While most of France watched their beloved rugby XV being beaten in a memorable World Cup final, the Burgundy Butcher was disposing a victim’s body in the swollen river Saone. On discovery of the torso, Commissaire Pel has no clue to the victim's identity.

Under constant pressure from the new Chief of Police, Pel methodically applies himself to unravelling the puzzle. Then when a second mutilated body is discovered, he has to accept the possibility of a serial killer operating on his patch.

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

‘Pel and his procedurals are some of the best things since Maigret’ Observer

‘Totally convincing’ Financial Times

‘Mr Hebden has created a nice band of flics’ Oxford Times

‘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

After the death of her father, Mark Hebden, creator of the quirky French detective Inspector Pel novels, Juliet Hebden took over the mantle of crime writer and has completed 8 more books in the series. In addition to writing, Juliet is a mother of six children and lives in France.