• Bruno's Challenge

  • And Other Stories of the French Countryside
  • By: Martin Walker
  • Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie
  • Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (100 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Bruno's Challenge  By  cover art

Bruno's Challenge

By: Martin Walker
Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Martin Walker presents his first collection of Bruno stories featuring all the familiar characters from the novels, the glories of the Périgord, and ample helpings of food and wine.

After a prisoner breaks parole to see his son on Christmas, Bruno must track him down before he throws away his chance at eventual freedom. When a Senegalese man’s coffee sells superbly at the market, some café owners become incensed by the new competition and take matters into their own hands. As a Swiss tourist and a St. Denis native fall in love over the fruit-and-veggie stall, one of their family members takes drastic steps to break them up. A thriving tour bus business is sabotaged, leading Bruno to take a closer look at a town love triangle. Called in to investigate a case of stolen oysters, our beloved policeman reunites with an old flame to catch the shellfish thieves.

In story after story, Bruno settles town disputes, mediates family quarrels, and tracks down lawbreakers in his adored village of St. Denis and its environs. Featured meals in the collection include a fatty Christmas goose, a savory nettle soup with crème fraîche, and a fluffy quiche lorraine.

©2022 Martin Walker (P)2022 Recorded Books

What listeners say about Bruno's Challenge

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    74
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    70
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    59
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

As Always A Delight

A nice collection of shorter stories. Perfect for short trips. Vignettes of Bruno's life in the Périgord without the weight of a murder to solve. Bruno's humanity shines through. The great food and community spirit are a pleasure to imagine.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous series

Fun, interesting, Bruno is a cross between an angel and a cad. If you love France, you learn more. But you can also just love a good tale and a wonderful narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Riveting

Although I do not read short stories very often, I found these to be supremely satisfying. A marvelous way to spend more time with Bruno, Balzac and the marvelous cast of St. Denis characters. Thank you Martin for writing such wonderful stories and thank you Robert for bringing so much life to the reading!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mr. Walker has taken Bruno back to policing and out of super hero behavior.

Wonderful stories of food, wine and the denizens of St. Denis, both two and four-legged.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

didn't care for narration

not at all how i imagined Bruno's voice, also very slow, even when i speeded it up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Outtakes and Ephemera

I love the Bruno series, but this compilation is not a book of short stories. There are, perhaps, two pieces that might qualify, and one of those (Bruno and Pere Noel) has already been released as a single on Audible. The rest is made up of outtakes and ephemera, side plots that have been excised by the editor or author, and detailed descriptions of elaborate meals. Yes, the menus do play an important part in the activities of St. Denis, and they're integral to the books. Nevertheless, they don't stand well on their own. So I feel this is just a compilation thrown together to keep fans interested while waiting for Walker's next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful