"Monsieur Lecoq — Volume 2" by Émile Gaboriau is a novel serialized in 1868. When policemen respond to a deadly brawl in a Parisian bar, young detective Monsieur Lecoq suspects the case is far more complex than it appears. While his superior dismisses it as a simple tavern murder, Lecoq discovers clues pointing to hidden identities, mysterious accomplices, and upper-class intrigue. As he pursues leads on two escaped women and unravels layers of deception, the energetic detective must prove his theory against mounting obstacles.