Now 70 years old, Brossard has spent the better part of his life in hiding by traveling among the monasteries and abbeys that offer him asylum.

The character of Pierre Brossard in The Statement is inspired by Paul Touvier (1915–1996),[1][2] a French Nazi collaborator who was arrested for war crimes in 1989.

After his arrest, charges appeared in the media that alleged that Touvier had been protected by the [Catholic Church and government officials.

Emma Hagestadt, writing in The Independent, said that "the late Brian Moore's 18th novel is also one of his best – a gripping moral thriller based on the real life story of Paul Touvier, 'the torturer of Lyon'" and described it as "Tautly written and steeped in atmosphere".

[1] The novel was adapted into a 2003 film, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Michael Caine and Tilda Swinton.