The Dark Vineyard: A Case for Bruno, Chief of Police - Tapa dura

Walker brings to life both a complete community and the chief of police who is its protector, teacher and friend. This book's ingredients are combined as carefully as Bruno's good meals. Second helpings, please!' Literary Review. (Literary Review)

Walker's relaxed style and good humour bring to life his engaging hero and delightful home and make this one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time' Susanna Yager, Sunday Telegraph. (Sunday Telegraph)

Bruno is a delightful character, and Walker's handling of long-held grudges is intelligent and sympathetic' Guardian. (Guardian)

Written with a deep love of rural France, for the countryside, the people, the way of life and the cuisine. so pervasive and agreeable is the charm of this novel that it might even allow you to pass the time pleasantly as you wait in an airport departure lounge for your long-delayed holiday flight to France' Scotsman. (Scotsman)

Just before dawn one late-summer morning, Bruno is pulled from sleep by the wail of the town siren atop the Mairie, summoning the volunteer firemen of St Denis. A large barn and the fields surrounding it are ablaze. When Bruno arrives at the scene, the smell of petrol leaves no doubt - it was arson. Soon after, a wine mogul from California visits the town, with plans to buy up half the valley to create an industrial-scale wine-producing operation. Such a business would bring a healthy injection of dollars to St Denis, plus the creation of at least fifty jobs. Bruno's boss, the Mayor, supports the scheme but Bruno is less convinced. He's not against progress, but he fears his little town will never be the same once the Californians have a foothold. Then a second, similar outrage follows the crop burning. It appears that someone is determined to stop the scheme and is prepared to go to any lengths - including murder - to do so. Bruno must use all his skills, tact and local knowledge to negotiate a minefield in order to reach the truth.