book sets a dark and suspenseful tone as we are introduced to a group of police officers led by the experienced inspector Gévrol, who patrols the bleak, dangerous streets of Paris on a cold night. They respond to screams coming from a bar called La Poivrière, only to discover a chaotic scene filled with carnage and confusion. Several suspects are immediately scrutinized, including a battered and bloodied man claiming innocence, as well as the elusive women who were present at the scene. The young agent Lecoq, seeking to prove himself, develops a keen interest in the details of the case and begins to piece together clues that point to deeper ties between the various characters involved, prompting a thorough investigation that promises intrigue and complexity as the plot unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)