It's Christmas Eve and an unidentified corpse is discovered in the Bois de Boulogne gardens and Inspector Antoine Jouin investigates the murder. Or was it suicide? It's a case that takes him deep into Paris2 secret underbelly and into the heavily wooded park on the outskirts of Paris. In this place, people go to seek out and satisfy their darkest desires surreptitiously. This time, Jouin must venture off the beaten track, but at what cost? Under pressure from journalists and politicians, Police Chief Lp̌ine is forced to clean up the streets, a dirty job for the Parisian Vice Squad. Bereaved and worn out by his years in power, Lp̌ine is considering resigning, while rumors are rife that he's having an affair. Despite her fading charms, Marguerite 3Deadly Lips4 Steinheil has continued to build her fortune with the help of her mysterious protectors. She now runs the city2s most upscale gambling ring and highly secretive soirěs under the guise of her husband2s art shows. His latest work? A wintery, gothic series depicting the notorious 5 Bois de Boulogne.