The Coldest Case

An anonymous skull, an unsolved murder--Bruno's investigation into a long-standing cold case finds him caught between an enigmatic winegrower and a menacing remnant of the Cold War.

After attending an exhibit on the facial reconstruction of ancient skulls, chief of police Bruno Courrèges wonders if this technology might provide an invaluable clue to a thirty-year-old cold case. But learning the identity of the murder victim is only the beginning. The investigation quickly turns thorny and leads Bruno to a reclusive vintner, Henri Bazaine, whose education at a vocational school in a formerly Communist region has raised some eyebrows. An inquiry into the defunct school turns up shadowy reports of possible connections to the Stasi. And the scrutiny on Henri only intensifies once Bruno discovers that he was declared dead thirty years ago... and has been living under an assumed name ever since. The strange case is further complicated as Parisian bureaucrats get involved, hinting that essential diplomatic relations might be at stake. And to make matters even worse, the Dordogne is suffering from an intense summer drought that is sparking fires across the region. But as always, Bruno will keep a cool head through it all--and, bien sûr, find time to enjoy the bounty of the Périgord!