The story centers on a decades-old "cold case" involving the unidentified body of a young man found in the woods near Saint-Denis. Bruno uses modern forensic reconstruction techniques—specifically facial reconstruction from skull remains—to finally identify the victim and track down the killer.

Bruno is a war veteran, a gourmet cook, and a rugby coach who prefers community policing and mediation over using his firearm.

In many editions, particularly the German ones, the title for book #14 is literally . In the English-speaking market, this specific 14th novel is better known by the title " The Coldest Case " . Series Context & Plot Summary

The series is quite extensive, with over 15 novels and several short story collections.