Blackmail, espionage and a mass murderer from his wartime past await Bernie Gunther on the French Riviera.

''A brilliantly twisting tale of espionage and betrayal'' Sunday Times

THE FRENCH RIVIERA, 1956.

A world-weary Bernie Gunther is working under a false name as a hotel concierge. His attempts to keep his nose clean go horribly awry when a wartime acquaintance sucks him into a blackmail plot involving Somerset Maugham, one of the most famous British writers of the 20th century, and the notorious Cambridge Spies. All of them have dark pasts and plenty to hide - ideal candidates for a seasoned blackmailer.

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PRAISE FOR PHILIP KERR

''Kerr leads us through the facts of history and the vagaries of human nature'' TOM HANKS

''One of the greatest master story-tellers in English'' ALAN FURST

''One of the most memorable and original characters'' SUNDAY TIMES

''Bitterly, darkly funny'' SUNDAY HERALD