Martin Walker and Bruno, Chief of Police

When Patrick Millikin welcomed author Martin Walker to The Poisoned Pen, they discussed Walker’s latest Bruno, Chief of Police mystery, A Grave in the Woods. But, they also discussed the recent cookbook by Walker and Julia Watson, Bruno’s Cookbook. There are signed copies of both in the Webstore. https://bit.ly/47rtL3v.

Here’s the description of A Grave in the Woods.

Another entertaining and enlightening entry in the Bruno, Chief of Police series, featuring an archaeological dig in the French countryside that unearths World War II–era mysteries—all while Bruno dishes up more culinary magic

When Abby, an American archaeologist, arrives in St. Denis on the heels of her divorce, she hopes to make a new life for herself as a specialist guide for visiting tourists. So when a local British couple discover a grave from World War II on their property, Abby is able to put her training to good use. As it turns out, in the grave are the remains of two German women and an Italian submarine officer who had a big secret to hide. The women are suspected of having had links to the German garrison in Bordeaux during the war. It’s up to Bruno, just recovered from a gunshot wound earlier in the year, to unravel the mystery—and its contemporary relevance. His task is made more difficult by the horrible heat-dome summer, which is raising the temperature for miles around, as unprecedented amounts of rain drench the Massif Central and threaten increasingly dramatic floods

As Bruno drills to the heart of the case, matters get even more complicated when both Abby’s financially distressed ex-husband and a mysterious dashing Italian naval officer arrive, with very different ideas in mind. Once again, Bruno is left to serve the guilty their just rewards, and his friends, some sumptuous Perigordian cuisine.


MARTIN WALKER, after a long career of working in international journalism and for think tanks, now gardens, cooks, explores vineyards, writes, and travels. His series of novels featuring Bruno, Chief of Police, are best sellers in Europe and have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He divides his time between Washington, DC, and the Dordogne.


Enjoy the conversation with Martin Walker.