Very short story focusing on a conflict between a new market vendor and the established village cafe owner. Bruno, of course, helps the two parties find a way to work together. The food and regional descriptions are always great! ( )

The short stories in the Bruno series highlight the town of St. Denis and Bruno’s role as the municipal policeman. The simpler plots showcase Bruno’s conflict management skills in resolving fairly minor interpersonal conflicts. The stories also have something to do with food, one of Bruno’s off-duty interests. In this story, Bruno makes peace between Senegalese market vendors and the local cafe owner who is losing market day business to their cheaper coffee sales. ( )

Yet another Bruno short story. This one deals with the market again and the ensuing eponymous “Chocolate War” that Bruno ends in a typical Bruno way.

This is a very short read but it’s a nice one at least.


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Well-written but too short to be very interesting. Still, worth the price. ( )

“The chocolate war” by Martin Walker is a short story - a Bruno, Chief of Police Story.
Bruno Courreges is the local policeman of the Perigord market town of St. Denis. One of his duties is to patrol and secure its weekly market every Tuesday morning. The prosperity of St. Denis “had rested for seven centuries upon this weekly market - the oldest and largest in the region.”
The story is quite short and showcases Bruno’s diplomacy skills when dealing with all matters involving his beloved St. Denis. He and the mayor work out a brilliant and respectful compromise between various stalls and cafes vying for their share of business.
Food and drink highlight any ‘Bruno’ story and it’s hard not to dream of the French countryside and its gastronomic delights when reading about this region of France.
“The chocolate war” compliments all the ‘Bruno’ stories written by Martin Walker.
They are always a delight to read in any form. ( )