Monsieur Pamplemousse Takes the Cure: A Gastronomic Mystery

Farfetched and frothy, this fourth in the detective series featuring Aristide Pamplemousse finds the corpulent Surete officer turned gastronomic investigator for Le Guide disguised as a blind man at Chateau Morgue, a health spa near the Pyrenees. Pamplemousse despairs of satisfied appetites for a fortnight, but his bloodhound Pommes Frites discovers kilos of sausage, and then Aristide himself discovers an affectionate English manicurist. While it becomes apparent that the regime at the spa covers some other activities, including murder and blackmail, not until the inspector rigs up a flying camera, utilizing helium and Pommes Frites's inflatable kennel hung with black silk lingerie, is the mystery of Chateau Morgue resolved. Though readers may have trouble following Pamplemousse's intricate thought processes and understanding exactly what was going on at Chateau Morgue, Pamplemousse and his faithful hound are an appealing pair and offer an evening of civilized entertainment. Bond is also the author of the Paddington Bear stories. Paperback rights to Fawcett. (September)