Returning to Paris from a conference, Inspector Gautier is devastated to learn that his mistress Ingrid, a Dutch journalist has been brutally murdered. Before he can begin to investigate her death, the British Ambassador informs the surete that his daughter Fiona has been abducted to England and Gautier is sent to rescue her. In England with the help of Sylvie, a secretary at the French Embassy, he learns that Fiona is travelling with a Hungarian agitator and they have gone to Scotland. He follows them to Edinburgh, and finds that Fiona has been abandoned penniless. Back in Paris a British armaments firm, having rearmed Germany, is negotiating a contract with the Minister of War to supply field guns to the French army. In Vienna an Austrian journalist, who was working closely with Ingrid to uncover a conspiracy in the Balkans, is murdered and soon afterwards the Comte d'Artagnan a well-known pervert, is stabbed to death in a Montmartre dance hall. The political motives behind these murders become clear when the wife of the Minister of War disappears, apparently also abducted.
Sylvie comes to Paris on secondment from London and with her help Gautier begins to unravel the conspiracies. In spite of their efforts the danger of a war in Europe moves inexorably closer but there is consolation for Gautier as he moves closer to a new relationship.
- ISBN10 070907090X
- ISBN13 9780709070900
- Publish Date 1 July 2002
- Publish Status Unknown
- Out of Print 5 February 2007
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher The Crowood Press Ltd
- Imprint Robert Hale Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 242
- Language English