A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker

 

First Line: The young boy's thin arms started to tremble under the strain.

For the first time, Bruno Courrèges must be recused from investigating a murder case when a woman is found dead on his friend Pamela's patio. The victim was new to the area and had taken a job at the local nursing home. There was no time for her to have made enemies or any real friends.

The police assign their rising star rookie, Fabien Panton, to the case, and Bruno is happy for him to take the lead. There are too many distractions for him at the moment: his spluttering relationship with Laura Segret, a film crew that's descended on the Dordogne, and a group of opinionated small business owners in St. Denis.

Unfortunately, Bruno never seems able to catch a break. When Fabien learns that the victim is connected to his own past, Bruno must step in to help solve the crime.

~

I distinctly remember complaining in my last review of a Bruno Chief of Police mystery that the books had been focusing on the investigations and had very little to do with the food and camaraderie that are two of the reasons why I enjoy this series so much. Well, A Murder in Springtime fixes that. 

Although the mystery concerning the woman who was killed is an interesting one, for the most part, it remains in the background so the focus can shift to the preparation of delicious food and sharing it with friends. This made me happy because, since the very first book, the characters have become part of my literary family.

Another focal point that I liked was Bruno's attempt to revitalize his small village of St. Denis. Neighboring towns have stolen away many shoppers and tourists, and St. Denis' markets, shops, and business owners are suffering. Bruno comes up with some very good ideas, but human nature tells us that not everyone is going to be on Bruno's side. 

Speaking of characters, I hope this is the first of many appearances for Fabien Panton, the man sent to St. Denis to investigate the murder. He's quite the personality and fits in well with the others.

Here I am, all caught up again and waiting for Bruno's next case. If you want to be transported to southwestern France, pick up these books. They are so filled with Gallic charm that I read them with a French accent.

A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker

eISBN: 9798217207978

Alfred A. Knopf © 2026

eBook, 288 pages

Police Procedural, #19 Bruno, Chief of Police

Rating: B

Source: Net Galley

Mark Four More as Read

 

Here I go again, trying catch up on reviews of the books I've read. I am determined to get current, although this post isn't going to be the one to do it.

These are shorter reviews, mainly just my thoughts. If you'd like a synopsis or more information about a book, just click on the link in the book title to be taken to Amazon US.

It's time to get this show on the road!

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

Historical Fiction, 365 pages

eBook purchased from Amazon

Rating: A+

My Thoughts: I loved this dual timeline novel about the Lyons family. The 1913 timeline features the Lyons family, living in an apartment in the New York Public Library since Mr. Lyons is superintendent there. His wife, Laura, wants to be more than the traditional wife and mother, and while this creates tension, even more appears when valuable books are stolen from the library.

In 1993, Sadie Donovan is curator at the New York Public Library and the granddaughter of Laura Lyons, the famous essayist. Rare books, notes, and manuscripts for the exhibit she's running begin disappearing, causing her to team up with a private security expert. The investigation soon becomes personal. 

The inner workings of the library, the characters of Laura and Sadie, the mystery of the disappearing books and manuscripts, the dual timelines all combined to create a read that kept a stranglehold on my attention. A Best Read of 2025.

Artemis by Andy Weir

Science Fiction, 335 pages

eBook purchased from Amazon

Rating: A

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved Weir's previous novels, The Martian and Project Hail Mary, so I had to pick up this book about Earth's first and only lunar colony. We learn all about the ins and outs of the colony through the eyes of young Jazz Bashara, who's not above trying to commit the perfect crime in order to improve the quality of her life.

I liked the local cop's solution to a domestic violence case, and his use of a spray bottle made me laugh. I also enjoyed Jazz's voice. She drew me right into the story and kept me there. 

I do love the way Andy Weir's mind works, but he is a passionate technophile, and sometimes his descriptions of how things work in space can be a bit much. Fortunately, those parts are easy to skim through. I am definitely looking forward to what that mind of his cooks up next.

Carved in Blood by Michael Bennett

#3 Hana Westerman police procedural, 306 pages

eBook purchased from Amazon

Rating: A

My Thoughts: I continue to enjoy this series set in New Zealand. I'm learning a lot about the Maori culture through the strong plots and even stronger character of Hana Westerman. 

In this third book, Hana has been working with her father to help young locals to earn their driver's licenses-- those licenses being passports to their futures. When Hana's ex-husband is murdered, she's brought in to solve the case. 

This is an excellent series that I hope goes on for a good long time.

An Enemy in the Village by Martin Walker

#18 Bruno Chief of Police, 305 pages

Digital galley from Net Galley

Rating: B

My Thoughts: It's always a pleasure to visit with Bruno, the police chief of the small French town of St. Denis. (I always read these books with a French accent!) As Bruno works to solve the murder of a successful businesswoman, readers are treated to good food and good friends. And sparks fly between Bruno and Jilly, a woman who happens to have a basset hound just like he does. 

Will Bruno, who never has good luck in the romance department, finally find love? I'm looking forward to finding out.

There you go-- four more reviews that get me a bit closer to catching up. Have you read any of these? Which ones? What did you think? Of course, inquiring minds want to know!

A Château Under Siege by Martin Walker

 

First Line: Bruno Courrèges, chief of police for the Vézère Valley in the Périgord region of France, was deeply fond of the medieval square of Sarlat, but he had never seen it from this angle before.

 

When the town of Sarlat stages a reenactment of its liberation from the British in the Hundred Years War, the play's French hero, Brice Kerquelin, is stabbed and feared fatally wounded. Was the stabbing the result of a prop malfunction or something more sinister? The wounded man is in line for the top job in the French intelligence service after all. 

 

Bruno Courrèges is given the task of protecting the victim's two daughters as well as his old Silicon Valley buddies who are in town for a reunion. One of those friends soon goes missing, and Bruno thinks there may be a link to the French government's attempts to build a chip industry in Europe.

 

~

 

One of the reasons why I enjoy Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police series so much is that I get a non-US view of the world and how a country like France fits into that world. (In A Château Under Siege, I also learned a surprising fact about South Dakota.) 

While learning how to stage a historical reenactment, I watched Bruno as he worked to learn who would want to kill Brice Kerquelin. Bruno has his fingers on the pulse of his hometown of St. Denis. He is a vital part of life there; he knows everyone and everyone knows him. That's one of the things that makes him such a good policeman. He's also an excellent coordinator of various French law enforcement and government agencies, which is why he's been given much more responsibility.

But A Château Under Siege isn't merely about working with official departments and solving the mystery. There are also the things that long-time fans of this series have come to love and expect. We meet an adorable six-year-old named Patsy who has a secret friend. We have virtual ringside seats to one of Bruno's homecooked feasts (would they were real!), and we even get to watch Bruno's friends attempt a romantic intervention for their friend.

If you enjoy strong mysteries with a beguiling sense of place and wonderful characters, you need to immerse yourself in the world of Bruno Courrèges, Chief of Police of the village of St. Denis in southwestern France. Bon appétit!

A Château Under Siege by Martin Walker

eISBN: 9780593319819

Knopf © 2023

eBook, 304 pages

 

Police Procedural, #16 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

To Kill a Troubadour by Martin Walker

 

First Line: Bruno Courrèges, chief of police of the small French town of St. Denis and for much of the Vézère Valley, was taking a late evening patrol around the garden with his basset hound, Balzac, when the phone at his waist vibrated.

 

Bruno Courrèges has been a long-time fan of the folk group Les Troubadours. When one of their songs hits a political nerve and is banned by the Spanish government, problems begin piling up. Les Troubadours has a concert scheduled for St. Denis, and evidence is pointing to Spanish right-wing extremists coming to assassinate the song's composer who's traveling with the group.

 

The French and Spanish governments quickly form a joint task force with Bruno as the critical man on site to coordinate everything. But-- par for a busy man's course-- when it rains, it pours. While the puppy-sitting Bruno has his hands full tracking down snipers, his friend Florence needs his help. Her abusive ex-husband is out of prison demanding to see his children. This man is so busy he may not even have time to sit down to any mouth-watering feasts with his friends!

~

Any fan can tell you: when you pick up one of Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries, you know what you're going to get, and To Kill a Troubadour is no exception. You're going to get a finely tuned cast of characters who work together to combat the evil that appears at the village of St. Denis' doorstep. You're going to get a well-crafted mystery that showcases a fascinating nugget of the history of southwestern France. You're going to spend some time scratching basset hound ears and on horseback enjoying beautiful scenery. And you're going to spend some time drinking excellent wines and eating fabulous food.

This formula annoyed me at one stage because part of it involved Bruno trying to find the right woman to settle down with, but he's mellowing and less of the book is being spent on his romantic woes. I can't overcome the feeling that Walker isn't done with the subject, and I do look forward to seeing future developments; I just appreciate the respite.

To Kill a Troubadour highlights some of the things I enjoy so much about this series. The inter-agency cooperation is fantastic. The French government is shown to perceive a threat and to act immediately. Even collaboration with other countries works well. Although Spanish right-wing extremists are the ostensible villains of the book, there is actually a puppet master working away in the background. I do like how Walker weaves real-world situations into these books.

I always learn something about the Périgord region of France, too. This time, its connections to Spain and the dissemination of Arabic music and thought from Iraq to Spain to France and on to the rest of Europe. 

The subplot of Bruno helping Florence to keep her abusive ex-husband away from her children is not only good but it also provides a laugh-out-loud moment when the women of St. Denis make their presence felt.

All in all, this latest book in Martin Walker's series delivered the goods and left me with a smile on my face, anticipating my next visit to the Périgord.

To Kill a Troubadour by Martin Walker

ISBN: 9780593319796

Knopf © 2022

Hardcover, 320 pages

 

Police Procedural, #15 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore.

The Coldest Case by Martin Walker

 

First Line: The three skulls transfixed him.

 

While attending an exhibit on the facial reconstruction of ancient skulls, Bruno Courrèges is reminded of a thirty-year-old cold case that his boss, Chief of Detectives Jalipeau ("J-J"), has sworn to solve, but Bruno soon learns that identifying the victim is just the tip of the iceberg.

The trail leads to a reclusive vintner, Henri Bazaine, whose childhood education in a vocational school in a well-known formerly Communist area of Paris raises some eyebrows. Further investigation into the school uncovers rumors of possible connections and funding to the Stasi, the old secret police of East Germany. The case heats up when it's learned that Bazaine was declared dead thirty years ago and has been living under an assumed name ever since. 

To make matters even worse, Paris bureaucrats get involved, and the investigation is hampered by the wildfires burgeoning all over the drought-stricken Dordogne. Bruno certainly has his work cut out for him.

~

If you ever find yourself in need of a pleasant escape into a mystery filled with good people, good food, and good wine, the only place you should head to is southwest France in Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries. In this series, friendship, food, wine, history, and culture are every bit as important as the mystery, which-- in the case of The Coldest Case-- is a very interesting one indeed. I enjoyed watching how facial reconstruction put new life into an old investigation and how trying to identify a killer led to the shadowy doings of the Stasi. Readers can count on Walker to put history into context in this modern world. I know he's certainly given me a better understanding of Europe in general and France in particular.

Living in Arizona as I do and having seen over a million acres of forest consumed by fire (it's not all rocks and sand here, folks), I took particular interest in how Bruno and other officials prepared for fighting wildfires. How they could evacuate residents. Safe places they could stay. Getting those places ready. Evacuation routes. And on and on. These preparations take a lot of planning and a lot of people to carry those plans out. Walker not only brings readers right into the middle of these preparations, but he also has them coughing from the smoke and hearing the crackling of the flames.

But no Bruno mystery is ever complete without the camaraderie to be found at a table filled with mouth-watering food and wine. As an added bonus, Bruno's beloved Basset hound Balzac is now a father-- there are puppies!

Although Bruno is beginning to give up hope that he will ever find the right woman so he can have a family of his own, I haven't yet-- although I do wonder if a wife and children will hamper Bruno's investigative skills... or enhance them. If you're a newcomer to these Bruno mysteries, you could read The Coldest Case as a standalone, but I really wouldn't advise it. You would be missing out on all the wonderful things this series has to offer. Vive Bruno!

The Coldest Case by Martin Walker

ISBN: 9780525656678

Alfred A. Knopf © 2021

Hardcover, 336 pages

 

Police Procedural, #14 Bruno Chief of Police

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen Bookstore.

The Shooting at Château Rock by Martin Walker

First Line: Two days after his father's funeral, a distraught Gaston Driant came to the mairie of St. Denis, asking to see Bruno Courrèges, the town's chief of police.

When the heirs of a Périgordian sheep farmer discover that they've been disinherited, they turn to Bruno Courrèges for help. Bruno, the chief of police of the town of St. Denis, agrees that there's something fishy about their father signing over everything he has to an insurance company in return for a policy that will place him in a five-star retirement home for the rest of his life-- and when Bruno learns that the man died shortly after signing all the paperwork, he definitely knows something is wrong.

As Bruno digs deeper, he learns that the insurance company is owned by a Russian oligarch whose daughter just happens to be staying in the nearby château of an aging rock star. Things begin to heat up quickly in Bruno's investigation, but there's still plenty of time for a mouth-watering meal or two with his friends.

Martin Walker skillfully weaves so much information about France and Europe in general into The Shooting at Château Rock that, after I'd finished reading the book, it took a while for my mind to leave the Périgord. This book is about so much more than the fleecing of the elderly. Readers learn that although Europe knows that Russian criminals and oligarchs are moving into their countries, getting passports from places like Malta and Cyprus in an effort to hide their true Russian citizenship, they still have to tread carefully since half of Europe is dependent on Russian gas. I also learned that drones are being used to video opulent properties when they're being placed on the real estate market for sale. (How the other half lives, eh?)

No matter how hard Bruno works to track down the bad guys, there's still plenty of interaction with his friends, and-- let's face it-- that's what most Bruno fans eagerly await in each new book. There are several delicious meals lovingly described in The Shooting at Château Rock, and I loved the addition of music to the storyline. Bruno's young Basset hound, Balzac, also gets his turn in the spotlight.

You can't have a new book in the series without dealing with Bruno's love life. Fans know that his penchant for strong, independent women means that he hasn't found the right one who wants to settle down and raise a family with him. Here he seems to be nudged in a direction that I'd wondered about myself. Only time will tell what's in store for our favorite French policeman.

During the course of this series, Walker has shown us how the various law enforcement agencies work in France, and it's a fascinating glimpse into how another country protects its citizens. But Bruno does wonder-- as I sometimes do-- if there's still room for the human factor amidst all the technology and the massive amounts of data it can uncover. After all, most of Bruno's success is based on the fact that he knows most of the citizens in his area-- and they know and trust him.

Fans of this series should love The Shooting at Château Rock. If you're new to the series, I'm going to admit that you could read this book and not feel lost... but don't be surprised if you find yourself going back to read the rest of the books. They are quite the delectable feast.

The Shooting at Château Rock by Martin Walker

eISBN: 9780525656661

Alfred A. Knopf © 2020

eBook, 320 pages

Police Procedural, #13 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

 

The Body in the Castle Well by Martin Walker

First Line: Bruno was still glowing from his morning canter at Pamela's riding school as he sipped his first coffee of the day at Fauquet's cafe and scanned the headlines of Sud Ouest.

The death of a young American art student is thought to be an accident, but Bruno, Chief of Police of the small village of St. Denis in the Périgord region of southern France, soon finds himself looking into the background of a hero of the French Resistance. Monsieur de Bourdeille has been a renowned art scholar for decades, but the young dead woman who had been studying with him thought some of the paintings that had gone on to very profitable sales had been falsely attributed by the elderly man. Who is correct? Bruno must find out.

Every fan of Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries knows how enjoyable they are. It's one of the best series for a true sense of place that I've ever read. When I put down a Bruno mystery, I find myself thinking with a French accent. Walker does this by infusing each book with the life, the breath, the soul of the Périgord region of France.

In essence, you have a strong mystery, populated with wonderful characters, that oozes France. If you're on a strict diet, stay away from these books; the descriptions of the food and its preparation are sublime. If you like learning things, this is a series for you. In The Body in the Castle Well, you're going to read about falconry, the French institution of confréries, a bit about Algiers, and World War II heroine, Josephine Baker.

I think the thing I enjoyed learning the most was about the "pupilles de la République":

"The pupilles were orphans of men and women in the police and military who had been killed in the line of duty. Their care, health, and education became the responsibility of the state. More recently, the status had been extended to the children of those killed by acts of terrorism." 

Vive la France!

The Body in the Castle Well is another enjoyable outing of my favorite French policeman. What? You have yet to read one of Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries? Quelle horreur! You must do something about this tout de suite! Oops. I still seem to be under Bruno's influence...

The Body in the Castle Well by Martin Walker

eISBN: 9780525519997

Alfred A. Knopf © 2019

eBook, 335 pages

Police Procedural, #12 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

A Taste for Vengeance by Martin Walker

First Line: On this cool, damp Sunday afternoon in spring, with clouds and rain showers sweeping in from the Atlantic a hundred miles to the west, Bruno Courrèges had his day off.

When one of the tourists doesn't show for a luxurious cooking vacation outside the small French village of St. Denis, the hostess is quick to call Bruno for help. The tourist is nowhere to be found, her husband is unreachable, and just when Bruno learns that she may have been traveling with her lover, both she and her lover are found dead. Her lover was an Irishman with a background in intelligence as well as ties to the woman's husband. It's a case that raises more and more questions the more Bruno investigates.

He also has a more personal "case"-- the young star of the local girls' rugby team that Bruno coaches is pregnant, which puts her chances of being named to the French national squad at risk. This, too, has Bruno asking questions, questions of himself and his beliefs.

At the beginning of this eleventh Bruno Chief of Police mystery, readers learn that Bruno has been given added responsibilities, and some of the more interesting parts of the book have him dealing with these as well as members of the police force that we've never met before. I liked seeing him out of his comfort zone. Not everything ran smoothly, and he often had to think quickly to avoid disaster.

The past few books in the series have had Bruno involved in cases in which the French government works with other countries-- especially when the investigation has to do with terrorism. A Taste for Vengeance does involve terrorism (from a source which surprised me... and should not have), and Bruno gets to work closely with counterparts in the American and British governments. I do like seeing that governments can actually work together for the common good. We need more of that.

It was refreshing not to have a mystery that linked to World War II, and in many other respects, this book shows us the Bruno that I've known and loved since the very first book. I only have one small quibble, which will make some people shake their heads: if anything, there is too much food throughout the book. Yes, I love the cooking-- the tastes, the smells, the history of the food and drink, watching it being prepared, the camaraderie. But there were too many such scenes that kept taking me away from the investigations. Removing one or two would've sharpened the pace and the suspense yet still had me hopping in the car to go to the local French grocery store.

But as I've already said, A Taste for Vengeance shows me the Bruno and the St. Denis that I love-- and that I'll always come back to. If you love mysteries that are recipes filled with well-seasoned intrigue, characters, and a setting so pitch-perfect you'll start speaking with a French accent, you simply have to read Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries. Ils sont magnifiques!

A Taste for Vengeance by Martin Walker

eISBN: 9780525519973

Alfred A. Knopf © 2018

eBook, 337 pages

Police Procedural, #11 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: A-

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Templars' Last Secret by Martin Walker

First Line: Bruno Courrèges, chief of police of the small French town of St. Denis, awoke a few seconds before six, just as the dawn was breaking.

When a woman's body is found at the foot of a cliff, Bruno believes that there is a connection to the ruined Château de Commarque which stands high atop that same cliff. What he doesn't need is a young woman from Paris following him around for a week recording how he does every little thing. Not in the middle of an investigation!

Fortunately for him, Amélie proves to be an excellent addition. With her help, Bruno learns that the dead woman was an archaeologist searching for an incredibly important artifact-- and that she had ties to Islamic terrorists. The terrorism angle alone puts formidable pressure on the chief of police. Will he be able to solve the case and still find time to enjoy good food, good wine, and a pretty woman or two?

In reviewing the last book in this delightful series, Fatal Pursuit, I admitted that I was tiring of the formula the series had fallen into, and I hoped that the next book would shake things up a bit. It does, and I couldn't be happier.

The Templars' Last Secret teases us with castle ruins, caves, Templar treasure, and prehistoric art, but what it's really about is policing in France, especially since the terrorist attacks. We are shown how the French government reacts to certain situations and how countries are now working together against a deadly common foe. One of the ways that policing has changed is by the use of technology and social media to solve crime, and the character of Amélie is just the sort of person to show a reluctant Bruno how vital it can be.

Amélie adds quite a bit to the story, not only with her technical expertise but by her very nature. It was fun to watch her interact with the people of St. Denis and to see their reactions to her. I'm hoping that this will not be her last appearance in this series.

Yes, Martin Walker has rejuvenated his series that I love so much, and I'm looking forward to the next book with great anticipation.

The Templars' Last Secret by Martin Walker

ISBN: 9781101946800

Knopf © 2017

Hardcover, 336 pages

Police Procedural, #10 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

Kittling's Literary Tours: Bruno's Périgord

I don't know about you, but when it comes to armchair travel and the mystery series that I read, Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police has been one of the ultimates in transporting me to another country. By the time I finish one of Walker's mysteries, I'm thinking with a French accent and salivating for one of the splendid meals Walker so lovingly describes. 

I've often thought of traveling to the Périgord, a region in southwestern France.

On the map above, it's the green area with the red arrow pointing to it.  It is an area rich in history, rich in food and wine, and rich in natural beauty.

The photo to the right shows you just a tiny bit of the chateaux and villages that can be seen on a trip through the area. Of course you can only travel the roads in a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic in the pages of Walker's Fatal Pursuit, but one can dream.

Fatal Pursuit's Bugatti

If you want to plan your own trip to the Périgord, an excellent start would be Walker's own website.  In a section labeled Bruno's Périgord, the area's restaurants, hotels, and attractions are listed, and you can also read sections on Bruno's cellar and kitchen if you want more information about food and drink.

A business called the Duck & Truffle has been offering three-night excursions for those who want to "follow Bruno on a gourmet adventure."  There's wine tasting, a visit to the food market in Le Bugue (the real St. Denis), an afternoon cookery lesson, and plenty of restaurant hopping. But that's not all this business offers! Visitors can go into the Devil's Cave and hunt for truffles, too.  The Duck & Truffle also has its own related Pinterest board.

Just writing about this has me wanting to start at the beginning and read the entire series all over again, but unfortunately I don't have any of the books here in the house.

Instead, I think I'll plan a trip to Bruno's France. I'd want to do just about everything that it's possible to do-- even cook-- but since I don't do underground, I'll just have to put Denis in that basket to be lowered into the Devil's Cave. (He's been down a mine in Bisbee, so I don't think he'd turn a hair at this.)

With all the history, natural beauty, food and drink that are to be had in the Périgord, I think it would be the trip of a lifetime. How about you-- how many of you have read Walker's mysteries and envisioned yourself in France?

Okay then! Who's coming with me? Inquiring minds would love to know!



 

Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker

First Line: The lunar calendar said that the new moon made this a good day to plant broccoli, lettuce and cauliflower, just as the previous days of a waning crescent moon were said to be the time to weed and to start a new compost heap.

The things Bruno won't do for the village of St. Denis! It's time for the annual fête, and Bruno reluctantly agrees to be a last-minute replacement navigator in a car rally race. A classic car parade and the race are new editions to the celebration, and the mayor wants everything to go well. 

Not only do the new additions bring crowds and those with big money and egos to match, it also brings the tale of an extremely rare Bugatti Type 57C which was lost somewhere in France during World War II. One of only four ever made, the car would be worth millions if it's found. But Bruno has even more to worry about than surviving a high speed race. When two deaths occur, it appears that international crime has reared its head in St. Denis... and an attractive Parisienne come home to settle a land dispute has turned Bruno's head.

Long one of my favorite series, Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police mysteries could be guaranteed to make me speak with a French accent while hungering for the meals so lovingly prepared in the village of St. Denis. Unfortunately some of the sparkle is wearing off this series. Bruno is becoming a bit stale and formulaic. There will be a current crime that ties into a bit of French World War II history. Bruno will go out riding with his basset hound following along. Bruno will long for a committed relationship and often find a pretty woman to turn his head. There will be food. There will be wine.

While interesting, the scenes involving the car rally and the Bugatti really didn't grab my imagination-- and I love old classic cars. It really is time for Bruno to settle down because it's come to the point where I have to refrain from rolling my eyes whenever a new woman is introduced. Old flame Isabelle, busy with her high octane career, even has time to pay a visit, and she spends most of it being catty about any woman Bruno happens to look at. (Don't like it, Isabelle? Then you should've stayed.)

I have to admit that the most interesting part of the book for me was Bruno's helping young Felix who's being hounded by Tristan the bully. This subplot ties into the main thing that has made this series so good. Bruno shows over and over again that the best crime prevention involves knowing the people who live in your jurisdiction, being involved in community events like celebrations and sports clubs, and working with government officials to make the village a good place to live. It's a model that works well for Bruno and St. Denis, and it's a model that would work well anywhere.

Fatal Pursuit is a good, solid book. It's just not got the joie de vivre of the earlier ones. I'm hoping that Walker can shake things up a bit next time.    
 

Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker

ISBN: 9781101946787

Alfred A. Knopf © 2016

Hardcover, 320 pages

Police Procedural, #9 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: B

Source: Amazon Vine  


 

The Patriarch by Martin Walker

First Line: Benoît Courrèges, chief of police of the small French town of St. Denis and know to everyone as Bruno, had been looking forward to this day so much that he'd never considered the possibility that it might end in tragedy.

Bruno, Chief of Police in the small village of St. Denis in southern France, is thrilled. He's attending the birthday party of his lifelong hero, Marco "the Patriarch" Desaix. Desaix is such a national icon that everyone knows his exploits as a World War II flying ace. 

When Gilbert, a longtime friend of Desaix, dies at the party, it's thought to be an accident, but Bruno isn't so sure. His investigation into the death is in danger of being sidetracked by escalating conflict between hunters and an animal rights activist as well as his own complicated romantic situation. But there's one thing that Bruno needs to remember: he's dealing with an extremely famous and beloved man. He needs to tread very carefully.

I've been passionate about Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police series since its inception. Each new book has been eagerly awaited and lovingly read. Walker is a master of portraying the history, culture, and food of the Dordogne in France. When I finish reading each book, it's a miracle that I don't speak with a French accent. I. Love. This. Series.

If you felt that the above paragraph was leading toward a "but," you would be correct. I've been noticing a trend in the last two or three books. A waning of authorial interest perhaps? For me The Patriarch felt rather lackluster. 

Walker usually enlightens readers about a little known segment of French World War II history that I normally find fascinating, but this time the plot thread involving a French flying ace in Russia and another character's Cold War spy shenanigans seemed hurriedly resolved and just didn't drum up much interest in me. The subplot with the animal rights activist and the hunters wasn't really resolved at all, although Walker did illuminate the entire situation and its repercussions well.

Bruno has to face disillusionment on more than one front in this book. Once again he's at a romantic crossroads, but this time he didn't seem very interested in his own love life. Even the scenes filled with wine and food seemed perfunctory.

Don't get me wrong. I haven't gone off this series by any means. What I perceive to be Walker's "lackluster" novel is still much better than many other writers' "very good" ones. If anything, it's a reminder of how difficult it must be for writers to maintain not only interest but quality in a long-running series. But when I pick up the next Bruno book, there will be a hesitation and a bit of skepticism that wasn't there before. 
 

The Patriarch by Martin Walker

ISBN: 9780385354172

Alfred A. Knopf © 2015

Hardcover, 336 pages

Police Procedural, #8 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: B-

Source: Amazon Vine


 

The Children Return by Martin Walker

First Line: Benoît Courrèges, chief of police of the small French town of St. Denis and known to everyone as Bruno, had witnessed too much violent death.

Bruno is at a crossroads in his personal life, and it would seem that the small French village of St. Denis is at a crossroads of its own. Bruno is ready to settle down and raise a family, but none of the women in his life want the same thing. Those in charge of St. Denis have treated it like a treasure, but when an undercover agent on the trail of domestic jihadists is murdered right outside the village, it would seem that hatred and terrorism are trying to change the wonderful little town forever. This seems even more true when Sami returns. Sami is a local autistic youth who had been believed lost to Islamic extremism. St. Denis is suddenly right on the front line of the war on terror, and Sami is a pawn in a very deadly game.

One of the most charming things about the Bruno Chief of Police series has been that the small village of St. Denis seems lost in some sort of time warp, with more ties to the past than the present. In the tightly plotted seventh book in the series, the past and present collide to put a wary face on the future. 

Published in the UK as The Children of War, this book is all about the effects of war upon our most vulnerable. Walker once again highlights southwestern France's part in World War II by weaving in a storyline about two Jewish children who were hidden away outside St. Denis during the Second World War. The surviving sibling wants to reward the villagers for their kindness and bravery, but first she must see what they would do with their "inheritance." As Bruno gets his group of planners together, it's a wonderful way to show how the past can have a beneficial effect upon the future.

We need that happier remembrance because Sami represents the horrors of the war with Algeria-- how that war still affects France, and the fate of so many Muslim immigrants that have flooded into the country. Walker shows us the differences between how France and the U.S. fight the war on terror by bringing in Nancy Sutton, an American intelligence officer. Of course where Bruno is concerned, Nancy won't be able to remain solely as an example of truth, justice, and the American Way. Will Nancy be the right woman for Bruno at this stage in his life? It's something that we're just going to have to watch play out.

And while we're keeping an eye on Bruno and Nancy and wondering if everyone is going to be able to keep Sami (the gold mine of al-Qaeda intel) safe, we still have time to sample life in St. Denis. This time it's the vendage-- the grape harvest-- with its special celebratory food and wine. By continuing to show us various aspects of the culture and cuisine of St. Denis, the author reminds us why places like this need to survive-- and why it takes people like Bruno to keep them safe. In talking about murder and mayhem, Martin Walker has created one of the best crime fiction series going-- one that reminds us of kindness, decency, and rich full lives.
 

The Children Return by Martin Walker

(APA The Children of War) 

ISBN: 9780385354158

Alfred A. Knopf © 2015

Hardcover, 336 pages

Police Procedural, #7 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: A

Source: Amazon Vine 

A Market Tale by Martin Walker

First Line: Like so many events in the small Périgord town of St. Denis, deep in the gastronomic heartland of France, this story begins in the market that takes place each week in the square between the seventeenth-century mairie and the old stone bridge that crosses the River Vézère.

Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mystery series is one that I just can't get enough of, and although I wish he would write them faster, there's nothing I can do about it. What better way to get a Bruno fix than to savor this little digital short story?

"A Market Tale" centers on the weekly market in St. Denis. If you're hungry before you start reading this story, be warned: once Walker begins describing all the food and drink to be found in the market, you'll have to stop reading and find something to eat as quickly as you can. There are two things I adore (yes, you heard me correctly-- adore!) about this series. One is Walker's loving depiction of the life, the culture, and the food of a small town in southwestern France, and you find that here in abundance. 

The second thing I adore is the character of Bruno. In all of crime fiction, I do not think there is another police officer as intuitive, as observant of human nature, as Bruno. His skills are put to the test in this story as he comes to the rescue of true love-- Marcel and Kati-- by fighting a wicked witch-- Marcel's sister Nadette. 

If, like me, you've fallen under the spell of this series, you must savor this story. If you've never indulged in the decadent richness of life in St. Denis, "A Market Tale" is the perfect bite-sized sample. Bon appétit!

"A Market Tale" by Martin Walker

eISBN: 9781101873977 

Vintage Books © 2014

eBook, 32 pages

Short Story featuring Bruno, Chief of Police

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon. 

The Resistance Man by Martin Walker

First Line: It was shortly after dawn on a day in late spring that carried all the promise of summer to come.

There won't be many walks in the French countryside for the village of St. Denis's Chief of Police, Bruno Courrèges. Not in the near future anyway. The area has been hit with a series of expert burglaries. The effects of a recently deceased veteran of the Resistance contain documents that may link him to an infamous train robbery. An antiques dealer is brutally murdered, and an academic ready to publish a book about France's nuclear weapons program has her home ransacked. With outside agencies more than willing to "lend a hand," Bruno needs all his skill and all his knowledge of the area and its people to solve these crimes.

Whenever I learn that Martin Walker has written a new Bruno novel, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Each one is rich in character, rich in culture and customs, and permeated with the most delightful sense of place. The mysteries are intriguing and often tie into the history of the Perigord region of southwestern France.

Although the inhabitants of St. Denis aren't angels, the village can seem too idyllic at times, but I don't mind a bit. As a former journalist, Walker has an eye for the telling detail, and once you've read a Bruno novel, you have a good grasp of the land, its people, its customs, and-- mouthwateringly so-- its food and wine. St. Denis is a French village as it should be, and I enjoy reading about it.

It's easy to become hooked on Bruno's life in general: how he knows everyone who lives there, how firmly entrenched he is in the life of the village through his job and his participation in sports, celebrations, and good fellowship. Bruno is the perfect candidate for marriage, but Miss Right continually eludes him. In fact, he has some upsetting news on that front in The Resistance Man, and it's interesting to see how he comes to terms with it. If you're a crime fiction fan who yearns for plenty of forensics, you'll have to find that elsewhere; these books are all about how Bruno can solve crime through observing and knowing people. Yes, he has a gun, but he seldom ever carries it, let alone uses it.

Each one of the subplots-- from the train robbery to the burgled houses to the murdered antiques dealer to the nuclear weapons program-- is interesting in its own right, but I loved seeing how Walker has Bruno tie them together.

Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police series is an armchair traveling sleuth's delight. The Resistance Man can easily be read as a standalone, but why deny yourself? Curl up with Bruno and a nice glass of wine and prepare to be transported to a wonderful village in France.

The Resistance Man by Martin Walker

ISBN: 9780385349543

Knopf © 2014

Hardcover, 336 pages

Police Procedural, #6 Bruno Chief of Police mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.