A double shooting of two ageing crooks leads Chief Inspector Pel following the trail all the way to Mexico. Pel and his detectives know how, when and by whom they were murdered; but they must discover why. Away from his beloved Burgundy, Pel is given a quick course in the history of the French intervention in Mexico during the 1860s. A brief spell among the Pueblos, and a shoot-out under a moonless sky eventually bring him his reward. Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector 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

New varieties of crime are popping up everywhere in Inspector Pel’s beloved Burgundy. Raids on a historical chateau and surrounding churches lead to murder, and Pel is called to uncover who is behind the crime wave. The case leads him from Paris to Scotland Yard and back to the Tour de France cycle race.

As Chief Inspector Pel honeymoons with his long-time love in St Ives, a local taxi driver is murdered. More puzzling is his attempts to reach Pel before the brutal killing and the fact his message is one of murder, arson, and smuggling. But, can Pel break the silence surrounding the Islanders, and catch the killer?

This is a story of Pel’s beloved Burgundy as the Promised Land. Fires are breaking out in small houses and woodland and when a local farmer’s flock of sheep is poisoned, a tray of valuable rings are stolen, and the body of a woman is found, Inspector Pel has his work cut out in this exhilarating murder mystery.

When five murders disturb his sleepy Burgundian city on Bastille night, Chief Inspector Evariste Clovis Desiré Pel has his work cut out for him. A terrorist group is at work and the President is due shortly on a State visit. Pel’s problems with his tyrannical landlady must be put aside whilst he catches the criminals.

There has been a sudden spate of murders around Burgundy where Pel has just been promoted to Chief Inspector. He also receives a letter bomb, and these combined events threaten to overturn Pel’s plans to marry. Can Pel keep his life, his love and his career by solving the murder mysteries? Can Pel stave off the predators?

A gang rob a supermarket, a home-made bomb is found at the airport, and the body of an old man is found on the motorway. Also, what is the connection between a fearful lawyer and the fatal stabbing of a tourist? On top of all this, Daniel Darcy, trusted deputy to Chief Inspector Pel has been suspended on suspicion of taking bribes.