The Patriarch: A Mystery of the French Countryside (Bruno, Chief of Police Series)

Another delightful installment in the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno: Bruno Courrges is thrilled when he receives an invitation to the lavish birthday celebration of his childhood hero, World War II flying ace Marco the Patriarch Desaix. But when the party ends in the death of one of Marcos longtime friends, Gilbert, it turns into another day on the job for St. Denis's chief of police. All signs point to a tragic accident, but Bruno isnt so sure, for there is more to the Desaix family's lives and loyalties than meets the eye. Theres Victor, the Patriarchs son and Gilbert's sometimes rival, and Victors seductive wife, Madeleine, whose roving eye intrigues Bruno even more than her fierce political ambitions. Not to mention the Patriarch himselfdid his postwar Soviet ties intersect too closely with Gilberts career in Cold War intelligence? As Brunos entanglement with the Desaix family becomes more complicated, his inquiries into Gilberts life will become a deadly threat to his own.