? (it suddenly clicked= ça a fait tilt)
massive bust up with Ben that sent him over the edge= grosse enguelade …. L’a fait disjoncter
p. 481 a dead ringer= un sosie
I knew you would do the full white knight routine for Alice = je savais que tu volerais au secours de (jouer les chevaliers blancs, le sauveur)
Duct tape: du ruban adhésif
p. 482 …but this time Beth pushed her arm against the blade. … the knife cut a groove in her forearm.
(une lame/ une entaille)
You broke into my house= tu es entré par effraction chez moi
p. 483 to rape me= me violer
the night when you were spaced out on the sofa= tu planais, tu étais à moitié inconsciente, bourrée
stoned= bourrée, ivre
p. 485 My voice hoarse...the blast hit me like a sledgehammer…. blood oozing stickily from my jeans.= la voix rauque/ une masse, un marteau de forgeron/ du sang poisseux s’égouttant à travers ….
using her body to shield me= me protéger, me servir de bouclier
a distraction for the police= une diversion (une distraction)
he was signing his own death warrant= il a signé son proper arrêt de mort
we have to play this out. All the way. = jouer cette pièce. Jusqu’au bout, jusqu’au dénouement.
p. 486 The pain was excruciating, like a red-hot branding iron…= insoutenable
the bond was broken= le lien était rompu.
William and I were on our own now. I was his only hope =(nous) étions seuls…
p. 487 What you’ve got in your leg is birdshot= de la grenaille (une balle pour petits volatiles/ (whereas) this load…. For big game= pour du gros gibier
one night, when we were both pissed, egging on each other, and I said maybe the best outcome would be…. = ivres/ nous incitant, poussant mutuellement/ solution
You couldn’t even get that right = tu n’as même pas réussi à faire ça;
p. 488. Find a phrasal verb meaning things are likely not to turn out as expected and Mel could well be arrested for murdering Joe and Ben.
p. 488-489. Lady Macbeth encouraged her husband to kill the king. She was then tormented by guilt and remorse, obsessed with blood. She realised that she could never be forgiven, that nothing would ever wash the blood off her hands.
“Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” This is one of Lady Macbeth’s lines (répliques). Mel played the part.
-What about Ben’s blood. … Do you think you’ll ever be able to wash that off your hands? This is a direct allusion to the play, and to Lady Macbeth lamenting she can’t wash the blood off her hands in the final act (all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand).
-What’s done cannot be undone.” Another line. Beth quotes it to say there is no going back.
a line (theatre): une réplique/ un vers
a new voice, young, unsteady, fighting sobs: mal assurée/ refoulant,luttant contre les sanglots
p. 489. I dragged myself towards her, my shattered leg trailing blood= je me traînais…. brisée
Chapters 84,85
-p. 491 your acting……pretending to be Dad on line = le rôle que tu joues ….faisant semblant d’ëtre papa en ligne…
-p. 493 I had failed Ben, an innocent man, but I would not fail my son = (let down) j’ai trahi…, je n’ai pas été à la hauteur
-p. 494 Alice… gave a tiny nod of the head= elle fit un petit signe d’approbation de la tête.
-p. 496 a blanket = une couverture
a bump on the head….no fatal injury from my encounter with him = une bosse…/ une blessure
If I …. had waited for him to come round = reprendre conscience
Either way, the police chose not to charge me with assaulting Ben= …ne pas m’inculper pour avoir agressé Ben
-p. 497 mercury poisoning= empoisonnement au mercure
tampering with the brakes = trafiquer, saboter/sabotage des freins
staging a botched burglary turned murder = mettre en scène un cambriolage raté qui tourne au meutre/ se tranforme en meurtre
to spike his drink = trafiquer sa boisson
I provided the opportunity by stumbling into the middle of something without any idea of what was really going on= stumbled into= stumbled across= find unexpectedly = je suis tombé par hasard au milieu ….sans avoir la moindre idée de ce qui se passait.
I hadn’t joined the dots= je n’avais pas fait le lien, fait le rapprochement
to repay the debt I owe her : payer la dette que je lui dois
I’m still in rehab for my leg = je reçois encore des soins médicaux, je suis encore suivi
To go cold turkey= décrocher, réaliser un sevrage brutal
the rescue shelter / a tomcat= le refuge de la SPA / un matou
that’s one lie I’ll keep going as long as I can= c’est un mensonge que je vais poursuivre, que je vais continuer à raconter…..
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 77-the end
1. How did Joe get into Beth’s house after being called to rescue? What elements made him worry about Beth and Alice’s safety?
2. What weapon did Joe get hold of in Beth’s bedroom?
3. When Mel joined Beth into the room, what transformation did Joe notice in her?
4. What does Joe mean when he says” I had got so spun around these last eight days it had taken me all that time to work out the truth? (p. 467)
5. “The magician’s flourish with his right hand – while his left hand is flipping open the secret compartment.” Why does Beth mention the magician’s trick at this stage?
6. Joe feels like a rat.” He has followed the trap, all the way in, and now the bait is about to close”, he says. Is the quotation logical?
7. What form did the women’s acting take?
8. Is it true that the obsession with Alex Kolnik was not one of Beth’s ideas and that the women actually found it hard to integrate it into their plan?
9. Is it true that Ben was going to get a restraining order against Mel?
10. What does Joe want to prove when he tells Beth that “there wouldn’t have been a need for any of this... misdirection. I would have gone down for it”?
11. Which role was Joe’s and which was Beth’s? Who was calling the shots and who was the fall guy? Explain.
12. What would have happened if Joe had kept plodding along?
13. How did Mel and Beth find out that the hang-up call had been made by Joe from a telephone booth?
14. When Joe tells them he phoned the police from a telephone booth, why don’t they believe him?
15. How did they Know Joe had found out about the app?
16. How did Ben intend to apply his scorched earth policy to Beth?
17. What were the two things Joe discovered that made it click for him?
18. What struck Joe in the picture of Mel naked in the kitchen and in the booking confirmation message from the escort agency?
19. How did Beth react when she understood Joe was getting close to the truth?
20. What thought was uppermost in Joe’s mind as he was dragging himself with his shattered leg towards Beth?
21. What evidence of Joe’s innocence did Alice have and how did she use it?
22. Does the fact that Joe has gone cold turkey mean he admits that sharing emotions with people on social media once made him feel calmer, more focused?
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Glossary / treasure hunt
SECTION 1 : CHAPTERS 1 to 20
p.1
to doze: sommeiller, somnoler
to daydream: rêver, rêvasser
stodgy: lourd, indigested; dense (ici)
Chapter 1
p.5
badges: insignes, badges, écussons; (fig.) signes, marques
to inch along: advancer petit à petit
sluggish: lent (ici), mou, stagnant
p.6
hands-free cradle: support mains libres
dual carriageway: route à quatre voies
junction: carrefour, croisement, embranchement
a slip road: une bretelle d’accès
rush hour: l’heure de pointe
to squint: plisser les yeux
- What is William doing, and what does he call a “Beamer”?
- What is a “spur-of-the-moment decision” and what is Joe referring to?
Chapter 2
p.8
cue: donner le signal à
to hoot: klaxonner
to whiz(z) off: filer
reception class: 1e année (petite section) de maternelle
p.9
patrons:clients (ici)
to back in: se garer en marche arrière
waistcoated: en gilet (de costume)
rumpled: fripé, froissé, chiffonné
briefcase: serviette, mallette
wearily: avec lassitude, d’un air fatigué
signposted: indiqué (par un panneau)
p.10
downright: franchement, carrément
with our son in tow: (fig.) avec notre fils (to tow: remorquer)
to get back to sb: rappeler, recontacter, répondre
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to end a phone call”.
p.11
the North Circular (road): le périphérique/la rocade nord
grimy: sale, crasseux
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to understand (a situation)”.
Chapter 3
p.12
six-pack (abs): (fig., à propos des muscles abdominaux) une tablette de chocolat
blimey: ça alors! mon dieu!
p.13
rear-view mirror: rétroviseur
p.14
to thread one’s way between: se faufiler entre
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to star to move, to leave”, e.g. for a car.
Chapter 4
p.15
half-heartedly: sans enthousiasme / conviction, du bout des lèvres
casual: simple, détendu, naturel
designer jeans: un jean de marque
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to light a cigarette”.
p.16
sound (adj.): solide, sain
dog-eat-dog: impitoyable, sans pitié
a lead: une piste
reluctant: réticent
shifty: sournois, furtif, fuyant
demeanour: comportement, allure, maintien
to set up on one's own: s'installer à son compte
betrayed: trahi, trompé
p.17
to go bankrupt: faire faillite
to get on the wrong side of sb: se mettre quelqu'un à dos
to make a big deal (out of sth): en faire tout un plat
to catch sb off-guard: prendre qqn au dépourvu
daft: idiot, bête
dense: bouché, obtus
in disbelief: avec incrédulité
- Find three words or phrases referring to Joe, suggesting that in Ben's opinion he is 1° a loser or nonentity; 2° weak because as an ordinary teacher he has no real experience of competition; and 3° not as successful as he could have been (p.16-17)?
- Convert “six inches” and “three stone” into metric measurements.
p.18
playground: cour de récréation, aire de jeu
hemmed in: encerclé, cerné; coincé
to break one's fall: amortir sa chute
pissed off: en colère, en rogne
to prod: pousser légèrement, donner un petit coup
p.19
stab: coup de poignard; élancement (de douleur)
tightness (in one's throat): la gorge nouée
rattle: crépitement
paramedics: services de secours, ≈ SAMU
- Find a phrase meaning that an event occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning or preparation.
p.20
reeds: des roseaux
pinhole: trou d'épingle
conkers: des marrons
lolly, lollipop: sucette
p.21
to strap sb in: attacher qqn (en voiture)
Chapter 5
p.22
to wheeze: respirer bruyamment, comme un asthmatique
surgery: cabinet médical (ici)
to weave: se faufiler, se glisser
glove compartment: boîte à gants
p.23
landline: ligne fixe (de téléphone)
drive (n): voie privée, allée (devant une maison)
relief: soulagement
take it easy: (vas-y) doucement
directory enquiries: les renseignements téléphoniques
p.24
prank: blague, farce
run laps: faire des tours (de piste, etc.), tourner en rond (ici)
to unspool: se dérouler
p.25
floodlights: projecteurs
(away) from prying eyes: à l'abri des regards indiscrets
off-balance: déséquilibré
out of sync: pas synchro
to put sth right: rétablir la situation, régler le problème
to figure out: arriver à comprendre
to take one's mind off things: se changer les idées, penser à autre chose
- Find a phrase meaning to set something going in the right direction again.
- Find the past participle of a phrasal verb meaning "isolated”.
p.26
to gape: béer
Chapter 6
p.27
ugly: vilain, désagréable, fâcheux, mauvais
twinge: sentiment; élancement, tiraillement
p.28
assembly: réunion de tous les élèves
to fend off: parer, éluder
p.29
to stroke: caresser
p.30
to scrabble: chercher désespérément
to think up: trouver
to deflect: détourner, faire dévier
- Why is Joe relieved when William explains to his mum why he said that his dad had been bad?
p.31
out of charge: déchargé, à court de batterie
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to break into pieces”.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 1 to 6
- In chapter 1, how does Joe make sure that the car his son spotted is actually his wife's?
- While waiting for Mel in the hotel car park (ch.3), what does Joe hear on the radio, and how does it affect him? What is Joe's own family situation?
- In chapter 4, what first impression do Ben's car and clothes convey about him?
- Why does Joe suddenly panick and decide to leave Ben lying in the car park?
- What does Joe do later (ch.5), as he attempts to make up for this behaviour?
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Chapter 7
p.32
en suite (bathroom): salle de bain privée / particulière
landing: palier
p.33
maternity leave: congé (de) maternité
to interlock: s'imbriquer
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to earn”.
p.34
to slide away: glisser, s'éloigner en glissant
out of reach: hors de portée
to broach: aborder (un sujet)
assuming: en admettant / supposant que
- Find a phrase suggesting that a thought made Joe suddenly stop what he was doing.
p.35
to root sth: fouiller
no joy: pas de chance, pas trouvé (ici)
a backup: une sauvegarde, une copie de secours
p.36
to miss the point: ne pas comprendre (l'intérêt, le principe, l'importance de qqch), passer à côté de qqch
timeline: calendrier, chronologie
to stay in: rester à la maison, ne pas sortir
dial tone: tonalité
status update: mise à jour de statut
- Find a phrase meaning that something is scarce or infrequent.
p.37
low-angle shot: (image / plan en) contre-plongée
synced: synchronisé
foreground: premier plan
to come off: se détacher
to grapple with sb: en venir aux mains avec qqn
Chapter 8
p.38
to topple over: basculer, tomber
to reach out: (é)tendre le(s) bras
to swap: échanger
sentence: peine
facilities: installation(s), équipement(s)
to process: traiter (ici, comprendre)
p.39
to sort out: arranger, régler, résoudre (un problème)
privacy settings: réglages / options de confidentialité
to get around to sth: arriver à (trouver le temps de) faire
pretty much anyone: pratiquement tout le monde, tout le monde ou presque
to scroll down: faire défiler
p.40
- Find an image suggesting that this is a small world.
mobile provider: opérateur de téléphonie mobile
call handler: interlocuteur (ici)
p.41
hijacking: détournement
upside: avantage, bon côté
to be up to no good: préparer un mauvais coup
- Find a phrase meaning “I was realising”.
Chapter 9
p.42
to come down to sth: se résumer à qqch
to have a blast: s'éclater, bien se marrer
through and through: jusqu'au bout des ongles, à 100%
- Find a phrase meaning “to defeat someone by superior strength or ability”.
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to trick someone in order to make them seem guilty of something they have not done”.
p.43
right up his street: exactement dans ses cordes
to roll one's eyes: lever les yeux au ciel
warning: avertissement, mise en garde
dressing gown: robe de chambre, peignoir
a sip: une gorgée
Chapter 10
p.45
naughty: méchant, désobéissant, vilain
to catch sb red-handed: prendre qqn en flagrant délit, la main dans le sac, sur le fait
p.46
a mole: une taupe
to turn up: apparaître, être (re)trouvé
to sell on: revendre (en faisant du bénéfice)
a culprit: un coupable
employment law: droit du travail
dismissal: licenciement
watertight: étanche inattaquable, indiscutable
HR adviser: conseiller en ressources humaines
high street chains: les grandes chaînes, les grandes enseignes
troubleshooter: expert, conciliateur, médiateur
machete: machette
to chop off: trancher, couper (la tête, etc.)
off-site: hors-site (pas dans les locaux de l'entreprise)
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to reduce the number of possibilities or choices”.
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to give someone a warning or a hint about something”.
p.47
gross misconduct: faute (professionnelle) grave / lourde
vile: infâme, abominable
wary: prudent, sur ses gardes, méfiant
to get wind of sth: avoir vent de qqch
to rip sb off: arnaquer
p.48
thugs: voyous
textbook (compound): typique, classique, parfait
on the straight and narrow: sur le droit chemin
to fib: raconter des histoires
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to give someone little or no punishment for something that they did wrong”.
p.49
to swat: donner une petite tape
a meanie: un méchant
p.50
to get everything back on an even keel: redresser la barre, rééquilibrer, remettre d'aplomb, faire revenir à la normale
to go down as: rester (dans la mémoire, dans l'histoire) comme, être plus tard considéré comme
FRIDAY
Chapter 11
p.53
Year 7 (in the UK): for children aged 11 to 12 (secondary school).
The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean (1858): a novel written by Scottish author R.M. Ballantyne; this Robinsonade (a genre of fiction inspired by Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe) was long considered a classic for school or high-school children in Britain and the US.
to nag: ronger, tourmenter
an itch: une démangeaison
to veer: dévier, changer de direction (ou de sujet, ici)
to bang on: casser les pieds à tout le monde avec / à force de parler d' (un sujet)
benefit cheats: escrocs / fraudeurs aux allocations
p.54
idly: paresseusement, négligemment
property developer: promoteur immobilier
fashion designer: styliste, grand couturier
hedge fund trader: gestionnaire de fonds spéculatif
digital: numérique
a rags-to-riches story: un conte de fée (où on passe de la misère à la richesse, comme dans Cendrillon)
terrace, terraced house: maison mitoyenne
a seven-figure mansion: hôtel particulier, château, manoir, résidence (avec un prix à sept chiffres)
dockyard: chantier naval
p.55
gushing: trop exubérant (ou élogieux), qui se répand en compliments
to shed a light: éclairer, montrer sous un nouveau jour
somewhat: quelque peu, un peu
assault: agression, voie de fait
breach of the peace: atteinte à l'ordre public
gleefully: joyeusement, avec allégresse
p.56
guff: bêtises, idioties
a court case: action en justice, affaire judiciaire
grievous bodily harm: coups et blessures
kneecap: rotule
ankle: cheville
elbow: coude
injury: blessure
defendant: accusé, prévenu
Crown Court: Cour d'assises (in England and Wales)
scowl: renfrogné, hargneux, menaçant
taut: tendu
flat-top: (cheveux en) brosse
high-roller: flambeur
a witness: un témoin
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to hit someone hard and repeatedly”.
p.57
a grand: £1,000 (or $1,000 in the US)
wheelchair: fauteuil roulant
GBH = grievous bodily harm (cf p.56)
charge: chef d'accusation, accusation
grin: grand sourire
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 7 to 11
- At the beginning of chapter 7, how does Mel react when Joe tells her he saw her at a hotel?
- What does Joe find out at the end of chapter 7?
- In chapter 8, what does Joe explain about his facebook account? And what comments are prompted by the new status update (p.39)?
- In chapter 9, what makes Joe suspect Ben of hacking his facebook account (pp.42-43)?
- In chapter 10, according to Mel, what did Ben tell her about his former employee Matthew Goring (p.47)?
- In chapter 11, what does Joe find when he googles Ben's name?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY
Chapter 12
p.61
to doggy-paddle: faire la nage du petit chien
shallow: peu profond
waist-deep: dans l'eau jusqu'à la taille
keen: passionné, enthousiaste
breaststroke: la brasse
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to encourage someone to put more effort into something”.
p.62
armbands: des brassards
sated: rassasié, assouvi
a puppy: un chiot
gear: vitesse
to tear up: déchirer, mettre en pièces
to array: disposer, déployer, étaler
entertainer: comique, artiste; animateur/trice (ici)
jester: bouffon, fou du roi
p.63
mild: léger
hangover: gueule de bois
average (adj.): moyen(ne)
actual: vrai, véritable
an acquaintance: une connaissance, une relation
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to leave furtively, quietly, in secret”.
p.64
to stalk: traquer, rôder, chasser
a stalker: un criminel qui suit ses victimes à la trace
it's an in-joke: c'est une plaisanterie entre nous/eux
a lost art: un art disparu, tombé en désuétude
textspeak: le langage SMS
and what have you: et tout le reste, et toutes les choses de ce genre
wail: gémissement, hurlement
pass the parcel: le jeu du furet (où les joueurs doivent se passer un objet)
plait: tresse, natte
p.65
the aftermath: séquelles, suites (conséquences)
to conjure: faire apparaître, produire
fitful: intermittent, agité (sommeil)
courier: courrier, messager
God forbid: à dieu ne plaise, dieu nous (en) garde
offline: hors ligne, non connecté
p.66
to frown: froncer les sourcils
hacked: piraté (ici)
to line up: aligner
make (n.): marque (de voiture, ici)
hence: d'où
p.67
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to shock and upset somebody”.
p.68
a wobble: un tremblement
to hold it together: tenir le coup
conservatory: jardin d'hiver
wicker: en osier
downcast: abattu, démoralisé
to blink: cligner des yeux
a stray strand of hair: une mèche de cheveux rebelle
Chapter 13
p.69
to waver: vaciller, faiblir
brittle: cassant, fragile
fine china: porcelaine
willowy: élancé, svelte
roll-neck: (pull à) col roulé
the basics: l'essentiel
level-headed: équilibré, pondéré, réfléchi
p.70
counterpoint: contrepoint
achiever: fonceur, fonceuse
to settle in: s'installer, s'habituer, s'adapter
fortnightly: bimensuel, tous les quinze jours
non-organic: non-bio
to cause / give offence (to sb): blesser, offenser (qqn)
- Paraphrase “In normal circumstances I would have taken the hint and made myself scarce”.
p.71
to hunch: arrondir, voûter
to set sth/sb off: déclencher, provoquer
to tail off: baisser, devenir inaudible
p.72
clamped: pincé, serré
mood swings: changements d'humeur
domestic violence: violence conjugale
p.73
to dab: tamponner /essuyer (les yeux)
a tissue: un mouchoir en papier
to trigger: déclencher, provoquer
to storm out: sortir comme un ouragan
p.74
a falling out: une brouille, une dispute
p.75
to cut in: interrompre
to talk over sb: parler en couvrant la voix de qqn
chilling: qui donne des frissons
to understate: minimiser, modérer
- Why does Joe compare Beth to a “little old lady”?
p.76
upbeat: optimiste
- Paraphrase “Work was getting on top of him and he just had to let off some steam”.
Chapter 14
p.77
herbal tea: infusion, tisane
shotgun: fusil de chasse
clay (pigeon shooting): ball-trap
grouse: grouse, lagopède d’Ecosse
Glorious Twelfth: refers to 12 August, the start of the shooting season for red grouse in the UK
the landed gentry: la noblesse terrienne
Barbour coat: manteau ciré (de la marque de luxe Barbour)
Hunter wellies: bottes en caoutchouc (de la marque prestigieuse Hunter)
barrel: canon (d’un fusil)
p.78
to give a statement: faire une déposition
to fill in forms: remplir des formulaires
cross (adj.): de mauvaise humeur, en colère
p.79
to make a mess: mettre la pagaille, le désordre
smart (adj.): habile, astucieux
battered wives: femmes battues
physical abuse: violence physique
to qualify: remplir les conditions, correspondre à la définition (ici)
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to arrive, to come back”.
p.80
- Find an idiom meaning “to do what someone else wants one to do”.
p.81
to break a habit: perdre une habitude, se défaire d'une habitude
to hug: serrer dans les bras
to pat sb's back: tapoter qqn dans le dos
eyes downcast: les yeux baissés
a fraud (= person): un imposteur
peck: bise, petit baiser
commitment: engagement
Chapter 15
p.82
deadbolt: verrou (à bouton)
CBeebies: a BBC television network targeting children aged 6 or under, and encouraging learning through play
pang: coup au cœur, pincement de cœur
rug: carpette, petit tapis
p.83
rolling pin: rouleau à pâtisserie
to career: aller à toute allure
kerb (UK), curb (US): trottoir
terse: concis, laconique, sec
p.84
to tilt: pencher, incliner
on the verge of tears: au bord des larmes
p.85
relevant: pertinent, en rapport avec
p.86
and bugger everyone else: et tant pis pour les autres; et que les autres aillent se faire foutre
wound up: remonté (cf to wind up)
p.87
PC = Police Constable (gardien de la paix, agent de police)
Whatshisname: Machin, Machin Chouette
p.88
tingling (adj.): de picotement, de fourmillement;
to creep up: s'approcher sans bruit
Chapter 16
p.89
tucked in on herself: repliée sur elle-même
to lurch: tituber, chanceler
p.90
posh: chic, huppé
fancy (adj.): de luxe
to fidget: avoir la bougeotte, gigoter
to walk down the aisle [aɪl]: aller vers l'autel (à l'église, pour un mariage)
a blur: masse confuse, tache floue; vague souvenir
- Which car make does “Say-dees” refer to in William's baby talk?
p.91
to fancy sb: être attiré par qqn, s'enticher de qqn
to lean in: se pencher (vers qqn, ici)
a sucker punch: un coup bas, un coup en traître
p.92
penthouse (suite) (in hotel): suite avec terrasse
bombshell: obus; (fig.) grand choc, qqch qui fait l'effet d'une bombe
booze: alcool, boissons alcoolisées
p.93
to have a snog: se rouler une pelle (= s'embrasser)
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 12 to 16
- In chapter 12, why does Mrs. Pendlebury's face look vaguely familiar to Joe, and what do the two parents mainly talk about in the kitchen (pp.63-64)?
- What does the word “fraped” (p.67) mean, and what does it suggest?
- In chapter 13, what lie does Mel make up as the reason for Joe and Ben's “falling out”, and how does Joe explain that lie?
- What does Beth tell Joe and Mel about Ben's recent behaviour?
- In chapter 14, how does Joe interpret Beth's answer (“He wouldn't hurt us.”) after his suggestion that she needs to protect her daughter Alice (p.79)?
- At the beginning of chapter 15, how does Joe feel when Beth finally leaves, and what does he do as a result?
- In chapter 16, what does Mel refer to as the “mistake” she made a couple of years ago?
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Chapter 17
p.94
a cog: roue dentée, rouage
to slot: s'emboîter, s'encastrer
at arm's length: à bout de bras, à distance
to back off: reculer
to relent: se laisser fléchir / toucher
to start up again: reprendre, recommencer
p.95
to uproot: déraciner
scumbag: salaud, ordure
escalation: escalade, intensification
- Find a verb meaning “to punch someone very hard, knocking them to the ground in some cases”.
p.96
once and for all: une fois pour toutes, définitivement
soulmates: des âmes sœurs
an aside: un aparté
lowly: modeste, humble, sans prétentions
a three-bedroom semi(-detached house): une maison jumelée de 4 pièces (T4 ou F4)
comtempt: mépris
p.97
- Find an idiom meaning “to sound familiar, to remind one of something”.
p.98
to tire out: épuiser, éreinter
to pass on: passer, transmettre
p.99
to rev up (rev = revolution tour; rev counter: compte-tours): accélérer, emballer le moteur
to court sb: faire la cour à qqn, courtiser qqn
behind someone's back: dans le dos de qqn, à son insu
to take advantage of sb: profiter de qqn, exploiter qqn, abuser de qqn
it's a one-off: c'est unique; c'est exceptionnel (qqch qui ne se produit qu'une fois)
Chapter 18
p.100
bolted-down: fixé au sol
polish: encaustique, cire
bottle-bottom glasses: lunettes en cul-de-bouteille (= aux verres très épais)
to slice: couper (en tranches, en rondelles)
to tumble: dégringoler
p.101
out in the open: au grand jour, étalé en public
to stretch it: exagérer, aller un peu loin
to be keen to (do): tenir à (faire), vouloir absolument (faire)
to know the whereabouts of sb/sth: savoir où se trouve qqn/qqch
p.102
to fail sb: décevoir, laisser tomber qqn
- Explain what Joe means by “some of the blame lay with” his wife Mel.
- Find a phrase meaning “to give a warning to someone to stop or change what they are doing”.
p.103
further down the line: plus tard
safe and sound: sain et sauf
to set eyes on: apercevoir
to check off: cocher, rayer
p.104
to stack: empiler
to staple: agrafer
demand management: gestion de la demande
assessment: évaluation
current caseload: dossiers en cours
above my pay grade: pas de mon ressort, au-delà de mes compétences
hard and fast rule: règle absolue
a judgement call: un jugement / une décision personnel(le)
p.105
- Find a phrasal verb meaning “to lead someone to the door when they are leaving”
Chapter 19
p.106
Outward Bound week: voyage scolaire (outward bound: en partance)
Year Nine (in the UK): for children aged 13 to 14 (secondary school).
newsfeed: fil d'actualités (= a web page or screen that updates often to show the latest news or information)
p.107
to snore: ronfler
hard shoulder: accotement
to turn over: se retourner
oblivious: inconscient, sourd (fig.)
poised: en équilibre, suspendu
chopsticks: baguettes (chinoises)
- Find a phrase suggesting that Joe is the only one talking.
- Find an idiom meaning “full of energy, not at all tired” (especially after a good night's sleep).
p.108
“Bohemian Rhapsody”: a famous 1975 song by the British rock band Queen
E-flat major: mi bémol majeur
to hold sth up: lever, élever
to deem: juger, considérer, estimer
p.109
main course: plat principal
to tidy up:
update: mise à jour
upside down: à l'envers
to cool: refroidir
p.110
grumpy: ronchon, bougon, grincheux
to make a show of (doing sth): faire semblant de faire
Time Team: a British television series (on Channel 4) featuring a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days.
American Psycho (1991): a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, focusing on a serial killer and Manhattan businessman
burial ground: cimetière
pillow: oreiller
to settle sb down: installer (qqn)
p.111
Match of the Day: the BBC's main football programme, usually shown on Saturday evenings.
cheers: (UK and informal) à la tienne/vôtre! (ici); salut; merci
p.112:
groggily: faiblement, de manière chancelante/groggy
utterly: complètement, tout à fait
meltdown: fusion (nucléaire); (fig.) effondrement, débâcle
cuppa = (UK and informal) cup of tea
to surrender: se rendre, capituler
to tuck sb in: border qqn, mettre qqn au lit
- Which sentence suggests that William might wake up any moment?
SUNDAY
Chapter 20
p.115
slide: toboggan (ici)
ball pool: piscine à balles
crash mat: matelas de gymnastique
offspring: rejeton(s), progéniture
rope bridge: pont de corde / de singe / suspendu
crayons: des pastels
place mat: set de table
Frozen: La reine des neiges (2013, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
tiara: diadème
lager: (UK) bière blonde
coaster: dessous de verre
p.116
puddings: desserts
to hang on: attendre (ici); se tenir, s'accrocher; résister, tenir (bon)
p.117
nub: petit morceau, (petit) bout
tab: addition, note
p.118
rib-eye steak: entrecôte
Bollinger: a brand of champagne
- Find a phrase meaning that someone wants to join in, to be included in an activity.
p.119
sheen (n.): le lustre, le poli
to slump down: s'écrouler, s'effondrer
footie: foot
civil service: fonction publique, administration
fast track: voie rapide, promotion rapide/accélérée
fairly: assez, passablement
deputy head: directeur (/trice) adjoint(e)
feeder primary school: école primaire d'où sont issus les élèves d'un collège donné
- Find two phrases conveying the idea of “relaxing” or “having a rest”.
p.120
irrelevant: sans rapport, hors de propos
cutlery: les couverts
particular = fussy: tatillon, pointilleux
to shield: protéger
p.121
to slam sth down: poser bruyamment qqch
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 17 to 20
- In chapter 17, how does Mel account for her argument with Ben at the hotel, and how does that alter Joe's interpretation of Ben's general attitude to him?
- In chapter 18, what prompts Joe to tell PC Khan that he too had seen Ben at the hotel?
- In chapter 19, what does Mel keep doing while having dinner with Joe at a Chinese restaurant, and how does Joe attempt to change that?
- What happens at the Stratford at the end of chapter 20, and how does Joe instinctively react?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 2 : CHAPTERS 21 to 39
Chapter 21
p.122 ‘Her words went off like a bomb inside the busy pub.’ From your own knowledge, name at least one other kind of device that can ‘go off’ (cf. phrasal verbs)
p.122 Find the word : When you try to understand new information or a situation that you are experiencing or witnessing you_________________________ it.
p.123 snarled: grogna
p.123 Find a verb on this page meaning ‘looked at with great concentration’
p.124 ‘There will be an explanation for this. A reasonable explanation.’
Which verb could be used as a synonym for ‘will’ here?
p. 124 recoiled : il fit un bond en arrière / (reculer)
p. 125 ‘That can’t be right,’ I mumbled. The positive version of this modal verb to say the opposite meaning would be ____________ .
sob : sanglot
p.125 When you read a text to an audience or for another person to hear, you _______ ________ the text.
p.125 shook her head : hocha la tête
p.125 rolled down her cheek : coula sur sa joue
p.125 Find a word on this page meaning ‘aigu’ or ‘strident’ for a sound.
p. 126 marched her out of the pub : ils l'emmenèrent dehors / ils la firent sortir du pub
p. 126 Find a word meaning ‘held very strongly’.
p. 126. crouched : je m'accroupis
p. 126 Car vocabulary : ‘Beth was in the car park, leaning of the bonnet of her Mercedes estate.’ Which word would an American probably use instead of ‘bonnet’ ? What is the French word for ‘estate’ in this context ?
p.126 her chest rising and falling : sa poitrine qui se soulevait et s'abaissait
p. 127 scrolled : je fis dérouler / je consultai / je parcourus
p. 127 folder : dossier
p. 127 reclining : en position allongée
p. 127 beckoning : faisant des gestes aguicheurs / séducteurs
p. 127 winking : faisant un clin d'oeil
p. 127 pouting: faisant une moue aguicheuse
p.127 ‘……, bar none.’ The usual expression is ‘bar one’. Can you think of at least one synonym of ‘bar’ here ?
p.127 ‘To love and to cherish, till death do us part.’ What form of verb is‘do’ here ?
p. 127 sucker : une bonne poire/ un pigeon
p. 128 When a man has a room in his house which is reserved for his own hobbies or ‘masculine’ pursuits and activities, we often refer humorously as his ________ _______.
p. 128 Find the expression meaning ‘… me vint à l’esprit.’
p.128. An alcoholic beverage, usually spirits such as whisky, that you drink at the very end of the evening before going to bed is commonly referred to as a ______________.
p.128 was running a temperature : avait de la fièvre
p.129 Which expression indicates that Beth has apparently given up resisting the reality of the situation ?
Chapter 22
p.130 stony silence : un silence absolu / un silence de mort
p.130 dabbed at her eyes with a balled-up tissue : s'essuyait délicatement les yeux avec un kleenex / mouchoir en papier comprimé en boule
p.130 sneaking a glance at me : en me regardant furtivement du coin de l'oeil
p.130 I should have felt vindicated : Cela aurait dû me conforter dans mes positions
p. 130 Find an expression meaning ‘to be completely correct’ or ‘to be very accurate or precise’
p130 hollow : creux
p. 130 _______________ __________ are a simple meal served from a tin and are traditionally popular among British children.
p.130 A synonym of ‘sitting room’ or ‘living room’ found on this page is ____________ .
p.131 fit to burst : prêt à éclater
p.131 sheer : pure / absolu / total
p.131 wrenching: déchirant
p.131 a jolt : un sursaut / comme un électrochoc
p. 131 Which expression of military origin here shows that Joe is being firm and is maintaining his position in his discussion with Mel ?
p.131 I felt dizzy : j’avais le vertige
p.131 Which physical detail shows how upset and almost speechless Joe is here ?
p.132 a toddler : un bambin / enfant en bas âge
p.132 cogs and gears : les rouages
p.132 Which expression here shows that Joe intends to legally and exclusively look after his son if he and Mel end up divorcing ? What other meaning can this legal term have ?
p.133 shattered into pieces: brisé en morceaux
Chapter 23
p.134 Find an expression here meaning ‘they met by accident’.
p.134 A general and rather diminutive word for a party, a reception or some similar kind of celebration or gathering found on this page is a _____ .
p.135 If your life is very exciting or thrilling it can be described as being like a ________
____________ .
p.135 Which phrasal verb expression here means ‘to accept difficulties and continue dealing with everyday life’
p.136 Which expression here means roughly ‘It took me by surprise’ ?
p. 136 Find a phrasal verb here meaning ‘to endure something to the end’.
p.136 The equivalent of ‘les resultats du Bac’ here is ____________ .
p. 137 Find a common false friend (faux-ami) on this page.
p.137 Can you find a mixed metaphor used by Mel on this page ?
p. 138 settle for something : se contenter de quelque chose / se résigner
p. 138 I rounded on her : to round on someone = s'en prendre à quelqu'un/ je la défiai
p.139 Find a subjunctive verb on this page.
p.140 they were even : ils étaient quittes
p.140 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘usé’ / ‘érodé’/ ‘vaincu à l’usure’
p.142 chubby-cheeked : jouflu
p.142 lodged like a splinter in my brain : (la pensée) se logea dans mon esprit comme une écharde
p.142 to curl up in a corner : se recroqueviller dans un coin de la pièce / se cahcher dans un trou
Chapter 24
p.144 plucked : arracha / attrapa du bout des doigts
p.144 blew her nose : se moucha
p.144 dainty : gracieuse, mignonne
p.144 crumpled : était décomposé
p. 145 Find a false friend on this page.
p. kidneys : les reins
p.146 ‘Dread to think how that little bombshell went down.’ What does the phrasal verb ‘went down’ / ‘to go down’ have in this kind of context ? Therefore, roughly how would you translate this sentence ?
p. 146 How many phrasal verbs can you find on this page ? You should find at least ten.
p. 147 a crew cut: une coupe en brosse
p. 147 belied her age : qui trahissait son âge
p.147 Which expression on this page expresses the idea of ‘un coup bas’ or ‘un coup vicieux’ or ‘C’était une attaque un peu facile / mesquine »
p.148 Find a synonm of ‘to handle’ or ‘to deal with’
p.148 Which expression here means that Mel has said something private and difficult that she had been keeping to herself for a long time ?
Chapter 25
p.150 Find the expression : When someone is not well, perhaps very depressed or very upset we can say that he or she is ____ ___ _____ _______ .
p.151 flushed : rouges
p.152 mean : méchante
p.152 drizzle : la bruine, le crachin
p.152 streaked with : strié de / avec des stries / des taches
p. 153 Which well-known part game does Joe mention here ?
p. 153 Which word suggests that people were probably drunk and tired at the end of the party that is described here ?
p. 153 If Mel was in ‘Fifth form’ when she committed her ‘single infidelity’, how old was she, roughly ?
p.154 a smear : une tache, une salissure
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>>>>Worksheet questions on Chapters 21 to 25
1) pp. 123-127 What proof does Beth seem to have of an affair between Mel and Ben?
2) p.127 How does Joe react when he is shown this proof?
3) p. 132 What threat does Joe make to Mel?
4) pp.134-140 What are the main features of her version of the story here and how does she partly justify her infidelity?
5) p. 142 What horrible thought does Joe have when he looks at the photos of William?
6) How does Mel appear to feel after the long confession?
7) Had Mel ever been unfaithful before?
8) p. 154 Why do you think the author mentions that the words ‘Let’s meet’ are distorted?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 26
p.155 a boulder : un rocher
p.155 my ribcage : ma cage thoracique
p. 155 Which words show Joe is using a nautical or travel metaphor here to describe his and Mel’s situation ?
p.155 a shotgun : un fusil de chasse
p. 155 to even the odds : pour équilibrer les forces (as Joe is bigger and stronger than Ben)
p.156 it still begged the question: cela posait toujours la question
p.156 bystanders : des passants
p.156 uneven ground : un terain inégal, accidenté
p. 157 to bring myself to confide in her: me résoudre à me confier à elle
p. 157 taking a sickie : se faire porter malade
p. 157 a duty sergeant : le sergent de service
p. 157 hummed : bourdonnait
p. 158 glowed : brillait
Chapter 27
p. 161 So be it ; Soit
p.162 chimed : sonna
p. 162 tucked-away : isolé
p. 162 winding track : un chemin sinueux
p. 162 Find the word : When you are looking out for something, searching intensely for something or waiting vigilantly for something, we say you should keep your eyes ____________ .
p. 162 sunlight slanted : des rayons de soleil obliques
p. 163 on that score: à ce sujet
Chapter 28
p. 167 a big head start : une bonne longueur d’avance
p. 168 straining : à l’affût de
p. 168 stood out against : se démarqua par rapport à
p. 168 twigs : des brindilles
p. 168 snagged : s’accrochaient
p. 168 Ducking my head : En baissant la tête
p. 169 ploughed through : avança péniblement
p. 169 level at : viser, pointer vers
p. 170 stumbled into: trébuchai et tombai dans
Chapter 29
p. 171 Which expression suggests that the man had not shaved that morning ?
p. 172 out of shape : pas en forme
p. 174 Which idiomatic expression does Naylor use to suggest that he feels they have arrived too late to have the opportunity to see Ben ?
p. 174 Which of Naylor’s physical features does Joe notice and what is his automatic deduction from this ?
p. 175 squawking : piaillant, criant
p. 175 Which word here basically means ‘describe adequately’ ?
Chapter 30
p.176 bike-coding day : une journée de marquage Bicycode
p.176 Which expression here means ‘ a very good example of’ something ?
p. 176 When something is very plain and ordinary without any specific features it is ____________ .
p.176-7 pock marked with cigarette burns : grêlée/ tacheté de brûlures de cigarettes
p.177 Find a synonym of ‘to see’ or ‘to notice’.
p.177 dingy: minable, miteux
p.177 Which word does Joe use here to show how much disdain or scorn he has for Ben ?
p. 178 scraped loudly : râcla bruyamment
p. 178 establish his whereabouts : le retrouver, le localiser
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>>>>Worksheet questions on Chapters 26-30
1) pp.155-156 How does Joe feel throughout the rest of that day and what does he think of Ben’s apparent invitation to meet up ?
2) Does Joe actually see Ben at the park ?
3) pp. 168-169 What does Joe finally realise about Ben’s arrangement to meet up ?
4) What impression does Joe have of the police station ?
5) p. 177 What shows that Joe’s normal routine has been upset ?
6) pp. 178-180 What is Detective Naylor trying to find out here ?
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Chapter 31
p. 181 that weird run-in : cette étrange dispute/ prise de bec / altercation: ( avoir maille à partir avec quelqu’un)
p.181 Find a word meaning ‘domain’ or ‘field’ or ‘area’ or sometimes ‘kingdom’
p. 182 Find an expression meaning ‘en liberté’ or ‘dans la nature’
p. 183 swooping : plongeant
p. 183 lurching : (faisant des embardées) = Ceci me faisait remuer l’estomac.
p.183 Find a colloquial expression meaning ‘on the ground’.
p. 183 Find an expression meaning ‘not important anymore’
p. 184 a spur-of-the-moment thing : spontanée, sur un coup de tête
p. 184 frowned : fronça les sourcils
p. 184 cocked his head ; pencha la tête sur le côté
p. 185 turned people over : trahir des gens
p. 186 falling out : dispute
Chapter 32
p. 187 arsonist: pyromane
p. 188 ‘That name rings a bell.’: ce nom me dit quelque chose
p.188 Find an expression meaning ‘le fin mot de l’histoire’
p.191 churlish: grossier, brusque
p.191 Find a synonym of ‘Supported by’ or ‘In the light of’
Chapter 33
p.193 mingling : se mélangeant, se mêlant
p. 193 was juddering : tanguait
p. 195 he wanted to drive us apart : il voulait nous pousser à nous séparer
p. 195 Which expression shows that Joe wanted to dominate the situation and to be very active and be aware of all the relevant data.
p. 196 When you pay for something for another person or a group of other people, you
____________ ________ ________ __________ . How might you translate this ?
p. 196 Find an expression meaning ‘to appear’, ‘to appear in public’ or ‘to make one’s presence known to people’. How might you translate it here ?
p. 197 In French, a person or a thing can ‘rendre l’âme’. In English we say ……. ?
p. 197 chugging: soufflant, haletant
Chapter 34
p. 199 When you have to make a very tough choice between two courses of action we say that you are _____________ _______ the two actions.
p. 200 How many different verbs and nouns expressing noises and sound effects can you find on this page ?
p. 200 It’s him all over : ça c’est lui tout craché
Chapter 35
p. 202 How might you translate ‘After dispensing with the pleasantries,…..’
p. 202 Find a synonym for ‘prices’ or ‘fees’
p.202 When you want to say that it is wiser to take precautions than to regret things afterwards you can use the expression ‘_____________ _________ _________ __________’
p. 202 crisp Home Counties accent : son accent impeccable/ très clair des comptés autour de Londres
p. 202 I ran through a potted version of : j’ai raconté une version concise/ abrégée de
p.203 cautioned : averti
p.203 shrugged : haussa les épaules
p.204 niceties : subtilités
p.204 Larssen uses two synonyms, rather redundantly, which both mean ‘sournois’ or ‘fourbe’. They are…. ________________ and _____________.
p. 204 noose : la corde ( à moitié) autour du cou
p. 204 Find the expression : When you don’t trust a person at all, you can say « I………….. »
p. 204 Find a colloquial, humourous term for the police.
p. 204 loaded question: une question tendancieuse
p. 205 on legal grounds : pour des motifs juridiques
p. 205 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘to find yourself somewhere in the end’
p. 205 When you have to try to deduce something by mainly using your general knowledge and intuition about a situation then you say you can ______________ ______
_________________ ______________.
p. 205 fountain pen : un stylo à encre
p. 206 guesswork : la conjecture/ suppositions ou hypothèses
p. 206 Find three phrasal verbs on this page : what do they mean in their contexts ?
p. 206 Which expression might be translated as ‘sous aucun prétexte’ ?
p. 207 Which expression here means, basically, ‘to understand something’
p.207 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘to end’, ‘to bring to an end’
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>>>>Worksheet questions on Chapters 31 to 35
1) p.183 How does the interview with the police develop here and how does Joe feel about these developments ?
2) pp.186-188 What further new evidence makes things look even more problematic for Joe ?
3) pp.188-189 What possible motives does Naylor hint at ( suggest) if Joe had actually wanted to harm Ben ?
4) p.192 On what note does the police interview end ?
5) What action does Joe take when he gets back home and what are his thoughts ?
6) Chapter 34 : (p.200) Why does Joe say to Naylor on the phone ‘this is pure one hundred percent Ben Delaney. It’s him all over, it’s what he’s good at’ ?
7) What does the solicitor Larssen think of DCI Naylor ?
8) How does Joe feel at the end of his first discussion with Larssen ?
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Chapter 36
p. 211 A common form of punishment in secondary schools is _________________
p. 211 If your shirt is left on top of your trousers, possibly looking rather untidy, then it is ___________________ .
p.211 Teenagers often like to challenge authority and see how far they can go without being punished so they _______________ ______________________ .
p. 211 Which adjective shows that the assistant head teacher is totally unflexible in his application of discipline ?
p. 211 Which word shows that Joe sees pupils as potential catches or potential victims of the strict discipline that he can easily catch?
p.211 strolled towards me : m’approchèrent nonchalamment
p. 211 shuffling : marcher en trînant les pieds
p. 211 At the start of the day, British secondary school pupils usually go to their _____________ _____________ for registration and other information before going to class.
p. 212 What suggests that the tallest boy is actually very tall for his age ?
p. 212 smart-arse : petit malin
p. 212 sniggered : ricanèrent
p. 212 subdued : morose
p. 212 a smirk : un sourire narquois, un petit sourire satisfait
p. 212 Find a colloquial word for ‘tea’ or ‘a cup of tea’.
p. 213 In this context how might you translate ‘For all our piss-taking……..’ ?
p. 213 On this page you can find two different words meaning ‘to reprimand someone’ : one very formal and one vulgar : they are _____________________ and _____________________.
p. 213 The person whose job is to do the unpleasant or violent things, such as punishing people, or killing them or perhaps simply firing them, is a _________________ _________.
p. 214 trophy-laden : chargés de trophées, tenant des trophées
p. 215 laid up : alité
p. 215 Which word on this page do you think basically means ‘Grande Section’ ( de l’école maternelle) ?
p. 215 What does Carl Draper say that suggest that William’s school is, quite objectively, probably a good school ?
p. 216 Instead of saying ‘public relations’ or ‘advertising’ we often simply use the term ___.
Chapter 37
p. 218 Which adjective on this page was invented during the First World War and how might you translate it ?
p. 219 A colloquial and humourous way of saying ‘I have got you’ (‘Je t’ai eu!’) is ___________ !
p. 219 Find a word equivalent to the French word ‘potins’ or ‘ragots’.
p. 219 Find the name of a serious disease, (now eradicated), on this page. How does this show that Joe is angry here ?
p. 220 Which words here mean ‘to be intensely interrogated’ or ‘an intense interrogation’ ?
p. 221 pulled a face : fit une grimace
p. 221 Which expression does Joe use to suggest that Ben is simply deliberately annoying and confusing everyone, perhaps as a kind of game ?
p. 222 pot belly : bedaine, brioche
p. 223 Which phrasal verb means ‘to reveal’, ‘to divulge’ or ‘to show’ ?
p. 223 besmirched : souillée
p. 224 school regs : school regulations, le règlement intérieur de l’établissement
p. 224 fickle: inconstant, changeant, volage
p.224 a kangaroo court: un tribunal fantoche
p. 224 the rule of the mob : la loi de la rue, la loi de la populace
p. 225 When you sacrifice yourself or do something unpleasant for the good of the wider community around you, we say, colloquially that you ___________ _________ __________ _________ ______________ . How might you translate this and the sentence that follows ?
p. 225 A synonym for ‘hit hard’ or ‘punch’ here is…………..
p.225 clenched fists : poings serrés
p.226 Which expression does Carl Draper use rather ironically here ?
Chapter 38
p. 227 My progress : Mon cheminement
p. 228 expunged: effacé, expurgé
p. 229 Find a word here which means ‘effronté’ or ‘insolent’.
p. 230 I squirmed on the hook : je me tortillais (comme un ver) sur l’hameçon
p. 231 he’s hounding me : il me traque
p. 231 The opposite of ‘fair play’ is________ ________ . How might you translate this term in this context ?
p. 232 he’s taking potshots at me : il s’amuse à me tirer dessus au hasard
Chapter 39
p. 234 I’m being set up. : On essaye de me faire accuser / me faire porter le chapeau pour un délit
p. 234 he’s taunting me : il me nargue
p. 235 Find the expression : When you want to make something look different or to have people look at things in a different light you ________ ___ _______________ _____________ _____ it.
p. 235 Find the expression : If you want to damage someone’s reputation and, for example, show that he or she is immoral, you can launch a ____________ ________________ against him or her
p. 235 Find a phrasal verb meaning ‘to check’, ‘to verify’
p. 236 Which expression here means ‘a clue’, ‘some helpful information’ ?
p. 239 Which expression used by Naylor suggests that the full official procedure of analysing the data on Facebook has not been complied with in the case of Ben’s Facebook and messages?
p. 240 bog-standard : banal, tout à fait ordinaire
p. 240 semi-colon : point-virgule
p. 240 on a par with : au même niveau quelqu'un
p. 240 quills : des plumes, stylos à plume
p. 240 utterly redundant : totalement inutile
p. 242 scabbed-over scratches: des croûtes sur les égratignures
p. 242 stumbled : tombai
p. 243 How might you translate ‘The name of the game’ here ?
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>>>>Worksheet questions on chapters 36 to 39
1) What things at school on Tuesday morning suggest that something is different and that Joe is the centre of it all?
2) What is Carl Draper’s rôle in the school and what seems to be his reputation among staff?
3) What photo on Facebook does Draper show to Joe and what is Draper’s main concern?
4) What action does Draper take and how does Joe feel about this?
5) pp.230-231 What new and unwelcome development does Larssen announce to Joe on the phone?
6) Chapter 39 (p.240): What overall explanation of the situation does Joe give to the police?
7) What items of evidence mentioned by the police seem to suggest that Joe has harmed or possibly killed Ben?
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SECTION 3 : CHAPTERS 40 to 59
Chapter 40
-(p. 244) Find an informal expression meaning “to make someone seem to be guilty of a crime when they’re not”.
-(p. 244) that had blown up in my face: ça m’avait éclaté au visage
-(p. 244) Find an expression meaning “to rest”.
-(p. 244) Notice the use of past participles in the English expression “easier said than done”: plus facile à dire qu’à faire.
-(p. 244) mate: mon pote
-(p. 245) Find an informal noun meaning “man”.
-(p. 245) to stalk: filer, traquer, suivre partout
-(p. 245) Whereabouts = location; the place where someone or something is.
-(p. 245) Find a (rather archaic) conjunction that is synonymous with “although”, but which can’t introduce an independent clause.
Ex: an enjoyable, _______ very short vacation.
-(p. 246) Which degree did Mel get 20 years ago?
-(p. 246) When your’re ready to face whatever challenges may occur in your life, you’re ready to ___ __ __ __.
-(p. 247) Find a verb meaning either “to suffer from a continuous dull pain” or (here) “to feel intense sadness”. This term can be used to form compounds (ex: to have a head___/ a stomach___/ a tooth___)
-(p. 247) A synonym for “I can no longer bear it” is _____.
-(p. 251) If someone comes over to your house without warning, he _______
-(p. 251) Find an informal way of saying “very annoyed”.
-(p. 251) to be on the back foot: to be outmanoeuvred by an opponent, to be at a disadvantage (être en mauvaise posture, être sur la defensive)
Chapter 41
-(p. 252) conservatory : jardin d’hiver, véranda (ici) / le conservatoire (école de musique)
-(p. 252) big enough to seat twenty : suffisamment grande pour contenir/faire tenir 20 personnes assises.
-(p. 253) The antonym of “thin” on this page is ___
-(p. 253) brass : a particular type of metal made from copper and zinc : en laiton.
-(p. 254) stifled a sob : étouffa un sanglot.
-(p. 255) I realised with a jolt : cela m’a fait un choc quand je me suis rendu compte que…(a jolt is either “a sudden violent movement” or “an unpleasant shock or suprise”).
-(p. 255) tarpaulins : des bâches
-(p. 255) christenings : des baptêmes.
-(p. 256) When you try to achieve something by ____ means or _____, you use any method you can to achieve it, even if it’s not honest.
-(p. 257) Find an expression which includes a phrasal verb and means “remonter le temps”.
-(p. 257) Standard = The London Evening Standard, a free daily newspaper.
-(p. 257) Sons of Anarchy : an American tv series.
-(p. 258) there was shouting and swearing : il y eut des cris et des jurons.
-(p. 258) Find the infinitive form of the irregular verb which means “to turn round quickly”.
Chapter 42
-(p. 259) Find another way of saying “I can’t understand at all”.
-(p. 261) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to distinguish”.
-(p. 261) Find a false friend to fill in the following blanks : If an activity ____ , or if you ____it, it starts again after a pause.
-(p. 261) Goodbye, Mr. Chip : a 1939 British film based on a novel written by James Hilton, relating the teaching carrer of a latin teacher at the end of the 19th century (hence the reference to the black gown).
Chapter 43
-(p. 266) Find an irregular verb meaning “to move slowly and quietly, usually to avoid being noticed”.
-(p. 266) A synonym for “group” is ___.
-(p. 266) Find the name of a kitchen utensil usually used to make pastry flat and thin.
-(p. 267) ajar : entrouvert
-(p. 267) landing : le palier
-(p. 267) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to understand, find a solution”.
-(p. 267) Find a verb meaning “to frighten someone”.
-(p. 268) “something arcane and techie” could be paraphrased as “sthg mysterious and ___”
-(p. 269) Find the metaphor Joe makes in order to stress how ironical Ben’s threat is.
-(p. 270) Write Ben’s longest text message in full letters (“you should get better security…”)
-(p. 271) to slam one’s fist on sthg : taper du poing sur qqch. Notice that personal pronouns are required before body parts in English whereas this is not the case in French.
Chapter 44
-(p. 272) the carers : the people taking care of/looking after William at after-school club.
-(p. 272) to matter : compter.
-(p. 273) trolling : the art of deliberately pissing someone off (by leaving an insulting message on the Internet usually).
-(p. 273) Find an expression which would translate as “lui rendre la pareille”.
-(p. 273) When a person or an animal runs out of their hiding place, they ___ ___.
-(p. 274) would make me sound wounded and resentful: laisseraient entendre que j’étais blessé et amer
-(p. 274) Find an expression meaning “to start from the very beginning”.
-(p. 275) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to hit someone hard and repeatedly”, which is here used with an informal noun meaning “man”.
-(p. 277) Find an expression which originally comes from fishing but which can also mean “to fall for something someone has said = to respond to someone's actions or words in the way that they intended”.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 40 to 44
-Who is Mark Ruddington and how does Joe get to know him?
-Which piece of information does Beth give Joe when he pays her a visit at home after their terrible confrontation at the Stratford pub? (a piece of information which makes him want to search Ben’s study).
-When Joe realizes his house has been broken into, which tool does he grab to defend himself and what does he find out?
-Which solution does Joe think he’s found to make Ben break cover?
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Chapter 45
-(p. 279) Find an adjective meaning “embarrassed because you know that you’ve done sthg wrong or silly”.
-(p. 280) tablets : comprimés / pills : gellules, comprimés.
-(p. 280) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to come, appear, be present”.
-(p. 281) When someone is ___ __, they’re not completely conscious of what’s going on, often because of taking drugs or needing to sleep.
-(p. 282) swaying : to move slowly from side to side
-(p. 282) A literary way of saying “alone and unhappy” is : ___.
-(p. 283) Which term does Joe use to say that Beth is not paying attention, not hearing or seeing what’s around her for the moment ?
Chapter 46
-(p. 285) Find an irregular phrasal verb meaning “to separate”.
-(p. 285) Another way of saying “very excited” is ___.
-(p. 286) oblivious to : inconscient de, imperméable à.
-(p. 286) Which phrasal verb here means “s’écouler, passer”?
-(p. 286) a glance : un coup d’œil
-(p. 287) Which expression suggests Joe suddenly had a strong feeling of fear/ shock?
-(p. 287) lanky: tall and thin and moving awkwardly as a result (dégingandé/grande perche)
-(p. 288) to squirm out of my grip: de me faire lâcher prise en se tortillant
-(p. 288) Which verb expresses that Joe breathes quickly and loudly because he’s been running after Ben?
-(p. 289) as far as I could tell: autant que je sache.
-(p. 289) Which expression expresses the idea of “un coup monté”?
Chapter 47
-(p. 290) Find an adjective meaning “slow-moving/lacking energy or alertness”.
-(p. 290) Which comparison is used to show that William is strongly attached to his mother and holds on tightly to her when going to bed ?
-(p. 290) tiptoed back into the hall. Notice how this action translates : the English preposition “back” is turned into a verb and the verb “ tiptoed” becomes a phrase of manner in French (un complément circonstanciel de temps) : retournai dans le hall sur la pointe des pieds.
-(p. 292) a seam : une couture
-(p. 292) the lining : la doublure
-(p. 293) a bead of cold sweat : une perle de sueur froide
-(p. 294) Find another verb meaning “deleted”.
-(p. 294) Find the expression which means “retourner à la case départ”.
-(p. 295) Which term expresses that Mel didn’t have a shirt on when she took the picture ?
-(p. 297) The slang equivalent to “ things which are pointless” is ___ ___ .
Chapter 48
-(p. 297) G&T : an alcoholic beverage : Gin and Tonic.
-(p. 300) Which expression shows that Joe is doing is best to sound calm ?
-(p. 302) Find an informal way of saying “extremely tired”.
Chapter 49
-(p. 303) Which expression indicates that Joe was amazed the first time he saw Mel naked ?
-(p. 303) Which expression does Joe use to go on with the same breathing/air metaphor ?
-(p. 304) Which expression shows that Mel looks delighted on the picture?
-(p. 304) ex-directory : not listed in a telephone directory : pas dans l’annuaire (téléphonique).
-(p. 305) yielded a curious result: produced a strange result.
-(p. 305) well-groomed men : hommes très soignés, bien coiffés.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 45 to 49
- Joe thinks he has found a solution to make Ben break cover, but which difficulty does he first face and what does this suggest?
- What does Joe find out in Beth’s living room?
- Which strategy does Joe find to have enough time to go through his wife’s handbag and which object does he find in it?
- Does his discovery prove useful? What are the two difficulties he faces?
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Chapter 50
-(p. 309) A sliver of sky: un ruban de ciel
-(p. 309) In addition to the time indication (5 a.m.), which element of the setting can more or less tell you what time it is?
-(p. 309) Find an expression here meaning “doing the housework”.
-(p. 309) You know what an acronym ___ __ when you know what its letters represent.
-(p. 310) Notice the comparison Joe makes: “a middle-aged man’s face, emotionless as a tombstone” : “un homme d’âge moyen, au visage aussi dépourvu de vie qu’une tombe / au visage sans plus de vie qu’une pierre tombale”.
-(p. 310) despite extensive police searches: malgré des fouilles policières étendues
-taunt : raillerie, moquerie
-(p. 311) Which expression shows that William is aware that something’s wrong with his parents ?
-(p. 312) Find an expression here used in the passive form and meaning “remettre les choses en ordre”.
-(p. 313) a lieu day : a day off in lieu = some time off instead.
-(p. 313) When you get into someone’s computer system without permission, so as to find out some information, you ___ their computer.
-(p. 314) A device used to count down time is an ___ ___.
-(p. 314) to catch a glimpse of /glimpses of : entrevoir
-(p. 314) Find an adjective meaning “harmless” and rhyming with it.
-(p. 315) ruthless : intraitable, impitoyable.
-(p. 315) An informal way of saying “an affair” here is : a ___.
-(p. 317) was slowly falling to pieces : était doucement en train de perdre pied = s’effondrer, craquer.
Chapter 51
-(p. 318) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to inform someone more fully of a matter”.
-(p. 319) a patch of woodland: une parcelled de bois
-(p. 319) scent dogs: des chiens renifleurs
-(p. 319) my mind was racing: mes pensées fusaient / je réfléchissais à toute vitesse
-(p. 319) Find a slang equivalent to “to kill someone”.
-(p. 320) sighed audibly: soupira distinctement
-(p. 320) An informal way of saying “rather, quite” is ____.
-(p. 321) An idea which is based on feeling rather than fact is a ___.
-(p. 321) he’s always slagging it off = speaking badly of it.
-(p. 321) Find an adjective meaning “difficult”.
-(p. 322) Find a phrasal verb here meaning “régler le problème”.
-(p. 322) “I miss him”. Notice the difference in French: il me manque.
Chapter 52
-(p. 323) Notice the translation of “24h/24”: 24 hours a day (here “a” means “per”).
-(p. 323) grimy: dirty (crasseux).
-(p. 323) Find an irregular verb meaning “to smell bad/ to smell foul”
-(p. 323) I didn’t mind: peu m’importait: (ici, pour le registre, plutôt): ça ne me dérangeait pas.
-(p. 324) Find a phrasal verb meaning “passer quelqu’un (au telephone)”.
-(p. 324) bogus: faux
-(p. 324) pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together: des pièces du puzzle commençaient à s’assembler.
-(p. 325) a phone booth: une cabine téléphonique
-(p. 325) posh: très chic, sélect, huppé (house, neighbourhood, car, clothes) / ici: snob (people).
-(p. 325) Find a false friend meaning “tromper”
-(p. 326) a dark hooded top: un haut sombre à capuche
-(p. 326) ages: des lustres, des plombes (ici) (puisque dialogue avec un adolescent)
-(p. 326) Jeremy Kyle Show: a British talk show presented by Jeremy Kyle and based on confrontations in which guests try to resolve issues (usually family/sex/drug issues) with others. Joe associates the angry teen with a combative guest on the Jeremy Kyle Show because it is very common to see the guests displaying strong emotions, such as anger and distress, on the show.
-(p. 326) Notice the irregular past participle of “to string out”: strung out = a colloquial term meaning either “disturbed” (perturbé) or “under the influence of drugs” (défoncé).
-(p. 326) how about…: et si…
-(p. 326) Find a vulgar expression here meaning “casse toi/ dégage”.
-(p. 327) A synonym for “very surprised” on that page is ___ ___.
-(p. 327) When you want someone to become calm and relax, you can tell them: ___. (informal)
-(p. 327) “to diss” is slang for someone who speaks rudely to someone else or shows them no respect (se payer la tête de).
-(p. 328) Which funny (though vulgar) expression does Joe use to indicate that Riley Warner has turned into an expert jerk (=douchebag)?
-(p. 328) airtight: hermétique
Chapter 53
-(p. 330) Sniggering : ricanant
-(p. 330) Which slang expression is used to express the idea that Joe doesn’t care what happens next ?
-(p. 330) husky : rauque
-(p. 331) scorching : caniculaire
-(p. 331) to steady someone : calmer quelqu’un
-(p. 331) Find an irregular past participle meaning “tiré”.
-(p. 332) Find an adjective which can be spelt differently and means “fouineur/qui fourre son nez partout”.
-(p. 332) Find a phrasal verb meaning “to pull something out of a container” (water, box, drawer, pocket etc.) : sortir, extirper.
-(p. 332) barely a whisper : à peine un murmur
-(p. 333) to draw a line under = to finish something and move on with it : tirer un trait sur
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 50 to 53
-What did Joe use to do for a living? At that point in the story, is he being nostalgic about his past job?
-Who is Riley Warner?
-Where did Joe ask Mel to marry him? What happened on that occasion which shows she wasn’t expecting a proposal (=which shows this came as a total surprise)?
-At one point in the story (chap. 54), Mel feels moved into revealing something apparently important to Joe. What is it that moves her so much and what stops her short of telling him the whole truth?
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Chapter 54
-(p. 335) How many ballpoint pens does Mel have in her handbag according to Joe ?
-(p. 335) Find an expression meaning “supporter”.
-(p. 336) A synonym for “surprised” on this page is____
-(p. 336) Find an adjective meaning “slight/not strong” which can be used before sounds, smells and noises, notably.
-(p. 336) The Stepford Wives is a 1975 American horror film directed by Bryan Forbes and based on the 1972 Ira Levin novel of the same name. It is set in the small town of Stepford, Connecticut, where sweet women are entirely subdued to their lazy husbands, doing all the housework to please them – a situation which eventually raises the curiosity of Joanna Eberhart, who eventually finds out that all of these women are robots. Hence the analogy between the automated voice of the answering machine and that of the Stepford Wives.
-(p. 337) a rowing boat: a small boat which is moved by pulling oars (des rames).
-(p. 337) You nearly tipped us both into the water: tu nous as presque fait basculer à l’eau tous les deux.
-(p. 339) Find an expression which here suggests that Mel has changed her mind and won’t tell Joe the truth /won’t open up.
-(p. 339) dimples: fossettes
-(p. 339) Find another way of saying “we’ll overcome this difficulty; we’ll find a way and eventually be ok”.
Chapter 55
-(p. 340) the sweet shop: le magasin de bonbons.
-(p. 340) Find a phrasal verb meaning “remonter le moral à quelqu’un”.
-(p. 340) Find an expression meaning “to support”.
-(p. 341) stern (person, look, test, opposion): sévère
-(p. 342) Find other ways of saying “to frighten someone” and “to be frightened”
-(p. 343) There are so many policemen coming in and out of Joe’s house that at one point he can’t help comparing them to _____.
-(p. 343) a low-loader : semi-remorque à plateforme surbaissée
-(p. 343) the kerb (Brit) : le trottoir
-(p. 343) gear : équipement, tenue
Chapter 56
-(p. 345) to clutch : to grasp tightly (serrer)
-(p. 345) muffled : quiet, not clear (étouffé, pour un son)
-(p. 345) to scoure : to clean
-(p. 345) to swab : to take a small amount of a substance by using a small piece of soft material.
-(p. 345) Find an adjective meaning “contrarié, troublé, bouleversé”
-(p. 346) to hoodwink : to deceive or trick someone.
Chapter 57
-(p. 349) Find a term which is very much in use as an adjective (in expressions like “to be panic-___” or “ ____ with guilt / grief” etc.) whereas it is rare as a verb : “a North American or archaic past participle” of a verb whose standard past tense and participle are “struck”.
-(p. 349) handcuffs : menottes
-(p. 349) Find another way of saying “unquestionably guilty” (coupable à 100%)
-(p. 350) The English acronym for “ADN” is ___.
-(p. 350) Find an expression meaning “to do something wrong; behave inappropriately”.
-(p. 351) capped his fountain pen : reboucha son stylo plume
-(p. 352) A synonym for “proofs”, but which is never in the plural in English is ____.
-(p. 352) to have butterflies in one’s stomach : ATTENTION à l’anglicisme consistant, comme dans de nombreuses traductions de séries notamment, à traduire par cette horreur : « avoir des papillons dans le ventre », ce qui n’a pas de sens en français. La traduction est « avoir le trac ».
-(p. 353) frowned : fronça les sourcils
-(p. 353) foul play : acte criminel (ici) / en sport, aux cartes : jeu irrégulier, tricherie
foul = disgusting (notably for smells) /bad (for the weather).
-(p. 354) a synonym for “to reveal” on this page would be ___.
-(p. 354) to match something to something else : trouver une correspondance entre ceci et cela.
-(p. 354) What is the infinitive form of “laid”?
Chapter 58
-(p. 355) scuffle: a short and sudden fight (bagarre, échauffourée, rixe)
-(p. 356) a nugget of gold: a small, roughly shaped piece (ici, une pépite d’or).
-(p. 358) knuckles: the bending bony parts on your fingers and hands
-(p. 359) the job of concealment= the job of hiding something (to conceal= to hide)
-(p. 360) DS= Detective Sergeant.
-(p. 360) Find a colloquial expression someone may use when they think someone is talking nonsense to them. (which would translate as: des conneries, tout ça / foutaises!)
-(p. 360) to lose one’s temper: perdre son calme
-(p. 361) Find another way of saying: “don’t say a word”.
-(p. 361) a shiver of fear went trough me: je fus traversé d’un frisson de peur.
-(p. 361) Which image does Joe resort to so as to indicate how scared he is?
Chapter 59
-(p. 362) human remains : des restes humains
-(p. 362) muddy and out of breath : couvert de boue et le souffle court.
-(p. 363) Uncovering a new lead sometimes requires months of ____ (=active physical work to gather information).
-(p. 364) When you have to defend something you truly believe in by arguing, you ___ __ __.
-(p. 365) another way of saying “more or less” on this page is ___.
The expression is used with amounts or time references to indicate that it is possibly a little more or less than the amount or time mentioned. Ex : it will be ready at 5 pm, ____ a few minutes (= à quelques minutes près) ; it costs £200, give or take.
-(p. 367) A road which is closed at one end and doesn’t lead anywhere is a ___.
This term can also be used to describe a situation which has no hope of making progress.
-(p. 368) Find an expression meaning “to remain cautious and be ready for a new challenge”.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 54 to 59
-On what ground is Joe being arrested? What new evidence led the police to arrest him?
-Who is present when Joe gets arrested ?
-During the police interrogation, does Joe strictly follow Larssen’s advice? What could this indicate to the police?
-Does Larssen believe his client? What does this suggest?
-How come the Facebook posts, the David Bramley account and the Messenger texts can’t count as evidence in favour of Joe? What does it tell us about Joe’s enemy?
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SECTION 4 : CHAPTERS 60 - THE END
Chapter 60
(p. 369). “It felt so good, so right, that my guard always crumbled there”= C’était si bon, si parfait, que c’était toujours là/ le moment où d’habitude/ baissais la garde. “
(p. 370): the barb of betrayal= l’épine/ le dard de la trahison
- “the police seemed pretty-gung-ho today”= enthousiaste, excité
- Ben just has to break cover once… (sortir de sa retraite, de sa cachette) for the police to realise he is still very much alive and kicking= bien vivant, en pleine forme
(p. 371) Translate and explain: “Tonight is when I start to make up for it”?
- To hold out= resister, tenir bon
- “I wondered again about the toll all of this was taking on her.” Je m’interrogeais sur les dégâts/ les lourdes conséquences que cela laissait sur elle// le lourd tribu qu’elle devait payer
- Translate the underlined words: “Larssen had told me that if the police did end up charging me with murder, it was highly likely that I would be remanded in custody rather than being bailed.“
(p. 372) Find a phrasal verb meaning to do something unexpected.
-“There was stuff strewn everywhere in the aftermath of the police search.”: il y avait des effets/ des objets éparpillés partout le sol était jonché d’objets) suite à la fouille de la police.
Why does Joe say “They might as well have sent me back in time to 1900”?
Chapter 61:
(p. 375) 1. wary= prudent. 2. smart-alec sass (language): conceited and disrespectful : toupet, culot
(p. 376) a lieu day= a day off
(p. 379) Translate: “she seemed to have deleted (most of it) when she upgraded”? (Mel’s old phone/handsets).
(p. 380): scorched earth: la terre brûlée.
- Mel should be told what was coming down the tracks at her= ce qui allait lui tomber dessus.
(p. 381) mischief-making: jouer un tour, faire une blague, des espiègleries
(p. 381-382) a warped view: faussé (objet : déformé).
(p. 382) Keeping me at arm’s length = me tenant à distance
Chapter 62:
-(p. 383) hazardous= dangereux
-(p. 384) How are you holding up, Beth? = Est-ce que tu tiens bon/ she shrugged: elle haussa les épaules
- Your husband has got them dancing to his tune= il mène la danse, il les mène par le bout du nez, il leur fait faire tout ce qu’il veut/ses quatre volontés.
-(p. 385) It’s all right, Beth,” I said. We’ll figure it out. Together.”= comprendre
-(p. 386) as if mulling something over= thinking something over= méditer, retourner dans sa tête
-(p. 388) charged with GBH a few years ago: grievous bodily harm.
- What sort of GBH was Steven Beecham charged with?
- He got off on a technicality. : il a été relâché pour vice de forme/ erreur administrative
-(p. 388) to frame me= piéger (I’ve been framed: je suis victime d’un coup monté).
- What is a back up plan?
-(p. 390) effing= fucking
Chapter 63
-(p. 391) Find a phrasal verb meaning to park your car.
Find a verb meaning to frighten, unnerve.
-(p. 392) Find a phrasal verb meaning to stop a search, stop looking for someone.
-(p. 393) Find a phrasal verb meaning to be upset.
-(p. 394) a registration plate: plaque d’immatriculation
-(p. 395) a tip-off: un tuyau
Chapter 64 and 65
-(p. 396) the forensic data people= la police scientifique
-(p. 396) What does “mobile phone data being so ubiquitous” mean?
-(p. 397) to bypass= contourner
-(p. 398) Find a phrasal verb meaning to take control of something (of a computer here
-(p. 399) The evidence the police found is « circumstancial, but telling all the same ». Ce sont des preuves circonstancielles (indirectes), mais convaincantes (révélatrices) malgré tout.
-(p. 399) A few days ago Larssen thought the case would fizzle out” = die out, gradually end” = tourner court, s’éteindre, tomber en quenouille, être abandonnée
-(p. 400) a sample : un échantillon
-(p. 403) out of the blue: sans s’y attendre, à l’improviste
Chapter 65
-(p. 402) Find a word meaning accusations
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 60-65
1. When he comes back home after being interrogated by the police, Joe says the situation at home is “beyond weird”. Why?
2. What attitude did Joe and Mel adopt?
3. “Tonight’s when I start to make up for it”, Mel said. “Perhaps I should hold out”, Joe thought. What attitudes both of Mel and Joe are referred to?
2. p. 369-371, How did Mel interpret the fact he didn’t want to talk? What did she do later to get Joe to relax, and how did he react to it?
3. “Everything else… Mel seemed to have deleted when she upgraded.” What is Joe referring to?
4. Why was the second email from bret 911 particularly revealing according to Joe? Why not so according to Larssen?
5. Who did Joe forward the email to, and for what reason?
6. When discussing the best attitude for Joe to adopt in the future, why do Joe and Larssen differ?
7. “I was reminded that looking at a stranger’s Facebook timeline gave a warped view of that person’s life.” (p. 382). What and who is Joe referring to?
8. “And nobody was going to bust up our exclusive club.” (p. 382). Explain.
9. At Golders Hill Park, why does Beth mention “ying and yang”? What document did she bring along?
10. How did Joe finally work out the meaning of the STEB post-it note?
11. Who mentioned the name of Alex Kolnik? What was the reason for mentioning him and what was Beth’s reaction?
12. What did the forensic people find on Ben’s phone? Why were forensic people called in on this case?
13. Why does Joe put much hope in the message he received on his home PC, the threat message from Ben, and why does Larssen’s commentary on it wreck Joe’s hopes?
14. “It’s another piece of the puzzle as far as Naylor is concerned. Circumstantial, but telling all the same, in the eyes of a jury.” (p. 399). What is Larssen referring to her, and why does he think it can be serious?
15. Why is the case no longer likely to “fizzle out” contrary to what Larrsen had said earlier?
16. What evidence part from the Google searches is likely to be the most incriminating for Joe?
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Chapter 66
p. 404. Naylor had come mob-handed today (slang)): accompagné, avec du renfort
p.404. gear= equipment, “high-vis jackets” = high_visibility jackets.
p. 405. Mel did a double take : Mel a vérifié une seconde fois, l’a regardé une seconde fois.
Find a phrasal verb meaning “trahir quelqu’un » (ici: me trahir)
p. 405. red in tooth and claw: impitoyable (sanguinaire) (claw= une griffe, une serre)
p. 405 Find the names of a chain of supermarkets, a chain of Italian restaurants.
p. 406 he was winning hands down= he was winning easily.
p. 409 to withdraw money = take= retirer
What is a phone number which isn’t on display?
Her maiden name= son nom de jeune fille.
p. 410: the name of a train station in London.
Chapter 67
p. 411. What are terraced houses?
p. 411. To outsmart = se montrer plus mzalin, plus ifuté, surpasser
p. 411. To drive a wedge between us: creuser un fossé entre nous, nous séparer (métaphore de menuiserie)
p. 411.to the victor, the spoils = au vainqueur le butin (the spoils), le vainqueur rafle la mise, remporte tout
p. 414. Find a word showing Joe lacks support and direction.
p. 414. The Range Rover is basically a bust = la (piste) de la Range Rover est donc fichue/un fiasco.
p. 414. to be on remand = être en détention proviso ire
Chapter 68
p. 417. the die was cast = dice= les dés étaient jetés
p. 419. Bouncer = videur/ booze (slang)= alcool
to stake the most : miser le plus, avoir les mises les plus élevées
The tables there “were £20 and £40 per deal, still too much like small change for a guy who thought nothing of spending three grand on a Savile Row suit.” Explain.
p. 420. the hoi polloi= la populace / the high rollers: les flambeurs, lesclients à hautes mises.
Chapter 69
p. 424. Punters = clients
p. 425. Find a verb meaning to stake money on something
p. 426. Find a verb meaning Joe was taken away by force
p. 427. Blue Eyes spun me round. il me fit tournoyer/ tourner sur moi-même (to spin, span, spun).
p. 427. an alley= une ruelle
p. 428. Find a phrasal verb meaning to be hit so hard you lose consciousness.
Chapter 70
p. 428 and p. 430 All the words below relate to physical pain (Joe). Make sure you know them, in particular the underlined ones.
(throbbing pain. I blinked, I winced, sat up with a groan….my ribs were raw with pain
(had given me a bit of kicking after) knocking me out/ back tooth felt loose, blood leaking from the gum)/ the world still spinning. walked unsteadily…/ p. 430: bruises/ the cuts and grazes stinging/ a gash above my eye. Cut, bruised and bloodied/ p. 433 a pounding headache, my face sore and my ribs stiff)
p. 428. The bouncers had given me a bit of kicking into the bargain. Les videurs m’avaient balancé des coups de pied par-dessus le marché, en plus.
p. 430. the light…made me duck into an alleyway… I stumbled forward into the shadows and crouched behind a wheelie bin. :1. se baisser vivement 2. trébucher 3. s’accroupir, se tapir (derrière une poubelle à roues)
p. 430 Find a phrasal verb expressing what you do when you arrive at a hotel
Translate: beaten up, maybe, but not beaten (Joe)
Chapter 71, 72, 73
p. 433. Slumber= sommeil
hovering out of my reach= planant, flottant hors de ma portée
p. 437 taut= tendu
p. 441 AWOL=Absent Without Official Leave (Army)= parti sans prévenir
sizing me up: me jaugeant, m’évaluant
p. 445 a hammering on the front door = des coups répétés sur la porte d’entrée
I shook it (the dog) loose = j’ai fait lâcher prise au chien/ j’ai envoyé le chien au loin d’une forte secousse.
Chapter 74
p.446. splinters, shards = échardes
to dodge a slack-looking policeman= éviter (esquiver) un policier à l’air peu sérieux/ décontracté
p. 447. after one drunken night that had wrecked my sporting career= après une nuit où j’étais ivre qui avait anéantit (détruit compètement) ma carrière sportive.
Using his phone to mislead the police: afin d’induire en erreur, tromper
p. 448. giving myself up: me rendre, me livrer à la police
chapter 75, 76
What programmes did Joe specifically explore and what did he find?
crossed spanners: des clés à molette croisées (a spanner= une clé à molette)/ a cog: une roue dentée
p. 451 Explain briefly what the SysAdminTrack consist in. What purpose did it serve when it was originally developed? What proves it is dangerous? What did Joe do with the app?
p. 452. a white hat hacking group, white hat hackers= White hat hackers are usually seen as hackers who use their skills to benefit society. Not destructive.= groupe de hackers bien intentionnés.
p. 453 What audio file was on the phone? How did Joe interpret this?
p. 453 Ben had been eavesdropping on us the whole time: Ben nous a écoutés à notre insu.
p. 455 a production of Macbeth in your GCSE year. What do you know about Macbeth?
You’ll probably want to leave it out=not mention it= omettre, laisser de côté, ne pas mentionner.
It’s just useful to know, for background = le contexte
p. I jerked awake: je me suis réveillé en sursaut.
why the picture had bothered me = upset
p. 458 Translate: 1. I scrolled down the name and description, scrolled back up to stare at the picture. (To scroll down/ up: faire défiler le texte (vers le bas/ vers le haut)
A single horrible thought crawled out from somewhere dark. Une idée…. s’est installée/ insinuée sournoisement dans mon esprit, surgie des ténèbres/ de recoins sombres.
It was so twisted that I didn’t want to look at it head-on. C’était si tordu que je ne voulais pas la regarder de front/ l’affronter.
What do you know for sure? What does everything add up to? The thought wouldn’t go away. De quoi es-tu vraiment certain? Qu’est-ce que tout cela signifie/ à quoi tout cela rime-t-il? Cette idée ne voulait pas se dissiper/ s’effacer// Impossible de chasser cette idée.
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 65-76
1. What did Larssen fear for Joe’s family and what did he advise Joe to go back home for?
2. Joe was eventually prevented Joe from going back home. Why?
3. What is the main difference between Joe and Ben as regards their respective behaviours as decent (or not) citizens? What shows Ben is being more successful than Joe in the present situation by far?
4. What course of action did Joe finally decide on as going back home was not an option any more?
5. How did Joe manage to get information about Mel’s former deal with the escort agency?
6. Why does Joe say the Range Rover lead is a bust?
7. At the mere mention of Joe’s little jaunt, we know Larssen is not pleased. Why? What could Larssen’s and Joe’s conflicting views on the situation result in?
8. Is the reason why Joe doesn’t want to go to the police the fact that he is likely to get bail?
9. What does Joe imply when he says “the die was cast”?
10. Why did Joe believe he would find Ben not in the main room but in the exclusive lounge?
11. What was Joe’s plan when the clients started to leave the room and go outside?
12. Did Joe walk serenely all the way to the hotel after running away from the Casino?
13. Did Mrs. Delaney live in a terraced house in a mean street back of town? How did Joe take his leave at the end of his visit?
14. “Does that include …. giving myself up?” What does Joe mean in his answer to Larssen?
15. What are Joe’s ambivalent feelings for his phone? What did his wondering about this ambiguous partner lead him to do and discover?
16. How did Joe interpret the fact that he found bits of his conversation with Mel on the phone?
17. Why did Mark Ruddington find Joe’s request weird given the occasion he wanted it for?
18. On his arrival in London, what new elements or information totally wrecked Joe’s former assumptions? How did his behaviour reflect his sense of shock?
19. Would you say that the thought that “crawled out from somewhere dark” in Joe’s mind was crooked or perverted?
20. For what reason did he put off his meeting with Larsen?.
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Chapters 77, 78, 79
p. 460 the door to the conservatory stood slightly ajar : la porte de la véranda était légèrement entrebaillée.
p. 461 (I) strained to hear a ringtone somewhere in the house = j’ai tendu l’oreille (fait un grand effort) pour discerner/ à l’affut d’une sonnerie
There was a thud upstairs= un bruit sourd/ muffled= assourdi
p. 462 a body sprawled on the floor= étendu, étalé
p. 463 a dressing gown= une robe de chamber, slippers= des chaussons
p. 464 What elements tend to point to a violent aggression?
To assume= supposer, an assumption= une supposition
p. 464. a large mirror …. was smashed in three places, spiderwebbed with cracks from top to bottom= un grand miroir avait volé en éclats en trois endroits et avait des fissures du haut en bas comme une toile d’araignée.
p. 464-465 a makeshift dagger: un poignard de fortune (de remplacement) / the jagged shard : l’éclat de verre déchiqueté
p. 467 steady, measured steps : des pas réguliers, mesurés
p. 466 like the female lead about to take a bow at the end of a show: comme la chanteuse principale d’un groupe qui s’apprête à saluer à la fin du spectacle.
p. 467 She thumped back the hammers on the shotgun: elle arma le chien du fusil de chasse
another piece of the jigsaw slotting into place: une autre pièce du puzzle qui se mettait en place
(a slot: une fente, to slot= insérer)
Chapters 80, 81
p. 468 the bait= l’appât
misdirection= mauvaise direction, (ici) diversion, fausse piste
p. 469 Ben was going to get a restraining order to keep him (Alex Kolnik) at arm’s length= une injonction/ ordonnance d’éloignement.
p. 47. click-cock, tick-tock, and finally the penny drops= ça fait tilt.
I would have gone down for it= j’aurais plongé/ été arrêté.
p. 472 you planted evidence= mettre, placer des preuves (a plant= un coup monté)
screwed up= twisted= tordu
cuckolded husband: mari cocufié, tompé/ a cuckhold= Un coucou (bird)/ un cocu (husband)
the fall guy= le bouc émissaire, le dindon de la farce
p. 472 Find a phrasal verb meaning to understand it all
p. 473 outgoing= extravertie, ouverte, sociale, exhubérante
in thrall= enchaînée à (thrall= les chaïnes)
pulled along in her slipstream= entraînée dans son sillage
Beth was calling the shots= c’est Beth qui décidait/ faisait la loi/ tirait les ficelles
spurned= rejeté, ignoré, délaissé
to have a fling= avoir une aventure
p. 474 plodding along: se traînant, avançant péniblement/ boring old Joe, head down, stuck in your rut….
p. 475 framing me for a crime I didn’t commit: me faire porter le chapeau
the hang-up call = l’appel où on a raccroché
some random chav had retweeted…. Riley Warner = un voyou qui passait par là par hasard
p . 476. a full factory reset = une réinitialisation en usine
I’ve always kept up with Ben’s line of work … I made sure I kept up to speed = je me suis tenue au courant de ce que faisait Ben / de son activité professionnelle…..j’ai suivi le rythme, le tempo
line of work: métier, carrière
p. 477 unflustered= impassible
you make the perfect patsy = tu es le pigeon parfait (la bonne poire, le bouc émissaire)
even though we couldn’t figure out what you were looking up STEB for at first = comprendre pourquoi tu cherchais à retrouver/ localiser
Chapter 82, 83
p. 479. He was going to screw me over completely, either way= il allait ( avait l’intention de) me rouler/ de me piéger, dans les deux cas.
What synonyms of « scorched earth », Ben’s usual practise, does Beth give?
he found you out = il t’avait démasquée, il avait découvert la vérité
he was way ahead of you, Joe= il était très en avance sur toi, il avait compris bien avant toi, Joe.
He asked me to meet him … for some off-the-books HR advice= informel
p. 479. various clauses covering total forfeiture of assets and guardianship of Alice= diverses clauses comprenant la confiscation des biens et la déchéance/ l’interdiction de la tutelle/ la garde d’Alice.
monitoring his calls= surveillant ses appels
p. 480. poor old Joe, about ten miles off the pace as usual, stumbling into the game …. It was in play= loin derrière de dix miles...tombant par hasard (to stumble= trébucher) sur le jeu…en cours.
what was it that finally clicked it for you?= qu’est-ce qui t’a fait piger? (it suddenly clicked= ça a fait tilt)
massive bust up with Ben that sent him over the edge= grosse enguelade …. L’a fait disjoncter
p. 481 a dead ringer= un sosie
I knew you would do the full white knight routine for Alice = je savais que tu volerais au secours de (jouer les chevaliers blancs, le sauveur)
Duct tape: du ruban adhésif
p. 482 …but this time Beth pushed her arm against the blade. … the knife cut a groove in her forearm.
(une lame/ une entaille)
You broke into my house= tu es entré par effraction chez moi
p. 483 to rape me= me violer
the night when you were spaced out on the sofa= tu planais, tu étais à moitié inconsciente, bourrée
stoned= bourrée, ivre
p. 485 My voice hoarse...the blast hit me like a sledgehammer…. blood oozing stickily from my jeans.= la voix rauque/ une masse, un marteau de forgeron/ du sang poisseux s’égouttant à travers ….
using her body to shield me= me protéger, me servir de bouclier
a distraction for the police= une diversion (une distraction)
he was signing his own death warrant= il a signé son proper arrêt de mort
we have to play this out. All the way. = jouer cette pièce. Jusqu’au bout, jusqu’au dénouement.
p. 486 The pain was excruciating, like a red-hot branding iron…= insoutenable
the bond was broken= le lien était rompu.
William and I were on our own now. I was his only hope =(nous) étions seuls…
p. 487 What you’ve got in your leg is birdshot= de la grenaille (une balle pour petits volatiles/ (whereas) this load…. For big game= pour du gros gibier
one night, when we were both pissed, egging on each other, and I said maybe the best outcome would be…. = ivres/ nous incitant, poussant mutuellement/ solution
You couldn’t even get that right = tu n’as même pas réussi à faire ça;
p. 488. Find a phrasal verb meaning things are likely not to turn out as expected and Mel could well be arrested for murdering Joe and Ben.
p. 488-489. Lady Macbeth encouraged her husband to kill the king. She was then tormented by guilt and remorse, obsessed with blood. She realised that she could never be forgiven, that nothing would ever wash the blood off her hands.
“Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” This is one of Lady Macbeth’s lines (répliques). Mel played the part.
-What about Ben’s blood. … Do you think you’ll ever be able to wash that off your hands? This is a direct allusion to the play, and to Lady Macbeth lamenting she can’t wash the blood off her hands in the final act (all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand).
-What’s done cannot be undone.” Another line. Beth quotes it to say there is no going back.
a line (theatre): une réplique/ un vers
a new voice, young, unsteady, fighting sobs: mal assurée/ refoulant,luttant contre les sanglots
p. 489. I dragged myself towards her, my shattered leg trailing blood= je me traînais…. brisée
Chapters 84,85
-p. 491 your acting……pretending to be Dad on line = le rôle que tu joues ….faisant semblant d’ëtre papa en ligne…
-p. 493 I had failed Ben, an innocent man, but I would not fail my son = (let down) j’ai trahi…, je n’ai pas été à la hauteur
-p. 494 Alice… gave a tiny nod of the head= elle fit un petit signe d’approbation de la tête.
-p. 496 a blanket = une couverture
a bump on the head….no fatal injury from my encounter with him = une bosse…/ une blessure
If I …. had waited for him to come round = reprendre conscience
Either way, the police chose not to charge me with assaulting Ben= …ne pas m’inculper pour avoir agressé Ben
-p. 497 mercury poisoning= empoisonnement au mercure
tampering with the brakes = trafiquer, saboter/sabotage des freins
staging a botched burglary turned murder = mettre en scène un cambriolage raté qui tourne au meutre/ se tranforme en meurtre
to spike his drink = trafiquer sa boisson
I provided the opportunity by stumbling into the middle of something without any idea of what was really going on= stumbled into= stumbled across= find unexpectedly = je suis tombé par hasard au milieu ….sans avoir la moindre idée de ce qui se passait.
I hadn’t joined the dots= je n’avais pas fait le lien, fait le rapprochement
to repay the debt I owe her : payer la dette que je lui dois
I’m still in rehab for my leg = je reçois encore des soins médicaux, je suis encore suivi
To go cold turkey= décrocher, réaliser un sevrage brutal
the rescue shelter / a tomcat= le refuge de la SPA / un matou
that’s one lie I’ll keep going as long as I can= c’est un mensonge que je vais poursuivre, que je vais continuer à raconter…..
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>>>> Worksheet questions on chapters 77-the end
1. How did Joe get into Beth’s house after being called to rescue? What elements made him worry about Beth and Alice’s safety?
2. What weapon did Joe get hold of in Beth’s bedroom?
3. When Mel joined Beth into the room, what transformation did Joe notice in her?
4. What does Joe mean when he says” I had got so spun around these last eight days it had taken me all that time to work out the truth? (p. 467)
5. “The magician’s flourish with his right hand – while his left hand is flipping open the secret compartment.” Why does Beth mention the magician’s trick at this stage?
6. Joe feels like a rat.” He has followed the trap, all the way in, and now the bait is about to close”, he says. Is the quotation logical?
7. What form did the women’s acting take?
8. Is it true that the obsession with Alex Kolnik was not one of Beth’s ideas and that the women actually found it hard to integrate it into their plan?
9. Is it true that Ben was going to get a restraining order against Mel?
10. What does Joe want to prove when he tells Beth that “there wouldn’t have been a need for any of this... misdirection. I would have gone down for it”?
11. Which role was Joe’s and which was Beth’s? Who was calling the shots and who was the fall guy? Explain.
12. What would have happened if Joe had kept plodding along?
13. How did Mel and Beth find out that the hang-up call had been made by Joe from a telephone booth?
14. When Joe tells them he phoned the police from a telephone booth, why don’t they believe him?
15. How did they Know Joe had found out about the app?
16. How did Ben intend to apply his scorched earth policy to Beth?
17. What were the two things Joe discovered that made it click for him?
18. What struck Joe in the picture of Mel naked in the kitchen and in the booking confirmation message from the escort agency?
19. How did Beth react when she understood Joe was getting close to the truth?
20. What thought was uppermost in Joe’s mind as he was dragging himself with his shattered leg towards Beth?
21. What evidence of Joe’s innocence did Alice have and how did she use it?
22. Does the fact that Joe has gone cold turkey mean he admits that sharing emotions with people on social media once made him feel calmer, more focused?
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