The Resistance Man: A Bruno, Chief of Police novel

There are three main characters in The Resistance Man by Martin Walker. Bruno, chief of police in St. Denis; the town, country, cooking, and order of St. Denis itself; and the antagonist, the forces of lawlessness and chaos that intrude on both Bruno and St. Denis. An old resistance fighter dies clutching a bank note from the biggest train robbery in history. A visiting Englishman is brutally murdered. There are linked burglaries. Bruno’s old flame is assigned to the town to protect the government from the politically sensitive case. This is a delightful book, written with an eye for the beauty of the countryside, and a sympathetic view of the people therein. Bruno is just flawed enough to be interestingly human. He unravels the mystery methodically; there is no hidden surprise that is not deductible. The plot is plausible. My enjoyment of this book, and indeed the series, is the description of another place; one where the pace of life is enjoyed like the wine, dinners, and conversation that make up Bruno’s town. Like the epicurean delights that Bruno serves dinner guests on occasion, this book is meant to be enjoyed not only for the mystery, but also the personality of the characters and the town.