John Burny is treating himself to a weekend in Paris, as every time he looks at it as a new beginning of sorts; those trysts never fail to make him feel alive. He works as a real estate agent, however because of the economic situation in London, sales have plummeted, but however hesitating he had been to catch that train, the thought of meeting that special someone for a few days thwarted whatever doubts he had for a few fleeting moments. Meanwhile in Paris, detective Roland Desfeuillères is sadly contemplating how dreary and humdrum his existence has become.

A typical French petit bourgeois, his life is the picture of predictability: police work that never seems to end, coming home late and exhausted to his wife Juliette and two children; every day feels the same, until recently when Juliette is beginning to seem restless. However a murder on the Channel Tunnel train is bound to alleviate his boredom for a short while. Scotsman John Burny's body was discovered on the train and Roland is sent to England to solve the puzzling murder.

UNDER THE CHANNEL is not your typical murder mystery novel, as the murder investigation itself is merely the backdrop for the real mystery, which is Roland's quest for self-discovery, which happens quite unexpectedly during his investigation. UNDER THE CHANNEL is fast- paced, the writing is crisp and to the point, and perfectly suited to the story. Mr. Pétel's attention to detail when describing Roland and John's lives serves a real purpose as it highlights Roland's feelings of slowly growing inadequacy and alienation, to be truthful, in a world where he is not sure he still belongs.

UNDER THE CHANNEL sheds a very interesting, introspective look at how an event that at first glance, seems to have nothing to do with one's life, proves to be a life- changing experience. I must also mention the excellent (British) translation by Emily Boyce and Jane Aitken which make UNDER THE CHANNEL is very smooth and painless reading experience.