annieb123's Review of Bruno's Challenge

by Martin Walker

Martin Walker presents his first collection of stories featuring all the familiar characters from his Bruno novels and the glories of the Périgord region of France, with ample helpings of food and wine.

"Whether preparing nettle soup, liaising with the Police Nationale or reading boar scat, Bruno remains focused and efficient.... Turn immediately to Martin Walker’s new platter of delicious morsels.”—The Washington Post

After a prisoner breaks parole to see his son on Christmas, Bruno must track him down before he throws away his chance at eventual freedom. When a Senegalese man’s coffee sells superbly at the market, some café owners become incensed by the new competition and take matters into their own hands. As a Swiss tourist and a St. Denis native fall in love over the fruit-and-veggie stall, one of their family members takes drastic steps to break them up. A fledgling tour bus business is sabotaged, leading Bruno to take a closer look at a town love triangle. Called in to investigate a case of stolen oysters, our beloved policeman reunites with an old flame to catch the shellfish thieves.

In story after story, Bruno settles town disputes, mediates family quarrels, and tracks down lawbreakers in his adored village of St. Denis and its environs. Featured meals in the collection include a fatty Christmas goose, a savory nettle soup with crème fraîche, and a fluffy quiche Lorraine.

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Bruno's Challenge and Other Stories of the French Countryside is a quaint and gently written collection of short stories featuring the main characters from the Bruno, Chief of Police novels by Martin Walker. Due out 15th March 2022 from Knopf Doubleday on their Knopf imprint, it's 256 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

These books are so very well written and so comforting to read. They're gentle stories, full of slice-of-life anecdotes and told well, with drama and sometimes pathos, good (but never cruel) moments of humour and always, always good food, wine, and friends. That's what keeps me coming back. I love reading the delicious food commentary and preparation and the rich atmosphere of the French countryside and Bruno's circle of friends, associates, and acquaintances.

Most of the stories also contain one or more small everyday mysteries which are generally well resolved by the end of each tale. The bulk of these stories have been released as individual shorts earlier, though this is their first collection in one volume. There is very little in the way of backstory provided, and as such, they're probably not the best entry into the series as a whole. For current fans of Bruno, and Mr. Walker's beautifully living French countryside, these stories are a treat.

Four and a half stars.

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

Bruno's Challenge

by Martin Walker

Reviewed by annieb123 on Mar 14, 2022

Reading updates