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Bruno, Chief of Police  By  cover art

Bruno, Chief of Police

By: Martin Walker
Narrated by: Robert Ian MacKenzie
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Publisher's summary

Bruno is a former soldier who has embraced the pleasures and slow rhythms of country life - living in his restored shepherd's cottage; patronizing the weekly market; sparring with, and basically ignoring, the European Union bureaucrats from Brussels.

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 everything and galvanizes Bruno's attention: the man was found with a swastika carved into his chest. Bruno soon discovers that even his seemingly perfect corner of la belle France is not exempt from that period's sinister legacy.

©2008 Walker and Watson Ltd. (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

What listeners say about Bruno, Chief of Police

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I really loved this book

Seven years ago, my wife and I went to France to visit friends that live live there. We loved France. More than the wonder of Paris, which was incredible, we enjoyed time in the relatively small town that our friends lived in. Walking to get bread in the morning with gardens and old homes and churches on nearly every corner we felt why Europe and US are very different culturally.

Bruno feels very French. He is interested in food and wine (and we hear quite a bit about that.) But he is more interested in the people of his community. This community has adopted him and he loves them.

Bruno is the police chief of a very small community in France. There has been a vicious murder, not only the first murder in recent memory, but one that exposes some of the nasty undercurrents of the community. Bruno has the job of not only solving the murder, but protecting the town from outsiders that have no interest in it.

This is a book that not only celebrates French culture, but small town rural culture. It is a slow meandering mystery interested in the details of life as much as the chase. The community was a clear character of the story, as was small town French culture. I tend to not be a huge fan of mysteries, but I have found a number recently that I have really enjoyed (Back to Murder, Her Royal Spyness, and the Peter Wimsey Mysteries). This was as good if not better than those. I almost would call it a cozy mystery, but it misses a number of traditional markers of that genre. There was real humor and personal relationship in the book. While the mystery was real, it does feel like this first book in a series that now has many books was more about building the characters and setting than the mystery itself.

I am not saying this is not a throwaway book, instead it was one of the better fiction books I have read in a while.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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5

The narrator does a wonderful job of picking up readers and taking them to a surprisingly well plotted murder mystery. Excellent. Surprising.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Just didn't finish

looking forward to this book, but it stalls with a lackluster finish for me. great imagery and fun characters. Hopefully the next installment has some twist and turns.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bruno is smart, like-able, humble chief.

This book was a delightful introduction to Bruno and his charming rural community. I can’t wait to read the entire series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bruno, Chief of Police

Loved it beginning to end
I will soon look at more in this series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but hardly cozy and gentle!

This mystery/crime novel is very evocative of France, french history and country life. But, it is not a cozy, gentle story. Drugs, sex, violent crime, war crimes and vengeance makes for quite the mix. This balanced out with artful descriptions of local food, markets, picnics, dinner parties, gardening and keeping chickens! Bruno is a busy, complex, and smart multi talented chief of police. But, I agree with a previous reviewer--the narrator ought to have given him a French voice--the British accent was a bit confusing. Worth a listen--but don't go into it looking for a warm and cozy mystery. In reality, it is a look into a dark aspect of France in WWII.

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73 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A very good listen.

If you could sum up Bruno, Chief of Police in three words, what would they be?

Yummy, Intriguing, Current

What other book might you compare Bruno, Chief of Police to and why?

The MC Beaton books, small village, smart cop, with a love life that is unresolved. I like Bruno better though, he is an incredible cook and seems to have a better outlook on life.

What about Robert Ian MacKenzie???s performance did you like?

Good characterizations and seemed to capture what the author was intending.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not that I can remember.

Any additional comments?

The writing is good and keeps you listening, wonderful characters, great descriptions and a look at current problems in France that I knew nothing about.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Trés charmant!

If you are a francophile, you will love this book. It really captures the feel of rural France. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What a Wonderful New Find

I never heard of this series before I saw the first book on sale, but it sounded interesting so I took a chance and I'm so glad I did. I loved everything about this book– the setting, characters, pacing, protagonist, etc. – with just one exception. It could've had a more exciting climax and, at the end, a bit more resolution. Otherwise, it was darn near perfect. I will be recommending this widely, and I'll certainly continue reading with the next book in the series. It's a delight.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it.

it was a great story. I loved it. now on to the next inn the series..

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