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The Dark Vineyard Audiobook
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(3.03) - 622 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A prolific journalist, Martin Walker has crafted a mystery series that deftly blends the stylings of Peter Mayle and Alexander McCall Smith. Chief Bruno Courreges loves life in his small French village. One day his idyll is disturbed when a local research station for genetically modified crops is burned down. An enclave of environmentalists seems to be the most likely culprit, but soon Bruno uncovers evidence that makes the case infinitely more complicated.
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"the food and wine of the Perigord interrupted from time to time by suspicious deaths and a family feud. Unusually the detective hero seems quite well balanced and rarely introspective. A good holiday read with a strong sense of place."
— Jan (4 out of 5 stars)
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“A gentle reminder to slow down and smell the grapes...[Walker] beguiles the reader.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Captivating...sure to appeal to readers with a palate for mysteries with social nuance and understated charm.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“Walker evokes his French community’s celebrations of wine, food, love, and friendship with obvious affection but without sentimentality. His villagers are no more immune from modern times than the rest of us—they just drink better wine.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Romance, intrigue, and many a fine glass of wine await in Walker’s charming second mystery set in idyllic Saint-Denis, in the southwest of France...Walker serves up wry wit, suspense, and a host of captivating characters, from a comely, manipulative Québécoise to an auburn-haired Brit who captures Bruno’s heart. Oenophiles and armchair travelers alike will enjoy spending time in this lovely, lively part of France.”
— Booklist (starred review)
The Dark Vineyard Listener Reviews
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" Enjoyable second entry in series featuring Bruno, the Maigret of the Dordogne: atmosphere, characterization and setting combine for a superlative if rather cozy mystery. "
— Caroline, 2/18/2014 -
" French ambiance, wine lore "
— Louise, 2/12/2014 -
" An excellent mystery steeped in details of life in a small French village. Highly recommended. "
— Michael, 2/9/2014 -
" An okay storyline and easy to read. I didn't care for the main character, and I just felt like I had random character names thrown at me constantly. It was hard to keep up with the characters and know which ones were going to be important keystones to the novel and which ones weren't. "
— Sarah, 2/9/2014 -
" Another charming installment in the Bruno, Chief of Police Series. Onto number three! "
— Arthur, 2/8/2014 -
" The pleasures of life in the Dordogne, Walker provides a glimpse of a gentle, traditional, idealized French countryside. This novel has two murders, arson, industrial espionage, violence, etc., but all is settled with hard work but a minimum of fuss. It is a sweet escape. "
— Correen, 2/5/2014 -
" I don't think I will try another one... "
— Carey, 2/1/2014 -
" I'm loving this series as I continue to read it. "
— Maureen, 1/20/2014 -
" This is the second in the Bruno, chief of police, series and it just keeps getting better! Can't wait to read the next book! "
— Julie, 1/20/2014 -
" In France, small town, local characters, lotsa wine and descriptions of scenery, with a plot that kept me guessing. "
— Meg, 1/1/2014 -
" A murder mystery set in French wine country was entertaining and renewed my desire to visit France! I really liked the long-suffering small town cop with the heart of gold who plods along tracking the killer. quite delightfult. "
— Heather, 12/30/2013 -
" I love this series. Am always disappointed when I finish. I wish there were more! "
— Kevin, 12/28/2013 -
" I love this series, the man, the scenery, food, wine. Want to go there and met Bruno! "
— Sue, 11/27/2013 -
" Fun, light reading. You'll want to cook after reading it. "
— Megan, 3/27/2013 -
" Enjoying....a little masculine 'trite' but the details are really rich. "
— Kim, 3/14/2013 -
" Love this book too. Read all 4 of these Martin Walker books right after each other. Couldn't put them down and would read another if there was one. Good stories and great characters. "
— Lisa, 1/31/2013 -
" Easy to read police story set in rural France. Very enjoyable, nice pace, and explores both the rural community and bigger issues. I love France so even better. Good summer reading. "
— James, 1/24/2013 -
" Solid crime novel with interesting setting. Enjoyed it. "
— Chris, 11/19/2012 -
" Another great read from Martin Walker. On to the next one.... "
— Deale, 6/22/2012 -
" Another very enjoyable escape in this series. These books combine a sweet depiction of small-town France with contemporary themes that anchor stories in reality. "
— Patrick, 5/8/2012 -
" Good local colour - less good story I felt. "
— Clare, 5/24/2011 -
" Compares nicely to Donna Leon's Brunetti in Italy. This all takes place in France. "
— Sharon, 4/18/2011
About Martin Walker
Martin Walker, after a long career of working in international journalism and for think tanks, now writes a series of novels featuring Bruno, Chief of Police, which are best sellers in Europe and have been translated into more than fifteen languages.
About Robert Ian Mackenzie
Robert Ian Mackenzie, Earphones Award–winning narrator, became an actor after holding a wide variety of other jobs, including everything from London policeman to water ski instructor in Greece. Since then, his acting career has encompassed straight theater, musicals, opera, films, television, voice-overs, commercials, and recorded books.