Chateau Under Siege

Bruno, Chief of Police, Book 16

By: Martin Walker

Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie

When an actor in a local play is attacked during a performance, Bruno must learn whether it was an accident, a crime of passion—or an assassination attempt with implications far beyond the small French village.

The town of Sarlat is staging a reenactment of its liberation from the British in the Hundred Years’ War when the play’s French hero, Brice Kerquelin, is stabbed and feared fatally wounded. Is it an unfortunate prop malfunction—or something more sinister? The stricken man happens to be number two in the French intelligence service, in line for the top job. Bruno is tasked with the safety of the victim’s daughter Claire, as well as her father's old Silicon Valley buddies, ostensibly in town for a reunion.

One friend from Taiwan, a tycoon in chip fabrication, soon goes missing, and Bruno suspects there may be a link to the French government’s efforts to build a chip industry in Europe—something powerful forces in Russia and China are determined to scuttle. Wading through a tangle of rivalries and secrets, Bruno begins to parse fact from fiction—while also becoming embroiled in some romantic complications, and, of course, finding time to put together some splendid meals.

©2023 Martin Walker (P)2023 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Robert Ian Mackenzie returns to portray Bruno Courrèges, chief of police in a small town in Dordogne, France.... Mackenzie's fondness for the characters shines as he creates highly believable characters in Bruno and his wide circle of friends. In Bruno he creates a grounded character who combines his love of cooking and rural life with his strong sense of duty. Mackenzie also demonstrates his talent with international accents as the plot brings people of various nationalities into the adventure." (AudioFile)

Disappointing, with a muddle plot line

As a long-time Bruno fan, I was disappointed in this latest novel and the last one (To Kill a Troubadour). Martin seems to have lost his touch in a story that hangs on a nonsensical crime plotline, full of plot holes, although the theme of China versus the EU in advanced chip-making seems sound. But this latest story largely ignores the St.-Denis community and friends at the heart of the better Bruno novels.
I love the “Bruno, Chief of Police” series for the interesting and wholesome collection of friends and co-workers around Bruno. I’ve tried other European crime novel series, but their protagonists always seem to repeat the tired trope of the world-weary, cynical detective, reluctantly dragged into doing his job by external circumstances, not any personal drive to find justice in the world. Not so Bruno, who loves his place in the world, his career, and his friends and fellow townspeople.
Martin has set up several multi-novel story arcs involving Bruno’s personal life and loves (Isabel, Florence), but in the last three books, he has teased the reader without advancing that story arc one millimeter.
If you love the Bruno series, you’ll at least like “Chateau Under Seige,” but it’s far from Martin’s best. If you’re considering starting the Bruno series, start with the first novel in the series because the series is one evolving story.
One very nice thing: As always, Robert Ian Mackenzie does a brilliant job as the narrator.

Not every book has to be Nobel Prize worthy to be enjoyed.

While each negative comment about this latest Bruno story certainly has validity I still enjoyed reading (listening). Martin Walker is a fine writer and Robert Ian MacKenzie a favorite narrator. I’ll keep enjoying the books in this series as long as they keep coming.

Every Bruno Book Is Like Taking a Vacation

I do not read books like the Bruno series. I’m a Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher, Court Gentry type of reader. I stumbled across a copy of “Black Diamond” (the latest Bruno story at the time) at the library and gave it a shot. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and quickly caught up with the series.

I love the recurring characters and their development. I was driving when Gigi was killed and I almost went into an emotional shock.

I am very grateful that throughout the series they have stayed with Robert Ian McKenzie as the reader as he IS Bruno and the world of St. Dennis.

I feel good after finishing a Bruno story and I can’t wait for the next one.

Not as Good as Earlier Ones

This plot was really strained. The familiar characters are enjoyable but they barely seem to develop over many books; now they just settle into their expected grooves. I enjoy the series and the setting. Some of the earlier books have fascinating details about the history of the area. But many bits are getting repetitive. Hope the author returns to form next book with a better plot and maybe some growth or change in the delightful characters.

Way, way too long…

The story itself was too complicated and unusually too detailed. I normally love Sheriff Bruno books but this was one I could have done without.