The Dark Vineyard (2009)

This is the second book in a most enjoyable series. A quote on the cover by Independent Weekly describes it well: "A beguiling tale set expertly in rural France." The author was born in Scotland, but because he has worked for both The Guardian and United Press International, has lived in England, the U.S. and Russia. He spent summers in rural France for years before buying a home where the series takes place and where he now lives full time.

It appears a fire at the Agricultural Research Station was arson. Why would someone want to burn down a greenhouse and fields where agricultural research is taking place? That's the first mystery. The second is why the young man Bruno (Chief of Police) thinks set the fire, was killed? And then there's a third. An old man, a valued and loved citizen and a mentor of the young man, is found dead as well. What darkness has come to the small town of Saint-Denis?

A good mystery, a little romance, another broken heart and a visit to rural France all rolled into one. And there are 15 more in the series! ( )

A fire at the Agricultural Research Station that looks like arson. The death of a woman who left her son behind at the local Commune many years before. The son, Max. A man named Fernando Bondino has an interesting proposition for St. Denys. He wants to start a commercial vineyard. Two deaths. Mysteries emerge, and Bruno must solve them while doing his best to protect the people of St. Denis and their way of life. Of course, he succeeds. But the artistry is in how Bruno achieves his goal ( )

"The Dark Vineyard" opens with the quote: " Wine is bottled poetry." – Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) welcoming the reader to the possibilities of wine and for those familiar to the series thinking of savoring wine in the countryside of France. However the opening sentence brings the realism that danger and/or crime can interrupt or change even the most idyllic of settings.

“The distant howl of the siren atop the mairie (town hall) broke the stillness of the French summer night.”

Bruno (formally Benoît Courrèges) is a police chief of St. Denis, a small village in the south of France. The fictional village is modeled after Le Bugue, which straddles the Vézère river and is home for the author and his wife when they are not living in Washington, D.C. In "meeting" Bruno through the 1st novel in the series, "Bruno, Chief of Police" I was fascinated by the depth and dimensions of the multifaceted man, the countryside where he lives and works, the respect he shows to all who live and work in the village, and his genuine interest in people of all ages and all walks of life. Bruno displays his humanity to people and animals alike even if he suspects a person guilty of a crime or circumstantial evidence is pointing toward a person's guilt. He's a dedicated policeman, a good friend, a generous host, and an excellent chef.

A local agricultural research station is experimenting with genetically modified crops (GMO’s) and young winemakers not only want to position themselves to become the next generation of winemakers in the village but to make organic, quality wines and expand distribution beyond the local village and region. Who would have thought that passionate beliefs in creating GMO’s and organic wine might lead competitive streaks to arson and murder? Bruno won’t be the only law enforcement with interest in this investigation especially if the crimes are related. Using environmental and ecological subjects of current interest brought forth as many diverse opinions in the fictional village as are in global news headlines which made some aspects of the novel very thought-provoking. I appreciated the stories of the different wines and cheeses at various meals and wished I was a guest to sample each culinary experience too.

After reading the 1st book in the series, I researched more about the author and discovered that the character of Bruno has a fabulous website that is not to be missed. http://www.brunochiefofpolice.com/ ( )

A thoroughly enjoyable whodunnit, excellently plotted, with good character development. Much of the story focused on French village life, culture and wine with a strong economic theme running throughout, i.e. how can this pleasant way of life survive in the modern economy. ( )

Benoît (Bruno) Courrèges - devoted friend, cuisinier extraordinaire and the town's only municipal policeman - rushes to the scene when a research station for genetically modified crops is burned down outside Saint-Denis. Bruno immediately suspects a group of fervent environmentalists who live nearby, but the fire is only the first in a string of mysteries centering on the region's fertile soil.

Then a bevy of winemakers descends on Saint-Denis, competing for its land and spurring resentment among the villagers. Romances blossom. Hearts are broken. Some of the sensual pleasures of the town - a dinner of a truffle omelette and grilled bécasses, a community grape-crushing - provide an opportunity for both warm friendship and bitter hostilities to form. The town's rivals - Max, an environmentalist who hopes to make organic wine; Jacqueline, a flirtatious, newly arrived Québécoise; and Fernando, the heir to an American wine fortune - act increasingly erratically. Events grow ever darker, culminating in two suspicious deaths, and Bruno finds that the problems of the present are never far from those of the past.