Amy B. (BaileysBooks) reviewed on 7/8/2015 + 491 more book reviews

This is Book 1 of the Bruno, Chief of Police, series.
To call Mr. Walker's series debut a "murder mystery" is rather unfair, as it manages to incorporate so much more in a surprisingly short amount of time. Bruno is a highly likable character as the Chief of Police in this quiet French town, and he is the kind of person around whom a successful series could easily be built. It is difficult to say what it was that Walker spent more time developing: his characters or the menus, because you are offered generous helpings ob both throughout the entire book.
The mystery itself is an event that is woven seamlessly into the rest of the narrative. At times it slowly unwinds alongside the normal pace of this quiet town, at other times it races along at the speed of the modern world. My enjoyment of this book would have been enhanced, perhaps, if I were more familiar with French history during World War II. Walker quickly advances the plot by unearthing the past, and while he does make efforts to help those (like myself) who are ignorant of French history from this era to get caught up, I couldn't help but feel that many things of significance were passing me by.
This book had a very small town feel, and because of that it was a story that was warm and approachable, in spite of the murder. This was not a psychological thriller, a frantic page turner, or a book with an overly complex plot. It was not overly reliant on technology, the murder was not grisly or primed for shock value, and the ending was much like the beginning: lazy but never slow. It was a promising start to a growing series. I will definitely return for a second helping.

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