<DIV><P><I>Mygale</I> [MIG-uh-lee] n.: a genus of large tropical spiders. . . .</p><p>Richard Lafargue, a well-known plastic surgeon, pursues and captures Vincent Moreau, who raped Lafargue's daughter and left her hopelessly mad in an asylum. Lafargue is determined to exact an atrocious vengeance, and an ambiguous, even sadomasochistic relationship develops between self-appointed executioner and victim.</P><p>"Great art in nightmarish darkness."—Michel Lebrun</P><p><B>Thierry Jonquet </B>(b. 1954, Paris) is an exponent of the hardboiled style of French noir that is inflected by post–May 1968 politics and social critique. His crime novels and children's books have garnered many literary prizes.</P></DIV>