Lorraine connection

The players in this deadly-serious game of Monopoly will stop at nothing. In Pondange, Lorraine, the Korean Daewoo group manufactures cathode ray tubes.

Working conditions are abysmal, but as it's the only source of employment in this bleak former iron and steel-manufacturing region, the workers daren't protest.

Until a strike breaks out, and there's a fire at the factory.

But is it an accident? The Pondange factory is at the centre of a strategic battle being played out in Paris, Brussels and Asia for the takeover of the ailing state-owed electronic giant, Thomson.

Unexpectedly the Matra-Daewoo alliance wins the bid.

Rival contender Alcatel believes there's foul play involved and brings in the big guns led by its head of security service.

Intrepid private cop Charles Montoya is called to Lorraine to investigate, and explosive revelations follow - dirty tricks, blackmail and murder.