Monsieur Pamplemousse Hits the Headlines

Monsieur Pamplemousse Hits the Headlines is one in a comic mystery series by Michael Bond, who is better known for his Paddington Bear books. Though he may be better known for those children's books, don't let the younger set loose with these. Bond loves racy details and sex-related sub-plots, and -though not graphic- this series is aimed at adults. I've read several of them, and I pick them up whenever I come across them. This one turned up on the sale shelf at my local used book store and is a library discard from the City of London library system.

from the back of the book:

During his time as an inspector with the Paris Surete, Monsieur Pamplemousse had been "in at the death" on more than one occasion, but even he had to admit that the phrase took on an entirely new meaning when he was present at the spectacular ending to Cuisine de Chavignol, France's premier television cookery programme. Seated in the front row of an invited studio audience, he watched in silent horror as the eponymous host, having downed an oyster in close-up, uttered a strangled cry and slowly but surely sank from view behind a kitchen worktop. Pommes Frites, sniffer dog extraordinaire, has his own views on the matter. Claude Chavignol was a bad egg if ever he'd seen one. Subsequent events prove him right as usual, and soon he and his master find themselves caught up in a bizarre world of unrequited lust, murder and blackmail in high places. Colourful, comical and deliciously entertaining, it is no wonder that in this new adventure Monsieur Pamplemousse Hits the Headlines