Black Diamond
“Martin Walker’s series is Kool-Aid for Francophiles and a potion to convert remaining skeptics to the joie de vivre that infuses French life . . . [Black Diamond] has all the elements that have attracted a large and growing following to the novels—an endearing hero who is not only a jack of all trades but also master of them, an idyllic village in southern France steeped in culinary tradition, and a host of quirky but lovable local characters . . . Everyone needs a friend in southern France to go spend some time with, and Walker has opened Bruno’s door to anyone who has a few hours to join him in the simple joys ofla vie en rose.”            -Darrell Delamaide,Washington Independent “Before you crack open the pages of Walker’s new novel, make sure and pour yourself a glass of red wine. Better have some cheese with a baguette close at hand too, because this book is deliciously good . . . While the plot is a page-turner, the real allure of this novel lies with the author’s other ingredients: the rich French food, the historical detail of the picturesque region and the eccentric cast of characters, including a truffle-hunting basset hound named Gigi . . . An enticing mix of the savory and suspenseful, a recipe for a great read.”            -Christian DuChateau, CNN “A charming French village, great food, eccentric characters and a mystery to nudge things along . . . Bruno Courrèges, the village’s brave, brainy and only policeman, has his hands full . . . Bruno traces the links among [the book’s] events, revealing unsavory secrets from France’s colonial history. On the other hand, he eats some memorable meals—and they’re savory indeed.”            -Adam Woog,The Seattle Times “Gallic charm suffuses Walker’s third mystery of the French countryside . . . Like the aroma of amateur chef Bruno’s venison stew, which virtually leaps off the pages, Walker’s unmistakable affection for the ‘enchanting Périgord’ makes every morsel of this cozy-cum-crime novel a savory delight.”            -Starred review,Publishers Weekly “A paean to the truffle . . . This political thriller is supplemented by a glorious foodie’s delight, from an author who knows his way around the French passions.”            -Kirkus “In Walker’s hands,Black Diamondbecomes a savory mystery, a light concoction with tantalizing ingredients.”            -Douglass K. Daniel, Associated Press “Murder and misdeeds keep French policeman Bruno Courrèges on his toes in this third installment in Walker’s consistently charming series . . . Bruno may be a small-town cop, but he’s anything but small-minded. Walker has created a character who’s endearingly human and worldly wise.”            -Booklist