Pel And The Faceless Corpse

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

An unidentified, faceless corpse is discovered near a memorial dedicated to villagers killed by the Nazis. The trail leads Pel from Burgundy to the frontiers of France, aided by a canny Sergeant Darcy and the shy, resourceful Sergeant Nosjean.

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.

A brief spell among the Pueblos, and a shoot-out under a moonless sky brings Pel his reward when the redoubtable Chief Inspector chases leads on a double shooting of two ageing crooks all the way to Mexico. This is Hebden’s eleventh novel in a series that delights and entertains the many Pel fans.

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?

The irascible Chief Inspector Pel basks in the warm glow of his marriage until a series of young women are found strangled, with macabre messages left next to them. Pel breaks his idyllic life in honeymoon heaven and begins an investigation among a student community. What ensues is a deadly game of cat and mouse.

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?

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.