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Comments (38)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 38 items
Jun 18, 2023Spirit_of_Che rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A great start to a new series. Well written novel with good food/location, as well as character development. Reminds me a bit of the M L Longworth stories of Provence. (Which are excellent, by the way) I was a little apprehensive near…
Oct 10, 2022
Bruno Courreges is actually the only police officer in St. Denis the Perigord region of southwestern France. Bruno hates carrying a gun and prefers talking to lawbreakers and teaching the children of the village rugby and tennis. He…
Sep 25, 2022IndyPL_SteveB rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
An excellent mystery of character and place. Bruno is the Chief of Police of St. Denis, a tiny fictional town in the Perigord region of southern France. He actually seems to be the only police officer in the town, although there are also…
Aug 23, 2022si64530 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book felt like the literary equivalent of a divine 8-course French meal matched to French wines….yum! Walker lays a lovely foundation with the main character, municipal police chief Bruno, who we learn is at the bottom of the…
Mar 12, 2022FloraWest rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Really disliked this. On the one hand, *so* focused on food! I love food and reading about it but if I'm reading a mystery, I'd rather it not take up so much space. Also, a lack of depth in the characters. All this would be a sort of light…
Jan 25, 2022wcbind421 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
The first in the series: Benoit "Bruno" Courreges, is the sole municipal policeman and by courtesy, the "chief of police", in St. Denis, pop.2900, in the Périgord region. He goes about his job by living and interacting with the other…
Aug 25, 2021betsymarzoni rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Bruno is a very likable, smart, empathetic character. The mystery was intriguing and the solution was not obvious from the start. There was a lot of history interwoven into the mystery and having read "The Alice Network" and "Code Name…
Feb 28, 2021BarbPopel rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Reminded me of Peter Mayles' "A Year in Provence", with a dash of mystery thrown in. After reading it, I wasn't surprised to find out that Martin Walker is a middle or upper middle class Englishman. If you like Mayles' book, you'll…
Oct 13, 2020Vicky94063 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I quite enjoyed my introduction to Bruno. Throughout the book I was hoping Bruno would drop by my place and offer to guide me around and to share his culinary experiences. I like the character of Bruno and enjoyed learning of his…
Aug 08, 2020WCL_Kiirstin rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A strong start to a series that will be enjoyed by fans of Louise Penny and Donna Leon - steeped in place and culture and as much about those as about the mystery, and recommended for readers who want their cozy mystery with a bit of meat.…
May 08, 2020Grandma007 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
First in a series. Bruno is a good and wise police chief. Plot twists keep you reading. Not so much a who done it as a why done it ; with recipes and food critiques thrown in for secondary interest.
Nov 16, 2019jeh106 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I recently discovered MARTIN WALKER and his series of books featuring Benoit (aka Bruno) Courreges, chief of police of St. Denis in the Perigord region of southwestern France. Book 1 is titled BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE that I have read. My…
Oct 24, 2019readinJC rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This was my book club's selection, not my usual genre. But, I was pleasantly surprised and finished the book! I thought it would be a light mystery, but it turned out to be a very modern story with historical references that I found very…
Sep 11, 2019
Series recommended by Alice
Jan 22, 2019empbee rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The first of a series about life and crime in a small town in southwestern France spiced with good food, wine and crime. Some of the historical connection with Algeria is a good touch.
Dec 03, 2018DanglingConversations rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Very worth while to read this background on our beloved character, Bruno, chief of police in small town France. Can't add any more than what other fans have written below.
Nov 08, 2018BWandRead rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Having been in this area this year, Martin has absolutely nailed it! Can't wait to get hold of the next book in the series. Louise Penny, watch out!
Aug 22, 2018wyenotgo rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
There are many things to like about this book: - A pervasive sense of place, local atmosphere and the pace of life in a small French market town. - Convincing and complex personalities; Bruno is no one-dimensional cop; he has been…
Jul 23, 2018
A really well done police procedural set in France where Bruno is the chief of the small town and he knows everyone. The later twist in plot was something I knew little about, so it was also informative. I look forward to reading more.
Jun 24, 2018Nicr rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Police procedural in a glorious setting, with a likeable, laid-back but obviously competent, small-town cop. Really interesting immersion in issues of French culture such as E.U. regulations, the Front National, and the massive…
Jul 03, 2017patcarstensen rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Finally, a French mystery that explains how the various police and legal institutions fit together.
Feb 25, 2017kyle000 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I am really enjoying this series!
Feb 10, 2017Rubicat rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly enjoyable novel. It could have been a bit less filled with food references and a bit more about a killing & subsequent investigation but I suppose that will gradually change as the series goes on. I am looking forward to…
Nov 25, 2016DorisWaggoner rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Bruno, Chief of Police , the only police officer in a small town in the south of France is a former soldier who's chosen the slow pace and good cooking (much of it his own) of a beautifully described countryside. He's more interested in…
Nov 05, 2016maipenrai rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Because this is the first book in the Bruno, Chief of Police Investigation series, more time is spent on introducing the characters than investigating the murder. I enjoyed the setting and Bruno and will look for more books in the series.…