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Bruno, Chief of Police #10
The Templars' Last Secret
Bruno, the beloved chief of police of the idyllic French town of St. Denis in the Dordogne, is back! This time a mysterious death brings ancient secrets to light, and it's up to our hero--and favorite gourmand--to connect the tangled threads of past and present.
When a woman's body is found at the foot of a cliff near St. Denis, Bruno suspects a connection to the great ruined Château de Commarque, a long-ago Knights Templar stronghold that stands on the cliff above, and which, along with the labyrinth of prehistoric caves beneath it, continues to draw the interest of scholars. With the help of Amélie, a young Haitian newcomer to the Dordogne, Bruno learns that the dead woman was an archaeologist searching for a religious artifact of incredible importance, the discovery of which could have dramatic repercussions throughout the Middle East--not to mention in St. Denis. And the woman's ties to Islamic terrorists can only heighten the pressure on Bruno to unravel the centuries-old mystery. Meanwhile, an old flame of Bruno's is assigned to work with him on the case, and the two find time, naturellement, to enjoy the supreme pleasures of the wine, food, and beauty of the Dordogne.
When a woman's body is found at the foot of a cliff near St. Denis, Bruno suspects a connection to the great ruined Château de Commarque, a long-ago Knights Templar stronghold that stands on the cliff above, and which, along with the labyrinth of prehistoric caves beneath it, continues to draw the interest of scholars. With the help of Amélie, a young Haitian newcomer to the Dordogne, Bruno learns that the dead woman was an archaeologist searching for a religious artifact of incredible importance, the discovery of which could have dramatic repercussions throughout the Middle East--not to mention in St. Denis. And the woman's ties to Islamic terrorists can only heighten the pressure on Bruno to unravel the centuries-old mystery. Meanwhile, an old flame of Bruno's is assigned to work with him on the case, and the two find time, naturellement, to enjoy the supreme pleasures of the wine, food, and beauty of the Dordogne.
336 pages, ebook
First published July 18, 2017
1036 people are currently reading
1753 people want to read
About the author
Martin Walker
66 books1,539 followersMartin Walker is the U.S. bureau chief for The Guardian (London), a regular commentator for CNN, and a columnist for newspapers in the United States, Europe, and Moscow. A published novelist and poet, he lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, the novelist Julia Watson, and their two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 581 reviews
June 14, 2017
This is the first in the Bruno series that I have read, and it worked fine as a standalone. It is set in the Commune of St Denis in the Dordogne. Commune is particularly apt for the strong, small community epitomises the strong ties between its inhabitants, and the way that Bruno helps to foster them and benefits from them substantially in his investigations. Bruno grows herbs and vegetables and there are detailed descriptions of the dishes that he cooks, he understands the power of food and meals in bringing people together and the close knowledge of people that follows on from it. With his basset hound, Balzac, he is warmly welcomed by people and a person they feel comfortable bringing up issues of concern and then reciprocating with valuable information for him. This makes him a considerable asset to the various layers of policing in the French system. It begins with the mayor foisting a Paris political observer, Amelie, to shadow him as he carries out his duties. As it turns out, the strong and vibrant Amelie becomes a hit with the locals, and provides major support to his cases with her initiative and tech savvy IT skills in social media and the internet, plus she has important national political connections in Paris.
A dead woman is found posed in the Commarque in puzzling circumstances next to some unfinished graffiti. The Count tells of possible Templar connections and rumours of a hidden treasure. The area is rich in prehistorical remains with genetic DNA studies that question thinking on human evolution, the Lascaux cave, and the Venus figurines, all of which draw in tourists to the area. Bruno is best man for the upcoming nuptials of Horst and Clothilde, both passionate and obsessive archaeologists aiming to make new discoveries. The use of new methods is aiding their studies with new discoveries in the Commarque. This prehistory connects with the murder investigation. St Denis and Bruno find themselves in the midst of a bigger investigation that takes in contemporary events in France and the world. This involves the military and the intelligence services as danger comes to threaten the rural idyll.
This is an entertaining read that incorporates current events in France and other countries. Walker has juxtaposed a small rural setting that experiences the political realities of violence. This jars considerably with the slow pace of a community police officer's beat but Bruno handles the incendiary circumstances with aplomb, benefiting from the strengths of his style of policing and the presence of the charismatic Amelie. I like the way Walker explains the complex structure of law enforcement in France and gives us an indepth look at the history of the Perigord region. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
A dead woman is found posed in the Commarque in puzzling circumstances next to some unfinished graffiti. The Count tells of possible Templar connections and rumours of a hidden treasure. The area is rich in prehistorical remains with genetic DNA studies that question thinking on human evolution, the Lascaux cave, and the Venus figurines, all of which draw in tourists to the area. Bruno is best man for the upcoming nuptials of Horst and Clothilde, both passionate and obsessive archaeologists aiming to make new discoveries. The use of new methods is aiding their studies with new discoveries in the Commarque. This prehistory connects with the murder investigation. St Denis and Bruno find themselves in the midst of a bigger investigation that takes in contemporary events in France and the world. This involves the military and the intelligence services as danger comes to threaten the rural idyll.
This is an entertaining read that incorporates current events in France and other countries. Walker has juxtaposed a small rural setting that experiences the political realities of violence. This jars considerably with the slow pace of a community police officer's beat but Bruno handles the incendiary circumstances with aplomb, benefiting from the strengths of his style of policing and the presence of the charismatic Amelie. I like the way Walker explains the complex structure of law enforcement in France and gives us an indepth look at the history of the Perigord region. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
October 22, 2023
The tenth book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series and I am still enjoying reading them very much.
The author always imparts lots of historical and political information and this one, involving Islamic terrorists, was particularly interesting considering our current world situation. As usual Bruno gets caught up in activities way above his pay grade in between cooking fantastic meals, solving other small local issues and riding his horse.
I would love to spend a week or so in St Denis feeding the chickens, drinking the wine and taking Balzac for walks. In fact I might never come back. At least there are still lots more books in this great series for me to enjoy.
The author always imparts lots of historical and political information and this one, involving Islamic terrorists, was particularly interesting considering our current world situation. As usual Bruno gets caught up in activities way above his pay grade in between cooking fantastic meals, solving other small local issues and riding his horse.
I would love to spend a week or so in St Denis feeding the chickens, drinking the wine and taking Balzac for walks. In fact I might never come back. At least there are still lots more books in this great series for me to enjoy.
August 23, 2017
From the blurb:
It never matters where duty calls, he never misses his daily tradition of passing the statue in memory of a young woman.
What was jerking his chain this morning, was a report in the newspaper in which allegations was thrown at his long-standing friend, Chief Detective Jean-Jacques Laipeau for being "insensitive and dilatory", denying justice to victims who accused local notables of abuse when they were orphans at a home. The allegations depended on memories that had been recovered during hypnosis by psychologist Duteiller. The investigation was still ongoing. The new developments at the chateau, will soon bring new evidence to light which will change many lives in this small town.
Bruno knew how much time, resources and effort have already been used in finding evidence for months now, and nothing pitched up that could be used in the case...
However, his biggest problem waited for him at the chateau, where the deceased woman tried to leave a message with spray paint against the wall. Soon the investigation will bring two ex-girlfriends, or lovers, back into the fold with Isabelle heading the investigations into the Knights Templar, Free Masons, Isis and Jewish activities around the scene of the crime, and Pamela, who's hair is seriously ruffled by Isabelle's appearance on the scene. The confusion is almost too much to bear for poor Bruno, the lover of women and St. Denis.
Now add the legends of the Holy Grail, and the Ark of the Covenant, and the long-lost Testament of Iftikhar into this mix that he has to address, and life is suddenly a totally different ball game for our rugby-loving Bruno. As the count pitched in: “A lot of the Freemason groups of the eighteenth century claimed descent from the Templars. Freemasons were for reform, a constitution, cutting down the power of the Church, all those Enlightenment causes. That’s why several of the leaders of the American Revolution were Freemasons. Did you ever see an American dollar bill? It carries the eye in the pyramid, one of the symbols of the Illuminati, a Freemason sect. Curious, no?”
Big surprises await the archaeologists, police, politicians and everyone else who get involved in solving this woman's murder.
The next few days will be turned into a fast-paced adventure with the national security of France and all the tourists to the region at stake. It will be a miracle in the end, if the much-awaited wedding can take place, but with Bruno in the mix, with his army training and police experience, it promises to become a wedding to remember.
The story is as solid and packed with action, entertainment and information as all the previous books. The author addresses everyone's fantasy of France with it excellent wines, beautiful women and famous cuisine. He touches our need for a little bit of escapism, perfectly. Although the tourist information regarding the valley, the numerous archaeological sites and the old history of the region added volume to the text, it often feels like information dumping, too wordy, distracting from the murder mystery plot.
However, Martin Walker's books are much more than just bestseller murder mysteries, written by a Scot living in France. The author describes his books as a little bit of travel guide, cook book, character, lifestyle, a love letter to France, and history lectures, all combined in a murder mystery. The latter turns the tales into an educational thrill.
As a highly experienced and extinguished journalist, qualified in economics at Harvard and Oxford, with many years of political reporting behind him, his books are treasure troves for the curious mind. His books already made the Perigord region a much sought-after destination for European, Japanese, and American visitors, expanding the tourism industry substantially since the first book in the series was published in 2007/2008. More than a million copies of his books have already sold in Germany alone, with translations in several different languages.
Bruno Courrèges is not a character, he is an experience. And I love every moment. WARNING: Each book comes with 2 kilos of added weight. The recipes are divine!
Bruno, the beloved chief of police of the idyllic French town of St. Denis in the Dordogne, is back! This time a mysterious death brings ancient secrets to light, and it's up to our hero--and favorite gourmand--to connect the tangled threads of past and present.Bruno Courrèges is on his way to work, and later in the week, Clothilde and Horst's marriage celebration in the famous National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyies, when a telephone call makes him change his route and head out for the old ruined chateau de Commarque, off the road to Sarlat.
It never matters where duty calls, he never misses his daily tradition of passing the statue in memory of a young woman.
She represented so much of what Bruno loved about this valley, the sense of history being so close that across two hundred centuries there had lived a girl here he might have loved. So he blew her a kiss as he drove past, heading towards another of his favorite sites, the medieval fortress of CommarqueA woman was found dead on the rocks below the giant wall of the chateau. Luckily for Bruno, his geese and chickens were already fed, the vegetable garden watered, his basset hound Balzac taken for a run through the nearby forests, checked the seedlings in his new greenhouse built from a kit, but sadly had to skip exercising Hector, his horse. His cockerel, Blanco, already greeted the day with him. How beautiful and serene life could be, sometimes. Yes, sometimes.
What was jerking his chain this morning, was a report in the newspaper in which allegations was thrown at his long-standing friend, Chief Detective Jean-Jacques Laipeau for being "insensitive and dilatory", denying justice to victims who accused local notables of abuse when they were orphans at a home. The allegations depended on memories that had been recovered during hypnosis by psychologist Duteiller. The investigation was still ongoing. The new developments at the chateau, will soon bring new evidence to light which will change many lives in this small town.
Bruno knew how much time, resources and effort have already been used in finding evidence for months now, and nothing pitched up that could be used in the case...
However, his biggest problem waited for him at the chateau, where the deceased woman tried to leave a message with spray paint against the wall. Soon the investigation will bring two ex-girlfriends, or lovers, back into the fold with Isabelle heading the investigations into the Knights Templar, Free Masons, Isis and Jewish activities around the scene of the crime, and Pamela, who's hair is seriously ruffled by Isabelle's appearance on the scene. The confusion is almost too much to bear for poor Bruno, the lover of women and St. Denis.
Now add the legends of the Holy Grail, and the Ark of the Covenant, and the long-lost Testament of Iftikhar into this mix that he has to address, and life is suddenly a totally different ball game for our rugby-loving Bruno. As the count pitched in: “A lot of the Freemason groups of the eighteenth century claimed descent from the Templars. Freemasons were for reform, a constitution, cutting down the power of the Church, all those Enlightenment causes. That’s why several of the leaders of the American Revolution were Freemasons. Did you ever see an American dollar bill? It carries the eye in the pyramid, one of the symbols of the Illuminati, a Freemason sect. Curious, no?”
Big surprises await the archaeologists, police, politicians and everyone else who get involved in solving this woman's murder.
The next few days will be turned into a fast-paced adventure with the national security of France and all the tourists to the region at stake. It will be a miracle in the end, if the much-awaited wedding can take place, but with Bruno in the mix, with his army training and police experience, it promises to become a wedding to remember.
The story is as solid and packed with action, entertainment and information as all the previous books. The author addresses everyone's fantasy of France with it excellent wines, beautiful women and famous cuisine. He touches our need for a little bit of escapism, perfectly. Although the tourist information regarding the valley, the numerous archaeological sites and the old history of the region added volume to the text, it often feels like information dumping, too wordy, distracting from the murder mystery plot.
However, Martin Walker's books are much more than just bestseller murder mysteries, written by a Scot living in France. The author describes his books as a little bit of travel guide, cook book, character, lifestyle, a love letter to France, and history lectures, all combined in a murder mystery. The latter turns the tales into an educational thrill.
As a highly experienced and extinguished journalist, qualified in economics at Harvard and Oxford, with many years of political reporting behind him, his books are treasure troves for the curious mind. His books already made the Perigord region a much sought-after destination for European, Japanese, and American visitors, expanding the tourism industry substantially since the first book in the series was published in 2007/2008. More than a million copies of his books have already sold in Germany alone, with translations in several different languages.
Bruno Courrèges is not a character, he is an experience. And I love every moment. WARNING: Each book comes with 2 kilos of added weight. The recipes are divine!
September 25, 2023
Und wieder ein Bruno, der mir viel Freude gemacht hat. Ein ausgewogenes Menü von kriminalistischen, landeskundlichen und kulinarischen Handlungssträngen, wie gewohnt kunstvoll verwoben mit einer Prise Erotik und viel Lokalkolorit.
June 6, 2018
For fans of Bruno.
Not the best in the series. Plot very flimsy.
Although I did learn that if an Israeli marries a Palestinian, the couple can't live in Israel.
Not the best in the series. Plot very flimsy.
Although I did learn that if an Israeli marries a Palestinian, the couple can't live in Israel.
June 8, 2017
First Sentence: Bruno Courrèges, chief of police of the small French town of St. Denis, awoke a few seconds before six, just as the dawn was breaking.
A centuries-old religious artifact, thought to be hidden within the caves under the former Knights Templar stronghold Château de Commarque, brings murder and terrorism to the normally peaceful village of St. Denis.
A map! There is a special place reserved or authors and publishers who provide a map. Not only does a map provide clarification of the setting, but allows the readers to be part of the community and area in which the story is told.
There are wonderful descriptions of the lovely bucolic setting which are then shattered. The beginning deals with such a relevant and painful topic, but it also serves as a good introduction to Bruno and his life, including his past—“Anyone could take one glance at my wardrobe, he mused, and tell the story of my life: the army and then the police, all the signs of a man more at home in uniform than in civilian dress.”
Bruno is an excellent character; fully-dimensional and the type of leader for whom one would wish. He knows his town and those who live there and is well respected. He is no light character, however, as his military background proves. What is particularly well done is that he is surrounded by characters who are as interesting and well-developed as is he.
Walker works the history of the area seamlessly into the plot. There is fascinating information about French labour laws, the Paleolithic figures and the various theories related to them. He joins the past to the present and makes both come alive in comparing the weekly market of today to how it might have been 700 years ago. Add to that the technology which provides an identity for the murder victim and one is brought sharply into the present, including a discussion of fake news--“It doesn’t have to exist in reality as long as people give it a kind of reality by talking and writing and arguing about it.”
Set in France, one knows there will be food and wine—“He planned fish soup, followed by blanquette de veau with rice, salad with cheese and pears poached in spiced wine for dessert.” There are even descriptions of how the dishes are prepared.
“The Templars’ Last Secret” is definitely not a cozy. It deals with terrorism and fanaticism. It is a book that has it all; mystery, danger, history, and good food—all of it fascinating.
THE TEMPLARS’ LAST SECRET (Pol Proc-Bruno Courrèges-St. Denis, France-Contemp) – VG+
Walker, Martin – 10th in series
Knopf – June 2017
A centuries-old religious artifact, thought to be hidden within the caves under the former Knights Templar stronghold Château de Commarque, brings murder and terrorism to the normally peaceful village of St. Denis.
A map! There is a special place reserved or authors and publishers who provide a map. Not only does a map provide clarification of the setting, but allows the readers to be part of the community and area in which the story is told.
There are wonderful descriptions of the lovely bucolic setting which are then shattered. The beginning deals with such a relevant and painful topic, but it also serves as a good introduction to Bruno and his life, including his past—“Anyone could take one glance at my wardrobe, he mused, and tell the story of my life: the army and then the police, all the signs of a man more at home in uniform than in civilian dress.”
Bruno is an excellent character; fully-dimensional and the type of leader for whom one would wish. He knows his town and those who live there and is well respected. He is no light character, however, as his military background proves. What is particularly well done is that he is surrounded by characters who are as interesting and well-developed as is he.
Walker works the history of the area seamlessly into the plot. There is fascinating information about French labour laws, the Paleolithic figures and the various theories related to them. He joins the past to the present and makes both come alive in comparing the weekly market of today to how it might have been 700 years ago. Add to that the technology which provides an identity for the murder victim and one is brought sharply into the present, including a discussion of fake news--“It doesn’t have to exist in reality as long as people give it a kind of reality by talking and writing and arguing about it.”
Set in France, one knows there will be food and wine—“He planned fish soup, followed by blanquette de veau with rice, salad with cheese and pears poached in spiced wine for dessert.” There are even descriptions of how the dishes are prepared.
“The Templars’ Last Secret” is definitely not a cozy. It deals with terrorism and fanaticism. It is a book that has it all; mystery, danger, history, and good food—all of it fascinating.
THE TEMPLARS’ LAST SECRET (Pol Proc-Bruno Courrèges-St. Denis, France-Contemp) – VG+
Walker, Martin – 10th in series
Knopf – June 2017
June 20, 2017
*I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I'm not sure we can say that anywhere is safe these days. Not even St. Denis.
And what a sad thought that is. That not even the idyllic Périgord we've come to love through this wonderful series is no longer truly safe from evil these days. After the mysterious death of a woman who was painting a slogan on an excavation site has been found, laid out to look like a picture of some pre-historic Venus, Bruno and his team race to find out not only who she was, but why she and a group of radical extremists are hunting for a mythical medieval document about the Arab claim on Jerusalem, and what has brought them to France...
This is a fairly standard Bruno novel: Walker's historical knowledge, his love for the region and its people (and the food, of course) make this a highly interesting read, while the action itself is, as always, almost in the background. There's a lot of time spend on watching Bruno cook, talk to his neighbors, cook some more, going riding/walking/jogging to sort his thoughts while he and his colleagues are co-ordinating the hunt for the killers. It makes for a perfect reading for a hot summer day, complex enough to keep you interested, and not too difficult to follow.
What makes this novel stronger than the previous ones in my opinion is the way the rural countryside with its eccentric inhabitants is juxtaposed with the threat of violence and terror that seems so sadly ever-present these days. It was nicely handled in my opinion, contrasting the violence with a wedding that is taking place at the end, and a group of people that wouldn't let anything interfere with their celebration of life and love.
This was a good 3 star read for me, rounded up to 4 because of the author's love for the region is so strong and his portrayal of French rural live so vivid, that it makes the straightforward investigation a delight to read about.
I'm not sure we can say that anywhere is safe these days. Not even St. Denis.
And what a sad thought that is. That not even the idyllic Périgord we've come to love through this wonderful series is no longer truly safe from evil these days. After the mysterious death of a woman who was painting a slogan on an excavation site has been found, laid out to look like a picture of some pre-historic Venus, Bruno and his team race to find out not only who she was, but why she and a group of radical extremists are hunting for a mythical medieval document about the Arab claim on Jerusalem, and what has brought them to France...
This is a fairly standard Bruno novel: Walker's historical knowledge, his love for the region and its people (and the food, of course) make this a highly interesting read, while the action itself is, as always, almost in the background. There's a lot of time spend on watching Bruno cook, talk to his neighbors, cook some more, going riding/walking/jogging to sort his thoughts while he and his colleagues are co-ordinating the hunt for the killers. It makes for a perfect reading for a hot summer day, complex enough to keep you interested, and not too difficult to follow.
What makes this novel stronger than the previous ones in my opinion is the way the rural countryside with its eccentric inhabitants is juxtaposed with the threat of violence and terror that seems so sadly ever-present these days. It was nicely handled in my opinion, contrasting the violence with a wedding that is taking place at the end, and a group of people that wouldn't let anything interfere with their celebration of life and love.
This was a good 3 star read for me, rounded up to 4 because of the author's love for the region is so strong and his portrayal of French rural live so vivid, that it makes the straightforward investigation a delight to read about.
July 3, 2017
The title is a big McGuffin. There really is no Templar Secret that impacts the plot.
Seems like the author has used the middle east terrorist angle before. Like how the story is updated for new events in France, at least at the time the author was writing.
I enjoyed the tension in the book, but its getting lame, have the Bridgider and Issable always coming in to St. Denis and co-opting Bruno. Author needs to move on form Issable and Pamela as well, they clearing aren't what Bruno wants. He needs to grow up as a character as well.
The bad guys were poorly fleshed out, just the terrorist boogy-man threat. They had no lines there were just there for violence. The end seemed to quick and tidy as well.
I enjoy the setting and characters of St. Denis, but the author needs to come up with new angles.
Seems like the author has used the middle east terrorist angle before. Like how the story is updated for new events in France, at least at the time the author was writing.
I enjoyed the tension in the book, but its getting lame, have the Bridgider and Issable always coming in to St. Denis and co-opting Bruno. Author needs to move on form Issable and Pamela as well, they clearing aren't what Bruno wants. He needs to grow up as a character as well.
The bad guys were poorly fleshed out, just the terrorist boogy-man threat. They had no lines there were just there for violence. The end seemed to quick and tidy as well.
I enjoy the setting and characters of St. Denis, but the author needs to come up with new angles.
July 8, 2017
A very interesting foray with Bruno et al, into the pre-historic caves of Perigord to solve a murder. Bruno is the most engaging sort of policeman/detective and always a gentleman!
June 21, 2017
At first glance the Bruno books seem to be cozy mysteries - they are set in a small French village, Bruno, the Chief of Police, seems to be friends with everyone, and there is a lot talk about food and wine. But once you take a closer look, these mysteries are not quite so cozy - in fact they are almost the opposite.
This time Bruno has to protect his beloved village from a group of Islamic terrorists. He again has help from a beautiful woman (who in fact does most of the work) and is almost killed himself. In other books in this series I found the parts dealing with the secret service a bit farfetched, but this time it all worked out very well.
What I didn't like at all however was the book's title, "The Templars' Last Secret". It seems quite lurid, especially when you find out that the Knight Templars only play the tiniest role in this book.
(I received a free digital copy via Netgalley/the publisher. Thanks for the opportunity!)
This time Bruno has to protect his beloved village from a group of Islamic terrorists. He again has help from a beautiful woman (who in fact does most of the work) and is almost killed himself. In other books in this series I found the parts dealing with the secret service a bit farfetched, but this time it all worked out very well.
What I didn't like at all however was the book's title, "The Templars' Last Secret". It seems quite lurid, especially when you find out that the Knight Templars only play the tiniest role in this book.
(I received a free digital copy via Netgalley/the publisher. Thanks for the opportunity!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
I wanted to love this book. I've loved all the Bruno books. But this one just fell flat. Part of it is that I'm not that interested in pre-historic history. But the main reason (well, reasons) are that the writing felt clunky (as if the author were writing a term paper and had to use every last fact he pulled up), the plot was convoluted and then rushed at the end, Bruno's been carrying a torch for Isabelle for too long--let it go!--and Pamela gets in a snit every time she sees Bruno with another woman. Grow up folks! I'll, of course, look forward to the next Bruno, but this one left me sorely disappointed.
July 13, 2017
image: 
Visit the locations in the novel : Templars Last Secret
I always enjoy visiting St Denis with Bruno and this was a really fascinating mystery! A hidden story within secret underground caverns, all under an old chateau, where in olden times, the Templars once ruled. When in the present day, the body of a woman is found at the bottom of the cliff, well the scene is set for all kinds of mystery and folklore where one small thing the police find often hides something much bigger.
There was something really mythical and magical about this mystery, I have to say that it was the Da Vinci Code for introducing me to the world of the Templars in the first place…but Bruno steps things up a notch or five and really gets his teeth into the culture and heritage of the Templars and more. This is such a fascinating read and I really found myself digging in there deeper and deeper – apt when the story is all about underground caves.
Bruno novels are usually a feast for the taste buds – this man’s gourmand tendencies do not go away despite an historical mystery on his doorstep! I was immediately pulled back into Bruno’s world with his usual blend of charm and food loving ways but this is something else. This is a world of political and historical intrigue, links to contemporary events in France and the intricacies of the French police system. But all the while, the charm of the Perigord region, the small village of St Denis never falters, its attraction as strong as ever and the rural idyll one I love spending time in. All wrapped up with a lovely red Bruno bow.
I would definitely recommend a visit to St Denis with Martin Walker!
Visit the locations in the novel : Templars Last Secret
I always enjoy visiting St Denis with Bruno and this was a really fascinating mystery! A hidden story within secret underground caverns, all under an old chateau, where in olden times, the Templars once ruled. When in the present day, the body of a woman is found at the bottom of the cliff, well the scene is set for all kinds of mystery and folklore where one small thing the police find often hides something much bigger.
There was something really mythical and magical about this mystery, I have to say that it was the Da Vinci Code for introducing me to the world of the Templars in the first place…but Bruno steps things up a notch or five and really gets his teeth into the culture and heritage of the Templars and more. This is such a fascinating read and I really found myself digging in there deeper and deeper – apt when the story is all about underground caves.
Bruno novels are usually a feast for the taste buds – this man’s gourmand tendencies do not go away despite an historical mystery on his doorstep! I was immediately pulled back into Bruno’s world with his usual blend of charm and food loving ways but this is something else. This is a world of political and historical intrigue, links to contemporary events in France and the intricacies of the French police system. But all the while, the charm of the Perigord region, the small village of St Denis never falters, its attraction as strong as ever and the rural idyll one I love spending time in. All wrapped up with a lovely red Bruno bow.
I would definitely recommend a visit to St Denis with Martin Walker!
June 23, 2018
The good:
I like Bruno and the other regular characters in this series.
The descriptions of meals make me hungry.
Walker is quite skilled at providing exposition in clever ways. Bruno lacks computer skills, so when his co-workers suggest new methods, they need to explain to Bruno - and to me. Bruno's "shadow" is unfamiliar with the pre-historic and Middle Ages significance of the area, so a variety of characters provide information in conversation.
The not good:
This novel has too many characters. Maybe the point of all these characters is to show that crime solving is not a solitary pursuit. It seems like Bruno talks to 90% of the people of France - plus some Germans - to find the bad guys. And it seems like every law enforcement agency in France, as well as in Israel, is involved.
This novel has too much history. Maybe the crime is related to pre-historic finds in the area. Maybe the crime is related to the Templars (who have one last secret, according to the title) and to the Crusades. Maybe the crime is related to tension that has grown since the 11th Century about control of Jerusalem. Maybe the book needs a few historians to explain each of these aspects of history.
This novel has too little Bruno. Yes, he's on every page, but too often the investigation seems out of his control. I prefer the previous novels where he is in charge, and he uses his knowledge and skill to solve crimes.
I already have Bruno, Chief of Police, #11 in my TBR pile, but I will take a break before I begin it.
I like Bruno and the other regular characters in this series.
The descriptions of meals make me hungry.
Walker is quite skilled at providing exposition in clever ways. Bruno lacks computer skills, so when his co-workers suggest new methods, they need to explain to Bruno - and to me. Bruno's "shadow" is unfamiliar with the pre-historic and Middle Ages significance of the area, so a variety of characters provide information in conversation.
The not good:
This novel has too many characters. Maybe the point of all these characters is to show that crime solving is not a solitary pursuit. It seems like Bruno talks to 90% of the people of France - plus some Germans - to find the bad guys. And it seems like every law enforcement agency in France, as well as in Israel, is involved.
This novel has too much history. Maybe the crime is related to pre-historic finds in the area. Maybe the crime is related to the Templars (who have one last secret, according to the title) and to the Crusades. Maybe the crime is related to tension that has grown since the 11th Century about control of Jerusalem. Maybe the book needs a few historians to explain each of these aspects of history.
This novel has too little Bruno. Yes, he's on every page, but too often the investigation seems out of his control. I prefer the previous novels where he is in charge, and he uses his knowledge and skill to solve crimes.
I already have Bruno, Chief of Police, #11 in my TBR pile, but I will take a break before I begin it.
June 20, 2018
For such a peaceful, traditional part of France, the Perigord sees a lot of action and danger in this delightful series! This installment brings terrorists to the region, targeting an ancient castle important to the equally ancient band of Templars. Peopled with the charming characters of St. Denis and seasoned with the storied food and wine of the region, this is a worthy addition to the Bruno series.
June 26, 2017
Thank you, Martin Walker, for the tenth episode in saga Bruno, my favorite Chief of Police of the Perigord. I look forward to reading this book again in the future because it is that good. I just erased a sentence that drooled, so I will try to express my admiration calmly. This book shares archaeological discoveries, world political/criminal problems, policing policies in France in cooperation with intelligence agencies of other countries, the very real problem of Muslim youth being radicalized in prisons and many other prickly problems. This book also shares love of country living, gardening, cooking, wine, welcoming new people to the commune of St. Denis and the benefits of treating people with respect.
Caves again play important role as two local archaeologists plan their wedding where Bruno will be best man. A young woman is killed by the castle above the important caves of the region, and the investigation points to a serious terrorist plot. Just when they think it is safe to visit one of the caves and all the visitors are in awe observing the drawings made 17,000 years ago... gunshots are heard.
"Bruno felt a moment of outrage. St. Denis was his town, its safety his responsibility, but suddenly people were being armed as if this were the Wild West. He hated it on those rare moments when he had to wear his own weapon, but now Yacov, Crimson and no doubt the brigadier and Isabelle were all carrying sidearms."
While all these distractions from a wedding are going on, I ought to mention that a new lower cave is discovered and eventually they manage to open it with television broadcasting what has been guarded there behind a giant boulder. All symbols Templar, of course, and the coffin is opened. You will have to read the book to find out what is uncovered.
Martin Walker does a good job drawing tourists to his beloved region of France, and I do hope to make it there in 2018. He recommends visiting this website to learn more about the Commarque Castle, the site that figures in this telling, http://commarque.com/#!filmjp/c1qif
Caves again play important role as two local archaeologists plan their wedding where Bruno will be best man. A young woman is killed by the castle above the important caves of the region, and the investigation points to a serious terrorist plot. Just when they think it is safe to visit one of the caves and all the visitors are in awe observing the drawings made 17,000 years ago... gunshots are heard.
"Bruno felt a moment of outrage. St. Denis was his town, its safety his responsibility, but suddenly people were being armed as if this were the Wild West. He hated it on those rare moments when he had to wear his own weapon, but now Yacov, Crimson and no doubt the brigadier and Isabelle were all carrying sidearms."
While all these distractions from a wedding are going on, I ought to mention that a new lower cave is discovered and eventually they manage to open it with television broadcasting what has been guarded there behind a giant boulder. All symbols Templar, of course, and the coffin is opened. You will have to read the book to find out what is uncovered.
Martin Walker does a good job drawing tourists to his beloved region of France, and I do hope to make it there in 2018. He recommends visiting this website to learn more about the Commarque Castle, the site that figures in this telling, http://commarque.com/#!filmjp/c1qif
April 3, 2023
My rating is a trifle harsh; if I could have added half a star, I would have.
The story is ok, and my lack of enthusiasm may well come from personal taste. First, the writing is clumsy and wooden, which puts me off. Combining a police procedural with thriller genre elements felt like the aim of the book was more sales than literary. The procedural aspects, including Bruno's developing competence in electronic resources (thanks to Amelie) are pretty good, but the terrorist angle is in no way original or even interesting, at least not for me.
But there are also more substantive flaws. The plot has all too many elements, and yet the ending is totally predictable. It also has too many characters, most of whom are pretty flat. To keep track of the plot and the intersections of the characters would require a graph of some kind, and I do not have the patience for doing that.
I see the same problems here that I see in the more recent work by Louise Penny. An interesting small town location with a continuing cast of characters gets darker in plot with the introduction of menacing outside forces. I wish that Walker would just stick to St. Denis and the joys and foibles of a rural corner of France, because that is more distinctive than the broader world troubles which one reads in newspapers daily.
Anyway, this is readable enough, but I felt let down when it accelerated to a predictable conclusion. And I am still not really clear concerning what the Templar's secret was (nor was my wife, who read this book just before I did).
The story is ok, and my lack of enthusiasm may well come from personal taste. First, the writing is clumsy and wooden, which puts me off. Combining a police procedural with thriller genre elements felt like the aim of the book was more sales than literary. The procedural aspects, including Bruno's developing competence in electronic resources (thanks to Amelie) are pretty good, but the terrorist angle is in no way original or even interesting, at least not for me.
But there are also more substantive flaws. The plot has all too many elements, and yet the ending is totally predictable. It also has too many characters, most of whom are pretty flat. To keep track of the plot and the intersections of the characters would require a graph of some kind, and I do not have the patience for doing that.
I see the same problems here that I see in the more recent work by Louise Penny. An interesting small town location with a continuing cast of characters gets darker in plot with the introduction of menacing outside forces. I wish that Walker would just stick to St. Denis and the joys and foibles of a rural corner of France, because that is more distinctive than the broader world troubles which one reads in newspapers daily.
Anyway, this is readable enough, but I felt let down when it accelerated to a predictable conclusion. And I am still not really clear concerning what the Templar's secret was (nor was my wife, who read this book just before I did).
October 11, 2017
All the Bruno touchstones make for a satisfactory read
The Bruno Chief of Police series is tops among my list of cozy mysteries. No other series combines the love of good food and wine, the love of animals and decency & caring between human beings as well as Martin Walker's tales of the lone policeman of St. Denis in the heart of la belle France.
The villains in this one seemed to not be of quite the highest calibre but saying much more would be a spoiler. To offset that though we have a new ally for Bruno who is a likely up and comer in the political world. And the lost-love-of-his-life Isabelle makes a welcome return. How long is Walker going to tease us with the Isabelle-Bruno rekindled-relationship-in-waiting? The conclusion here leaves us wanting more again. C'est l'amour!
Mild spoiler
This may give away an important plot point, but I stumbled on this while doing some googling research and I thought other readers might find it informative. This is evidence of Martin Walker's own research for this current book.
The Bruno Chief of Police series is tops among my list of cozy mysteries. No other series combines the love of good food and wine, the love of animals and decency & caring between human beings as well as Martin Walker's tales of the lone policeman of St. Denis in the heart of la belle France.
The villains in this one seemed to not be of quite the highest calibre but saying much more would be a spoiler. To offset that though we have a new ally for Bruno who is a likely up and comer in the political world. And the lost-love-of-his-life Isabelle makes a welcome return. How long is Walker going to tease us with the Isabelle-Bruno rekindled-relationship-in-waiting? The conclusion here leaves us wanting more again. C'est l'amour!
Mild spoiler
This may give away an important plot point, but I stumbled on this while doing some googling research and I thought other readers might find it informative. This is evidence of Martin Walker's own research for this current book.
November 19, 2019
Time to check in once again on Bruno Courreges and his friends. Bruno is the chief of police in the little town of St. Denis in the Dordogne of France. St. Denis is in the middle of an archaeological treasure trove featuring the famous painted caves and that features heavily in the plot of this book.
It is also in the middle of a region of famed French cuisine and Bruno is an avid practitioner of that cuisine, a talented cook who likes nothing better than entertaining his friends with one of his superb meals. That, as always in this series, is also an important part of the plot.
But Bruno's day job is as chief of police and as such he is called to the scene of a death in suspicious circumstances. The body of a woman has been found at the base of a cliff. She appears to have been climbing the cliff and to have fallen to her death, but was it an accident or was she pushed? There is evidence that at least one other person was present, but that person is nowhere to be found. And it appears the body was carefully posed after the fall. Murder seems the likely conclusion and so Bruno notifies all the relevant authorities in the chain of command of French policing.
There is no identification on the body and no one claims to know her, so the first task for law enforcement will be to identify her and determine what she was doing in the area. To that end, Bruno takes pictures of her face with his cell phone.
Returning to town, Bruno learns from the mayor that an observer has been sent from Paris to follow him around and do a time and motion study of his police techniques. He is appalled at the prospect, but he soon learns that the young woman, Amélie, is an invaluable asset because of her tech-savviness. (Bruno is a Luddite.) In the end, she is instrumental in helping to crack the case.
We soon learn that the dead woman was an Israeli potentially connected to Arab terrorists and that she had been seen in the area with suspicious companions. Law enforcement goes on high alert fearing the possibility that an attack is planned on one of the monuments of the region.
We also learn that the woman herself was apparently searching for an artifact of the Knights Templar that is rumored to be in the Dordogne, possibly in one of the caves. It is unclear if the artifact really exists.
As Bruno's investigation continues, he's also preparing to be the best man at the wedding of two archaeologist friends who are getting married on the weekend.
But regardless of all this, people still have to eat and Bruno can always find time to cook for them. Martin Walker regales us with mouth-watering descriptions of the food that he cooks, all of it from local sources of course and much from his own garden. These meals are always among the highlights of these books for me.
Although this series is a work of fiction, many of the archaeological and historical facts presented are quite real and certainly provide a feeling of verisimilitude to the stories. Moreover, there are references to current events in France which gives resonance to the tales. The books are essentially light reading and yet I always learn things about history and about France when I read them. That is a tribute to Martin Walker's talent as a writer.
It is also in the middle of a region of famed French cuisine and Bruno is an avid practitioner of that cuisine, a talented cook who likes nothing better than entertaining his friends with one of his superb meals. That, as always in this series, is also an important part of the plot.
But Bruno's day job is as chief of police and as such he is called to the scene of a death in suspicious circumstances. The body of a woman has been found at the base of a cliff. She appears to have been climbing the cliff and to have fallen to her death, but was it an accident or was she pushed? There is evidence that at least one other person was present, but that person is nowhere to be found. And it appears the body was carefully posed after the fall. Murder seems the likely conclusion and so Bruno notifies all the relevant authorities in the chain of command of French policing.
There is no identification on the body and no one claims to know her, so the first task for law enforcement will be to identify her and determine what she was doing in the area. To that end, Bruno takes pictures of her face with his cell phone.
Returning to town, Bruno learns from the mayor that an observer has been sent from Paris to follow him around and do a time and motion study of his police techniques. He is appalled at the prospect, but he soon learns that the young woman, Amélie, is an invaluable asset because of her tech-savviness. (Bruno is a Luddite.) In the end, she is instrumental in helping to crack the case.
We soon learn that the dead woman was an Israeli potentially connected to Arab terrorists and that she had been seen in the area with suspicious companions. Law enforcement goes on high alert fearing the possibility that an attack is planned on one of the monuments of the region.
We also learn that the woman herself was apparently searching for an artifact of the Knights Templar that is rumored to be in the Dordogne, possibly in one of the caves. It is unclear if the artifact really exists.
As Bruno's investigation continues, he's also preparing to be the best man at the wedding of two archaeologist friends who are getting married on the weekend.
But regardless of all this, people still have to eat and Bruno can always find time to cook for them. Martin Walker regales us with mouth-watering descriptions of the food that he cooks, all of it from local sources of course and much from his own garden. These meals are always among the highlights of these books for me.
Although this series is a work of fiction, many of the archaeological and historical facts presented are quite real and certainly provide a feeling of verisimilitude to the stories. Moreover, there are references to current events in France which gives resonance to the tales. The books are essentially light reading and yet I always learn things about history and about France when I read them. That is a tribute to Martin Walker's talent as a writer.
June 22, 2017
I'd really like to enter the world of Martin Walker because he makes the life on the Périgord countryside so livable and he makes everyday life interesting with food, riding and petting Balzac. In the story he makes every female love interest that Bruno had put her head into the picture. We have a new character in Amélie Plessis who is from the Ministry of Justice who will follow Bruno around for two weeks learning about his philosophy of policing
The story involves a woman who fell to her death painting a letters on a wall above a cliff. This is a mystery in itself that Bruno has to figure out. Amélie helps by contacting friends in England and finding out who the woman is. Everything escalates into a terrorists plot and we end up with archaeologists and their cave paintings and a wedding. A lot to figure out in our minds but it is interesting with all the local findings in cave art to describe. It ends with Bruno saving the day and Isabelle asking to stay for lunch at his place. This story is really interesting to read because although people are killed it's quite entertaining.
The story involves a woman who fell to her death painting a letters on a wall above a cliff. This is a mystery in itself that Bruno has to figure out. Amélie helps by contacting friends in England and finding out who the woman is. Everything escalates into a terrorists plot and we end up with archaeologists and their cave paintings and a wedding. A lot to figure out in our minds but it is interesting with all the local findings in cave art to describe. It ends with Bruno saving the day and Isabelle asking to stay for lunch at his place. This story is really interesting to read because although people are killed it's quite entertaining.
August 15, 2024
As always mr Walker delivers a splendid book for of food, drink and historic fact with whom hé waives a brilliant tale concerning the good folks in ficticious St Denis and their policeman Bruno Courreges who loves all inhabitants equally, except for his Isabelle for her hé has a special place.
The story starts with preparations for a wedding and an national scouting camp. When they find a lady that has fallen or jumped from a castlewall she was climbing.
Bruno also has a lady from Paris for 2 weeks walking with him to see how policemen in small communities function and what Paris can add to their workplace to make life easier. Little does this Amilie know that before the two weeks are over she would witness a Hunt for terrorists and a siege by these same villains, and attend a marriage. Such is life wih Bruno whose little Parrish seems to attract more trouble than the average Village Police officer.
This book picked up pace from the beginning and kent going while having time for food, drink and friendship. Once again a great book that felt less than cozy and full blown thriller.
The 10th Bruno novel feels like Walker just started a series, easy to read and difficult to lay down.
The story starts with preparations for a wedding and an national scouting camp. When they find a lady that has fallen or jumped from a castlewall she was climbing.
Bruno also has a lady from Paris for 2 weeks walking with him to see how policemen in small communities function and what Paris can add to their workplace to make life easier. Little does this Amilie know that before the two weeks are over she would witness a Hunt for terrorists and a siege by these same villains, and attend a marriage. Such is life wih Bruno whose little Parrish seems to attract more trouble than the average Village Police officer.
This book picked up pace from the beginning and kent going while having time for food, drink and friendship. Once again a great book that felt less than cozy and full blown thriller.
The 10th Bruno novel feels like Walker just started a series, easy to read and difficult to lay down.
July 2, 2017
I absolutely adore Bruno, and in many ways, this book delivers the same things we've loved from past books: wonderful characters, delicious descriptions of food, and an obvious love and care for the Perigord region. This time, though, the mystery falls flat: it's overly complex, and the motive is not particularly well-explained, as the end is very rushed. Will I read the next Bruno book? Of course! Do I hope we return to mysteries less fantastical? I do.
August 7, 2017
This is such a great series. Especially the food and wine parts. The detective story isn't bad either. His books are so educational too.
November 24, 2024
After a few books that got the brain working, I decided to have a bit of a rest. I picked up a book that I seem to have missed from a series that I am enjoying in the peaceful laid back life of St Denis' Chief of Police.
Martin Walker's account of Bruno's life in the valley of the River Vezere(*) shows the author's love of the region, its people and certainly its food and wine. (See also Bruno's Cookbook by the author's wife).
However, this was far from the relaxing /cozy read that I was expecting. Regular readers will know that before Bruno 'retired' to this job he was a decorated soldier and his military experience is often brought into use. Here, although the story has links to the Templar Knights through the caves in the area, the main story has its roots in the Arab/Israel conflict.
Bruno's busy home life of looking after his chickens, his vegetable garden, his basset hound, his horse, his dinner parties and tennis coaching seems about to be interupted when he is assigned Amelie (*) from the Ministry of Justice to shadow him. She soon engratiates herself into the community and certainly adds some spice.
Once again we have the intricacies of the French law and order system explained.
The excitment factor in this episode not only ramps up a couple of notches but it also kicks in earlier than usual making what I expected to be a nice restful read instead quite an exciting one.
All this and a couple of good recipe idea too.
(*) Apologies once again for my inability to produce accents in the app on my phone where this review was prepared.
Martin Walker's account of Bruno's life in the valley of the River Vezere(*) shows the author's love of the region, its people and certainly its food and wine. (See also Bruno's Cookbook by the author's wife).
However, this was far from the relaxing /cozy read that I was expecting. Regular readers will know that before Bruno 'retired' to this job he was a decorated soldier and his military experience is often brought into use. Here, although the story has links to the Templar Knights through the caves in the area, the main story has its roots in the Arab/Israel conflict.
Bruno's busy home life of looking after his chickens, his vegetable garden, his basset hound, his horse, his dinner parties and tennis coaching seems about to be interupted when he is assigned Amelie (*) from the Ministry of Justice to shadow him. She soon engratiates herself into the community and certainly adds some spice.
Once again we have the intricacies of the French law and order system explained.
The excitment factor in this episode not only ramps up a couple of notches but it also kicks in earlier than usual making what I expected to be a nice restful read instead quite an exciting one.
All this and a couple of good recipe idea too.
(*) Apologies once again for my inability to produce accents in the app on my phone where this review was prepared.
November 12, 2019
I enjoy Walker's Inspector Bruno books, set in Perigord where Walker lives with his family.
We always get a good dose of local history and culture and recipes for meals cooked by Bruno - I see on his website that Walker and his wife have published an Inspector Bruno Cookbook, which I guess tells you something about the popularity of this series of novels.
This one deals with current political issues (to say which ones will be a spoiler) as well as snippets of prehistoric life around Les Eyzies and of Crusader history.
I read pretty much straight through it over a couple of days, just what i needed after finishing a mighty biography of Thomas Cromwell that has taken me the best part of three months to work through.
We always get a good dose of local history and culture and recipes for meals cooked by Bruno - I see on his website that Walker and his wife have published an Inspector Bruno Cookbook, which I guess tells you something about the popularity of this series of novels.
This one deals with current political issues (to say which ones will be a spoiler) as well as snippets of prehistoric life around Les Eyzies and of Crusader history.
I read pretty much straight through it over a couple of days, just what i needed after finishing a mighty biography of Thomas Cromwell that has taken me the best part of three months to work through.
July 18, 2021
Bruno is dismayed when Paris sends a young woman to shadow him to learn about community policing. He finds out, though, that she’s a great researcher, and a tremendous help with his latest case, involving an unknown woman who appears to have fallen while climbing. There’s an exciting conclusion involving a wedding, terrorists, and a historic cave, and Robert Mackenzie provides his usual superb narration.
May 25, 2024
Getting tired of these. Bruno wants to get married yet he loves all the women. And damn all the drama in the crimes!
June 25, 2017
3.5 stars
Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police series ranks high on my list of series. However, The Templars’ Last Secret did not measure up to previous installments. First, the plot was unappealing to me. Second, Walker spent way too much time having Bruno pine for old flames – Bruno needs to find someone new and move on. Thankfully, Bruno’s day-to-day exploits and relationships carry the book. In addition, the history of the Dordogne region is fascinating, especially the prehistoric caves, and I thoroughly enjoyed that section of the book. I have loved most of the Bruno books, and I feel sure the next one will be fabulous. I am looking forward to it already.
Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police series ranks high on my list of series. However, The Templars’ Last Secret did not measure up to previous installments. First, the plot was unappealing to me. Second, Walker spent way too much time having Bruno pine for old flames – Bruno needs to find someone new and move on. Thankfully, Bruno’s day-to-day exploits and relationships carry the book. In addition, the history of the Dordogne region is fascinating, especially the prehistoric caves, and I thoroughly enjoyed that section of the book. I have loved most of the Bruno books, and I feel sure the next one will be fabulous. I am looking forward to it already.
June 18, 2017
Oh, yet another a wild ride from Martin Walker! If there's an ingredient his books don't contain, I can't think of what it is. The idyllic and ancient historic town of St. Denis once again becomes a setting for drama from the world stage. The famous archaeological site proves an attraction for both great good and great evil, as meanwhile the town and rural community carry on, with Bruno, Chief of Police, taking care of business, both routine and much not so routine. With a new damsel, as unique and enchanting as those previously accompanying him, Bruno takes us around town, to his place for a magnificent dinner (be sure to have some amazing food and wine handy when you read these books), a mystery to be solved which becomes a labyrinth, and, oh, love is in the air. Yes, there is singing of songs of love, but..... I have to say, the author did challenge my suspension of disbelief a bit with something that seemed a pretty far stretch; however, after turning the final page I let out a sigh of relief and contentment, and found myself craving a good glass of wine. Now, alas, a long wait for what happens next for Bruno!
August 21, 2017
I really like this series and enjoyed this latest installment. It featured the discovery of a new "room" in a prehistoric cave, the murder of a woman at a local Chateau that has ties to the Knights Templar, Israeli/Palestinian tensions, current day terrorists and the marriage of two renowned prehistory scientists. Throw in a new character from the central law enforcement ministry who is assigned to shadow Bruno for a week to see how he works and the opening of a scout camp funded by an elderly Jewish woman who was sheltered during WWII in St. Denis, well, there was a lot going on! At times I wished for less detail; it felt as if Martin Walker was trying to include every single thing he had learned in his research related to every single story line. But my impatience quickly receded after reading the spectacularly written last few chapters. I recently complained how preposterous the ending of book #8 was, but this was one of the best endings of a mystery that I've read in a long time! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that there was lots less cooking and romance/sex than in past Bruno books. But not to worry, there was a cliff-hanger related to Bruno's past love Isabelle! I'll just have to patiently wait for the next Bruno book to find out what happens next.
April 4, 2019
As always with the Bruno books, the Dordogne setting and its history are temptingly described. On this occasion, though, the thriller part sits uneasily with the rest of it. I’m starting to feel that this corner of rural France gets more than its fair share of military action. Good escapism, though.
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