'A cracking literary murder mystery' TatlerFrom the bestselling author of The Red Notebook When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers' room is convinced it's something special. Editor Violaine Lepage snaps it up - who cares that the author's identity is a mystery? And when the book is shortlisted for France's highest literary honour, she shares in the glory. Then a series of murders takes place in circumstances strangely reminiscent of those in the book. With the prize announcement approaching, the police are asking questions - and Violaine is more than a little worried about her own secrets coming to light... Translated by Jane Aitken, Emily Boyce and Polly Mackintosh. Antoine Laurain was born in Paris and lives there still. He is a journalist, antiques collector and award-winning author of ten novels, including The Red Notebook and The President's Hat. His books have been translated into 25 languages and sold more than 200,000 copies in English.

"A cracking literary murder mystery" - Tatler

"The plot blends mystery with comedy to great effect" - Daily Mail

"A stylish whodunnit blended with an affectionate send-up of the world of books" - Sunday Mirror

"An elegantly written little gem... the whole thing is such fun" - Big Issue

"Laurain has spun a fantastically intricate web here, where the smallest detail could be significant, and, no matter how sure you are that you've grasped it, he is one step ahead. Joyously far-fetched and metafictional" - Herald

"Antoine Laurain's prose style is perfect... Each detail in this complex and time-shifted story is laid out with delicate precision; every little incident has a significance that doesn't become apparent until pages or even chapters later... Another winner for Laurain" - European Literature Network, Riveting Reviews