Inspector Lavardin

Inspector Lavardin investigates on the murder of a famous writer, whose widow happens to be Helen, a woman Lavardin once loved. She has a daughter from a first marriage, who actually killed her stepfather, as he was trying to abuse her. Inspector Lavardin is induced to investigate the murder of a province's notable who was taking himself as the moral guardian of his village. The perspective of the inquiry changes when the inspector recognizes the widow as one of his youthful loves. —Jean-Marie Berthiaume <jiembe@videotron.ca> In the countryside of France, the Catholic writer Raoul Mons is having lunch with his wife Hélène Mons, his stepdaughter Véronique Manguin and his brother-in-law Claude Alvarez, when residents of the nearby coastal town knock at his door to tell that a theater troupe will present a profane play. Raoul, who is a leader in the community, promises to take care of the case. On the next morning, Raoul is found murdered on the beach with the word "pig" written on his back. Inspector Jean Lavardin arrives in town to help the investigation. When he arrives at Raoul's house, he sees Hélène, who was his passion twenty-years ago, and learns that her previous husband had also been murdered. He interviews the family and Hélène lodges him at home. He also interviews the cast of the play and discovers family secrets, including that Raoul and Hélène were estranged and did not have sex. He also discovers that Raoul was an habitué of the night-club owned by Max Charnet, who uses his political influence to sell drugs and allow minors in his club. Soon Inspector Lavardin learns dirty secrets and who killed Raoul Mons. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil