Synopses & Reviews
In this riveting sequel to Martin Walkers internationally acclaimed novel
Bruno, Chief of Police, some of Frances great pleasures—wine, passion and intrigue—converge in a dark chain of events that threaten the peaceful village of Saint-Denis.
Benoît (Bruno) Courrèges—devoted friend, cuisinier extraordinaire and the towns only municipal policeman—rushes to the scene when a research station for genetically modified crops is burned down outside Saint-Denis. Bruno immediately suspects a group of fervent environmentalists who live nearby, but the fire is only the first in a string of mysteries centering on the regions fertile soil.
Then a bevy of winemakers descends on Saint-Denis, competing for its land and spurring resentment among the villagers. Romances blossom. Hearts are broken. Some of the sensual pleasures of the town—a dinner of a truffle omelette and grilled bécasses, a community grape-crushing—provide an opportunity for both warm friendship and bitter hostilities to form. The towns rivals—Max, an environmentalist who hopes to make organic wine; Jacqueline, a flirtatious, newly arrived Québécoise; and Fernando, the heir to an American wine fortune—act increasingly erratically. Events grow ever darker, culminating in two suspicious deaths, and Bruno finds that the problems of the present are never far from those of the past.
A splendid mystery—and a delectable serving of the pleasures of France.
Synopsis
In this riveting sequel to Martin Walker's internationally acclaimed novel Bruno, Chief of Police, some of France's great pleasures--wine, passion and intrigue--converge in a dark chain of events that threaten the peaceful village of Saint-Denis.
Benoit (Bruno) Courreges--devoted friend, cuisinier extraordinaire and the town's only municipal policeman--rushes to the scene when a research station for genetically modified crops is burned down outside Saint-Denis. Bruno immediately suspects a group of fervent environmentalists who live nearby, but the fire is only the first in a string of mysteries centering on the region's fertile soil.
Then a bevy of winemakers descends on Saint-Denis, competing for its land and spurring resentment among the villagers. Romances blossom. Hearts are broken. Some of the sensual pleasures of the town--a dinner of a truffle omelette and grilled becasses, a community grape-crushing--provide an opportunity for both warm friendship and bitter hostilities to form. The town's rivals--Max, an environmentalist who hopes to make organic wine; Jacqueline, a flirtatious, newly arrived Quebecoise; and Fernando, the heir to an American wine fortune--act increasingly erratically. Events grow ever darker, culminating in two suspicious deaths, and Bruno finds that the problems of the present are never far from those of the past.
A splendid mystery--and a delectable serving of the pleasures of France.
Synopsis
The riveting sequel to Martin Walker’s internationally acclaimed
Bruno, Chief of Police, in which the Dordogne’s great pleasures—wine, romance, and intrigue—threaten Bruno’s beloved village of Saint-Denis.
It’s been only a few weeks since Bruno said goodbye to Isabelle, his lover and partner in justice, and a mystery is precisely what he needs to distract him from heartbreak. And that’s what he gets when a research station for genetically modified crops is burned down. Bruno suspects the fervent environmentalists who live nearby, but the fire is only the first in a string of intrigues centering on the fertile soil of Saint-Denis.
Soon winemakers from outside the town are competing with the villagers for its land. The town’s rivals—Max, who hopes to make organic wine; Jacqueline, a flirtatious, newly arrived Quebecois; and Fernando, the heir to a wine fortune—are acting increasingly suspicious. Events grow darker and darker, culminating in two mysterious deaths.
Secrets will be revealed, romances kindled, and murders solved, but Bruno will also find time for his famous truffle omelette, a community grape-crushing will end with cassoulet, and at a bonfire wake, mourners will share a whole roast lamb.
A splendid mystery—and a delectable serving of the sensual pleasures of France.
Synopsis
The riveting sequel to Walker's internationally acclaimed "Bruno, Chief of Police," in which the Dordogne's great pleasures--wine, romance, and intrigue--threaten Bruno's beloved village of Saint-Denis.
About the Author
Martin Walker is the senior director of the Global Business Policy Council in Washington, D.C. He is also editor emeritus and writes the syndicated column Walkers World at United Press International. His books include The Cold War: A History, short-listed for the Whitbread Book of the Year Award and for Canadas Governor Generals Literary Award, and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year in 1993; and Martin Walkers Russia, which became a BBC Radio series. This is his third novel. He lives in Washington, D.C., and the southwest of France.