Vendrot warns that inferior truffles from China are being smuggled in and sold as the high quality delicacies. When Vendrot is murdered, Courreges has a hard time believing that it is connected to truffles, even though they are a multi-million dollar business. Looking into Vendrot's past, Courreges realizes he may not have known his friend as well as he thought, especially when a Vietnamese daughter is named as one of his heirs. Courreges enjoys the more sedate life in the French countryside with good food and wine and his English girlfriend. He can't seem to make the pieces fall into place to bring his friend's murderer to justice.

A wonderfully rich setting and a very likable detective make this third book in the series as enjoyable as the first two. The plot has many layers and many different avenues for Courreges to explore. What at first appears to be a simple case of culinary jealousy turns out to be far more complicated than anyone anticipated. Courreges is tenacious, especially where his friend's murder is concerned.

A delightful basset hound and his charming girlfriend round out Courreges's private world and offer him a oft needed respite and someone with whom to bounce ideas. Wonderful descriptions of Courreges's cooking and meals will make mouths' water as the mystery unfolds.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry