The thanks distilled at the end of his books give pride of place to the bookstores of Val-d’Oise, from Fnac Cergy to the Espace Pierre-Lecut, in Ermont, via the large circle in Éragny-sur-Oise or even the Imaginarium, in L’Isle-Adam. So many establishments where Alexis Laipsker held signing sessions.
It must be said that this Montmorency resident, considered one of the rising stars of French crime fiction, never misses an opportunity to meet his readers. “For the ego, it feels good to spend a day with people who tell you I really like what you do,” smiles the fifty-year-old (56 years old). It restores confidence. Writing books is a very solitary exercise. It’s a bit frustrating. »
“Everything happened very quickly”
If he was just a few days ago at the Jouy-le-Moutier media library, he is also the sponsor of the Polar’Osny festival, which ends this Saturday with a fair bringing together twenty-five authors. An event which quickly gained its reputation, like its prestigious sponsor. Because the former journalist specializing in poker very quickly made a place for himself among the elite of popular novelists, with a debut that looked like a success story.
“I was a big reader,” he remembers. I read everything. And I said to myself One day I will try. I’ve been thinking about it for a few years, but I didn’t have much time with my poker activities. I took advantage of a gap in my schedule, gathered my courage and gave it a try. But I didn’t know anyone. »
He sent his first book to Michel Lafon editions, on the recommendation of a friend. A first attempt that looks like a masterstroke. A week later, he received a call from the publishing house to inform him that his manuscript had been accepted.
“Everything happened very quickly,” remembers the writer. Published in 2020, “And with your mind”, this first novel, won the prize for new voices in crime fiction. A year later, his second opus was released, “The Soul Eater”, quickly adapted for the cinema. In the process, “The dolls” won no less than eight prizes.
“There is a real friendship between crime fiction authors”
Enough to launch the new career of the former television host seen in more than 1,500 shows, who released his sixth novel at the start of the year and has devoted himself entirely to writing since 2022. “I never imagined going that far,” he slips. For me, it’s a dream. I only see positive things in this adventure. »
Each time, readers are seduced by the twists and surprises that punctuate the end of each of his books. Bluffing inherited from his years in poker? “The bridge between poker and crime fiction is not obvious,” says the author. But I like to lead people on a track and for it not to be this one at all in the end. There are a lot of twists and turns, a lot of suspense and a shock ending, because that’s what people remember. It’s a state of mind. »
The writer has no shortage of projects, between writing novels and screenplays to adapt his books. Symbolizing this new status, he joined the league of the imagination, which brings together prestigious authors such as Olivier Norek, Franck Thilliez, Bernard Minier and another Val-d’Oisian, Maxime Chattam.
“These are people who influenced me,” he explains. There is a real brotherhood and a real friendship between crime writers. There is a core of caring people who give good advice. We are aware that our adversary is people who no longer read enough. We have a problem in common. Readers appreciate my somewhat complicated stories, but we also have to think about people who don’t read a lot. The book competes with a multitude of other media. We quickly watch a series or scroll on social networks. »