I’ve only read three of Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police books, but I’m hooked. Black Diamond actually has a subtitle on the cover, “A Mystery of the French Countryside”. I like that, but I’m guessing the other subtitle makes it obvious that Bruno is the featured character in the book.
This time, the police chief of St. Denis has a complicated case. It starts locally when a sawmill closes due to environmental concerns. Although Pons, the owner, blames it on government regulations, his own son leads the Green party demonstrators. All politics is local when a Vietnamese stall holder at the local market is attacked by a group of Asian thugs who pour a black substance over the stall, and throw a stun grenade. Then, one of Bruno’s best friends is murdered, with evidence he was tortured before his death. Local politics become national politics when Bruno learns the Vietnamese and Chinese families are at war in France, fighting for control of crime and illegal immigration.
While Bruno’s life seems easygoing in the Perigord, with his hunting, rugby, tennis lessons and meals with his friends, there are times when it’s action-packed, with meetings with high-ranking officials, fires, and murder. The combination of the slow pace of life, and the political overtones of Bruno’s life, along with his romances, makes for books that are a little different in tone than other mysteries. Despite the action, a Bruno book is a chance to spend time with the police chief who is wise beyond his forty years.
I enjoy the return to St. Denis, with the chance to visit with Bruno and his friends. I always learn something when I read these. In this case, Black Diamond features fraud in the truffles market, the French political and historical past involving Vietnam, and the crimes involved with illegal immigration from China. This third book is a dive into a police procedural with a shrewd, likable police chief. It’s comforting to know I have sixteen more books to go.
Black Diamond by Martin Walker. Vintage Books, 2010. 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I’m a book or two ahead of you, but I should get back to the next one soon. It’s easy to get back into the relaxed mindset of southern France and Bruno and his friends. The short stories are more recipe-oriented.
I would have picked up the next one yesterday, Jeff, but it wasn’t in stock at my branch. I’ll put it on order soon. I have enough books to last for the duration of the snowstorm. But, it is nice to be able to settle back in St. Denis.
I love this series. I just read book 9 Fatal Pursuit where there are classic cars and the search for a missing Bugatti