It was time for me to meet up with Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police in St. Denis, a village in the Dordogne Department of France. I know what made me wait so long. Every time I heard Martin Walker interviewed, the moderator started by speaking in French. I worried there would be too much French in the story, and I would get sidetracked from the book. Instead, I discovered a police officer who appreciates the bucolic nature of the countryside where he’s lived for ten years, but a man who takes crime and justice seriously and worries about his small town and its people.
Benoit Courreges is Bruno. The chief of police plays rugby and teaches tennis to the children of the town. He works with the mayor, his mentor, to keep the peace, handle parades, and deal with the small problems that erupt. Neither man is prepared when an elderly North African is brutally murdered, with a swastika carved in his chest. It’s the first murder in St. Denis since Bruno became Chief of Police. It may be the first murder ever in the town. It’s the racial element and the swastika that bring the media and high-ranking politicians to town. It’s Bruno and the mayor, Gerard Mangin, who must deal with politics, the gendarmes, and the townspeople who are worried and scared. And, it’s Bruno who knows the townspeople and understands them.
Bruno fears someone local may be involved in the murder of Hamid al-Bakr. France’s politics are important in the daily life in St. Denis. But, as Bruno learns, France’s history is also important in the life of the town, and, possibly in the murder of an elderly grandfather from North Africa.
I can’t praise this first mystery highly enough. It introduces readers to a small French village where connections and food are important. Walker’s first police procedural combines strong characters, nature, history and politics. And, I was wrong. I can comfortably read this book although I don’t speak or read French.
Although Bruno, Chief of Police deals with serious subjects, Walker injects humor, sensuality, and food into the book. While Bruno is the police chief, he knows how to avoid the gendarmes on the lookout for drunk drivers, and he tries to get young townspeople out of trouble when the gendarmes and European Union inspectors show up to check on food in the marketplace. As one observer tells Bruno, “You’re rich in friends and reputation.” Welcome to St. Denis, in the “Quiet heart of rural France”, a village with its problems and a police chief whose job it is to solve them.
Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker. Vintage Books, 2010. 304p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Glad you liked it. I’m not surprised. The village atmosphere, the market, the food, the people, are very easy to like. I really need to get back to the series soon.
I did like it, Jeff. You’re right. All those elements combined to interest me.
I’ve read the first three in the series and three of the later ones. Remarkably consistent and enjoyable.
That’s so good to hear, MM, that they’re consistent and enjoyable. Thank you!
This was a DNF for me, I think I got 40 pages in and took it back to the library.
Oh, I’m sorry, Holly. Every book isn’t for every reader.
Hello, Lesa. I’m so glad you enjoyed the first Bruno book so much–I like it and its sequels for all the excellent reasons you described. You have 17 more to enjoy. Although it goes without saying that they aren’t all equally good, many of them are a great pleasure, and I’ve found all of them worth reading.
Thank you, Kim. Although a number of readers have mentioned them, you finally pushed me over the edge.
Thank you for reminding me about this series. I started it last year but only read the first two. I will have to order the next from the library. Got sidetracked by too many good books including Pesticide by Kim Hayes !
I’m sure Kim is happy that Pesticide sidetracked you, Kathy. There are so many good books out there, aren’t there?
Thank you, Kathy! It delights me to hear that.