Black Diamond

A Mystery of the French Countryside

By Martin Walker | Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

About the book

A noted truffle expert is murdered in this installment of the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno. Filled with an abundance of food and wine (including, bien sûr, many, many truffles), Black Diamond is a deliciously entertaining concoction that delivers all the complexity and delights of the Dordogne itself.

\"A charming French village, great food, eccentric characters and a mystery to nudge things along.... Savory indeed\" —The Seattle Times


Something dangerous is afoot in St. Denis. In the space of a few weeks, the normally sleepy village sees attacks on Vietnamese vendors, arson at a local Asian restaurant, subpar truffles from China smuggled into outgoing shipments at a nearby market—all of it threatening the Dordogne’s truffle trade, worth millions of dollars each year, and all of it spelling trouble for Benoît “Bruno” Courrèges, master chef, devoted oenophile, and, most important, beloved chief of police. When one of his hunting partners, a noted truffle expert, is murdered, Bruno’s investigation into the murky events unfolding around St. Denis becomes infinitely more complicated. His friend wasn’t just a connoisseur of French delicacies, he was a former high-profile intelligence agent—and someone wanted him dead.

As the strange crimes continue, Bruno’s detective work takes him from sunlit markets to dim cafés, from luxurious feasts to tense negotiations—from all of the paradisial pleasures of the region to its shadowy underworld—and reunites him with a lost love, an ambitious policewoman also assigned to the case. 

Editions of Black Diamond

Hardcover
ISBN 9780307700148
Paperback
ISBN 9780307744630
EBook
ISBN 9780307701459

Read an Excerpt

A noted truffle expert is murdered in this installment of the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno. Filled with an abundance of food and wine (including, bien sûr, many, many truffles), Black Diamond is a deliciously entertaining concoction that delivers all the complexity and delights of the Dordogne itself.

\"A charming French village, great food, eccentric characters and a mystery to nudge things along.... Savory indeed\" —The Seattle Times


Something dangerous is afoot in St. Denis. In the space of a few weeks, the normally sleepy village sees attacks on Vietnamese vendors, arson at a local Asian restaurant, subpar truffles from China smuggled into outgoing shipments at a nearby market—all of it threatening the Dordogne’s truffle trade, worth millions of dollars each year, and all of it spelling trouble for Benoît “Bruno” Courrèges, master chef, devoted oenophile, and, most important, beloved chief of police. When one of his hunting partners, a noted truffle expert, is murdered, Bruno’s investigation into the murky events unfolding around St. Denis becomes infinitely more complicated. His friend wasn’t just a connoisseur of French delicacies, he was a former high-profile intelligence agent—and someone wanted him dead.

As the strange crimes continue, Bruno’s detective work takes him from sunlit markets to dim cafés, from luxurious feasts to tense negotiations—from all of the paradisial pleasures of the region to its shadowy underworld—and reunites him with a lost love, an ambitious policewoman also assigned to the case. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black Diamond about?

A noted truffle expert is murdered in this installment of the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno. Filled with an abundance of food and wine (including, bien sûr, many, many truffles), Black Diamond is a deliciously entertaining concoction that delivers all the complexity and delights of the Dordogne itself.

\"A charming French village, great food, eccentric characters and a mystery to nudge things along.... Savory indeed\" —The Seattle Times


Something dangerous is afoot in St. Denis. In the space of a few weeks, the normally sleepy village sees attacks on Vietnamese vendors, arson at a local Asian restaurant, subpar truffles from China smuggled into outgoing shipments at a nearby market—all of it threatening the Dordogne’s truffle trade, worth millions of dollars each year, and all of it spelling trouble for Benoît “Bruno” Courrèges, master chef, devoted oenophile, and, most important, beloved chief of police. When one of his hunting partners, a noted truffle expert, is murdered, Bruno’s investigation into the murky events unfolding around St. Denis becomes infinitely more complicated. His friend wasn’t just a connoisseur of French delicacies, he was a former high-profile intelligence agent—and someone wanted him dead.

As the strange crimes continue, Bruno’s detective work takes him from sunlit markets to dim cafés, from luxurious feasts to tense negotiations—from all of the paradisial pleasures of the region to its shadowy underworld—and reunites him with a lost love, an ambitious policewoman also assigned to the case. 

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Black Diamond?

Fiction > Crime and / or mystery fiction > Crime and mystery: cosy mystery

Where can I read a sample of Black Diamond?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780307700148

Is Black Diamond part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Bruno, Chief of Police Series

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Black Diamond?

Martin Walker

Who is the Publisher of the book Black Diamond?

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Black Diamond is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780307700148) and paperback(ISBN 9780307744630) and ebook(ISBN 9780307701459)

Where can I buy Black Diamond online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Black Diamond from below

Where can I buy Black Diamond?