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.

****

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