The third installment in Martin Walker’s delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno is receiving rave reviews. Filled with mouth-watering descriptions of food and wine (a venison casserole, a crème brulée, and, of course, many, many truffles)
and vivid descriptions of village life (a rugby match, a wake, the market), The Black Diamond–like Bruno, Chief of Police
and The Dark Vineyard–is a book for Francophiles, foodies, fans of Peter Mayle, and the thinking mystery lover.
“Mouth-watering . . . Walker’s fluid writing keeps getting better.” -Michael Leonard, Curled Up with a Good Book
“Martin Walker’s series is Kool-Aid for Francophiles and a potion to convert remaining skeptics to the joie de vivre that infuses French life . . . [Black Diamond] has all the elements that have attracted a large and growing following to the novels—an endearing hero who is not only a jack of all trades but also master of them, an idyllic village in southern France steeped in culinary tradition, and a host of quirky but lovable local characters . . . Everyone needs a friend in southern France to go spend some time with, and Walker has opened Bruno’s door to anyone who has a few hours to join him in the simple joys of la vie en rose.” -Darrell Delamaide, Washington Independent
“Gallic charm suffuses Walker’s third mystery of the French countryside . . . Like the aroma of amateur chef Bruno’s venison stew, which virtually leaps off the pages, Walker’s unmistakable affection for the ‘enchanting Périgord’ makes every morsel of this cozy-cum-crime novel a savory delight.” -Starred review, Publishers Weekly
“A paean to the truffle . . . This political thriller is supplemented by a glorious foodie’s delight, from an author who knows his way around the French passions.” -Kirkus
“Murder and misdeeds keep French policeman Bruno Courrèges on his toes in this third installment in Walker’s consistently charming series . . . Bruno may be a small-town copy, but he’s anything but small-minded. Walker has created a character who’s endearingly human and worldly wise.” -Booklist
“A charming French village, great food, eccentric characters and a mystery to nudge things along . . . Bruno Courrèges, the village’s brave, brainy and only policeman, has his hands full . . . Bruno traces the links among [the book’s] events, revealing unsavory secrets from France’s colonial history. On the other hand, he eats some memorable meals—and they’re savory indeed.” -Adam Woog, The Seattle Times
“In Walker’s hands, Black Diamond becomes a savory mystery, a light concoction with tantalizing ingredients.” -Douglass K. Daniel, Associated Press
“Before you crack open the pages of Walker’s new novel, make sure and pour yourself a glass of red wine. Better have some cheese with a baguette close at hand too, because this book is deliciously good . . . While the plot is a page-turner, the real allure of this novel lies with the author’s other ingredients: the rich French food, the historical detail of the picturesque region and the eccentric cast of characters, including a truffle-hunting basset hound named Gigi . . . An enticing mix of the savory and suspenseful, a recipe for a great read.” -Christian DuChateau, CNN