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 lies ahead.