The Body in the Castle Well

Written by Martin Walker

Narrated by Robert Ian Mackenzie

An aging art scholar and a visiting student, haunting echoes of France's colonialist past, and a delicious navarin of lamb--Bruno is back, and his latest case leads him from the Renaissance to the French Resistance and beyond by way of a corpse at the bottom of a well. When Claudia, a young American, turns up dead in the courtyard of an ancient castle in Bruno's jurisdiction, her death is assumed to be an accident related to opioid use. But her doctor persuades Bruno that things may not be so simple. Thus begins an investigation that leads Bruno to Monsieur de Bourdeille, the scholar with whom the girl had been studying, and then through that man's past. He is a renowned art historian who became extraordinarily wealthy through the sale of paintings that may have been falsely attributed--or so Claudia suggested shortly before her death. In his younger days, Bourdeille had aided the Resistance and been arrested by a Vichy policeman whose own life story also becomes inexorably entangled with the case. Also in the mix is a young falconer who works at the Chateau des Milandes, the former home of fabled jazz singer Josephine Baker. In the end, of course, Bruno will tie all the loose threads together and see that justice is served--along with a generous helping of his signature Perigordian cuisine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781980033561

Martin Walker

MARTIN WALKER is the author of 20 books of fiction and non-fiction, including seven novels featuring police chief Captain Bruno Courreges. He lives with his family in the southwest of France and Washington, DC. He is also senior director of the Global Business Policy Council as well as editor emeritus and international affairs columnist of United Press International, the global news agency. Visit Bruno online at www.brunochiefofpolice.com.

Reviews for The Body in the Castle Well

[jamespurcell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series continues to please, historically and gastronomically. Skeins of WW2 history viewed through the confusing lens of postwar French history and leavened by a soupcon of art history provide a rich recipe for a Bruno investigation. Many familiar characters aptly play their roles as he sorts out the how, who and why of the death of a talented young art history student.

[Denny Braun · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too complex! Extraneous detail about meals and their preparation. Slow pace.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Bruno’s friend Florence calls to voice her concern for a missing American graduate student who had quickly warmed her way into their circle, he sets out to look for her at the last place she had been seen. The night before, Claudia had been among a couple of dozen attendees at a program held at a local castle. Bruno’s dog, Balzac, leads Bruno to a well in the castle courtyard, where it seems the young woman fell to her death. To all appearances, this was a tragic accident, but since Claudia’s family were politically connected, Bruno’s superiors want to leave no stone unturned. What if Claudia didn’t fall, but was pushed into the well? Who might have wanted her dead?This series installment is more like the cozy mysteries I love than many of the other series books since the suspects don’t include international terrorists. No terrorists meant no need for Isabelle to be a part of the investigation, which also made me happy. (Bruno really needs to forget about her and move on with his life.) I’m always drawn to mysteries involving art and art history, and I wish that aspect of the plot had been developed more than it was. I liked Amélie when we met her in The Templars’ Last Secret, so I was glad to see her again in this book. The subplot of Bruno organizing a Josephine Baker concert for Amélie suited the cozier feel of this series installment.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bruno investigates an American art history student's death. Although little evidence points to a malicious death, things just don't quite add up for Bruno. She does not seem the type to kill herself by throwing herself into a well, and certain aspects such as the discovery of Thai drugs add to the confusion. I love the food discussions as much as the detective work. I'm not quite sure where the author is headed with all Bruno's romantic interests, but those are my least favorite plot element. This one offered something a little different from previous installments, although occasional references to them were made. This series' fans will enjoy this one. Others should consider beginning with the first in the series to fully appreciate the plots.

[sandyamcpherson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book 12 of the Bruno Courrèges series and if you're already a fan, it will likely be a fun read. The mystery was nicely conceived, but for me, I am bored with the on-again off again romances. This aspect of the novel is tired. I peeked at the latest book (To kill a troubadour) and am not compelled to read it . Nor the intervening ones because the pace of Bruno's life has become repetitive. The author could keep the series fresh by so easily finding an abiding love complete with young kids, like for instance the amiable and intelligent Florence, no?

[juliestielstra · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good, reliable, steady Bruno. He rides his horse through the woods of his beautiful Perigord, his cheerful dog is usually at hand, he talks to people, he cooks, and generally manages to perform some impressive feat of physical bravery, strength, and military smarts (in this case, sort of rappelling down a very deep well to locate a corpse and a kitten). Walker is a history buff, and there will be all the ancient through post-WWII infodumps you could want. This time there is an art history angle involving suspect attributions with dodgy documentation, which I enjoyed, as well as the occasional reference to "that wayward man in the White House." Walker has this all down pat. Finally... FINALLY!! - Bruno is taking some notice of his friend Florence, who I determined several books ago is the right one for him, if he would only let go of his hopeless crush on the thoroughly unpleasant Isabelle.

If you are already a fan, you will not be disappointed. One more smooth, pleasant, enjoyable tale from Walker's Dordogne. Bon appetit.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What was more important - the ingredients for the dinner party or the murder?! A very mediocre three stars.

[cathyskye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Every fan of Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries knows how enjoyable they are. It's one of the best series for a true sense of place that I've ever read. When I put down a Bruno mystery, I find myself thinking with a French accent. Walker does this by infusing each book with the life, the breath, the soul of the Périgord region of France.In essence, you have a strong mystery, populated with wonderful characters, that oozes France. If you're on a strict diet, stay away from these books; the descriptions of the food and its preparation are sublime. If you like learning things, this is a series for you. In The Body in the Castle Well, you're going to read about falconry, the French institution of confréries, a bit about Algiers, and World War II heroine, Josephine Baker.I think the thing I enjoyed learning the most was about the "pupilles de la République": "The pupilles were orphans of men and women in the police and military who had been killed in the line of duty. Their care, health, and education became the responsibility of the state. More recently, the status had been extended to the children of those killed by acts of terrorism." Vive la France!The Body in the Castle Well is another enjoyable outing of my favorite French policeman. What? You have yet to read one of Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police mysteries? Quelle horreur! You must do something about this tout de suite! Oops. I still seem to be under Bruno's influence...

[diana.hauser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

THE BODY IN THE CASTLE WELL is the 12th title in Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police series.There is everything to like about this series.The characters are interesting, realistic and very well-written. Each character adds to both the individual title and the series overall.The plots are realistic and add tension and interest.The books follow each other in a natural progression. Although it isn’t absolutely necessary to read them in order, I recommend it for character history and development.The books offer a breath-taking travelogue of the Dordogne area of southwestern France. Culture, language, wine, food, historical references, geography, archeaological sites and artifacts - Mr. Walker’s writing makes the reader feel an integral part of it all. (This particular title includes information on falconry.)In this title, THE BODY IN THE CASTLE WELL, a young woman is found at the bottom of a well. Was Claudia pushed? Or did she accidentally fall? Accident? or Murder? A pleasant, very smart and very rich student researching her doctoral thesis, Bruno is puzzled as to why someone would want her dead.An excellent title in an excellent series.

[philantrop-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Oh, Bruno, what did he do to you?! Bruno, you know I just love following your adventures around St. Denis. Unfortunately, just having finished the 12th outing – The Body in the Castle Well – I feel tired. Tired by the never-changing tides in St. Denis – there are even two love stories which are rehashed (again!) – and the complexity of the mystery. (And there’s a third love interest to boot!) The Bruno mysteries always were a “place” you gladly came back to because while things were moving on, they didn’t change abruptly. Bruno would always be that local cop everyone liked and who did a good job not just enforcing the law but making it work for the people it was made for. Also, while the story always had some connection to current topics, it was never really forced but (mostly) believable. Bruno’s adventures with Isabelle, Pamela and, sometimes, others were mostly amusing and engaging and simply “fit” into the context. Fast-forward to Bruno no. 12: The story is complex and confusing about document forgery, a WWII master forger, his brother-at-heart and the descendants of the French fascist militia. Confused? Me too. Oh, and there’s the body in the castle well who used to be a rich art student who wanted to uncover art forgery, potentially to make a name for herself. There’s still a lot of Bruno in this book – cooking, a few (but way too few!) of his friends, him being everybody’s darling and being nice to everyone – even the kids of his newest love interest (“We stir the pasta so that we can eat and the sauce becomes magic. If not, it’s very tragic.”). It’s barely (if at all) enough to be recommended to anyone but the staunchest of Bruno fans (and I think I am!), though. If Walker has issues continuing, not rehashing, Bruno’s story maybe he should take a break or even put Bruno to rest without further ado. Because you definitely deserve much better, my dearest Bruno!