A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker
Francophiles Rejoice
A former international journalist, Martin Walker has written a zillion intelligent police procedurals featuring Bruno Courrèges, Chief of Police in the Périgord region of France (a/k/a Dordogne). His novels are atmospheric, appetizing (Bruno is quite the cook), and slightly pedantic. Sometimes these Wikipedia digressions are more interesting than others; EU agricultural subsidies and sheep farming, for example, were particularly dull asides in earlier novels.
His latest Bruno novel, A Murder in Springtime, is mercifully more atmospheric than educational. Bachelor Bruno is as busy as ever, cooking, gardening, romancing, and helping (interfering) at the local market when the body of a recent newcomer to the area is found. Given that the woman is discovered on the back patio of a friend of Bruno’s, he recuses himself from the investigation. A young rookie takes the lead, but of course Bruno investigates (interferes) anyway.
Not a breathless page turner, but a reliable, likable police procedural. Highly recommended for Francophiles.