A Grave in the Woods
Martin Walker

Another entertaining and enlightening entry in the Bruno, Chief of Police series, featuring archeological andWorld War II subthemes and more culinary magic.When Abby, an American archeologist, arrives in St. Denis on the heels of her divorce, she hopes to make anew life for herself as a specialist guide for visiting tourists. So when a local British couple discover a World WarII-era grave on their property, Abby is able to put her training to good use. As it turns out, in the grave are theremains of two German women and an Italian submarine officer who had a big secret to hide. The women aresuspected of having had links to the German garrison in Bordeaux during the war. It's up to Bruno, just recoveredfrom a gunshot wound earlier in the year, to unravel the mystery--and its contemporary relevance. His taskis made more difficult by the horrible heat-dome summer, which is raising the temperatures for miles around,as unprecedented amounts of water vapor encumber the air, drenching the Massif Central and threateningincreasingly dramatic floods.As Bruno drills to the heart of the case, matters get even more complicated when both Abby's financiallydistressed 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 Perigordiancuisine.