Monsieur Pamplemousse Books
Called to a Provencal film set to vouch for the gastronomic authenticity of director Von Strudel's latest Biblical advertising extravaganza (what was on the menu at the Last Supper?) restaurant inspector Monsieur Pamplemousse is surprised to find his sleuthing skills, acquired during a stint at the Surete, considerably more in demand. Exploding strawberries, adulterated cast food and sundry other mysterious occurrences all point to a saboteur or, at best, an infuriating prankster on the set. But when the star of the sequence of perfume adverts, Brother Angelo, a heavy-metal heart-throb who has been cast against type as Jesus Christ, seemingly vanishes into thin air, it is clear matters have gone beyond a joke.
When the Director suggests Le Guide's food inspector Monsieur Pamplemousse take a brief jaunt to sample the gastronomy of Rome, Pamplemousse knows the offer is too good to be true. But when the only string attached seems to be that on the return journey he escort the Director's schoolgirl niece Caterina from her convent school to her uncle's Paris home, Monsieur Pamplemousse begins to relax. Until, that is, he sees the schoolgirl in question ...and spots her ever-present shadow, an Al Capone-lookalike whose hostility Pamplemousse senses even across a crowded restaurant car.However, it is when the Rome-Paris Express pulls into the Gare de Lyon and his charge apparently disappears into thin air that Pamplemousse really begins to worry. Especially when he discovers the lustrous Caterina is the daughter of one of Sicily's most powerful Mafiosi, a man who will not take the loss of his cherished daughter at all kindly ...
The garlic-laden winds of change are blowing through the vineyards of Burgundy, and Monsieur Pamplemousse, along with his faithful companion Pommes Frites, will find skullduggery aplenty among the vines. Under threat from the increasing use of pesticides is the helix pomotia: the humble snail, the main ingredient for escargot Bourgignon. Meanwhile, on the Canal de Bourgogne, Monsieur Pamplemousse is lecturing a group of international wine buffs on the fruits of the region, a task from which he is distracted by a Marilyn Monroe look-alike. It turns out that skullduggery among the vines will be the least of Monsieur Pamplemousse’s worries.
Monsieur Pamplemousse finds himself in deep water when an unfortunate collision with a Mother Superior is caught on camera by the French tabloids. To avoid media attention, he is sent to the Auvergne to report on legendary chef Andre Dulac, currently in line for Le Guides top award of a Golden Stock Pot Lid, an opens a can of worms which threatens the very sanctity of Frances premier gastronomic bible. Being on the edge of haute cuisine takes on a whole new meaning, and his attempt to get at the truth by harnessing a state-of-the-art TV camera to his ever-faithful hound Pommes Frites, ensures that outside broadcasting will never be quite the same again.
During his time as an inspector with the Paris Surete, Monsieur Pamplemousse had been "in at the death" on more than one occasion; but the phrase took on an entirely new meaning when he was present at the spectacular ending to Cuisine de Chavignol, France’s premier television cooking program. Seated in the front row, he watched in silent horror as the host, having downed an oyster in close-up, uttered a strangled cry and slowly but surely disappeared from view behind a kitchen worktop. As screens across France went blank, hands reached for the telephone and the media swung into action. Eyes glued to the Pamplemousses’ television, Pommes Frites, dog extraordinaire, has his own views on the matter. Claude Chavignol was a bad egg if ever he’d seen one, and in his experience villains seldom came out smelling of roses. Subsequent events prove him right as usual, but not before both he and his master find themselves caught up in a bizarre world of unrequited lust, murder and blackmail in high places.
Having delivered a particularly stirring speech at his recently deceased colleague’s funeral, Monsieur Pamplemousse is more than a little disturbed when the coffin explodes into flames during the ceremony. Luckily his faithful hound Pommes Frites gives out a warning cry just in time so there are not casualties. But who exactly is behind this explosion – and what was the actual cause of his late co-workers demise? This latest in their wild romps find the entertaining duo meeting a CIA agent masquerading as a celebrity chef with a penchant for Krispy Kremes ©, causing chaos at a prestigious hotel, and experimenting with a dog translator. With delectable wit, sharp dialogue and a marvelous sense of timing, this latest in the adventures of M. Pamplemousse and his beloved hound, will have you chuckling out
When Monsieur Pamplemousse gets an urgent summons from the Director of Le Guide, he knew that there was trouble at the top. His faithful canine companion, Pommes Frites, noticed it too. But neither of them expected that the trouble would involve a nun who was in the habit of joining the Mile High Club or a full-scale smear campaign targeting Le Guide’s credibility as France’s première restaurant and hotel guide. Someone has been spreading worrying rumors among the staff and infiltrating the company files – awarding hotels prizes for bedbugs and praising egg and chips signature dishes. Even Pommes Frites has become a victim of the assault. It could all spell the ruin for Le Guide, but Pamplemousse is on the case…
When Le Guide, France’s premier gastronomic bible seems to be failing to whet the appetites of American readers, Monsieur Pamplemousse is tasked with the job of addressing the problem. Though he has the help of his faithful bloodhound Pommes Frites, everything rests on Jay Corby, revered and feared American food critic. However, disaster strikes and Pamplemousse is the only one who can save Le Guide’s transatlantic reputation as well as save Corby from the Mob. Once again he can rely on Pommes Frites, though their only lead is some flimsy undergarments…
Monsieur Pamplemousse and his trusty dog, Pommes Frites are called into Le Guide’s offices early one morning and presented with a string of Leclercq’s plaintive conundrums – all relating to his mobster uncle-in-law. These include a letter about a juicy steak turned brisket, a dead restaurant owner and a giant truffle delivered by post . With all these seemingly random problems at hand, Pamplemousse attempts to unravel each but it quickly proves impossible as they overlap and tangle at every turn – usually making him look the fool.