The Dying Season

The Dordogne town of St Denis may be picturesque and sleepy, but it has more than its fair share of mysteries, as Bruno knows all too well.

But when Bruno is invited to the 90th birthday of a powerful local patriarch - a war hero with high-level political connections in France, Russia and Israel - he encounters a family with more secrets than even he had imagined. When one of the other guests is found dead the next morning and the family try to cover it up, Bruno knows it's his duty to prevent the victim from becoming just another skeleton in their closet. Even if his digging reveals things Bruno himself would rather keep buried.

Meanwhile, very modern battles are being fought in St Denis between hunters defending their traditions and environmentalists protecting local wildlife. Neither side, it seems, is above the use of violent tactics.

At the centre of it all, Bruno must use all his cunning and character to protect his community's future from its present - and its past.

“Brings all the beauty of la France profonde vibrantly alive - Irish Independent on SundayThe perfect holiday read - Shiny New BooksIntricate and clever - Sydney Morning HeraldWalker is brilliant at capturing the murderous charms of rural France . . . the setting is undeniably delicious - MirrorThe Bruno series . . . is highly assured, full of quirky touches and characterised with real exuberance - Good Book Guide”

Brings all the beauty of la France profonde vibrantly alive - Irish Independent on Sunday

The perfect holiday read - Shiny New Books

Intricate and clever - Sydney Morning Herald

Walker is brilliant at capturing the murderous charms of rural France . . . the setting is undeniably delicious - Mirror

The Bruno series . . . is highly assured, full of quirky touches and characterised with real exuberance - Good Book Guide

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.

When Bruno is invited to the 90th birthday of a powerful local patriarch - a war hero with high-level political connections in France, Russia and Israel - he meets a family with more secrets than even he had imagined. Next morning one of the guests is found dead. When the family tries to cover it up, Bruno knows he must prevent the victim from becoming yet another skeleton in their closet. Even if his digging reveals things Bruno himself would rather keep buried. Keeping his community - and himself - out of danger while discovering the dark truth will involve all Bruno's cunning and skill. Praise for the Bruno, chief of police series 'Walker is brilliant at capturing the murderous charms of rural France . . . the setting is undeniably delicious' Daily Mirror 'A satisfyingly intriguing, wish-you-were-there read with lashings of gastroporn' Guardian 'His enchanting country mysteries embody the sublime physical beauty and intractable political problems of the Dordogne region of France' New York Times Martin-Walker Quercus Fiction 7.99 978 1 84866 408 1

The Dordogne town of St Denis may be picturesque and sleepy, but it has more than its fair share of mysteries, as Bruno knows all too well. But when Bruno is invited to the 90th birthday of a powerful local patriarch - a war hero with high-level political connections in France, Russia and Israel - he encounters a family with more secrets than even he had imagined. When one of the other guests is found dead the next morning and the family try to cover it up, Bruno knows it's his duty to prevent the victim from becoming just another skeleton in their closet. Even if his digging reveals things Bruno himself would rather keep buried.Meanwhile, very modern battles are being fought in St Denis between hunters defending their traditions and environmentalists protecting local wildlife. Neither side, it seems, is above the use of violent tactics. At the centre of it all, Bruno must use all his cunning and character to protect his community's future from its present - and its past.

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