The Devil's Cave

Das Périgord ist ein Paradies für Schlemmer, Kanufahrer und Liebhaber des gemächlichen süßen Lebens. Doch im April, kurz vor Beginn der Touristensaison, stören ein höchst profitables Touristikprojekt, Satanisten und eine nackte Frauenleiche in einem Kahn die beschaulichen Ufer der Vézère. Und Bruno, den örtlichen Chef de police, stören zusätzlich höchst verwirrende Frühlingsgefühle.

The mystery was fine but it is the life in St. Denis that I really like in these books. ( )

A corpse is floating down the river in a waterlogged punt, a young woman runs away from home, and the Mayor wants to permit a huge housing development with a sports facility.

Bruno investigates: The corpse was involved in a Satanic Rite and turns out to be the Granddaughter of the infamous Resistance Fighter & Communist, the Red Countess.

The runaway, seduced by a slick young man & now working in the local International Business Hotel for government hotshots.

The planned housing community failed in a neighboring community; the houses were inferior quality & the contractors reneged on their promises by using multiple subsidiaries of the same company to obfuscate the town.

Bruno finds the Red Countess doped to the gills & being financially abused.

Oh yeah, and there's a 2nd murder the Runaway's father who wants her to come back home in order to keep her safe from the slick boyfriend.

Although, I like Bruno, his friends, co-workers, & townspeople; I marked this down 1/2 Star because it was overly long, and in my not-so-humble opinion the last chapters could have been omitted... the cave scenes were long enough, but the last one was oh-so tedious. ( )

The more Bruno novels I read, the better I like them. A nice mix of French country culture, history, mystery, and human relations. ( )

A really wonderful read. A great mystery. A delightful narrator. Fabulous characters. Delicious food. Great sense of place. What more could you ask? This one really caught me up and I had a very hard time putting it down. Now I'm sorry it's over. Can't wait for the next one. ( )