Having read a dozen of Martin Walker's novels featuring Bruno Courrèges, the unmarried (but ever-hopeful) chief of police (and lone local cop) in the French village of St. Denis, I've come to expect certain things from the series.
They include Bruno’s knack for successfully closing major criminal investigations involving international intrigue on French soil. Bruno never is in charge of these probes, which also involve France's national law-enforcement agencies. But he always seems to hold center stage, and The Shooting at Château Rock is no exception.
Predictably (and comfortingly), a recurring cast of characters pops up once again. There’s St. Denis’ shrewd, politically connected mayor; Florence, a local teacher and single mother of two; Pamela, a shrewd businesswoman with Scottish roots who has an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with Bruno; J-J, Bruno's friend and a senior detective in the regional office of the National Police; and assorted locals who share Bruno’s love of fine dining and local wines.
Despite the sometimes frenetic pace required by his job, Bruno finds time yet again to tend to his garden and his chickens, whip up gourmet meals for his pals and ride his horse Hector across the gorgeous valleys and ridges of France’s Périgord region. Another regular from recent books in the series is on hand (on paw?) as well: Balzac, Bruno’s beloved basset hound, who consistently charms everyone he meets with his floppy ears and cheerful ways.
Walker’s earlier novels are mysteries, of course, and The Shooting at Château Rock falls into that category as well. A central question this time around is whether an elderly farmer who died shortly after selling his property to an insurance company was a victim of foul play.
Add to that a fatal car crash that appears to be a multiple murder rather than an accident and a tense face-off between Bruno and a shotgun-toting activist and you have the makings of another compelling tale that allows Bruno’s solid sleuthing skills to shine, even as he supposedly plays second fiddle to the National Police and powerful Paris-based security agents.
But let’s get back to Balzac. He plays an even bigger role in The Shooting at Château Rock than he has in previous outings, thanks to Bruno’s decision to introduce him to “a lady basset,” in hopes of continuing Balzac’s line.
Balzac’s newfound love life may be a mere subplot, but it’s definitely one off the novel’s highlights, particularly for readers who have grown to love the short-legged hound with the full-sized personality. Readers unfamiliar with the mating practices of dogs may learn a thing or two.
All in all, this 13th Bruno mystery is an enjoyable addition to the series, whose stars include the Périgord itself, a region known for its history, gastronomy and natural beauty.
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