Renowned French Detective Castang investigates a missing wife and her suspicious husband in this mystery from an Edgar award–winning British crime writer.

Guy and Sibille Lebfevre had what most people would call a normal marriage—until they have an argument while on a road trip through the Vosges mountains. Enraged, Sibille gets out of the car, disappearing on the otherwise deserted road, never to be heard from again.

Six months later, Guy has not even bothered to look for his wife. When Inspector Castang questions him, Guy claims his wife is too proud to come home. This does not sit right with Castang or anyone close to Sibille, as they all suspect her husband of murdering her. But as Castang soon realizes, no one really knows what happens—or doesn’t happen—between a husband and wife. . . .

Praise for Nicolas Freeling:

“In depth of characterization, command of language and breadth of thought, Mr. Freeling has few peers when it comes to the international policier.” —The New York Times

“Nicolas Freeling . . . liberated the detective story from page-turning puzzler into a critique of society and an investigation of character.” —The Daily Telegraph

“Freeling rewards with his oblique, subtly comic style.” —Publishers Weekly

“Freeling writes like no one. . . . He is one of the most literate and idiosyncratic of crime writers.” —Los Angeles Times