'Suivez La Piste' is a detective thriller based on a television French language course produced by the BBC. The book covers progressively the most common patterns of speech in every day spoken French. Each episode contains, besides the story, useful vocabulary and conversational exchanges.
The book begins with a general introduction on how French is spoken. The text of each episode is then followed by a list of useful expressions, an explanation of how the language is used, and a section of practice material. At the end of the book are questions about each episode, a grammar synopsis and a glossary of all the words used in the episodes.
Two words, mes amis: Camp. Tastic. I had to read it for French class, and it was an instant hit among the members of French 3. Who wouldn't love a book filled with hypodermic needle murders, code phrases ("Tu aime Dubellay?" "Oui, ces sont mes cigarettes favorites."), femme fatales, and a evil baroness who carries a jeweled gun in her purse? It's genius, I tell you.
on the surface this felt like James Bond, who happened to have a hangover, pulled on a sequined white glove and slapped me in the face with it. It was horribly predictable, terribly structured, juvenile, and overall pointless. However, I digress. This was not mean to be a "recreational read". It was meant to teach me more about colloquial french, and it did so moderately affectively. Overall, Je ne l'aime pas.
My God! This was my French textbook in 9th grade. What is it doing here? I don't remember the story well. I think it involved smuggling jewels from South American country where French was spoken? I must remember it wrong.