In Walker's endearing sixth novel featuring St. Denis police chief Bruno Courrèges (after 2013's The Devil's Cave), Bruno, who prides himself on knowing just about everything transpiring in his picturesque patch of Périgord, is stunned when the latest in a string of burglaries reveals that a retired British spymaster, Jack Crimson, has been residing right under his nose. But Bruno has barely enough time to process this—or the pending return to St. Denis of his former flame, ambitious Police Nationale capitaine Isabelle, to oversee the politically sensitive Crimson probe—because of the brutal murder of a vacationing British antiques dealer. Despite distractions that include the region's always-tantalizing gastronomy, Bruno soon starts to make serious investigative headway, demonstrating convincingly that there's nothing smalltown about his understanding of human nature. Existing fans and newcomers alike will savor Walker's ability to smoothly fold suspense into his Périgordian soufflé. Agent: Stephanie Cabot, Felicity Bryan Associates. (Feb.)
Reviewed on: 12/23/2013 Release date: 02/25/2014 Genre: Fiction
