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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Loved the descriptions of food and the cozy feeling of slipping back into small town French life. The doses of French village humor occasionally made me feel like I was reading Peter Mayle again. However, the writing at times felt a bit stilted and over-explanatory - like it could have used a couple of more editorial passes before publication. I loved the deeper dives into French history, but they could have been a little less shoehorned in. I’m not adverse to reading more of this series in the future though! Bruno is a lovable character and I can see why he has such an active fanbase~
Charming but pointed little mystery dealing with racial tension between Europeans and Arabs going back over generations. The setting is a village in the Dordogne area of France. It's a place I once visited, and I enjoyed remembering the caves and cave paintings, canoeing the river, the wonderful street markets and the food of the Perigord region. Ah, duck confit, foie gras, truffles, cheeses, wines ... Anyway, I very much enjoyed the book, and the character of Bruno, the sole policeman in the village, and therefore the Chief of Police. Bruno has seen enough of the world to know how precious are the way of life and the people of his village, and he is determined to protect it from those who mean harm, whether that is the European Union with its food regulations or political toughs with suspected neo-Nazi leanings.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The sleepy little town of St. Denis is shocked by the brutal murder of one of their residents, an Algerian who fought in the French army and lived quietly in the countryside. Chief of police Bruno hates to think that anyone he knows could've killed "our Arab," as he fondly thinks of Hamid, but the murder appears to be racially motivated. A truly interesting detective story.
mysterious
medium-paced
It was fine, recommended to me by others, and ended not being my cup of tea. I didn’t care for Bruno or his town or the people in it. The women were universally objectified or caricatures and I didn’t care. Interesting enough of a mystery but the rest? Not my cup of tea.
3.75. I loved the setting, rich cultural details, and the unexpectedly heartwarming, laid-back vibe—especially for a mystery. However, the contrast with the grim murder and serious WWII history led to some uneven pacing and a less engaging mystery overall. That said, the vivid depiction of the Dordogne has left me dreaming of a trip there, so it's still a win in my book.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An very enjoyable mystery set in the Dordogne. Great food, a very likeable main character, and I learned about French history along the way. You can't beat that!