Bruno, Chief of Police: A Novel of the French Countryside

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with a “cat-and-mouse game” between Bruno and the EU hygiene inspectors. How did this introduction to Bruno’s character and the town of St. Denis shape your expectations for the story that followed?

2. The guide notes that Bruno could be “the Maigret of the Dordogne,” referencing Georges Simenon’s classic French inspector. How does Bruno’s character compare to other famous literary detectives you’ve encountered?

3. The murder of Hamid al-Bakr is never officially solved, and the state chooses to suspend the investigation for political reasons. How did you feel about this resolution? Did it feel like a form of justice was served, and what does the ending suggest about the difference between “the law” and “what is right”?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Bruno’s deep connection to St. Denis is solidified when the community helps him build his house from a ruin, making him feel truly at home. Is there a time in your life when a shared effort made you feel a strong sense of belonging in a community?

2. Food and gastronomy are central to the culture and identity of St. Denis, with traditions that are passionately defended. What role do food traditions play in your own life or family? How did the town’s defense of its culinary heritage resonate with your own experiences of cultural identity?

3. Bruno consistently prioritizes the well-being of his community over a strict adherence to rules. Have you ever felt that following the spirit of a rule was more important than following the letter of the law?

4. Walker’s novel highlights the ways the legacy of the French Resistance fighters is passed down through generations, even in small ways like the potato-in-the-exhaust-pipe trick. Are there any stories, skills, or lessons from older generations that have been passed down in your family or community?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What does the story suggest about how nations deal with shameful or complicated periods of their history, like the Vichy regime in France? Where do you see the unresolved legacies of the past influencing political or social tensions in the world today?

2. The conflict between the St. Denis market vendors and the EU inspectors highlights a classic tension between local traditions and globalizing forces. Where else do you see this dynamic at play in contemporary society, whether it involves food, language, or other cultural practices?

3. How do nations construct and protect their “official stories”? The French government’s decision to bury the truth about Hamid’s murder is driven by a desire to protect a certain narrative about the Resistance. What are the potential dangers or benefits of a society choosing to prioritize a unifying story over a complicated truth?

4. Bruno and Isabelle’s relationship highlights a conflict between a life deeply rooted in one place and a career path that requires ambition and mobility. How do their differing life trajectories reflect broader questions about balancing personal relationships with professional goals?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Walker’s choice to tell the story almost exclusively from Bruno’s perspective influence the novel’s thematic exploration of justice in St. Denis? What might have been gained or lost if we had seen events through the eyes of another character, like Isabelle or the magistrate Tavernier?

2. In what specific ways does the setting of the Périgord region, with its focus on landscape, history, and gastronomy, help develop the novel’s central themes? How would this story have been different if Walker had set it in Paris?

3. How did the swastika, which functions as a red herring, shape your initial theories about the murder? What other moments of misinterpretation, such as Bruno’s assumption about the veterans’ silent stare, does the author use to build suspense and guide the reader down a false path?

4. The novel establishes a very clear formula for a roman policier de terroir, or regional crime novel. For those who’ve read other books in the Bruno series, how does this first installment lay the foundation for what’s to come?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Bruno makes the difficult choice to lie to Hamid’s family about why the investigation is ending to protect them from the truth of Hamid’s past. Write a scene of dialogue depicting that conversation between Bruno, Momu, and Karim.

2. A travel magazine wants to feature St. Denis based on its depiction in the novel. Design a one-day itinerary that truly captures the town’s spirit, from its food and people to its most significant locations.