The Patriarch

Bruno, Chief of Police

By: Martin Walker

Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie

A beloved village, a renowned family, a suspicious death - it's the latest adventure in the Dordogne for police chief Bruno. When Bruno is invited to the lavish birthday celebration of World War II flying ace and national icon Marco "the Patriarch" Desaix, it's the fulfillment of a boyhood dream. But when the party ends in the death of Gilbert, Marco's longtime friend, it's another day on the job for the chef de police. All signs point to a tragic accident, but Bruno isn't so sure. There is more to the Desaix family's lives and loyalties than meets the eye.

There is Victor, the patriarch's son, Gilbert's old comrade-in-arms and sometime rival; Victor's seductive wife, Madeleine, whose roving eye intrigues Bruno even more than her fierce political ambitions; Yevgeny, another son, an artist whose paintings seem to hold keys to the past; and the patriarch himself, whose postwar Soviet ties may have intersected all too closely with Gilbert's career in Cold War intelligence. Bruno is diverted by a dangerous conflict between a local animal rights activist and outraged hunters - as well as meals to cook, wine to share, and an ever more complicated romantic situation. But as his entanglement with the Desaix family grows and his suspicions heighten, Bruno's inquiries into Gilbert's life become a deadly threat to his own.

©2015 Walker and Watson, Ltd. (P)2015 Recorded Books

Not the best Bruno story.

I thoroughly enjoy this series, but felt Bruno acted out if character in this one.

Enjoyable, but...

If I reach the eighth entry in a series, I like the books a lot. That said, this one contained far too much rhapsodizing on Bruno's response to women for my liking. The endless descriptions of women's shining, curling loose hair, the breasts, the legs, the scents, the color, texture and feel of their skin, blah, blah, blah. It's starting to feel a bit sexist, and like I'm a voyeur into what should be Mr. Walker's private fantasies. I hope Bruno gets his act together with a partner in the next book so we can get on with the investigation, and not have to reclassify these books into the romance category.

The narration has always seemed to me to fit the mood of the books, but the Russian accent here was completely over the top and sounds like a Transylvanian vampire from a B movie.

I enjoyed this one, but I've enjoyed the others more.

one of his best.

great story, weaving in unique WWII material with Cold War espionage, and good ole skeletons in the family closet.

Great Series

This is a. Great addition to a great series. I learn something about France, cooking, hunting, village life and history from each book all the while challenged by a good mystery enacted by great characters!

same old same old

Somehow I missed the Patriarch by Martin Walker when it came out. I was looking around for something to read, and check to see when the next Bruno Chief of Police novel comes out. I discovered that it came out in June and not only did I miss the release, but I also missed one of the previous books in the series.

It is odd that you can read a series and not notice when you miss a book. And once I finished reading The Patriarch, I am can see why I did not realize that I missed anything. This novel did not really move the story along.

In one of the previous books Bruno saved ‘The Red Countess’, an elderly woman from a historic family that was being drugged to steal her land. The Red Countess invites him to a party for the Patriarch, a national hero of the cold war, a pilot and one of the Countess’s previous relationships.

At the party, which is local and adds in yet another wealthy member of the community, Bruno observes a quiet scuffle between a granddaughter of the Patriarch and her Godfather, the best friend of one of the sons of the Patriarch. Later that day, Bruno is called in to quietly certify the death of the Godfather, who it turns out was a former spy.

Again the connection is a bit too complicated for a small French town. But it works with the formula that Martin Walker has set up for the series. The Patriarch includes some history that has an impact on the modern day. There is the side thread of a community problem that Bruno has to solve through creative negotiation (in this case an unauthorized deer refuge by a local animal rights supporter). And there is Bruno’s love life, which I know the result of before I started the book because I accidentally read the next book first.

As a novel, the thread work fine. As a broader series, it is a perfect example of a series going awry. Bruno is stuck in his life. His desire to settle down and have a family isn’t going anywhere (and the next book is much the same). The small community has gotten much too large to continue in quite the same way that the early books suggested. Walker’s desire to keep the series interesting has continued to add in threads of international relations, terrorism, and organized crime instead of focusing on writing characters that grow and change.

The Patriarch was fine. I read some pretty negative reviews before I started, so my expectations were low. It wasn’t as bad of a book as the negative reviews suggested. Walker still can write and a lot of the elements that I like about the series were still present. But those elements are becoming a bit cardboard. The next book in the series, The Templar’s Last Secret is out. I will read it soon, but my interest in the series has wained.

Great for atmosphere-disappointing ending

Love the author's obvious regard for this region of France. I listen to these for the description of life in Perigord and to follow the characters to which we've been introduced. This novel ended abruptly with loose ends that didn't quite fit together. A lackluster effort on the author's part.

Donna Leon meets Peter Mayle, Delightful

I really enjoyed The Patriarch by Martin Walker. Sort of a cross between Donna Leon and Peter Mayle's Summer in Province. It's about a police chief in the south of France, lots of local detail and a real understanding of life, people and politics in a small French town. Has Leon's leisurely way of getting you almost living in the little French town. Not Venice, no canals but charming. Turns out it's part of a series so if you like it there's more!

Another good story of Bruno chief of police

I have enjoyed the series, although this book is probably not my favorite. I'm not really sure what was going on in the authors head but Bruno, who is generally very analytical and smart, gets involved with a woman he shouldn't. Spoiler alert – she's a suspect and it doesn't end well. Otherwise I truly enjoy the descriptions of the town, of the characters, and especially, of the food that is prepared every other chapter or so. Don't read/listen if you're hungry!

I just love Bruno

Oh how I love Bruno!

This book reverts back to the daily life in St Denis unlike the previous book. I love the village, and Bruno's cooking, and the quirky residents and their problems. (Deer.)

The main story is wonderful. We are reminded a lot of the history between France and the Soviet Union. The new characters are very interesting but I was annoyed with Bruno at one point. I still miss Isabel.

Brilliant writing and excellent narration. A 5 star book!

I am trying to read all of Bruno.

I have tried to read all of Bruno, but now I get to listen to Him and it is like I have been to the movies!