The Dark Vineyard - (Bruno, Chief of Police) by Martin Walker (Paperback)

About the Book

Gourmand law enforcer Bruno Courráeges investigates both an arson fire that targeted a GMO crop-research station and two mysterious deaths which are somehow related to the competition between three winemakers for a fertile Saint-Denis property.

Book Synopsis

The second installment in the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Bruno, Chief of Police: When a bevy of winemakers descend on Saint-Denis the idyllic town finds itself the center of an intense drama, with suspicious fires at the agricultural research station that is working on genetically-modified crops.

Two young men--Max, an environmentalist who hopes to make organic wine, and Fernando, the heir to an American wine fortune--become rivals for the affections of Jacqueline, a flirtatious, newly arrived Québécoise student of wine. Events grow ever darker, culminating in two suspicious deaths, and Bruno finds that the problems of the present are never far from those of the past.

"Captivating...Sure to appeal to readers with a palate for mysteries with social nuance and understated charm." --The Wall Street Journal

"A gentle reminder to slow down and smell the grapes.... [Walker] beguiles the reader." --The New York Tiems Book Review

"The real pleasure of the book is the place itself.... As readers are drawn into wine-stomping parties, truffle omelet dinners, and the aged dignity of a French hunting hound, the narrative tension gathers." --Houston Chronicle

Review Quotes

"A gentle reminder to slow down and smell the grapes. . . . [Walker] beguiles the reader." --The New York Times Book Review

"Captivating. . . . Sure to appeal to readers with a palate for mysteries with social nuance and understated charm." --The Wall Street Journal

"The real pleasure of the book is the place itself. . . . As readers are drawn into wine-stomping parties, truffle omelet dinners, and the aged dignity of a French hunting hound, the narrative tension gathers." --Houston Chronicle

"Affectionate . . . Engrossing . . . Gripping . . . Walker's mystery is written with a polished prose and an authority that's shoulders above most crime fiction." --Beverly Hills Courier

"Romance, intrigue, and many a fine glass of wine await in Walker's charming second mystery set in idyllic Saint-Denis . . . Walker serves up wry wit, suspense, and a host of captivating characters . . . Oenophiles and armchair travelers alike will enjoy spending time in this lovely, lively part of France." --Booklist (Starred review)

"Lyrical . . . Walker evokes his French community's celebrations of wine, food, love, and friendship with obvious affection but without sentimentality. His villagers are no more immune from modern times than the rest of us--they just drink better wine." --Publishers Weekly

"Walker blends food, wine, community, history, tradition, and general love of the Perigord . . . A poem to the region." --Kirkus Reviews

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 bestsellers in Europe and have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He divides his time between Washington, D.C., and the Dordogne.