Just before dawn one late-summer morning, Bruno is pulled from sleep by the wail of the town siren atop the Mairie, summoning the volunteer firemen of St Denis. A large barn and the fields surrounding it are ablaze. When Bruno arrives at the scene, the smell of petrol leaves no doubt - it was arson.

Added to my "WORLD OF CRIME" Bookbox

Taken from Plum-crazy's World of Crime Book Box. As my TBR pile is massive it may be a while until I can get to this.

I really enjoyed this, it was interesting and a little different from the usual crime thriller. I enjoyed visiting France again, it made me think about having a holiday in this part of the country, I can dream :-)

This is going into The World of Crime Bookbox.

Taken from the World of Crime Bookbox to join tbr mountain for a while. Already looking forward to reading this one.

Having enjoyed the first in this series I do not know why I took so long to get around to reading this second one - or why it took me so long to read it either! Mr Flutterbies9 did read it before me and handed it over to me early this year but I only started it in April and read it piecemeal over the 3 weeks I had it by my bedside. I just seemed to have so much to do that I read much less than usual before going to sleep.

Synopsis.
"In this riveting sequel to Martin Walker's internationally acclaimed novel Bruno, Chief of Police, some of France's great pleasures - wine, passion and intrigue - converge in a dark chain of events that threaten the peaceful village of Saint-Denis.

Benoît (Bruno) Courrèges - devoted friend, cuisinier extraordinaire and the town's only municipal policeman - rushes to the scene when a research station for genetically modified crops is burned down outside Saint-Denis. Bruno immediately suspects a group of fervent environmentalists who live nearby, but the fire is only the first in a string of mysteries centering on the region's fertile soil.

Then a bevy of winemakers descends on Saint-Denis, competing for its land and spurring resentment among the villagers. Romances blossom. Hearts are broken. Some of the sensual pleasures of the town - a dinner of a truffle omelette and grilled bécasses, a community grape-crushing - provide an opportunity for both warm friendship and bitter hostilities to form. The town's rivals - Max, an environmentalist who hopes to make organic wine; Jacqueline, a flirtatious, newly arrived Québécoise; and Fernando, the heir to an American wine fortune - act increasingly erratically. 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.

A splendid mystery - and a delectable serving of the pleasures of France."

This synopsis (courtesy of Fantastic Fiction) really describes it well so I will not try to better it. A more complex and convoluted tale than the last book but enjoyable for all that. The feel of the French region does instil itself through the pages and refreshes the soul. Yes, I did enjoy this book also.

Going on an adventure, happy travels.

France has never been my strong point, Spain is more my destination. I do look forward to reading more about a country I know little about. Thank you Flutterbies9 for the chance to read a new author and series for me. Forever Grateful.