When five murders disturb his sleepy Burgundian city on Bastille night, Chief Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel has his work cut out for him. A terrorist group is at work and with the President due to make an official visit in a few weeks'' time, the pressure is on to uncover them and stop them in their tracks.

Meanwhile, Pel continues his courtship of the delightful Madame Faivre-Perret, and hopes one day to escape the tyranny of his TV-addicted landlady - but none of this distracts him from his goal of unmasking the murderers and stealing the would-be assassins'' power.

Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Praise for the Inspector Pel Mystery series:

''Totally convincing.'' Financial Times

''Mr Hebden has created a nice band of flics.'' Oxford Times

''Pel and his procedurals are some of the best things since Maigret.'' Observer

''Chief Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel, as well rounded a character as Maigret or Van der Valk.'' Punch

''Impeccable French ambience, unexaggerated flics, and a well-constructed solution. Hebden proves again that few understand Gallic cops better than English writers!'' The Times

''Some characters grow as their saga lengthens and Pel... is one of them. You might say he is ripening along with the grapes.'' Police Review

''...written with downbeat humour and some delightful dialogue.'' Financial Times

''...all is most cunningly contrived and dovetailed into a coherent plot.'' Irish Times

''A thoroughly entertaining read.'' Evening Standard

''The best Gallic sleuth since Maigret.'' London Mystery Selection