Inspector Alleyn has decamped for the South of France for a family
vacation. Well, that and a little official poking around. Unfortunately,
the object of his poking--the cultish denizens of a sinister and
luxurious chateau--are not fond of being poked, and they have a
particularly unpleasant way of getting their point across. More a
thriller than a whodunit, this is a fresh take for Marsh, while
retaining the cleverness and vivid characterizations that her fans
demand.