The Coldest Case: A Bruno, Chief of Police Novel (Bruno, Chief of Police, #16)

by Martin Walker

An anonymous skull, an unsolved murder, sinister rumors from the Cold War era of espionage—Bruno's investigation into a long-standing cold case finds him caught between an enigmatic winegrower and a menacing Communist organization from the past.

After attending an exhibit on the facial reconstruction of ancient skulls, Bruno wonders if this technology might provide an invaluable clue to a thirty-year-old cold case. But learning the identity of the murder victim is only the beginning.
 
The investigation quickly turns thorny and leads Bruno to a reclusive vintner, Henri Bazaine, whose education at a vocational school in a formerly Communist region has raised some eyebrows. An inquiry into the defunct school turns up shadowy reports of possible connections and funding from the Stasi, the repressive police agency of the former East Germany. The scrutiny on Henri intensifies once Bruno discovers that he was declared dead thirty years ago and has been living under an assumed name ever since.
 
The strange case is further complicated as Parisian bureaucrats get involved, hinting that essential diplomatic relations might be at stake. And to make matters even worse, the Dordogne is suffering from an intense summer drought that is sparking fires across the region. But as always, Bruno will keep a cool head through it all--and, bien sûr, takes time to enjoy a sumptuous Périgordian meal!

• ISBN10: 0525656677
• ISBN13: 9780525656678
• Publish Date: 3 August 2021 (first published 27 May 2021)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Alfred A. Knopf
• Format: Hardcover (Deckle Edge)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525656678

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Coldest Case is the 14th Chief Bruno novel by Martin Walker. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Knopf, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook 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; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

These books are such enjoyable reading breaks. They're like inviting and civilized visits with an old and dear friend. They're full of quirky characters who are intelligent and cultured (and the occasional villain). I always learn lots about food and French cuisine and countryside. But, at the end of the day, they're murder mysteries and the untangling of the mysteries are well written and engaging.

The motives for murder and conspiracy are complex and somewhat rarefied and academic, tied to a 30 year old cold case murder which has plagued Bruno's colleague throughout his career. Due to advances in forensic techniques, for the first time in 3 decades, Bruno and colleagues have a real chance to put the case to rest. Soon though, there are uncomfortable rumblings from the highest echelons of power and real life fallout from cold-war power struggles that are way over Bruno's pay grade. The book does include a brief and unsettling sexual assault, carried out on-scene which wasn't pleasant to read (but resolves well), as well as scary descriptions of wildfires, but no other trigger warnings.

This author is on my auto-read list and this particular book was lovely. I love that the book is redolent with Gallic sensibilities regarding work, food, culture, life, and love. There's a lot of content devoted to Bruno's basset hound's "love life", and some to his own love life, and his horse Hector, and while it might've been a little over the top, a fair bit of why I choose to spend time on this series is the culinary and cultural asides. I loved it. This is a book for slowing down and savoring. Plus, medieval siege weaponry. You had me at trebuchet.

The denouement and resolution are satisfying and Bruno once again ties up the loose threads (except possibly of his love life), and he and Balzac and Hector can once again concentrate on the important non-violent aspects of life, love, and wine.

This was such a fun read and I loved it to bits. Long live Bruno!

Five stars.

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