The Resistance Man (Bruno Courrèges 5)

Travel Guide

St Denis may be fictional but there is an awful lot of France and French cuisine, culture and comedy tied into this place. This is also the place where French history and politics – local, national and international come together.

In this latest case, the very real and very infamous French Great Train robbery of 1944 is linked to the notes turning up in St Denis. The last person to have them was a French Resistance fighter and so the political and criminal elements come together. The very thought that this side of the war could resurface is very concerning to Bruno and the St Denis citizens. Their town is changing, and this link to the not so pleasant past is very unwelcome.

Modern day problems aren’t much better – There is a journalist sniffing around a story that the US has been secretly supporting France’s nuclear goals. The elections are coming up and so once again politics comes to the streets of Dordogne. What about free elections and the French political system?

The burglaries are also rather strange as only owners of valuable objects are being targeted and items stolen include wine, some of which can run into thousands of euros.

But the real delight is the foodie setting – the rich, evocative French food served on each and every page”

“He put a place of ham and his fresh radishes at each setting on his dining room table. Then he added some unsalted butter to each plate and sliced a big round loaf of bread from the Moulin bakery.”