The Body in the Castle Well : A Mystery of the French Countryside

Another installment in the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno: When a young American woman turns up dead in the courtyard of an ancient castle, Bruno Courrèges initially assumes that she died of an overdose. But her doctor soon persuades him that things may not be so simple, setting Bruno on an investigation that will lead him from the Renaissance to the French Resistance and beyond. Claudia Muller had been studying with Monsieur de Bourdeille, a renowned art historian who became extraordinarily wealthy through the sale of paintings that may have been falsely attributed—or so Claudia suggested shortly before her death. In his younger days, Bourdeille had aided the Resistance and been arrested by a Vichy police officer whose own life story also becomes inexorably entangled with the case. Also in the mix is a young falconer who works at the Château des Milandes, the former home of fabled jazz singer Josephine Baker. Once again, it’s up to Bruno to make sure that justice is served—along with a generous helping of his signature Périgordian cuisine, of course. An Aging Art Scholar And A Visiting Student, Haunting Echoes Of France's Colonialist Past, And A Delicious Navarin Of Lamb--bruno Is Back, And His Latest Case Leads Him From The Renaissance To The French Resistance And Beyond By Way Of A Corpse At The Bottom Of A Well. When Claudia, A Young American, Turns Up Dead In The Courtyard Of An Ancient Castle In Bruno's Jurisdiction, Her Death Is Assumed To Be An Accident Related To Opioid Use. But Her Doctor Persuades Bruno That Things May Not Be So Simple. Thus Begins An Investigation That Leads Bruno To Monsieur De Bourdeille, The Scholar With Whom The Girl Had Been Studying, And Then Through That Man's Past. He Is A Renowned Art Historian Who Became Extraordinarily Wealthy Through The Sale Of Paintings That May Have Been Falsely Attributed--or So Claudia Suggested Shortly Before Her Death. In His Younger Days, Bourdeille Had Aided The Resistance And Been Arrested By A Vichy Policeman Whose Own Life Story Also Becomes Inexorably Entangled With The Case. Also In The Mix Is A Young Falconer Who Works At The Château Des Milandes, The Former Home Of Fabled Jazz Singer Josephine Baker. In The End, Of Course, Bruno Will Tie All The Loose Threads Together And See That Justice Is Served--along With A Generous Helping Of His Signature Périgordian Cuisine. When Claudia, a young American, turns up dead in the courtyard of an ancient castle in Bruno's jurisdiction, her death is assumed to be an accident related to opioid use. But her doctor persuades Bruno that things may not be so simple. Thus begins an investigation that leads Bruno to Monsieur de Bourdeille, the scholar with whom the girl had been studying, and then through that man's past. He is a renowned art historian who became extraordinarily wealthy through the sale of paintings that may have been falsely attributed--or so Claudia suggested shortly before her death. In his younger days, Bourdeille had aided the Resistance and been arrested by a Vichy policeman whose own life story also becomes inexorably entangled with the case. Also in the mix is a young falconer who works at the Château des Milandes, the former home of fabled jazz singer Josephine Baker. In the end, of course, Bruno will tie all the loose threads together and see that justice is served--along with a generous helping of his signature Périgordian cuisine.-- Publisher's description A rich American art student is found dead at the bottom of a well in an ancient hilltop castle. The young woman, Claudia, had been working in the archives of an eminent French art historian, a crippled Resistance war hero, at his art-filled chateau.As Claudia's White House connections get the US Embassy and the FBI involved, Bruno traces the people and events that led to her fatal accident - or was it murder?Bruno learns that Claudia had been trying to buy the chateau and art collection of her tutor, even while her researches led her to suspect that some of his attributions may have been forged. This takes Bruno down a trail that leads him from the ruins of Berlin in 1945, to France's colonial war in Algeria.The long arm of French history has reached out to find a new victim, but can Bruno identify the killer - and prove his case?