Olivier Norek, a 49-year-old author and former police officer, has recently released a historical novel titled 'Les Guerriers de l’hiver', focusing on the conflict between Finland and Russia in 1939. However, he returns to his roots with the series 'Tout le monde ment', which is currently airing on France 2, delving into stories centered around police work.

In the third episode of the series, Vincent Verner, portrayed by Vincent Elbaz, leads an investigation into a CEO of a vast water treatment enterprise, played by Stéphane Freiss.

Verner heads the Sensitive Affairs Unit, a group of detectives tackling powerful individuals, a concept inspired by Norek's successful career as a crime novelist.

Norek gained prominence through his crime fiction, notably the quadrilogy featuring the character Victor Coste, before shifting his focus to screenwriting.

Norek explained his transition to television, voicing how both television and literature responded to his desires and opportunities.

Following the release of his novel 'Territoires', Norek was approached by the production team of 'Engrenages' to write for its sixth season, exploring similar themes.

He dedicated two weeks to analyze crime series that influenced him, such as 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Wire', aiming to comprehend their narrative structures.

He acknowledged the thrill of writing for others, recognizing it as an exhilarating diversion from solitary novel writing.

As a screenwriter, Norek likened his role to that of a conductor, where he must orchestrate the collaborative process involving multiple stakeholders, including producers, directors, co-writers, and actors.

He emphasized that crafting a narrative for television differs from writing a novel due to the involvement of various creative perspectives.

Norek articulated that navigating this collaborative space is akin to leading an orchestra, where each actor represents a different musical instrument, each contributing uniquely to the overall performance.

In a recent adaptation process, actor Édouard Baer was considered for the main character before Vincent Elbaz was ultimately selected, a decision Norek supported, highlighting Elbaz's versatility and physical acting style, advantageous for a recurring role.

Norek maintains a close connection with narrative development, feeling a personal affinity for both literary and visual storytelling.

He expressed an ongoing sense of insecurity regarding his work, describing it as a driving force rather than a detriment.

Each adaptation of his novels brings a duality of feelings; he experiences initial disappointment due to perceived misinterpretation yet often finds appreciation in the filmmakers' vision upon subsequent viewings.

Norek has been approached for adaptations of various works due to his popularity and reputation.

He evaluates potential projects based on a gut feeling and the feasibility of the collaboration.

He mentioned that some projects can take years to materialize; for example, his novel 'Code 93' has been under option for a decade without progress.

Conversely, his 2019 novel 'Surface' is soon scheduled to be adapted into a series for France 2, starring Tomer Sisley and Laura Smet.

Having emerged from a creative period with multiple projects underway, Norek likens his output to a balloon that requires constant reinflation.

He draws from his experiences as a police officer and contemporary observations, immersing himself in various environments for authentic storytelling.

Prior to writing 'Dans les brumes de Capelans', he spent several months in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to fully capture the essence of the narrative.

Norek views himself as a vessel for emotions and experiences, which he then channels into his writing.

'Alles le monde ment' airs on Wednesdays at 21:10 on France 2.