The bright red lips briskly pursed together would have told anyone less naïve than Mary that her presence was not really welcome. But her proposal was accepted and, in the process, she learned that Caro was studying at the School of Fine Arts and lived in the university residence. After a kiss on each cheek French-style, which the Americans call “air kisses” and which commit a person to nothing, Mary kept her eyes on her new acquaintance, who turned into Avenue Foch after giving her a falsely-casual wave. A few moments later, Caro sent this message from her mobile to an encrypted address : “The cod will be a scorpion fish. Veronica.”

With The Murder of Aunt Léonie, Estelle Monbrun inaugurated the “Chemins Nocturnes” collection of Editions Viviane Hamy. Other “murders” would follow. She is often compared with David Lodge and Agatha Christie : “First, is this author’s use of sarcasm when referring to the university world, which is represented with pitiless, if touching, humour. Second, is her art of narration, the false leads and dramatic twists.” René de Ceccatty, Le Monde.