A Grave in the Woods - (Bruno, Chief of Police) by Martin Walker

About the Book

"Another entertaining and enlightening entry in the Bruno, Chief of Police series, featuring an archaeological dig in the French countryside that unearths World War II-era mysteries-all while Bruno dishes up more culinary magic When Abby, an American archaeologist, arrives in St. Denis on the heels of her divorce, she hopes to make a new life for herself as a specialist guide for visiting tourists. So when a local British couple discover a grave from World War II on their property, Abby is able to put her training to good use. As it turns out, in the grave are the remains of two German women and an Italian submarine officer who had a big secret to hide. The women are suspected of having had links to the German garrison in Bordeaux during the war. It's up to Bruno, just recovered from a gunshot wound earlier in the year, to unravel the mystery-and its contemporary relevance. His task is made more difficult by the horrible heat-dome summer, which is raising the temperature for miles around, as unprecedented amounts of rain drench the Massif Central and threaten increasingly dramatic floods. As Bruno drills to the heart of the case, matters get even more complicated when both Abby's financially distressed ex-husband and a mysterious dashing Italian naval officer arrive, with very different ideas in mind. Once again, Bruno is left to serve the guilty their just rewards, and his friends, some sumptuous Perigordian cuisine"--

Book Synopsis

Another entertaining and enlightening entry in the Bruno, Chief of Police series, featuring an archaeological dig in the French countryside that unearths World War II-era mysteries--all while Bruno dishes up more culinary magic

When Abby, an American archaeologist, arrives in St. Denis on the heels of her divorce, she hopes to make a new life for herself as a specialist guide for visiting tourists. So when a local British couple discover a grave from World War II on their property, Abby is able to put her training to good use. As it turns out, in the grave are the remains of two German women and an Italian submarine officer who had a big secret to hide. The women are suspected of having had links to the German garrison in Bordeaux during the war. It's up to Bruno, just recovered from a gunshot wound earlier in the year, to unravel the mystery--and its contemporary relevance. His task is made more difficult by the horrible heat-dome summer, which is raising the temperature for miles around, as unprecedented amounts of rain drench the Massif Central and threaten increasingly dramatic floods
.
As Bruno drills to the heart of the case, matters get even more complicated when both Abby's financially distressed ex-husband and a mysterious dashing Italian naval officer arrive, with very different ideas in mind. Once again, Bruno is left to serve the guilty their just rewards, and his friends, some sumptuous Perigordian cuisine.

Review Quotes

"Martin Walker continues his delectable Bruno, Chief of Police series. Murder always comes with a mouth-watering series of dishes from the culinary minded Bruno. In this case, the courses are interrupted by an archeological dig that unearths some unpleasant truths."
--Parade

"For readers who like mysteries dripping with French atmosphere, it's hard to beat two current mystery masters: Jean-Luc Bannalec...and Martin Walker, whose Bruno, Chief of Police, stories are set in the Dordogne, in the southwest...Expect great servings of the region's archeology and history, from the Ice Age onward, along with enviable meals and jaunts into the countryside on horseback. Bruno's expansive character (he's an archeology, cooking, and sports enthusiast) adds spice to this series."
--Booklist, starred

"There is perhaps more history than mystery in this episode of Bruno's adventures, but there is nothing wrong with that. There is plenty of what readers come to St. Denis for: the food and wine; the camaraderie; and of course, Balzac the basset hound, surely one of the most engaging fourlegged supporting characters ever to grace the pages of a mystery novel."
--Bookpage

"Series fans will get just what they came for."
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

MARTIN WALKER, after a long career of working in international journalism and for think tanks, now gardens, cooks, explores vineyards, writes, and travels. His series of novels featuring Bruno, Chief of Police, are best sellers in Europe and have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He divides his time between Washington, DC, and the Dordogne.