Adapted for television in France, the fourth of the Nicolas Le Floch mysteries sees the protagonist accused of murdering a socialite - with whom he was about to end a stormy affair. 'Parot succeeds brilliantly in his reconstruction of pre-revolutionary Paris' The Times Paris, 1774. Commissioner Le Floch's stormy love affair with socialite Julie de Lasterieux has run its course. But before Nicolas can formally end the relationship, Julie is found murdered in her bed, a victim of poisoning. For now, he retains the confidence of even the King, who sends him on a secret intelligence mission. But a plot is afoot to implicate Nicolas in Julie's death, and he is soon fighting to uncover the perpetrators and clear his name.