A go-to destination for students of the finer things in life, the Villa des Pinales is set high in the foothills above Nice. As groups check-in for three-day courses on wine tasting, perfume making and landscape painting, they are joined by their tutors, one of whom proves to be forensic sketch artist Astrid Pireque. Down in the city, the remaining members of Darac's team are experiencing a lull in new cases they know won't last. But none is prepared for what lay ahead. The Essence of Murder, the latest thriller in the Captain Darac series sees Peter Morfoot's writing skills at their very best. AUTHOR: Peter Morfoot's writing credits include plays and sketch shows for BBC radio and TV, and the cult classic satirical novel, Burksey. He has lectured in film, holds a PhD in Art History, and has spent 30 years exploring life on the French Riviera, the setting for his crime series featuring Captain Paul Darac of Nice's Brigade Criminelle.