The Shooting at Chateau Rock: A Bruno, Chief of Police Novel (Bruno, Chief of Police, #15) (The Dordogne Mysteries)

by Martin Walker

This installment in the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno will take all of Bruno's resolve and quick thinking to untangle a mystery that will reach its deadly denouement at the château of an aging rock star. But in true Bruno fashion, at least lunchtime is never in danger.

It’s summer in the Dordogne and the heirs of a modest sheep farmer learn that they have been disinherited. Their father’s estate has been sold to an insurance company in return for a policy that will place him in a five-star retirement home for the rest of his life. But the farmer dies before he can move in. Was it a natural death? Or was there foul play? Chief of Police Bruno Courrèges is soon on the case, embarking on an investigation that will lead him to several shadowy insurance companies owned by a Russian oligarch with a Cypriot passport.

The arrival of the oligarch’s daughter in the Périgord only further complicates one of Bruno’s toughest cases yet.

• ISBN10: 0525656650
• ISBN13: 9780525656654
• Publish Date: 26 May 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Alfred A. Knopf
• Format: Hardcover (Deckle Edge)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525656654

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Shooting at Chateau Rock is the 13th Chief Bruno mystery by Martin Walker. Released 26th May 2020 by Knopf, it's 320 pages and is available in most formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a subtly written, engaging, and satisfying book. I've been with the series since the beginning and always look forward to the narratives which are full of food and camaraderie (and some crime); they feel like catching up with old friends. This one is very much in the same mold. Bruno begins to investigate a potential rural insurance fraud and is soon neck deep in international money laundering, Russian / Ukrainian shady politics, and international security. Contrasted with high crimes and misdemeanors are sunny and satisfying descriptions of town markets, vineyards, his friends and acquaintances, horse culture and riding, loyal hound Balzac, and as always good food.

This is classic crime fiction, exceedingly well written, engaging, and worthwhile. Although it's the 13th book in the series, it works very well as a standalone book and would make a good entry into the series.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.