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A Very French Corpse

A slickly plotted murder mystery set in France's Loire Valley
Brief Description
AN IMMORTAL FOUND DEAD AN ANCIENT LEGACY AT RISK In the hallowed city of Tours, the death of a sixteen-year-old dressed as an 'Immortal Knight' appears to be a tragic overdose. Juge d'instruction Matthieu Lombard is called in to investigate. When, weeks later, a provocative author... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Releases 6th October 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "A Very French Corpse" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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When two gruesome deaths occur weeks apart in the city of Tours, Lombard senses a malign coercive force is behind both fatalities and finds himself challenging his own loyalties.

The next in the thrilling new crime series fromย The Times-bestselling author ofย Death and Croissants

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AN IMMORTAL FOUND DEAD

AN ANCIENT LEGACY AT RISK

In the hallowed city of Tours, the death of a sixteen-year-old dressed as an 'Immortal Knight' appears to be a tragic overdose. Juge d'instruction Matthieu Lombard is called in to investigate.

When, weeks later, a provocative author is found brutally murdered, Lombard suspects the two deaths are connected by a sinister, coercive force. As he digs deeper, the case begins to challenge his loyalties and unearth disturbing echoes from his own past. What started as apparent roleplay turns into something far darker - and far deadlier.

The third book in the gripping crime series from the The Times-bestselling author.

Series: Loire Valley Mystery

View all
  • The Man Who Didn't Burn
    From the author of the bestselling Follet Valley cosy crime series - over 200,000 copies sold in all formats. Supported by a major publicity and marketing campaign, Ian often appears on national TV/radio programmes such as BBC2's House of Games, Mastermind, and BBC R2's The Sara Cox Show, among others.
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  • Dead Behind the Eyes
    'An engrossing, slickly plotted policier that will leave you wanting more' TOM BENJAMIN, author of the Daniel Leicester mysteries. A HEADLESS MAN. A MISSING GIRL. A LIFE RULED BY SECRETS. When a decapitated body washes up on the banks of the River Loire in the ancient city of Tours, the reluctant juge d'instruction Matthieu Lombard is brought in to lead...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Very French Corpse
    Pre-order
    A Very French Corpse
    AN IMMORTAL FOUND DEAD AN ANCIENT LEGACY AT RISK In the hallowed city of Tours, the death of a sixteen-year-old dressed as an 'Immortal Knight' appears to be a tragic overdose. Juge d'instruction Matthieu Lombard is called in to investigate. When, weeks later, a provocative author is found brutally murdered, Lombard suspects the two deaths are connected by a sinister,...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Pre-order
    Out 6 Oct 2026

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780715655962

Publisher: Duckworth Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 July 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Duckworth

Contributors:

  • Narrator John Sackville

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Ian Moore is a leading comedian and TV/radio performer. He is the author of the bestselling Follet Valley series, which includes Death and Croissants and Death and Fromage; as well as two memoirs on life in France, ร€ la Mod and C'est Modnifique. Ian lives in rural France and commutes back to the UK when occasion demands.

Also by Ian Moore

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  • Death at the Chateau
    A crew is staying at Richard's B&B while filming at a nearby chateau. But when a beloved actor suddenly dies, Richard and Valerie go undercover to discover whether his death was really an accident. From the bestselling author of Death and Croissants and Death and Fromage comes a murder mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Julia Chapman, or MC...
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  • Death in le Jardin
    On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about. Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancรฉ, turned brother-in-law. None of which the...
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  • Death and Fromage
    Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the Val de Follet. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that's the way he likes it. Until scandal erupts in the nearby town of Saint-Sauver when its famous restaurant is downgraded from three Michelin stars to two. The restaurant is shamed, the town is in shock, and the leading...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Man Who Didn't Burn
    From the author of the bestselling Follet Valley cosy crime series - over 200,000 copies sold in all formats. Supported by a major publicity and marketing campaign, Ian often appears on national TV/radio programmes such as BBC2's House of Games, Mastermind, and BBC R2's The Sara Cox Show, among others.
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Dead Behind the Eyes
    'An engrossing, slickly plotted policier that will leave you wanting more' TOM BENJAMIN, author of the Daniel Leicester mysteries. A HEADLESS MAN. A MISSING GIRL. A LIFE RULED BY SECRETS. When a decapitated body washes up on the banks of the River Loire in the ancient city of Tours, the reluctant juge d'instruction Matthieu Lombard is brought in to lead...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Death in le Jardin
    On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about. Then crisis hits his posh B&B when the redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancรฉ, turned brother-in-law. None of which...
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  • Death and Boules
    Death and Boules by Ian Moore brings readers back to Saint-Sauver, home to Richard Ainsworth and Valรฉrie d'Orรงay's detective agency. The town is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its twinning with Anglethorp Spa in Lincolnshire. Celebrations include a huge brocante, street parties, and, as the centrepiece, an exhibition boules tournament featuring teams from the two towns and international boules all-stars....
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  • Death and Croissants
    Death and Croissants by Ian Moore introduces us to Richard, a middle-aged Englishman running a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really, that's the way he likes it. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic...
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  • Death in le Jardin
    On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about. Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancรฉ, turned brother-in-law. None of which the...
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    Sold Out
  • Death and Boules
    Saint-Sauver, home to Richard Ainsworth and Valรฉrie d'Orรงay's detective agency, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its town twinning with Anglethorp Spa in Lincolnshire. Events are planned, including a huge brocante, street parties, and the centrepiece: an exhibition boules tournament between the two towns and a team of international boules all-stars. Everything is going well; the sun shines, the wine...
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