Book : The Coldest Case A Bruno, Chief Of Police Novel...

-Titulo Original : The Coldest Case A Bruno, Chief Of Police Novel (bruno, Chief Of Police Series)

-Fabricante :

Vintage

-Descripcion Original:

An anonymous skull, an unsolved murder-Bruno’s investigation into a long-standing cold case finds him caught between an enigmatic winegrower and a menacing remnant of the Cold War.After attending an exhibit on the facial reconstruction of ancient skulls, chief of police Bruno Courreges wonders if this technology might provide an invaluable clue to a thirty-year-old cold case. But learning the identity of the murder victim is only the beginning. The investigation quickly turns thorny and leads Bruno to a reclusive vintner, Henri Bazaine, whose education at a vocational school in a formerly Communist region has raised some eyebrows. An inquiry into the defunct school turns up shadowy reports of possible connections to the Stasi. And the scrutiny on Henri only intensifies once Bruno discovers that he was declared dead thirty years ago… and has been living under an assumed name ever since. The strange case is further complicated as Parisian bureaucrats get involved, hinting that essential diplomatic relations might be at stake. And to make matters even worse, the Dordogne is suffering from an intense summer drought that is sparking fires across the region. But as always, Bruno will keep a cool head through it all--and, bien sur, find time to enjoy the bounty of the Perigord! Review “Walker really shines in portraying the Dordogne-and Bruno’s idyllic life there. . . . New readers to the series can comfortably start here-Walker has the rare ability in a series writer of orienting old and new readers alike. A feast.”-Connie Fletcher, Booklist (starred review)“While I am an avid fan of one-sitting, page-turner books . . . I am also quite taken with books that force me to pause every few pages or so to savor and reflect a bit before continuing-to enjoy a deft turn of phrase or imagine the smells and sounds of the locale. Martin Walker’s books fall squarely into the latter category, and his latest, The Coldest Case, is a prime example.”-Bruce Tierney, BookPage (starred review)“Packed with descriptions of the food Courreges and his friends cook, of the gorgeous French countryside and of the local community, this book is pure escapism. . . . It is a delight to dip into [Bruno’s] sun-baked world.”-The Observer (London) “Bruno Courreges has a life the rest of us can only dream about. . . . Walker weaves an exciting story against a backdrop of bucolic bliss.”-Daily Mail (London)“Three different elements need to be addressed in Martin Walkers latest novel. First, the quality of writing, which is quite simply super. Second, the story, which in and of itself is enough to elevate this to the top echelon of police crime dramas. But the unexpected bonus is the culinary descriptions. They add a unique spice to the story, as they form a beautiful bond with the region, the people, and the art of good cooking. Highly recommended.”-Davis Bunn About the Author MARTIN WALKER, after a long career of working in international journalism and for think tanks, now gardens, cooks, explores vineyards, writes, travels, and has never been more busy. He divides his time between Washington, D.C., and the Dordogne. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1The three skulls transfixed him. The first, the original that had been unearthed after seventy thousand years, was not quite complete. Beside it stood a reconstruction, an exact copy artificially filled in with the missing parts of the jaw and cranium. Behind them, glowing eerily in the museum’s carefully crafted lighting, was a copy or perhaps a casting of the same skull made from an almost transparent blue plastic. Maybe it was a trick of the light that made it seem larger than the others. Reluctantly, Bruno Courreges shifted his glance back to the original, whose caption said it was the closest to a perfect Neanderthal skull ever found. It came from the rock shelter of La Ferrassie, a place he passed each day as he drove from his ho