Bruno: Chief of Police

by Martin Walker

Captain Bruno Correges is the Chief of Police, the only police officer, in the town of St. Denis in the Dordogne region of France.  His is a comfortable life, he knows all the town's people and they respect him.  All are in agreement against the inspectors who come to town to make sure the markets are complying with EU rules.

The town is shattered when an old man, an Arab, a war hero, is brutally murdered in his home.  At first it appears that some young hooligans, racists, one of whom might the the son of the town's doctor, might have committed the crime.  That new is disturbing enough, but when a rally against racism is turned into a melee by racist thugs, things get even more tense locally and politically nationwide.

While the other national police forces have the responsibility for solving the crime it is Bruno's sleuthing that leads to the answer, the murdered man, who had been living under a false name since WWII was actually a war criminal, terrorizing the French countryside, for the Germans.  The powers that be decide that is better to let the investigation die quietly.  Bruno confronts two people he thinks are the perpetrators but he does not arrest them or turn them in the authorities.  Was justice achieved?

In the story Bruno and all the officials seem more intent on keeping the good name of the community and not inflaming public anti-immigration sentiiments than on carrying out the law.

The story was interesting, the characters are colourful, but the outcome not necessarily satisfying.  I am sure the french would not appreciate the way their various officials are portrayed.