A Shooting at Chateau Rock

The Dordogne Mysteries, Book 13

By: Martin Walker

Narrated by: Peter Noble

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Millions of listeners worldwide are talking about the Dordogne Mysteries. Discover why and join them with this gripping new listen starring Bruno Chief of Police, France's favourite cop.

Following the funeral of a local farmer, Bruno gets a phone call from his son. He tells Bruno that before his father's sudden death, he had signed over his property to an insurance company in return for a subscription to a luxury retirement home. Bruno discovers that both the retirement home and the insurance company are scams with links to a Russian oligarch whose dealings are already being tracked by the French police.

Meanwhile an aging British rock star is selling his home, Chateau Rock. The star's son returns for the summer with his Russian girlfriend. As Bruno pursues his inquiries into the farmer's death and the stolen inheritance, he learns that the oligarch is none other than the girlfriend's father. Bruno's talents are tested to the limit as he untangles a Gordian Knot of criminality that reaches as far as the Kremlin.

But luckily Bruno still has time to cook delicious meals for his friends and enjoy the life of his beloved Dordogne. What's more, love is in the air. His pedigree basset, Balzac, is old enough to breed. Bruno heads for the kennels where a suitable beauty, Diane de Poitiers, is ready and waiting for Balzac's attentions.... 

©2020 Watson & Walker Limited (P)2020 Quercus Editions Limited

Critic reviews

"Will make readers long for lazy days in rural France." (Irish Independent)

Bruno strikes again!

As expected in this series a good mix of action and adventure with a good number of recipes casually inserted with the story.

Classic Bruno

Ticks all the boxes for a bruno novel with plenty of intrigued to the very end.

Relaxing and fun.

Bruno's adventures continue and "A Shooting at Chateau Rock" offers another fun mystery exploring several French historical periods. What a treat!

terribly read

couldn't listen to it. narrator did too bad a job at fake French accent. didn't sound at all natural.

Another hit in a great series. Great crime stories, absorbing but not heavy reading.

This is another well written story with well established characters and a topical background of Russian interference in the Ukraine. Martin Walker’s journalistic skills ensure that these novels have more depth and are rooted in wider history and current affairs beyond the Dordogne.
Readers who enjoy the crime genre and appreciate the many references to this area of France, its history, culture and of course its cuisine will not be disappointed. After investing your time in these books I think readers will be satisfied with the endings and this one is no exception. Loose ends are always neatly tied up and in keeping with the essential lightness of the books. To get the most out of this book though you need to be familiar with the main characters so I would recommend starting at book 1 and listening to them in order. Book 1 is a decent intro but the series gets better. I enjoyed Bill Wallis’ narration from book 2 -4 but feel that Peter Noble’s narration suits the series perfectly.

helped pass the many hours I spent in the car

The story was good but ... there was a little to much verbosity around the production of food. The parts which involved the mating of his dog were weird, nonsensical and quite fantastical into farce.

Too much paddling.

Narration absolutely fine. Detective plot fine, but too much food and wine detail. It is not a cookery book!

not Martin walkers best Bruno story

disappointing all the other books more interesting. Too many recipes not enough substance. Glad this book was not the first I read.

A brilliant plot

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A glimpse of rural France made my mouth water and I found it hard to put down. Hope the recipes are published somewhere!

Disappointed after waiting for release.

Disappointing as the story was weak and difficult to follow. Too much padding, not enough action, and too much politicising throughout the book.