Extraordinary People

Extraordinary People by May, Peter. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781590583357.

What has happened to Jacques Gaillard? The brilliant teacher who trained some of Frances best and brightest at the Ecole Nationale dAdministration as future Prime Ministers and Presidents vanished ten years ago, presumably from Paris. Talk about your cold case. The mystery inspires a bet, one that Enzo Macleod, a biologist teaching in Toulouse instead of pursuing a brilliant career in forensics back home in Scotland can ill afford to lose. The wager is that Enzo can find out what happened to Jacques Gaillard by applying new science to an old case. Enzo comes to Paris to meet journalist Roger Raffin, the author of a book on seven celebrated unsolved murders, the assumption being that Gaillard is dead. He needs Raffins notes. And armed with these, he begins his quest. It quickly has him touring landmarks such as the Paris catacombs and a chateau in Champagne, digging up relics and bones. Yes, Enzo finds Jacques Gaillards head. The artifacts buried with the skull set him to interpreting the clues they provide and to following in someones footsteps--maybe more than one someone--after the rest of Gaillard. And to reviewing some ancient and recent history. As with a quest, its as much discovery as detection. Enzo proves to be an ace investigator, scientific and intuitive, and, for all his missteps, one who hits his goals including a painful journey toward greater self-awareness.