The Coldest Case: The Dordogne Mysteries 14: Riveting murder mystery set in rural France

The usual mixture of tourism, horse riding and cookery with a bit of detection but this time with the addition of some “heroic” firefighting in which, of course, Bruno saves the day. If you are not charmed by Bruno and the Vezere and Dordogne areas then this is tedious as the actual detection is facile and occurs mainly in the background and is less than 10% of the book. The tourism is familiar, the cookery pathetic, the firefighting irrelevant and the ease in which Bruno travels around especially via Les Eyzies, unbelievable. Nevertheless I enjoyed it largely as I am a sucker for the soap opera that is Bruno and St Denis.

I've enjoyed the Bruno series on the whole, but it is becoming increasingly clear that Martin Walker has over time become bored of the detective genre. The case in A Shooting at Chateau Rock had an unsatisfactory storyline and an unconvincing ending, and the treatment of the case in this novel - to do with a 30 year-old murder - is perfunctory to say the least. Walker gives the impression of not really being interested in the murder plot, and the writing only really comes to life when the novel deals with cooking, horse-riding, and dogs. Even Bruno's relationships with his various girlfriends are dealt with in an offhand way, so that the reader can only wonder at his seeming emotional detachment. On some levels, the novel is quite a pleasant, undemanding read, but I can't help feeling that the series has rather lost its way.

I really enjoy Martin Walker’s ‘Bruno’ series and watch out for each new edition. However - is this crime series or a cook book? I don’t mind the odd reference to cooking and enjoying a lovely meal but when you get the oven ratings, seasonings, ingredients, prep advice, suitable wines etc etc I get bored! I know Bruno is supposed to be an accomplished cook, using local ingredients etc etc but more crime - and relationships - and much less cooking please!

I'm baffled by the positive reviews of this, I've had to give up on it at 12% through, because the digressing and boring passages about relatives & wine shops turned me right off. There was nothing to draw me into the story, I found the book on Guardian reviews, which are usually reliable and was lured by the location for the setting. I assume the writer is a Dordogne resident as he seems hell bent on letting the reader know he is a Dordogne expert, But if I wanted a Dordogne guide book I'd get one. Where is the tension and intrigue in this supposed detective story?

I have really enjoyed all the previous Bruno books, and was looking forward to getting into this one. Oh dear, this is not the St Denis & Bruno that I have come to know. Long dull passages on political issues, too much Guide book stuff ( regular Bruno followers have been told all this before), in fact, I felt that Martin Walker had become bored with Bruno & dashed of a sort-of guide book come political news column. Perhaps if you read your books again, from book 1, Mr. Walker, you might see why this one doesn't work!

Walker's detective thrillers are a Francophile’s delight as the Dordogne settings and social customs are as central to the novels as the who-done-it plots. In The Coldest Case, one consequence of this cultural richness is the relatively slow pace of the investigation led by police detective, Bruno. His effective investigative skills are matched by his accomplishments in the kitchen and knowledge of local wines, as we discover in some detail.Where several other established literary detectives are characterised by an anti-establishment streak, Bruno is the epitome of bonhomie, genial service and social conformity. The plot concerns the historic murder of a local on which Bruno's superior has become fixated. We can hear the positive outcome approaching through the attractively wooded landscape from page one.

I have always loved the Bruno books, we’ve holidayed in the area and enjoyed the escape to our loved France with some crime included.But this one frustrated me, too much cooking, and not enough plot. I like hearing what they eat but don’t need a blow by blow account of how to cook it! Get a cook book, he does write them.Also, I suspect the reason I keep reading them is to find out if at last he gives up the annoying Isabelle and finds love and the family he deserves. Not this time, maybe next- that nice lady Maire in nearby village?

I had preordered this and was really looking forward to a leisurely and enjoyable summer read...However the main character has lacked any further development from earlier and the pace of the tale is stilted by reportage and detail. Happily there are the descriptive passages which certainly lifted the novel from the mediocre and as ever the produce of the Périgord starred and provided the sensuous pleasure missing elsewhere. Time for Mr Walker to kill Bruno off!