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Black Diamond (Bruno Chief Of Police Book 3) by [Walker, Martin]
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Black Diamond (Bruno Chief Of Police Book 3) Kindle Edition

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Martin Walker (Author)
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Martin Walker (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 193 customer reviews
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Length: 321 pages Word Wise: Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product Details

  • File Size: 5741 KB
  • Print Length: 321 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage (August 30, 2011)
  • Publication Date: August 30, 2011
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004KPM1SU
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
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  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,536 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsMysteries as complex as Bruno's cassoulet
By Patto TOP 500 REVIEWER on July 28, 2011
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
The third Bruno mystery ties the little market town of Saint-Denis to a larger world of crime that Bruno feels is beyond his scope. After all, he's only a village police chief! Nonetheless, he'll be instrumental in squelching some very nasty goings-on in this book.

It all begins with the mayor asking Bruno to investigate possible fraud in the local truffle market. Truffles are no trifle in France - a fifty-million-euro business - and the world famous black diamond truffle of the Périgord must be defended at all costs.

As Bruno delves deeper and deeper into truffles, a fellow truffle-hunter friend of his is brutally murdered. As if that isn't enough violence, Vietnamese families in Saint-Denis are being attacked by Asian thugs. Elections are coming up as well, and Bruno could lose his job if the wrong candidate wins.

How the author manages to weave all these unrelated threads together is a miracle of deft plotting. As usual, Bruno navigates France's complex law enforcement system (gendarmes, National Police, secret police) with wit and dexterity.

Bruno's love life is not going smoothly in this book, but his continuing love affair with Saint-Denis is thriving. The reader is treated to lovely walks in the woods, exotic dinners and heart-warming interactions between Bruno and the townspeople.

After reading all three of the Bruno novels, I'm becoming more and more aware of the author's depth of knowledge of the complicated history of modern France. Even in Bruno's bucolic locale, there's a dizzying mélange of political views, and French citizens and residents include Arabs, Chinese, Vietnamese, Polish, English - a reflection of the multiculturalism and uneasy politics currently challenging Europe.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsCan a hard-boiled procedural be charming? This one was!
By MysteryPoodle VINE VOICE on August 21, 2011
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was a surprise from front to back. I was expecting the droll, wiser and older, rather low-impact police detective that seems to lead most French mysteries I have read. Instead, our hero, Bruno, is young, vital and quite physical when he needs to be. And instead of a mystery that revolves rather sleepily around a set of anachronistic local characters, this book deals with ethnic tensions and matters of national and international import (and plenty of local character, as well). Finally, the 'black diamond' of the title is not a jewel, but a truffle! Should you be somewhat skeptical, as I was, that truffles, and the authenticity and identification thereof could have international ramifications, well, just ask your local gourmand chef... ours assured me that the high dollars paid for rare and remarkably flavorful truffles are worth every penny to him, and that if truffle commerce is high dollar here in Iowa, the sums involve must be truly astronomical in France. Who knew?

Since the story is set in France, there is, of course, a great deal of absolutely incredible-sounding food and drink. The picture drawn of small-village French culture, however, is every bit as appetizing and enticing. I am glad to have seen Paris, but I do not languish for lack of being there. The small-town France that Walker describes, however, sounds tremendously appealing and would be wonderful to experience.

For me, the most refreshing thing about the book is that, although not everyone likes everyone else, the many layers of law enforcement work together beautifully and respectfully. It seems half of all the American police procedurals I pick up these days feature corrupt police management, burnt-out officers, and complete workplace dysfunction.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsTruffles
By Stephen T. Hopkins VINE VOICE on January 23, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Chief of Police Bruno Courrèges returns in Black Diamond, the third novel of this series by Martin Walker. Something is amiss with the truffles coming to market, and Bruno is at the center of a complicated investigation with the stakes heightened by local elections that could put Bruno out of a job. Walker does a great job with the police procedural plot, in presenting interesting characters that readers care about, and in describing a place with lively and descriptive prose. I could almost taste the truffles and feel that I was in France. Readers who like light novels with clear plots are those most likely to enjoy this book.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)
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4.0 out of 5 starsHeroic Small French Village of Chief of Police, Bruno Courreges Battling Organized Crime!
By Tom McGee VINE VOICE on August 7, 2011
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
Black Diamond: A Mystery of the French Countryside is my first exposure to author Martin Walker. Black Diamond refers to the much sought-after rare and expensive "black Périgord truffle" (Tuber melanosporum) named after the Périgord region in France. It grows at the base of their oak and Hazelnut trees and has a major impact on the French economy.

Besides being the Chief of Police for a small village in St. Denis, France, Bruno Courreges also hunts truffles with his dog Gigi. He both cooked stew with and supplemented his income with these rare truffles.

The story begins with Bruno trying to keep the peace between angry crowds as Boniface Pons' Sawmill employing many locals is shut down as a result of the Green party's lawsuit, spearheaded by his estranged son, Guillaume "Bill" Pons. Both father and son have political ambitions that could leave him unemployed should either be elected as the town mayor.

Gang related violence between the Chinese and Vietnamese merchant and restaurant businesses, the heinous murder of his old friend and truffle mentor, Hurcule Vendrot and his legendary truffle hunting dog Pom-Pom and criminal tampering and padding the crop with inferior Chinese truffles sets Bruno on an exciting mission to find and arrest the perpetrators of those crimes.

Unfamiliar culture, language and geography slowed me down for a while; however, as the story and characters developed the action mounted and I became engrossed.

I found Bruno heroic, competent and a likeable character and look forward to reading other Martin Walker novels in the Chief of Police series.

Enjoy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsAnother book in the Bruno series

Has a sense of place for the French countryside, including the food, the wine, personalities and history.

Published 1 month ago by Chris Yaldezian
4.0 out of 5 starsNo Mere Truffle

I enjoyed "Black Diamond" - my third encounter with Bruno, Chief of police - even more than its predecessors. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Barry W Hubbard
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat detective work plus a nice lesson in French country life

Bruno is too good to be true, but he's a great literary character. I think my next trip to France will include the dordogne!

Published 1 month ago by stephen louis robertson
5.0 out of 5 starsI recommend reading them in order

I've read all of the Bruno books. I recommend reading them in order, since Martin Walker's stories remind me very much of those of Louise Penny--the first take place in rural... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Susan PWS
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Great; but, always hungry.

Published 2 months ago by Virginia Johnson
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

'Twas a good read.

Published 3 months ago by Lori H. Ledyard
4.0 out of 5 starsMake me wish I was a cook

I enjoy this series about Bruno and his French countryside. Low key but modern, with real friendships in a setting of mystery.

Published 4 months ago by Lois Stovall
5.0 out of 5 starsgreat story, chocked full of FR history

great story, chocked full of FR history, lots of info on truffles and Fr cooking. I LOVE these books & Bruno's the man.

Published 4 months ago by ramzee
2.0 out of 5 starshis love of food and the environment of the Perigord so ...

The books revolve around Bruno, his love of food and the environment of the Perigord so it's more about atmosphere than anything else. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsA Great Mystery Series

Bruno Correges embodies three policemen we admire and want: Andy Griffith, Columbo, and Hercule Poirot for good measure. Deep in Perigord France, centered at St. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Josh H. Knight

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