Le Creux de la vague (The trough of the wave), the follow-up to Comme le sable (As the sand), was published twenty or so years later (1967). It features the same characters, the setting remains unchanged, and the story still takes place in the city of Geneva and the BIT/ILO offices. However, international political events are more prominent. Once again, the plot is minimal. It takes place five years later, in early 1933, the year Hitler rose to power. A more mature Hélène Blum gradually becomes aware of her Jewish origins and faces up to reality. Madame Peter distributes leaflets, André Chatenay dreams of a different career, and the young Claire-Lise Rivier of winning over the man she loves...

The action takes place at the “creux de la vague”, the trough of the wave, when the wave is at its lowest point, just before disaster strikes. The inescapable history in the making looms over the various characters. Topics such as anti-Semitism, the status of women, and homosexuality, which were not widely discussed at that time, or were even taboo, are addressed with great sensitivity and tact. The novelist portrays ordinary protagonists, “...for the most part brimming with love and enthusiasm”, who appear human, fallible, and familiar.

Alice Rivaz portrays vivid characters and describes the Geneva landscape with sensitivity and rare mastery. This is one of her most accomplished novels.