DEATH OF A MASTER CHEF by Jean-Luc Bannalec

Commissaire Georges Dupin has traveled to Saint-Malo to attend a police seminar. The region is known for its culinary delights, and Dupin is eager to wander through the markets in nearby Saint-Servan, especially the cheese markets. Yet, when screams shatter the beautiful afternoon, Dupin jumps into action, only to find a woman stabbed to death in the stall next door. Dupin finds himself thrust into a new investigation in DEATH OF A MASTER CHEF, the ninth book in Jean-Luc Bannalec’s Brittany Mysteries.

Dupin chases the suspect but loses the car. He soon learns the victim was Blanche Trouin, and she was killed by her sister, Lucille Trouin. Blanche and Lucille had a fierce rivalry. Both women were well-known chefs with successful restaurants and ventures. Blanche’s restaurant earned a Michelin star, and Lucille was on the cusp of earning one as well. Lucille is not talking to the police, and Dupin must join forces with two additional Breton commissaires to solve the mystery. The three commissaires track down the clues and interview family members and friends to uncover Lucille’s murderous motivations. Unfortunately, Dupin did not foresee the rising body count of those closely connected to Blanche. Can he solve the mystery before more people die?

DEATH OF A MASTER CHEF is an exquisite and atmospheric mystery set in a historic French port city also known as a culinary paradise. The food, architecture, and history are detailed and provide an immersive setting for this unique mystery. We know the perpetrator from the start, but what needs to be solved are the complex reasons and tangled layers of why the crime was committed. What could drive one sister to kill the other? From inherited recipes, professional jealousies, romantic entanglements, bad financial investments, family jewels, and desperation, Dupin must consider them all when uncovering the true motivation behind the crime. DEATH OF A MASTER CHEF is the perfect mystery to get lost in as you travel through the beautiful landscape of the region, encounter a vast array of interesting characters, and salivate at the delicious cuisine.

Jean-Luc Bannalec's internationally bestselling series starring Commissaire Georges Dupin returns with Death of a Master Chef.

Commissaire Georges Dupin is certain these first beautiful summer days in June would be perfect for a fun trip to Saint-Malo. In a region known as the culinary heart of Brittany, the paradoxical city is known for being a uniquely Breton, yet un-Breton, place. Their cuisine’s moto is voyages et aventures. Travel and adventure. Dupin would love to explore the internationally renowned cuisine one bite at a time. But to his chagrin, Dupin is there instead to attend a police seminar dedicated to closer collaboration between the Breton départements.

To prepare himself for what’s to come while in Saint-Malo, Dupin wanders through the halls of a local market—stopping to sample its wares as he goes—while admiring its aromatic orchestra. But Dupin’s morning is derailed when there’s a murder at a nearby stall. He quickly realizes this case is unlike any he’s worked on before. The police know the victim: Blanche Trouin, a grand chef of the region. They know the perpetrator: Lucille Trouin, Blanche’s sister and fellow successful chef in the area. The two had a well-known and public feud. After a bit of searching, Lucille is even in custody. The only thing they’re missing is the motive. And Lucille refuses to talk.

Saint-Malo doesn’t want any help from the visiting commissaires. Even Dupin’s assistant, Nolwenn, is telling him to stay out of it. But Dupin, along with a few of his Breton colleagues, can’t help but begin an investigation into why a chef killed her sister in the middle of a crowded market.