You spend a larger than average percentage of your life reading, you believe yourself to be fairly well clued up on books and writers, and then you come across someone who’ve you’ve never read and somehow never heard of who has written numerous books and… you feel pretty stupid!
Martin Walker – I am so sorry! The old adage better late than never twinkles its way into my vernacular but really there’s no excuse. I will do better I promise and seek out your previous works.
But, dear reader, I can hear you asking, why would you do that? I would do that because I am completely bewitched by Inspector Benoit ‘Bruno’ Courreges! A delightful paradox of pragmatism and altruism who detects his way around the Dordogne with unobtrusive, unconventional policing.
The Body in the Castle Well sees an educated and possibly privileged young American girl arrive at an untimely end at the bottom of a well. As her story unfolds, the presence of the FBI and the US Embassy suggests there is maybe more to her death than an unfortunate accident. And that’s as much as I’ll say as you have entered a spoiler free zone.
So? Sounds like a good old gallic crime yarn then, eh? Yes it is but it’s also a hell of a lot more. The investigation into the student’s death does dominate the narrative, as it indeed it should, but it is aided and abetted by an homage to Josephine Baker, some history, WWII and the resistance, some falconry, something for the wine connoisseur, some art (I loved this line, ‘The art world can make the Wild West look like Sunday School’!), a little genealogy and some gastronomy! If you want to prepare navarin of lamb there’s practically a full recipe contained within these pages. In fact, I would advise not reading when you’re hungry because there’s passages here that will have you salivating. However, if that sounds like there’s not enough pages left to investigate a crime rest assured that the author never lets Bruno lose hold of his aim and his maxim ’motive, means and opportunity’ stands him in good stead as he sleuths his way around the village of Limeuil.
The book triggered a multitude of thoughts; I thought of Julien Baptiste from the TV show, I thought of the village in Chocolat and I thought of Maigret. And I thought of rural France and that particular ambience it creates that Mr. Walker has so lovingly described in this book.
There’s an ease within the writing style that, at times, belies the complexity of the plot for it is a multi-stranded plot involving several potentially dubious characters. They’re convincing and believable as is the wonderful and talented Bruno! How come this series hasn’t hit the TV screens? I’ve already admitted that this is my first Bruno book but I can see the potential for an innovative crime/cookery series? The crime is the main thrust of the show but in the middle Bruno demonstrates how to cook a classic French dish? Genre fusion gone mad? But it might just work.
But was there a crime, was it solved and does everyone live happily ever after? Well, I could tell you but then I’d have to shoot you and the only advantage to that is that Bruno right come and investigate me?! So best you read the book.
Gill Chedgey, NB Magazine
Martin Walker – I am so sorry! The old adage better late than never twinkles its way into my vernacular but really there’s no excuse. I will do better I promise and seek out your previous works.
But, dear reader, I can hear you asking, why would you do that? I would do that because I am completely bewitched by Inspector Benoit ‘Bruno’ Courreges! A delightful paradox of pragmatism and altruism who detects his way around the Dordogne with unobtrusive, unconventional policing.
The Body in the Castle Well sees an educated and possibly privileged young American girl arrive at an untimely end at the bottom of a well. As her story unfolds, the presence of the FBI and the US Embassy suggests there is maybe more to her death than an unfortunate accident. And that’s as much as I’ll say as you have entered a spoiler free zone.
So? Sounds like a good old gallic crime yarn then, eh? Yes it is but it’s also a hell of a lot more. The investigation into the student’s death does dominate the narrative, as it indeed it should, but it is aided and abetted by an homage to Josephine Baker, some history, WWII and the resistance, some falconry, something for the wine connoisseur, some art (I loved this line, ‘The art world can make the Wild West look like Sunday School’!), a little genealogy and some gastronomy! If you want to prepare navarin of lamb there’s practically a full recipe contained within these pages. In fact, I would advise not reading when you’re hungry because there’s passages here that will have you salivating. However, if that sounds like there’s not enough pages left to investigate a crime rest assured that the author never lets Bruno lose hold of his aim and his maxim ’motive, means and opportunity’ stands him in good stead as he sleuths his way around the village of Limeuil.
The book triggered a multitude of thoughts; I thought of Julien Baptiste from the TV show, I thought of the village in Chocolat and I thought of Maigret. And I thought of rural France and that particular ambience it creates that Mr. Walker has so lovingly described in this book.
There’s an ease within the writing style that, at times, belies the complexity of the plot for it is a multi-stranded plot involving several potentially dubious characters. They’re convincing and believable as is the wonderful and talented Bruno! How come this series hasn’t hit the TV screens? I’ve already admitted that this is my first Bruno book but I can see the potential for an innovative crime/cookery series? The crime is the main thrust of the show but in the middle Bruno demonstrates how to cook a classic French dish? Genre fusion gone mad? But it might just work.
But was there a crime, was it solved and does everyone live happily ever after? Well, I could tell you but then I’d have to shoot you and the only advantage to that is that Bruno right come and investigate me?! So best you read the book.
Gill Chedgey, NB Magazine
With a title like The Body in the Castle Well, there are no prizes for guessing what’s happened to American art student Claudia Muller who is reported missing at the beginning of the 12th outing for Bruno Courrèges, Chief of Police for the Vézère valley, the heartland of the Dordogne region of France.
Claudia, well-connected and rich, was staying in the picturesque village of Limeuil, studying with local expert Monsieur de Bourdeille as she worked on her doctorate in art history. She had been last seen attending a lecture in the castle of Limeuil and had left to go home immediately the lecture ended, saying she didn’t feel well.
With the help of Balzac the basset hound, Bruno tracks the missing woman to a deep well in the castle grounds, which had been left uncovered by workmen doing some renovations at the castle. An impromptu descent by Bruno is enough to ascertain that there is indeed a body in the well, which is quickly recovered – along with a cat (alive) – by the local pompiers.
Bruno has to work through a long list of attendees at the talk, which promptly casts suspicion on a wide net, whilst having the dead woman’s equally rich and well-connected mother and her own private investigator breathing down Bruno’s neck. Claudia’s parents are divorced, which brings a double dose of problems and it’s quickly clear that Bruno and his colleagues will need to watch their backs as they attempt to ascertain whether Claudia’s death was a tragic accident or something more sinister.
Bruno, now covering the whole of the Vézère valley from Limeuil in the south to Montignac in the north, is now a one-man crime magnet in a much wider area than his beloved home town of St Denis, which gives an even wider scope for former journalist Martin Walker to milk the rich history of the Perigord region, famous for its caves and castles. Every book proceeds by way of a series of fascinating bunny-hops, each landing on a different aspect of the history and culture of the area. Every book has a different historical angle and this one concerns art history.
As an avid watcher of TV’s Fake or Fortune, I was at home in the background to this book, and enjoyed the fruits of Walker’s latest research as Bruno delves into the unfamiliar and distinctly murky world of expensive art, where provenance is king, and the value of a piece of art can sky-rocket if it is proved to be by a certain artist – and equally well plummet if the provenance turns out to be at best dubious and at worst faked. This is the suspicion that hangs over de Bourdeille, the eminent art historian who drew Claudia to Limeuil.
The story behind the Body in the Well is as well researched as I’ve come to expect from Walker and takes Bruno back to some solid police work as he follows the evidence to work out whether Claudia’s death was accident or murder. There are the inevitable dinner parties with loving attention paid to the menu and Bruno’s mouth-watering culinary expertise, and the equally inevitable appearance of Bruno’s irritating on-off girlfriend, local riding school owner Pamela.
I’m afraid she only has to turn up to ramp up my irritation by several notches, particularly when she decides that she wants Bruno back in her bed, and naturally all she has to do is crook her finger for him to come running. I’ve got a lot more time for Bruno’s equally on-off relationship with Isabelle, who has no intention of giving up her high-flying career in Paris for the quiet life in Bruno’s beloved Perigord, although there’s nothing particularly quiet about the murder rate in the area!
If you read the Bruno books for the local colour, you certainly won’t be disappointed. As an aside, you’ll get a glimpse into the fascinating life of Josephine Baker, celebrated singer, dancer and war heroine whose life and work is celebrated at the nearby Chateau des Milandes, which is also well worth a visit. Bruno’s friend Amelie will be performing in a concert there, which gives scope for more history, as well as allowing suspicion to fall on the recently released Laurent, who’s served ten years for causing several deaths in a road traffic accident while being just over the legal limit for alcohol in his blood and who is now working with the birds of prey at the chateau.
The Body in the Well is a good addition to the series, with plenty going on as Bruno navigates his way through an unfamiliar world, using what another famous detective would have referred to as his little grey cells to unravel the mystery of Claudia Muller’s death.
Linda Wilson, crimereview.co.uk
Claudia, well-connected and rich, was staying in the picturesque village of Limeuil, studying with local expert Monsieur de Bourdeille as she worked on her doctorate in art history. She had been last seen attending a lecture in the castle of Limeuil and had left to go home immediately the lecture ended, saying she didn’t feel well.
With the help of Balzac the basset hound, Bruno tracks the missing woman to a deep well in the castle grounds, which had been left uncovered by workmen doing some renovations at the castle. An impromptu descent by Bruno is enough to ascertain that there is indeed a body in the well, which is quickly recovered – along with a cat (alive) – by the local pompiers.
Bruno has to work through a long list of attendees at the talk, which promptly casts suspicion on a wide net, whilst having the dead woman’s equally rich and well-connected mother and her own private investigator breathing down Bruno’s neck. Claudia’s parents are divorced, which brings a double dose of problems and it’s quickly clear that Bruno and his colleagues will need to watch their backs as they attempt to ascertain whether Claudia’s death was a tragic accident or something more sinister.
Bruno, now covering the whole of the Vézère valley from Limeuil in the south to Montignac in the north, is now a one-man crime magnet in a much wider area than his beloved home town of St Denis, which gives an even wider scope for former journalist Martin Walker to milk the rich history of the Perigord region, famous for its caves and castles. Every book proceeds by way of a series of fascinating bunny-hops, each landing on a different aspect of the history and culture of the area. Every book has a different historical angle and this one concerns art history.
As an avid watcher of TV’s Fake or Fortune, I was at home in the background to this book, and enjoyed the fruits of Walker’s latest research as Bruno delves into the unfamiliar and distinctly murky world of expensive art, where provenance is king, and the value of a piece of art can sky-rocket if it is proved to be by a certain artist – and equally well plummet if the provenance turns out to be at best dubious and at worst faked. This is the suspicion that hangs over de Bourdeille, the eminent art historian who drew Claudia to Limeuil.
The story behind the Body in the Well is as well researched as I’ve come to expect from Walker and takes Bruno back to some solid police work as he follows the evidence to work out whether Claudia’s death was accident or murder. There are the inevitable dinner parties with loving attention paid to the menu and Bruno’s mouth-watering culinary expertise, and the equally inevitable appearance of Bruno’s irritating on-off girlfriend, local riding school owner Pamela.
I’m afraid she only has to turn up to ramp up my irritation by several notches, particularly when she decides that she wants Bruno back in her bed, and naturally all she has to do is crook her finger for him to come running. I’ve got a lot more time for Bruno’s equally on-off relationship with Isabelle, who has no intention of giving up her high-flying career in Paris for the quiet life in Bruno’s beloved Perigord, although there’s nothing particularly quiet about the murder rate in the area!
If you read the Bruno books for the local colour, you certainly won’t be disappointed. As an aside, you’ll get a glimpse into the fascinating life of Josephine Baker, celebrated singer, dancer and war heroine whose life and work is celebrated at the nearby Chateau des Milandes, which is also well worth a visit. Bruno’s friend Amelie will be performing in a concert there, which gives scope for more history, as well as allowing suspicion to fall on the recently released Laurent, who’s served ten years for causing several deaths in a road traffic accident while being just over the legal limit for alcohol in his blood and who is now working with the birds of prey at the chateau.
The Body in the Well is a good addition to the series, with plenty going on as Bruno navigates his way through an unfamiliar world, using what another famous detective would have referred to as his little grey cells to unravel the mystery of Claudia Muller’s death.
Linda Wilson, crimereview.co.uk
If you haven’t already met the epicurean French detective, Lieutenant Bruno Courrèges, then The Body in the Castle Well could be your perfect starter.
Lovers of clever crime mysteries, fascinating history, stunning scenery, excellent cuisine, and the very best of French wines have been enjoying sharing time with the chief of police in prize-winning historian and journalist Martin Walker’s exceptionally entertaining Dordogne novels for the past eleven years.
Walker, who spends most of his time in the Périgord region – the gastronomic heartland of France – has mastered the fine art of harnessing intriguing murder mysteries with paeans to his adopted country’s rich history, landscape and culture, serving up stories with an addictive brand of Gallic charm.
At the heart of these superb novels is the laidback Bruno, a bon viveur with a brain as discerning as his palate… a man who can crack crime in the fictional town of St Denis whilst cracking open a bottle of the most expensive Château Margaux.
In his twelfth mystery, rich American art student, Claudia Muller, is found dead at the bottom of an ancient well in the beautiful village of Limeuil. The 25-year-old daughter of a millionaire financier had been working in the archives of eminent French art historian, Pierre de Bourdeille, a disabled Resistance war hero, at his art-filled hilltop castle, and she had become suspicious about aspects of his work.
Her death is at first assumed to be an accident, related to opioid drugs found in her body, but Bruno becomes convinced that this case is not so simple. His investigations take him into the past of de Bourdeille, the nonagenarian art expert who became wealthy through the sale of paintings whose provenance could have been forged.
In his younger days, de Bourdeille had aided the Resistance and been arrested by a Vichy policeman whose own life story also becomes inexorably entangled with the case. Also in the mix is a young falconer who works at the Château des Milandes, the former home of fabled jazz singer Josephine Baker.
As Claudia father’s White House connections order the US Embassy and the FBI to get involved, Bruno traces the people and events that led to the woman’s death… and once more, it seems the long arm of French history has reached out to find a new victim.
Walker is on his best form as Bruno tackles an intriguing case which takes him from a small château in the breathtaking countryside of Limeuil – known as one of the loveliest villages in France – and the ruins of Berlin in 1945 to France’s colonial war in Algeria, forays into art provenance and falconry, and the secrets of a delicious navarin of lamb.
And it is this eclectic mix that has turned Walker’s amiable detective into the culinary crime king of rural France as his atmospheric and wonderfully complex whodunits magically morph into wish-you-were-here feasts full of food, humour and sensory delights.
New readers cannot help but be enchanted by the very human – and intensely humane – Bruno and his world, and seasoned fans can enjoy meeting up with old friends and familiar faces from past encounters in St Denis.
Fun, satisfying, and quirkily and quintessentially French…
Book-Marked
Lovers of clever crime mysteries, fascinating history, stunning scenery, excellent cuisine, and the very best of French wines have been enjoying sharing time with the chief of police in prize-winning historian and journalist Martin Walker’s exceptionally entertaining Dordogne novels for the past eleven years.
Walker, who spends most of his time in the Périgord region – the gastronomic heartland of France – has mastered the fine art of harnessing intriguing murder mysteries with paeans to his adopted country’s rich history, landscape and culture, serving up stories with an addictive brand of Gallic charm.
At the heart of these superb novels is the laidback Bruno, a bon viveur with a brain as discerning as his palate… a man who can crack crime in the fictional town of St Denis whilst cracking open a bottle of the most expensive Château Margaux.
In his twelfth mystery, rich American art student, Claudia Muller, is found dead at the bottom of an ancient well in the beautiful village of Limeuil. The 25-year-old daughter of a millionaire financier had been working in the archives of eminent French art historian, Pierre de Bourdeille, a disabled Resistance war hero, at his art-filled hilltop castle, and she had become suspicious about aspects of his work.
Her death is at first assumed to be an accident, related to opioid drugs found in her body, but Bruno becomes convinced that this case is not so simple. His investigations take him into the past of de Bourdeille, the nonagenarian art expert who became wealthy through the sale of paintings whose provenance could have been forged.
In his younger days, de Bourdeille had aided the Resistance and been arrested by a Vichy policeman whose own life story also becomes inexorably entangled with the case. Also in the mix is a young falconer who works at the Château des Milandes, the former home of fabled jazz singer Josephine Baker.
As Claudia father’s White House connections order the US Embassy and the FBI to get involved, Bruno traces the people and events that led to the woman’s death… and once more, it seems the long arm of French history has reached out to find a new victim.
Walker is on his best form as Bruno tackles an intriguing case which takes him from a small château in the breathtaking countryside of Limeuil – known as one of the loveliest villages in France – and the ruins of Berlin in 1945 to France’s colonial war in Algeria, forays into art provenance and falconry, and the secrets of a delicious navarin of lamb.
And it is this eclectic mix that has turned Walker’s amiable detective into the culinary crime king of rural France as his atmospheric and wonderfully complex whodunits magically morph into wish-you-were-here feasts full of food, humour and sensory delights.
New readers cannot help but be enchanted by the very human – and intensely humane – Bruno and his world, and seasoned fans can enjoy meeting up with old friends and familiar faces from past encounters in St Denis.
Fun, satisfying, and quirkily and quintessentially French…
Book-Marked
