Used book – A Bouquet of Violets, Madeleine Chapsal

Bag snatching, jewelry theft, burglaries... Elderly ladies are terrified as soon as they leave their homes to run errands or go to their bridge games! This sad reality gives Armand the idea of offering protection – for a fee – to wealthy old ladies in danger: he founds the Male-escort agency. Well-mannered but penniless young men will be responsible for picking up and bringing home the agency's clients. Very quickly, each old lady becomes attached to her "dear escort," regains confidence, and even becomes radiant. Alas, happiness doesn't last! One of the protected ladies, then a second, then others are attacked, and some are murdered... By whom? To solve the tragic enigma, Armand, the director of Male-escort, calls Inspector Lavialle for help. Meanwhile, a private detective, Mademoiselle Groseille, investigates discreetly. Who has an interest in eliminating the rich clients of the Male-escort agency? Only one certainty: in the hands of each corpse, a large bouquet of Parma violets is found. "Un bouquet de violettes," following "Reviens, Simone!", takes us along the path of a "suspense" softened by Chapsalian tenderness and irony... All the charm of a delicately scented mystery.