Duchess Takes Deauville

In Duchess Takes Deauville, Simon and P.J. put their detective work on hold to marry, and honeymoon on a barge in romantic Burgundy, France. En route, they cheer on their horse, Duchess, running in the Grand Prix De Deauville the most celebrated steeplechase in Europe. An exciting disaster! As a diversion from cruising the canals, the newlyweds go for a horseback ride in the French forest. They are attacked by a den of wild boars and, while trying to escape, they stumble on to an abattoir, illegally rendering horse meat for human consumption. Simon is shot and nearly killed by the head knacker - and the mystery is on. Then, during a drunken barge party, G. Mellon Rainey, heir to the Pittsburgh banking fortune, falls or is pushed overboard and drowns. Bitsie, his flashy wife, is suspected. His remains are oddly found in a nearby lock house which had been torched to the ground. Frustrated by the lack of progress, our honeymooning sleuths take over the investigation. Following another hair-raising steeplechase, Simon and P.J. await the results of a photo finish at the Jockey Club. Fiery accusations are leveled. The villains are exposed, and a fist and food throwing melee erupts. This rowdy, romantic spellbinder is a winner.