Inspector Pel Mystery - Böcker

Deep in the Burgundy countryside, a murder case is perplexing Inspector Pel. The body was found in the salon, an elegant room with a grand piano and a Louis XIV escritoire. The shutters were still closed and the dead end of a record of Rigoletto was still turning.There are some obvious suspects, yet the clothes of none of them show any signs of blood. And what were the tensions that must have torn at this family? It’s only when a second murder takes place that the method of the first becomes startlingly clear.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

Irritable, dyspeptic Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel did not need another murder case added to his already Herculean workload, especially not this ghoulish business of a mutilated, headless corpse, the anonymous victim of a desperate and determined killer. Yet, if the murder was so deliberate, so well-planned, why was the identity of the dead man obscured?Pel’s investigation moves from Burgundy to the frontier and back again, stirring echoes of the horror and trauma of the War – and meeting a blank wall of non-cooperation so far as the murder is concerned. The trail is muddied by mistaken identities and ancient grievances, driving the chain-smoking Inspector close to distraction. Until, amid the cloud of acrid Gauloise smoke, Pel sees a ray of enlightenment and closes in with his inimitable savoir faire.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

The irascible Inspector Pel has failed to give up smoking. A Gauloise magically calms his nerves, in spite of his efforts, and good nerves are just what he needs when a student’s mysterious death and the discovery of a corpse in the boot of a car start to uncover a fledgling drug ring.What is worse, the ring is operating within the university of his own Burgundian city. More murders follow and the trail leads Pel to Innsbruck, where the soignée mistress of a professor turns out to be rather more than she seems.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‘Mark Hebden’s best novel yet… will please the Inspector’s many fans.’ Coventry Evening Telegraph

Inspector Pel’s home life is far from peaceful, thanks to his housekeeper’s addiction to watching television at full volume in all her waking hours – and with the Tour de France about to begin, things are not set to improve any time soon. Pel’s work life is just as stressful, as a series of thefts of priceless treasures from churches and chateaux has landed on his desk.Matters take a darker turn when a suspicious death is confirmed as murder, and it becomes even more vital for Pel to uncover the true nature of who’s behind the crime wave. The case leads him from Paris to Scotland Yard and a climax involving the Tour de France cycle race – not through the small screen this time, but up close and personal.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

Temperatures are dropping as winter takes Burgundy into a tight grip, but the crime rate shows no sign of freezing, and Inspector Pel and his team of detectives are as busy as ever. A well-known fraudster is found dead in an alleyway – could gang rivalry be to blame? And who is behind a series of attacks targeting gay men in the town?On top of all this, a wealthy local businessman, François Rensselaer, disappears – but oddly, none of his family seem very bothered about it. Only Archer, his favourite staghound, is anxious for his missing master. It’s down to Pel to unravel the mystery, uncovering motives as dark as the blackest winter night along the way.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

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 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

Murders circle around Burgundy where Pel has just been promoted to Chief Inspector, starting with the case of a woman whose body is found on the beach one morning. A death that appeared to be suicide at first glance turns out to have plenty of suspects, each with their own particular motive.Pel’s personal life is going far from smoothly, as he discovers himself to be the target of a letter-bomb sent by an old enemy – aside from the obvious danger, this is yet another obstacle to his plans to marry Madame Faivre-Perret. Can Pel keep his life, his love and his career by solving the murder mysteries, and keeping the predators at bay?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

Chief Inspector Pel is taking a well-deserved break from detective work, and setting off for his honeymoon with his new wife, Geneviève. Surely there’s nothing more relaxing than an island getaway, and a bout of ferocious seasickness on the ferry journey there is a small price to pay.But the newlyweds’ holiday plans are disrupted when a local taxi driver is murdered on their first night. More puzzling is his attempt to reach Pel before the brutal killing and his message is one of murder, arson and smuggling. Can Pel break the silence surrounding the Islanders, and catch the killer?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

Life is going well for the usually irascible Chief Inspector Pel: he is basking in the warm glow of married life, and his bullying housekeeper Madame Routy is no longer tormenting him with deafening television shows and terrible cooking.But police work never stops, and Pel soon finds himself investigating the deaths of a series of young women, who have been strangled and left with macabre messages next to them. Pel’s investigations lead him to the city’s student community, and into a deadly game of cat and mouse.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

In his beloved Burgundy, Chief Inspector Pel finds himself incensed by interference from Paris, but it isn’t the descent of rival policemen that makes Pel’s blood boil – crimes are being committed by violent gangs from Paris and Marseilles.On top of all this, it’s down to Pel to unravel the riddles of a robbery on the road to Dijon airport and mysterious shootings in an iron foundry. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Chief Inspector must deal with the misadventures of the delightfully handsome Sergeant Misset and his red-haired lover.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

When Chief Inspector Pel accepts a drinks invitation at the house of a big shot, Deputy Claude Barclay, he doesn’t realise how compromised he will become by his acceptance.Shortly afterwards, Barclay is kidnapped; the partially decomposed body of a retired soldier is discovered in a wood, and a series of art forgeries need investigating. Pel must tie all three together and solve a scandal which has become the talk of France.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

An extravagant, big time gangland criminal is ambushed and assassinated; the only witness a ten-year-old-boy.Chief Inspector Pel is called in to investigate the killing, which spirals into an international investigation when a respected spinster is bludgeoned to death and some curious links begin to clink into place.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Brigade Criminelle is mobilised when a fatal stabbing, an anticipated delivery of lethal drugs from Marseilles, and the discovery of a thirty-year-old corpse in an ancient turreted tower in the town of Puyceldome coincide with a frantic search for two murderous hitchhikers – all on Chief Inspector Pel’s patch.As folk-dancers, stilt-walkers, fire-eaters, and jugglers lurch through a night of carnival, Pel stalks his prey.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

A masked gang rob a supermarket at Talant, a home-made bomb is found at the local airport, and the body of an old man is found on the motorway near Mailly-les-Temps...Plus what is the connection between a fearful lawyer and the fatal stabbing of a Scottish tourist? On top of which, Daniel Darcy, trusted deputy to Chief Inspector Pel, has been suspended on suspicion of taking bribes. Pel really has his hands full this time.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Fires have been breaking out all over Chief Inspector Pel’s beloved province of Burgundy, from small houses to woodland. Then a local farmer’s flock of sheep is poisoned, a tray of valuable rings stolen from a local jewellers, and the body of a woman is found.Inspector Pel has his work cut out for him in this exhilarating murder mystery.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

A dead man is found floating in a canal, his wallet revealing a strange symbolic drawing; and a hostage drama unfolds at the Banque Credit Rural, where not only millions in currency and jewellery are at stake but also lives. On the other side of town, a stunning art student switches masterpieces for copies.Somehow, the crimes fit like pieces of a jigsaw. Chief Inspector Pel is faced with a challenge of a lifetime – and responds with true Gallic guile.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

When Chief Inspector Pel receives a letter from an old friend, it becomes a sign of all hell breaking loose. Two murders are committed and a suspicious robbery takes place.What is the connection between the letter, the robbery and the murder? An international plot begins to unravel and Pel is called in to pick up the pieces.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Chief Inspector Pel has been kidnapped. Or is he being held for ransom, traded for the release of prisoners, or has he perhaps been murdered? He is, in any event, missing. To make matters worse, the press report the escape of the notorious Poltergeist from a high-security prison.Just when things can’t get more desperate, a fantastic robbery from the gunroom of Baron de Charnet’s chateau takes place and a collection of diamonds is stolen from a high-street jeweller’s safe.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel normally ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Under cover of a blizzarding Burgundy December, a French Jack the Ripper is at work. Chief Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel is disturbed by the less than festive happenings; though if Christmas gets cancelled not all is bad in his mind.It is only when some of his team’s own kin are subjected to the violence that the investigation takes a personal spin. Pel and his flics must pit their wits against the mind of a madman, or risk losing the ones they care for most.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Hooded men have broken open the hold of a plane full of passengers at the local airport, and have stolen cargo described as perfume samples. Nothing else has been touched.Pel is suspicious. If the cargo was really perfume samples, why was it described as looking like a sack of potatoes, and why was it so heavy? There seems to be no love lost between those affected and Pel begins to wonder whether past events might hold the key…Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Chief Inspector Pel is called in to investigate when a nurse and her dialysis patient are found in the local surgery with horrific gunshot wounds. Nobody in the area noticed anything suspicious. Forensic evidence suggests that the pair were having an affair, but is this simply a crime passionel?Adding to the bafflement of Pel’s team are the murders of two young girls, both bearing a strange set of teeth marks on their necks. Could the local suspicion about vampires be true?Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

Commissaire Pel hasn't been promoted which is disappointing; then he meets the new Chief of Police and the implications suddenly look disastrous... However, an interfering boss is the least of Pel's worries. The supermarket at Talant has been broken into again; the night watchman attacked, his dog killed, and all that's missing are a couple of bags of groceries.Then someone leaves a letter bomb at the bank. With La Division Nationale Anti-Terroriste now involved, Pel is near the end of his tether. He knows that he has to outwit the terrorists before any more lives are lost.Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.

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.