"The Chalk Circle Man" by Fred Vargas is a must-read for fans of unconventional detective stories. The main character, Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, is a refreshing departure from the typical detective archetype as his methods and personality differ greatly from his colleagues. The mystery of the blue chalk circles and the bizarre objects found within them will keep readers on the edge of their seats, and the discovery of the savagely murdered woman sets the tone for a tense and thrilling story. Overall, this book is a unique and captivating murder mystery.

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• CWA International Dagger (2009)

Winner of The Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie International DaggerJean-Baptiste Adamsberg is not like other policemen. His methods appear unorthodox in the extreme: he doesn't search for clues; he ignores obvious suspects and arrests people with cast-iron alibis; he appears permanently distracted. In spite of all this his colleagues are forced to admit that he is a born cop.When strange blue chalk circles start appearing overnight on the pavements of Paris, only Adamsberg takes them - and the increasingly bizarre objects found within them - seriously. And when the body of a woman with her throat savagely cut is found in one, only Adamsberg realises that other murders will soon follow…

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