Bruno's Challenge: And Other Stories of the French Countryside
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Chief of Police Bruno Courrèges, whose beat encompasses the picturesque Vézère Valley in France's Dordogne, leads what must be the most enviable life of any fictional cop. The mysteries Bruno encounters interfere very little with his main passions of cooking, eating, appreciating regional wines, riding horses, and studying archaeology. Walker now adds a short-story collection to the 15 Bruno, Chief of Police Mysteries published so far. These 15 stories have wonderful settings (including restaurants, cafés, the Great Chamber of a Lascaux cave, market stalls in the tiny village of St. Denis, and Bruno's own kitchen), and, for any gastronome, the detailed descriptions of food prep are delicious. But this is far more a food procedural than a police procedural. The stories are short on plot and suspense--for example, two market-stall owners have a dispute, Bruno resolves it a boy is lost; he's found later, and Bruno and the family tour a cave. Readers looking primarily for mystery will find this collection lacking, but it's delightful reading for those who love the food and atmosphere of Walker's novels.

Fans of The Coldest Case and Walker's other novels set in the little French market town of St. Denis will savor this inviting story collection featuring Bruno Courrèges, the town's genial chief of police. As St. Denis is in the Périgord, the culinary heartland of France, a thread of gastronomy and bonhomie plays a significant part in all 14 tales. Walker smoothly integrates recipes into the text, beginning with the title story, which finds Bruno throwing together a golden wedding anniversary feast for friends on short notice and includes easy to follow instructions on how to prepare Poulet à l'estragon. Prehistoric cooking methods figure in "Boeuf Neanderthal," as Bruno prepares a menu for the Société Historique et Archéologique du Périgord. "The Green Army" describes biodynamic viticultural techniques, and "Sugar Lumps" reveals the proper way to drink absinthe. The area's rich history and traditions are explored at every turn. Any crimes are relatively minor--nasty anonymous letters, spates of vandalism--and are resolved by cooperation, conviviality, and Bruno's clever intervention. Culinary mystery aficionados won't want to miss this one. Agent: Stephanie Cabot, Susanna Lea Agency. (Mar.)

A man breaks parole to see his son for the holidays. Small-town merchants challenge a Senegalese competitor whose coffee outstrips theirs at the market. The local tour bus business is sabotaged, local families are incensed about a romance that began over the fruit-and-veggie stall, and stolen oysters could lead to renewed romance. It's all in a day's work for Bruno, chief of police in the Dordogne village of St. Denis. A first collection from the popular Walker.

Chief of Police Bruno Courrèges, whose beat encompasses the picturesque Vézère Valley in France's Dordogne, leads what must be the most enviable life of any fictional cop. The mysteries Bruno encounters interfere very little with his main passions of cooking, eating, appreciating regional wines, riding horses, and studying archaeology. Walker now adds a short-story collection to the 15 Bruno, Chief of Police Mysteries published so far. These 15 stories have wonderful settings (including restaurants, cafés, the Great Chamber of a Lascaux cave, market stalls in the tiny village of St. Denis, and Bruno's own kitchen), and, for any gastronome, the detailed descriptions of food prep are delicious. But this is far more a food procedural than a police procedural. The stories are short on plot and suspense—for example, two market-stall owners have a dispute, Bruno resolves it a boy is lost; he's found later, and Bruno and the family tour a cave. Readers looking primarily for mystery will find this collection lacking, but it's delightful reading for those who love the food and atmosphere of Walker's novels. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

A man breaks parole to see his son for the holidays. Small-town merchants challenge a Senegalese competitor whose coffee outstrips theirs at the market. The local tour bus business is sabotaged, local families are incensed about a romance that began over the fruit-and-veggie stall, and stolen oysters could lead to renewed romance. It's all in a day's work for Bruno, chief of police in the Dordogne village of St. Denis. A first collection from the popular Walker.

Fans of The Coldest Case and Walker's other novels set in the little French market town of St. Denis will savor this inviting story collection featuring Bruno Courrèges, the town's genial chief of police. As St. Denis is in the Périgord, the culinary heartland of France, a thread of gastronomy and bonhomie plays a significant part in all 14 tales. Walker smoothly integrates recipes into the text, beginning with the title story, which finds Bruno throwing together a golden wedding anniversary feast for friends on short notice and includes easy to follow instructions on how to prepare Poulet à l'estragon. Prehistoric cooking methods figure in "Boeuf Neanderthal," as Bruno prepares a menu for the Société Historique et Archéologique du Périgord. "The Green Army" describes biodynamic viticultural techniques, and "Sugar Lumps" reveals the proper way to drink absinthe. The area's rich history and traditions are explored at every turn. Any crimes are relatively minor—nasty anonymous letters, spates of vandalism—and are resolved by cooperation, conviviality, and Bruno's clever intervention. Culinary mystery aficionados won't want to miss this one. Agent: Stephanie Cabot, Susanna Lea Agency. (Mar.)