The first installment in the delightful internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno. Meet Benot Courrges aka Bruno a policeman in a small village in the South of France. Hes a former soldier who has embraced the pleasures and slow rhythms of country life. He has a gun but never wears it he has the power to arrest but never uses it. But then the murder of an elderly North African who fought in the French army changes all that. Now Bruno must balance his beloved routinesliving in his restored shepherds cottage shopping at the local market drinking wine strolling the countrysidewith a politically delicate investigation. Hes paired with a young policewoman from Paris and the two suspect antiimmigrant militants. As they learn more about the dead mans past Brunos suspicions turn toward a more complex motive. Enjoyable.... Martin Walker plots with the same finesse with which Bruno can whip up a truffle omelette and both have a clear appreciation for a life tied to the land. The Christian Science Monitor A nice literary pairing with the slowfood movement.... It is lovely...to linger at the table. Entertainment Weekly A wonderfully crafted novel as satisfying as a French pastry but with none of the guilt or calories. Tuscon Citizens Journal show more