1942 – 1987: Fates collide. During the Occupation, Commissioner Lambert participated in the Vel’d’Hiv roundup, against his own wishes. Revolted, he tried to protect Adelaïde Meier, who had been placed there with her husband and children. The Meier family, had, until that day, lived in grand style. Their maid, Monsieur Meier’s mistress, married to one Désiré Cottencin, had denounced them. After they were arrested, Désiré got the family’s apartment. He worked hand in hand with the German occupying forces, French collaborators and one Edouard Gaillard. Their goal: plundering a maximum of Jewish goods and property. As for Edouard Gaillard, he switched identities and countries frequently during those troubled years. In Spain, first he was with the Reds, then Franco. In Germany, under the name Zacharie Poletti, he worked alongside the SS. His specialty: knife torture. In France, under the name Edouard Gaillard, he collaborated actively and killed, just for fun. He slit the throats of three girls in Montreuil, for instance. Commissioner Lambert led the investigation, which nobody cared about. History had other fish to fry…
Years later, consumed by guilt, Lambert tries to retrace the steps of his past. The worrisome, evil figure of Gaillard haunts his investigation. But questions will remain unanswered. For one can neither forget everything, nor pardon everything.

Just for Fun is as fast-paced as a detective novel. You’ll recognize, transposed to World War II France, the strength of the writing in La Promenade des délices. Insignificant people, scoundrels, cowards, the gullible, crooks and violent or submissive women… the portrait gallery is an impressive one. The serial killer, the figure of absolute Evil, is the thread that ties together the plot of this realistic novel, which asks the question: what would we have done if we had been in their place?