While we all love a Harlan Coben heart-in-mouth rollercoaster ride, central to his twisty plots are often defiant parents who refuse to backdown – think James Nesbitt in Run Away, who enters a dark underworld to save his daughter, and David Burroughs’ (Sam Worthington) frantic hunt for his son in I Will Find You. Now, we’ve found an equally brilliant crime drama, French Roulette, featuring the stalwart mother and businesswoman, Renée Le Roux (Michèle Laroque).
Renée owns a glamorous casino on the French Riviera in Nice, France’s very own Las Vegas during the 1970s. When her daughter vanishes without a trace, she will stop at nothing to reveal what happened. And so begins a cat-and-mouse chase – but it’s not a traditional ‘thriller’, it’s a David vs Goliath battle that spans decades – and it’s based on a fascinating real-life story.
Intrigued? With all four episodes available to stream on Channel 4’s Walter Presents, here’s everything you need to know about French Roulette, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is French Roulette about?
First aired in France in 2023, the four-part series takes us to the glitz and glam of the French Riviera – specifically the 1970s casino scene in Nice. We are introduced to Renée Le Roux (Michèle Laroque), the matriarch of a high-class jaunt called Palais de la Méditerranée, who comes face-to-face with a new rival – a garish casino owned by mafia-linked Jean-Dominique Fratoni (Christophe Favre).
Soon, the two are head-to-head in a casino war with Jean-Dominque wanting to have the monopoly of the local gambling industry, hoping to buy her out. Meanwhile, her naïve and beautiful daughter, Agnès, becomes the mistress of a deceitful lawyer Maurice Agnelet (Yannick Choirat) – unbeknownst to her, he’s working for the enemy. When the casino heiress mysteriously vanishes, there is no trace of a body – and so begins a relentless one woman fight against the Mafia.
Who’s in the cast of French Roulette?
The cast of French Roulette includes:
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- Michèle Laroque (Ténor) as Renée Le Roux
- Yannick Choirat (Azuro) as Maurice Agnelet
- Marie Zabukovec (Pacific Fear) as Agnès Le Roux
- Stéphane Pezerat (Marianne) Bernard Casal
- Yannig Samot (Balthazar) as Yacine Dridi
- Grégoire Bonnet (Nina) as Maître Gilbert
- Marion Creusvaux (Serial Driver) as Catherine Le Roux
Is French Roulette any good?
Yes – if you love a gripping thriller where the protagonist will stop at nothing to serve justice for their child, you’ll be a fan of French Roulette. If you’re a fan of Harlan Coben’s Run Away where Jame Nesbitt’s character, Simon, plays a devoted dad who enters a criminal underworld to try and save his runaway daughter, you’ll want to add this drama to your watchlist. Not only is it a thrilling ride, but the plot of French Roulette is also fascinating and based on the true story of the Agnès Le Roux affair. And, to top it off, the glistening scenery of the French Riviera makes for an irresistible setting.
How can I watch French Roulette?
You can watch French Roulette now on Channel 4’s Walter Presents.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after a British detective drama, we’d recommend The Tower, which stars Gemma Whelan as Detective Sarah Collins, who investigates the dark side of policing. The drama kicks off at a southeast London tower block, where a Metropolitan police officer and 15-year-old refugee have plummeted to their deaths – and it’s the beginning of a catalogue of compelling mysteries. You can watch The Tower now on ITVX. If you’re in the mood for something even darker, we’d recommend Channel 4’s The Marnow Murders. Set in the German city of Schwerin, the atmospheric drama sees detectives Lona Mendt (Petra Schmidt-Schaller) and Frank Elling (Sascha Alexander Geršak) team up to solve murder cases. You can watch The Marnow Murders now on Channel 4.
