When an elderly farmer is discovered dead, there's no reason to suspect anything untoward. But Bruno, the local policeman, is contacted by the man's son. It seems that days before he died, the farmer had signed over the property to an insurance company.

In Bruno's investigations, he uncovers an elaborate scam, linked to a Russian oligarch who is already known to the French police.

Meanwhile, an aging British rock star is selling his home, Chateau Rock, and the family and friends visiting there for one last time are linked to the suspicious death and financial impropriety.

And, as all this is going on, Bruno still has time to build chicken coops, exercise the horses, take early morning runs through the hills and cook some lazy, indulgent, delicious meals. Oh, and make plans to breed his pedigree Basset hound, Balzac.

It's a fabulous escapist read where the sun is shining, the days are long, friends are plentiful and true, and justice will be done.