Death at the Clos Du Lac

by Adrian Magson

"The man was standing on the bottom of the therapy pool in the Clos du Lac sanitarium, his white cotton shirt billowing out like gossamer in the clear, blue water." France, 1964. At the exclusive Clos du Lac sanitarium, a man is discovered standing in the therapy pool. But he's not there for his health; someone has chained him to the bottom, and left him there to slowly die. Inspector Lucas Rocco believes it's an unusual and elaborate method of execution, but finds that the inhabitants of the Clos du Lac are unwilling to talk. Nobody seems to have heard or seen anything, and the staff are resolutely unhelpful - or dead. Meanwhile, ministry officials sent from Paris to 'assist' in the investigation attempt to impede Rocco's efforts to find answers. It soon becomes clear the Clos du Lac is no ordinary sanitarium, and holds secrets the authorities feel are better left hidden. And with a high-level kidnapping mounted in an attempt to derail France's new trade agreements with China, Rocco faces threats from more than one quarter ...one of them a rogue government assassin.

'A classic crime star in the making' DAILY MAIL 'Gritty and fast-paced detecting of the traditional kind, with a welcome injection of realism' THE GUARDIAN 'Marvellous ... With rare panache, Magson weaves a complicated tale ... very well written ... 5 stars' CRIME SQUAD

Adrian Magson was born in the UK but lived and was educated for a time in France. Prior to turning to writing, he worked in sales and marketing which took him across Europe. He now lives near Oxford.