I did enjoy the book to a degree and learned about an interesting part of France. The author is talented and created superb characters. I particularly loved the "dragon-lady" who commandeered Bruno's office. I liked the way she stood up to everyone who challenged her. Bruno was a charming lead and I will definitelu read more in the series.

The book was ultimately let down by the almost irrelevant plot! I did feel dissappointed at the plot threads that never amounted to much. It was all very promising and I was surprised at the ending being lacking in any detail. It just fizzled out. Ah well!

Chief of Police Bruno is back to work after being injured and he returns to find a new administrative manager in his office. However Bruno is soon caught up in a mystery surrounding a grave, an American stalker and a threat of flooding.
I have read a couple of Walker's previous books and they follow a fairly set formula. The policing is almost an aside to the descriptions of life (and food) in the Dordogne but the stories do not really fit into the 'cosy' genre. Here there is a good story about resistance in the War and the introduction of some new characters. It's a satisfying read.

17th book in the Chief Inspector Bruno series
Set in Dordogne, Bruno is recovering from a wound he received in the previous book
Things happen that make him pull his uniform back on
Another fab read featuring Chief Inspector Bruno
Thanks @quercusbooks & @netgalley for the eARC

Bruno and his friends are good company and his village is charming but all-in-all I found little to engage with in the storyline of this latest outing for Bruno, chief of police in the Dordogne Mysteries. The "mystery" of the grave was underwhelming and led to a long drawn-out history of the region. Similarly the troublesome ex- of the American woman and his hacking attempts didn't seem to have any logical premise.
I enjoyed some of this book but I would find it hard to recommend to anyone seeking a good crime read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for an advance copy to review.

Fans of Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police series, will be delighted with “A Grave in the Woods.” While the crime itself takes a backseat, this character-driven journey offers a deeper dive into the heart of the Dordogne and the people we’ve come to cherish.

Walker’s prose is as evocative as ever, transporting you to the lush vineyards and quaint villages of the French countryside. The focus here isn’t on a chilling whodunit, but rather a chance to reconnect with Bruno and the rest of the gang as they navigate the challenges of a potential flood and unearth the whispers of the past.

The central mystery, though intriguing, serves more as a catalyst for exploration. It allows Walker to delve into the region’s fascinating history, particularly the lingering shadows of World War II. This thoughtful exploration adds a layer of depth to the narrative, reminding us that even idyllic settings hold hidden stories.

Yes, the investigation remains somewhat open-ended, but that’s precisely what makes this book so refreshing. It prioritizes atmosphere, character growth, and the simple joys of community over a neatly tied-up conclusion. For Bruno devotees, these are the very elements that make the series so endearing.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, nail-biting thriller, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you crave a warm return to the Dordogne, a chance to reconnect with beloved characters, and a gentle exploration of history’s echoes, then “A Grave in the Woods” is a five-star treasure.

If you like a book that goes off in lots of tangents and has lots of waffle this is the book for you! Storyline wise, or at least main storyline wise, it is very poor but the one plus going is that the main character, Bruno, is very likeable and enjoyable.

Bruno returns for another investigation although he is still not fully fit due injuries he sustained in a previous case.
A grave is found with three skeletons inside, the grave appears to have been there since World War 2 but Bruno wants to find out more about the bones and why they are buried there .
Also the weather isn’t at its best and due to the continuing heavy rain the town of St Denis is likely to be flooded so Bruno and his colleagues have to work hard to evacuate and keep the residents safe .
The writing is easy to read and the characters are all likeable and living in a beautiful place .
This makes the perfect formula for an enjoyable read .
A great read encompassing great characters , a picturesque setting with history thrown in for good measure.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books .

Apparently this is a series about Bruno, a French police lieutenant who is recovering from being shot in the last book. It can be read as a stand alone but I will seek out some of the previous books.
A grave is found in the woods in the grounds of a derelict house and Bruno takes it upon himself to investigate who is buried there and why. Pack with historical references, the details are what makes this book, along with the characters. It will appeal to a wide range of people,

A return for Bruno, still convalescing after the last book and getting shot. In this new outing, secrets are (literally) unearthed as 3 skeletons are dug up in a garden, leading to an investigation that takes in WW2 and more modern cyber attacks. And then there is the small matter of heavy rain threatening the village with flooding.

Another fine entry into the series, with just enough foodie action to satisfy the appetite of the usual cast of characters.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

I love a mystery and although part of a long standing series you can read this as a standalone. I suspect reading the preceding books may provide extra depth or nuances to the story, however there is sufficient context in the story for it to be enjoyed as it is.
Our protagonist is Lieutenant Bruno Courrèges, chief of police for the town of St. Denis in the lush Dordogne region of France. He is currently recovering from injuries gained during his last case, however when a hidden burial site is found relating to the final months of the Second World War his interest is piqued.
Bruno has a wide social circle in his town and is a lover of good food, wine and conversation - all match my experience of France. He loves horse riding, rugby and his basset hound Balzac all of which find their way into the mix for this story.
We are introduced to a visiting archaeologist Abby Howard from the States who wants to set up as a guide for American tourists as there are many historical connections with this area of France. I definitely learnt something new from reading this book, however at times I did feel it was more information than was necessary for the flow of the story. Abby brings an added strand to the story as she has a dangerous ex-husband with criminal connections and dealings with bitcoin. Then to add extra tension to the story we have a flood caused by unseasonal rain which threatens the normally tranquil town of St. Denis.
Overall I enjoyed this mystery, it kept me captivated to the end and I think I will investigate the series from the beginning as it will be fascinating to track Bruno's journey as a character.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC, all views are my own.

For starters: what a beautiful, beautiful cover! Very fitting for this book in which you can practically smell and feel the wonderful surroundings Bruno and his friends live their lives in.
Despite not being completely healed yet, Bruno wanders back to the office to discover there's a strange woman sitting behind his desk... But before he can really deal with that, he accepts the small task of going to have a look at a recently found grave in the woods. What he finds there will have a big impact on the whole village and sheds light on some almost forgotten history of this small part of France.

Is there anyone who wouldn't like to live in Bruno's village, with those wonderful people who take such good care of each other and the community? With the clean air, the woods, the whole beautiful nature? I wanted to pack my suitcase... but alas that's not possible. And it's not always sunshine and roses, as we will read in this story.
A story that begins almost eighty years ago. We learn a lot about what happened in those days when the war was taking a turn for the good. And even for someone like me who doesn't know a lot about France and its history, I kept reading because it was all so interesting.

A very enjoyable read!

Thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for this review copy.
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I had not read any of the previous stories in this series but this did not detract from my enjoyment of this novel. Bruno is still recovering from his previous case when he is faced with a double problem - three sets of bones from World War Two and the threat of flooding to his town.

Do the bones constitute a war crime? With the help of his local friends and contacts he seeks to name the three individuals and find out how they died. Emotions runs high as facts emerge but the situation is carefully managed by Bruno and the mayor.

The flooding brings the community together.

I enjoyed meeting Bruno and learning more about what makes him tick. Balzac is great!

I will read more in this series.

Because of various property transactions, people were searching for the grave but when they found it, it came with three sets of bones. They dated back to World War II and it fell to Bruno, the Chief of Police for St Denis, to discover the identities of the bodies and establish whether or not a crime had been committed. As if this isn't enough to worry about, the Dordogne River - normally tranquil - is flowing at record levels. It's not just the local autumn rains that have caused the problem: various dams upstream on another river have had to release water and St Denis faces the possibility of a devastating flood.

I appreciated the combination of problems: previous books have had mysteries involving international issues. It could happen occasionally but it seemed to happen too often in St Denis. This time, there's a situation involving the bodies of German officers and French resistance fighters. In that particular area of France, this isn't an extraordinary occurrence. With the effects of climate change being felt everywhere, the floods which threatened St Denis are almost commonplace. I could buy into the situation in the town completely.

Many of the characters will be familiar to readers from earlier books in the series but don't worry if this is your first meeting with the people of St Denis. You'll probably want to go back and read the earlier books but it's not essential. The characterisation has been one of the real strengths of this series: Martin Walker can bring each one off the page in just a few words. I'm particularly fond of Florence and her twins: they all adore Bruno and I just wish he'd take a personal interest in Florence.

I was stunned by the way that Walker described the flooding: he captured the feeling of it completely. I read this section on the train on my way into York - and was shocked as I walked across Lendal Bridge to find that the Ouse was flowing (for once) at a normal level.

I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy. As well as reading the book, I listened to an audio download I bought myself. It was narrated by Peter Noble, who has narrated earlier books in the series and - as ever - he is excellent and easy to listen to. I did find, though, that I got more from reading the book but only because my comprehension of written French is better than when I listen to it being spoken. That's my problem though, rather than any shortcoming in the audio version of the book.

Another fascinating book from this talented author, who obviously puts in a huge amount of research before writing each book of this unusual series.
It was sometimes hard to know whether to be more interested in the research or involved in the story!
Although part of a series, each book, thankfully, can be read on its own.

Spending time with Bruno, Chief of police and his wonderful friends in St Denis in the Dordogne always makes me want to jump on a plane and join them. The countryside sounds beautiful, the people friendly and kind and the food and wine divine!

In this episode, Bruno is heading back to work following his lengthy convalescence after being shot in the shoulder. He is surprised to find a new administrator installed in what he thought was his office – and she seems a bit of a dragon. While he’s waiting for her to sign him back on for duty, he helps find and inter a war grave containing three bodies, killed in the closing stages of the WW2, and tries to find out who they were and why they were there.

An attempt to hack into the police computers also puts Bruno on the lookout for an American who may be there to cause trouble for one of his new friends. St Denis also comes under threat from flooding as climate change has led to a much wetter autumn than usual with the dams above the Dordogne close to overflowing as a new storm system moves in.

For someone who’s still officially on sick leave, Bruno is certainly having a very busy time. But as always, he has time for some splendid meals with friends, old and new, a little horse riding, walks with his Bassett hound Balzac, training the women’s rugby team and fascinating discussions on local and war time history. As always the research is great and the intrigue lively enough to keep Bruno from becoming a complacent rural cop. Can’t wait to pop in again and see what Bruno and the good people of St Denis are up to next.

Now this is more like it. Back on form and a better book than the last one. No over-produced set pieces and three stories in one.

Great plot and action with some interesting new additions to the cast. Touches of modern times and current events. Well researched and certainly lots of fascinating history with regards WWII and the French Resistance.

Low on the romance for a change and a better book because of it. I look forward to the next entry.

A more plausible story than some recent entries and delicate subjects dealt with respectfully and tastefully.

This story forms part of a long-running series but is the first that I have read. I loved the references to places that I have visited in the Dordogne. Using the names of real places and chateaux really added to the sense of realism. whilst still on leave after being injured, Bruno the Chief of police, is asked to investigate an old grave within the grounds of a property which is about to be turned into a tourist attraction. What he finds raises questions about events towards the end of WWII and provokes and international response from the parties involved. Whilst Bruno navigates the political minefield, the river threatens to flood so Bruno is kept vey busy! I loved this book and the way it evoked life in a small rural community. I will certainly read more of the series before my next holiday in the Dordogne!

The long arm of history reaches into the present in Bruno's latest case when three sets of bones are discovered, buried deep in the woods outside the Dordogne town of St Denis. It appears that the remains have lain there since World War 2. Bruno must investigate who the bones belong to and whether their burial amounts to a war crime. Bruno has other concerns too. After weeks of heavy autumn rain, the normally tranquil Dordogne river has risen to record levels, compromising the upriver dams that control the Vezere that flows through St Denis, bringing the threat of a devastating flood.
The seventeenth book in this brilliant series & each year I look forward to a new case for Bruno, this book sees Bruno still recovering from the injury he received in the previous book & he’s on sick leave but can’t resist this case. Another well written book with fantastic descriptions of the are & of course the food! The research is extensive. I highly recommend not only this book but the whole series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

"A Grave in the Woods" by Martin Walker immerses readers in another thrilling adventure with Bruno, France's beloved country cop. In this latest installment, Bruno investigates a haunting discovery of World War II-era bones unearthed deep in the woods near St Denis. As he delves into the mystery of these long-buried remains, Bruno confronts the specter of war crimes and must navigate the delicate balance between uncovering the truth and preserving peace in his community.

Compounding Bruno's challenges is a looming natural disaster: torrential autumn rains have swollen the Dordogne river to unprecedented levels, threatening to unleash catastrophic floods. With the fate of St Denis hanging in the balance, Bruno must rely on his sharp intellect, steadfast determination, and the support of his community to mitigate the impending crisis.

Martin Walker's atmospheric prose and deep understanding of rural France create a compelling backdrop for Bruno's investigation and the unfolding natural disaster. "A Grave in the Woods" promises a riveting blend of historical intrigue, contemporary suspense, and Bruno's trademark charm, ensuring fans of the Dordogne mysteries are in for another unforgettable read.

As usual with Martin Walker's 'Bruno' novels the book is full of detail, both historical and social, but without detracting from the characters and their human stories. We always learn a lot about the Dordogne, it's customs and heritage whilst enjoying a really good thriller at the same time. I enjoyed it very much.