The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker

(43. - 1226.) The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker (2011) - PETA cuts a hole in a fence allowing thousands of ducks to temporarily escape from a farm and cause a huge traffic jam. They leave leaflets setting out their opposition to foie gras. Several ducks die from being hit on the road.

Chief of Police, Bruno Courrèges, is called to an archeological dig nearby. The area of St. Denis is famed for its archeological discoveries and caves related to Neanderthals and Cro-Magnans. The body of a man, his hands bound behind his back, is found by one of the digger students. He cannot have been buried earlier than 1983 as he was wearing a Swatch watch which went into production in 1983.

There is a dramatic announcement of an archeaological find at the dig that reverberates through the world of archeaology.

At the same time Bruno is also assigned to assist with security for a summit between French and Spanish Ministers of the Interior concerning joint action against the Basque separatist group ETA which has expanded its war against the Spanish government to France with the killing of a French police officer. Bruno’s former lover, Isabelle, using a cane as she is not fully recovered from being wounded in a raid on human traffickers, is back in St. Denis as one of the leaders of the French security team. Current lover, Pamela, who consistently professes her relationship with Bruno is no more than good friends, is not amused. 

Bruno demonstrates his practical approach to keeping peace in St. Denis without resorting to criminal charges. Using alternative measures and restorative justice through apologies and compensation for damages he avoids confrontations between farmers, Greens and archeaologists. Many police would simply start arresting and charging and letting the courts sort out the consequences. Bruno’s efforts reflect the type of discretion Canadian police officers had 50 years ago. They were trusted to use discretion. Most used that option appropriately. To be effective it requires police officers who are engaged with their community and personally know the residents.

Bruno starts establishing a relationship with Annette Meraillon, a magistrate assigned to the region for her first posting. Bruno and Sergeant Jules introduce her to their form of justice by reducing the speed on her speeding ticket and letting the sanction of a lecture from an aggrieved mother suffice for driving through a pedestrian crossing when mother and children had started across. 

The attractive slender Meraillon initially has the good sense to recognize the benefit of their discretion towards her but reacts negatively when Bruno discreetly handles the issues between the farmers and the Greens.

Would that I could visit St. Denis and share some meals with Bruno? No sleuth eats better than Bruno. Nero Wolfe might even be persuaded to go to France to dine with Bruno.

There is a pang in his heart everytime Bruno sees Isabelle. Her ambition and his attachment to St. Denis are irreconcilable.

The whole community and beyond celebrate Bruno’s birthday. He is shocked and touched and moved greatly by his gift. One of the wines at the birthday dinner is a Château Haut-Brion worth 1,000 euros per bottle. (Bruno’s friend, Hercule, who died in the previous book, had purchased a case when it was 3,000 euros for a case.)

In a complex world it is not a surprise that there are uncommon connections that go back to the Spanish Civil War. The relationships between ETA members past and present, Spanish Fascists, Communists in and out of France, Resistance fighters, Colloborationists, Anarchists, 1980’s radicals, Greens, PETA, intelligence services, police and the French justice system all intersect in St. Denis. It was fascinating.

Walker skilfully makes credible the combination of a charming French village and international terrorists. Danger is not limited to major cities.

Unlike the Armand Gamache books I found a thriller ending entirely plausible. Bruno, having been a paratrooper, before he was a country policeman, served in the war in Bosnia.

I may have to read a third book in the series this year. I am so caught up in Bruno’s life.

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Walker, Martin - (2019) - Bruno, Chief of Police and The Magic of St. Denis and Three Pines; (2023) - The Dark Vineyard; (2024) Black Diamond

Exchange with Dean Jobb Concerning A Gentleman and a Thief

My last post was a review of A Gentleman and a Thief by Dean Jobb. After reading the book I wrote to the author. A copy of my letter and his reply are below. A warning before reading. There may be more information in my letter than some readers would want before reading the book.

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Dean:

I was very glad my good friend and sister in the law, Dawna Ring, sent me a copy of A Gentleman and a Thief. I appreciate your inscripion to me. I enjoyed reading the book. I will be posting my review, a copy follows  this letter on my blog, Mysteries and More from Saskatchewan, in a few days.

As I read the book I thought there was a moment when Arthur Barry might have used his bright, agile, organized mind for a conventional life. When he returned from World War I you set out his unsuccessful efforts to find a job amidst hundreds of thousands of demobilized soldiers. Could he not have found a job again with his brother or through another of his siblings? Or was he lying about sincerely seeking employment?

While reading a true crime book I think about an alleged and/or actual criminal and their legal representation. My experience in criminal defence goes back 49 years to when I graduated from law school.

I have observed that it is a rare accused who, charged with serious offences, does well on his own (it remains to this day rare for the accused to be a she).

While it pains me to say it, Arthur did better on his own than he could have with a lawyer advocating for him. Charm and apparent candour worked well. 

I appreciate that he confessed to save his wife, Anna Blake, but he is so clever in dealing with the prosecutor and police. He provides abundant information on other thefts, on the condition he is not charged with them. He discreetly sets his accomplice, James Monahan, as the leader of the duo. Being allowed to plead guilty to one theft limited his punishment. His sentence of 25 years is severe but not the maximum.

The police and district attorney had good reason to be content with the single guilty plea. Victims, even if they talked to Arthur in darkened bedrooms, were uncertain of him being the thief. Beyond having stolen items in his possession there was little evidence against him. I am sure the district attorney hesitated about pursuing additional charges for it would have been interesting to see what a jury would have done had Arthur gone to trial and said he did not know what was in the box containing damning evidence given to him by Monahan when he was arrested. There would also have been questions over the admissibility of his confession because of the inducements made to him while being questioned.

I am sure there were many New York City lawyers ready, even eager, to defend the Gentleman Thief. Do you know if he consulted a lawyer before or after his confession?

Years later, when he was facing trial for “planning and inciting the deadly riot” in which he escaped from Auburn prison he had the wisdom to have a lawyer represent them rather than try to represent himself, though his co-accused, George Small, did well on his own.

You set out that Arthur received court appointed counsel in Max Goldman. He was well represented by Goldman. The book simply describes him as a local lawyer. Do you know anything of Goldman’s experience as a lawyer?

I was struck that Arthur did not take the witness stand. Accustomed to talking his way out of trouble I would have guessed he would have wanted to testify. Do you know why he did not go onto the stand?

I think he was wise not to expose himself to cross-examination. He would have had to admit his extensive criminal history. He would have had to admit he was not a mere bystander. He would have had to admit that he participated in the violence.

I wondered if he subsequently had legal assistance in his parole application. It was well done and dealt with legal issues more than factual matters.

I think Arthur could have been a great lawyer instead of a great criminal.

If you are able to reply and are willing I would post your response together with this letter upon my blog.

I look forward to reading more of your books.

All the best.

Bill Selnes

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Thanks for your kind words, Bill, and for the great write-up. Much appreciated.

Everything I could find about Barry's dealings with the justice system is in the book.

Dean

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A Gentleman and a Thief by Dean Jobb