Vianne is intrigued and, seeking an excuse to escape the heat of the Paris summer, takes her daughters to Lansquenet.

The school was run by a Muslim woman called Inès, who wears the full niqab face-veil, and who is viewed with suspicion from both sides of the river.

Vianne begins to suspect that Roux, whom she once believed might form a loving relationship with Joséphine, may be the boy's father.

Vianne decides to stay for a few more days, if only to discover the truth behind the mystery of Pilou's parentage and the fire at the old chocolaterie.

A younger, trendier priest, Père Henri Lemaître, has taken over his duties pending an inquiry into the arson attack, and Reynaud is unhappy and humiliated.

Gradually she learns of the tensions that run beneath the surface; of family feuds; malicious rumours; political machinations and prejudices on both sides of the river.

Harris says, in a Q & A with Red Magazine Online: "The new book became contemporary because of all the changes that France was undergoing at the time, and especially the debate about banning the niqab (the Islamic veil).

"[4] A recurrent theme of Harris', the book describes aspects of cultural and religious intolerance within both the Muslim and the Catholic communities, whilst demonstrating how similar attitudes are in both camps.

In Harris' books, a gift of food is often an expression of affection, and Vianne's cooking (and her chocolates) serve as a means of breaking down inhibitions and inviting confidences.