King Boris of Sokovia is out of control!

After the First World War, European powers decided that the small but affluent, and strategically important, Central European nation of Sokovia should become a monarchy. And so Boris, Count d'Esseck became Boris I of Sokovia. The dissolute philandering sovereign left a deputy to rule in his stead as Prime Minister, and now spends most of his time in Paris.

But his debauchery grows ever more extreme and reckless, until in a fit of lecherous madness, he abducts the beautiful young artist Francine Gardannes!

With the amorous ogre sheltered from the French authorities by his regal status, Francine's fiancé and her aged mother can't hope for much help from the police. But they can always rely on one man.

Chantecoq. King of detectives, master of disguise.

With a young woman's life and honour at stake, France's greatest bloodhound must work fast, if he is to save Francine from King Boris, the Amorous Ogre. But this time he faces a worthy adversary, Boris' chief of secret police, and a fellow master of disguise. When two aces clash, can the king of detectives prevail?

First published in France in 1929 (as "L'ogre amoureux"), and never before translated into English, this book is part of the Further Exploits of Chantecoq series, which sees the secret agent and expert spy catcher of Chantecoq and the Aubry Affair reborn as the greatest private detective of his age.