So I pretty much hated this book from the moment the title is referenced in the first chapter. the pretentious use of italics french, stepping into rose-scented bath water, characters always stopping to have a shower, minor characters being introduced only to use them as an opportunity to evaluate/judge the main characters with fresh eyes (who really cares how a stranger appraises Armand, the main 'detective' or Jean-Guy, the secondary one) so, so much of it felt like: How can I pad this out?

there were too many characters and not many that a reader could identity with, bond with, and root for. of course, once I realized this was a series and these characters have been introduced before, I became more forgiving of the general mess. and once the story focused on the main 3 or 4 men, I did manage to find some enthusiasm for how the thing would end. If I didn't have to read this for book club, I would have pitched it across the room long before the totally ridiculous ending (and who paid for that over-priced hotel suite??)