I am currently on my US book tour, and just flew back from sunny Phoenix, Arizona, to find it snowing in Washington DC. Again. 

The Poisoned Pen bookstore in Arizona is one of my favourites, and its founder and owner Barbara Peters is a legendary figure and a dear friend. After my presentation, when I was introduced by the terrific Alaska-based mystery writer Dana Stabenow, we went out to dine in the open air at a great restaurant called Bink’s, whose chef is on the short list for this year’s James Beard award. 

We had a great crowd of Bruno fans at the bookstore, many of whom had bought the UK editions of the books (since they come out months before the US edition). One fan brought me a copy of the UK edition of The Resistance Man which I’d already signed in London, but now I was able to add a personal note.

What is it about being back in the United States that makes me crave a really good hamburger? 

So far, on this visit I have enjoyed a 5 Guys burger with hot green peppers and a splendid half-pounder from Black and Orange which included a Jamaican jerk flavoring that made it very spicy. 

There's a  gourmet burger chain in Britain called Byron which does a very decent burger but somehow on that side of the pond it doesn't feel quite right. Fish 'n chips taste so much better on the British North Sea coast, the best Wiener Schnitzel is found in Vienna and only in France do croissants seem to touch perfection. 

I always thought strawberries were at their best in Britain but now I long for the first fresh ones from my garden in Perigord and the first of my own tomatoes and eggs from my own chickens. 

Is my palate geographically sensitive or is something about the combination of memory, culture and location that goes beyond the purely physical sensation of taste? But how do we explain that can pizzas be magnificent outside Italy and Peking Duck better outside China? 

To mark the release of The Resistance Man in paperback, British booksellers Foyles have announced that they will be naming it mystery novel of the month.

For any recent converts to the Bruno series this is excellent news, as they will also be offering discounts and promotions on the entire Bruno backlist. 

For those of you outside the UK who might be interested, Foyles do sell online, although I'm afraid I don't know whether shipping costs would negate any discounts on offer.

In other news, the seventh Bruno book is now with my publishers, and work on number eight is now well underway. There's a lot to look forward to in St Denis...