The Coldest Case

'Evocative descriptions of the Perigord ... distinctive characters ... intricate mystery. Readers new to this series will feel right at home' Publishers Weekly starred review

Capturing the magic of the Dordogne and its people, the Dordogne Mysteries are worldwide bestsellers. Featuring Bruno, France's favourite policeman, along with gourmet food and wine, local colour, sunshine and murder mystery, no wonder they are so popular.

Bruno Courreges is Chief of Police of the lovely town of St Denis in the Dordogne. His main wish is to keep the local people safe and his town free from crime. But crime has a way of finding its way to him.

For thirty years, Bruno's boss, Chief of Detectives Jalipeau, known as J-J, has been obsessed with his first case. It was never solved and Bruno knows that this failure continues to haunt J-J. A young male body was found in the woods near St Denis and never identified. For all these years, J-J has kept the skull as a reminder. He calls him 'Oscar'.

Visiting the famous pre-history museum in nearby Les Eyzies, Bruno sees some amazingly life-like heads expertly reconstructed from ancient skulls. He suggests performing a similar reconstruction on Oscar as a first step towards at last identifying him. An expert is hired to start the reconstruction and the search for Oscar's killer begins again in earnest.

“I've read a lot of mysteries in my day and you're up there at the top of my list alongside Michael Connelly, Georges Simenon and, most recently, Anthony Horowitz - Graydon Carter - legendary editor, Vanity FairDollops of the sybaritic good life in rural France are spiced up with a dash of international intrigue in this excellent Bruno, Chief of Police outing - Irish Independent, Pick of the WeekFrancophiles will relish the evocative descriptions of the Perigord region and its cuisine. Distinctive characters complement the intricate mystery. Readers new to this elegant series will feel right at home - Publishers Weekly Starred reviewMartin Walker has caught the magic of the Dordogne ... and along the way imparts some useful knowledge , not just on matters culinary (invaluable) but also on quirks of French life - Shotsmag Walker is unrivalled at interweaving the professional and private pursuits of a thoroughly likeable cop - Daily Mail”

It's a delight to dip into his sun soaked world -- Observer
Walker weaves an exciting story against a backdrop of bucolic bliss Daily Mail
It's Midsomer Murders meets MasterChef flavoured with espionage, dog breeding and veganism Sun
Walker's strength lies in his ability to bring out the character and charm of the region and interlace this with a strong plot that carries an equal sense of time and place Crime Review
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 Booklist starred review

Martin Walker is a prize-winning journalist and the author of several acclaimed works of non-fiction, including The Cold War: A History. He lives in the Dordogne and Washington, DC.

'Evocative descriptions of the Perigord ... distinctive characters ... intricate mystery. Readers new to this series will feel right at home' Publishers Weekly starred review Capturing the magic of the Dordogne and its people, the Dordogne Mysteries are worldwide bestsellers. Featuring Bruno, France's favourite policeman, along with gourmet food and wine, local colour, sunshine and murder mystery, no wonder they are so popular. Bruno Courreges is Chief of Police of the lovely town of St Denis in the Dordogne. His main wish is to keep the local people safe and his town free from crime. But crime has a way of finding its way to him. For thirty years, Bruno's boss, Chief of Detectives Jalipeau, known as J-J, has been obsessed with his first case. It was never solved and Bruno knows that this failure continues to haunt J-J. A young male body was found in the woods near St Denis and never identified. For all these years, J-J has kept the skull as a reminder. He calls him 'Oscar'. Visiting the famous pre-history museum in nearby Les Eyzies, Bruno sees some amazingly life-like heads expertly reconstructed from ancient skulls. He suggests performing a similar reconstruction on Oscar as a first step towards at last identifying him. An expert is hired to start the reconstruction and the search for Oscar's killer begins again in earnest.

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