The Children Return

By: Martin Walker

Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The seventh novel in Martin Walker's irresistible mystery series set in the South of France and starring Bruno, chief of police.

Bruno, chief of police in the French town of St. Denis, is already busy with a case when the body of an undercover French Muslim cop is found in the woods, a man who had called Bruno for help only hours earlier. But Bruno's sometime boss and rival, the Brigadier, doesn't see this investigation as a priority - there are bigger issues at stake. Bruno has other ideas.

Meanwhile a Muslim youth named Sami turns up at a French army base in Afghanistan hoping to get home to St. Denis. One of Bruno's old army comrades helps to smuggle Sami back to France, but the FBI aren't far behind. Then an American woman appears in St. Denis with a warrant for Sami's extradition. Bruno must unravel these multiple mysteries amid pressure from his bosses and find his own way to protect his town and its people.

©2015 Walker and Watson, Ltd. (P)2015 Recorded Books

I want more

Any additional comments?

I just finished the last of the Bruno series. I have never before felt sad that a series was over...I did with this one. Unlike many detective / police novels I have read or listened to, the Bruno series dropped the typical attempt to keep one on the edge of his or her seat. Instead the author built a whole town and cast of characters each one playing some part (always differing and evolving) in an interesting but not spine-tingling mystery. I got to know each of the characters as complete beings, each with their own interesting and realistic back-story. I loved the well developed sense of place, the tangential day to day lives portrayed, and the detail the author put into Bruno's intriguing cooking. I could almost see and taste that part of Southern France that I never tire of visiting.

Bravo Bruno et Martin!

Walker does it again. Like all his other Detective Bruno books, it’s a hell of a good read!

Gripping and moving

Loved this book. Reliving the kids experience of WWII was so moving and having the school kids present their vision of the memorial was such a clever touch. Sami's story is also well handled, although made aomewhat simplistic to fit into the medium. All in all, well told and I have re- listened at least three times at this point.

Best one so far!

The narrator is just as excellent as the story. Very enjoyable indeed. Don’t overlook this one.

Loved it

Another fantastic read in this amazing series! The characters, descriptions of the countryside,the history and food descriptions add a huge layer of enjoyment

Bruno in a different light

I hate to finish these books because I enjoy "living" in Bruno's world. This was no exception. (Although there was some confusion about different titles.)

Although not the interesting, local mystery we're used to having Bruno solve, this tale of terrorism and WWII history was wonderful. Bruno doesn't carry a gun in his normal line of duty but we see that change in a big way here. All the characters were there - some just in reference if not in person - and we learn more about them. This was a real page-turner and I couldn't put it down. The narration was quite good, as usual.

What is it with Bruno and his women??? :-)

Bruno at his best

I wait in anticipation for new Bruno novels - this one was full of twists and turns. I don't have a favorite because all of them are GOOD.

Bruno confronts the Taliban! Wins!

In Bruno’s small village of St Denis envoys of the Taliban arrive seeking a young former recruit. The story also involves a child hidden in the village during WWll. Connecting all the dots and weaving villagers into the narrative is a delight! I love the Bruno series! Well done Martin Walker!!

The children grew old

crime-fiction, thriller, hate-crimes, unputdownable, France, audiobook, law-enforcement, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, local-politics, Algerian-war, Afghanistan-war, Iraqi-war, cooperation, coercion, murder, torture, investigations, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, religious-abuse, religious-differences, small-town, rural, secrets, lies, historical-places-events, historical-figures, historical-research, history-and-culture, foodie, suspense, witty, due-diligence, French Muslim, triggers, abuse*****

** spoiler alert ** in the beginning there is a brutal murder/torture, in the middle there is fearful involvement of a local family with a Muslim sect involving bombs (and Bruno has a cattle prod used on him in front of the school students), Enter a more than capable (and entrancing) FBI agent, dirty doings uncovered, and a bittersweet ending. I learned a lot of recent history in this one! Great police work complete with cooperation from the FBI and even the press in stringing out the clues and suspects. As addictive as the others I am binge-reading in this series!
Voice actor Robert Ian MacKenzie is excellent with interpretation and character definition, and superior in the rolling tones of French pronunciations.

Better and Better

One of the best series I've ever become immersed in. Entertaining, authentic French history, great characters, great suspense, realistic outcomes, great narration (you guys that don't like Ian McKenzie are not on this boat ,I think).
I've learned that bad wine is a travesty!!! The sequels slide easily together. I am searching for a Bruno in my own life!!!!