The good life, with murder.

The story of Bruno, policeman in a small French town, is explored in the series by Martin Walker. Of course, the delight in these stories is not really the mystery, although they are satisfying enough, but what is written about the life of Bruno, living in a small town in a beautiful country, cooking from the garden and eating the fresh cheeses and wine of the region. Bruno has a cadre of good friends and a couple of women he is more than friends with although in the latest mystery, Resistance Man, we get inklings of Bruno wanting to settle down . Altogether a good addition to the six-novel series. ML

France, Food, and Murder

Do you have a taste for France with mystery and interesting characters thrown in? Then you will love the series featuring Bruno, Chief of Police in the small French town of St.Denis. Bruno is a former soldier wounded in Sarajevo. He lives in a restored shepherd's cottage, has a garden, loves wine and food. This is not just a "cozy" though. Bruno deals with the political system, has to appease his superiors and navigate the politics of small town living. Oh, and solve murders! At the heart of this series is the character of Bruno, solid, moral and wise.This reader has devoured all six books in the series, and I would highly recommend them. While one could read them independently, they are more fun to read in order. The first book is Bruno, Chief of Police. ML

In the Land of Mordor?

Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath is not your ordinary police procedural. When Icelandic expat and Boston detective Magnus Jonson finds his life threatened, he is whisked away into temporary witness protection via the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police. He attempts to swallow his bitter memories of his homeland as he is called to investigate the murder of a professor of Icelandic literature. What follows is a web of greed, buried history, and family secrets involving a supposedly cursed ring, a long-lost saga, and two half-crazed Lord of the Rings fans. Though I found myself having to suspend disbelief at several plot points in Ridpath's tale, it was a quick and enjoyable read that kept me guessing til (almost) the end. HM

Dealing With The Devil

Detective Chief Inspector John Luther has a lot of problems. He's incredibly volatile, he's haunted by the terrible crimes he investigates, his marriage is falling apart, and a psychopath is obsessed with him. But he's also a brilliant detective who will stop at nothing to punish the deserving for their monstrous actions. Always balancing on a tight-rope across a moral grey area, will Luther be pushed over the edge when he faces the ultimate betrayal? Find out in Luther: Season 1. And keep an eye out for Season 2, coming soon to the Oxford Public Library! HM

Mystery in Venice

Drawing Conclusions,the latest book by Donna Leon in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series, is as always, a well-written mystery. Commissario Brunetti is an Italian policeman in Venice. His character is really the feature of the book, as well as the plot. Brunetti hates the corrupt nature of the Italian political system, loves his wife and also her cooking! The mysteries are usually solved in a very methodical and cerebral manner. Brunetti also has the help of a master hacker, his superior's secretary. There is a strong sense of place also in the novels, depicting Venice as lovely and not immune to the woes of illegal immigration, corruption and murder. ML