Recently read: Pierre Magnan’s Death in the Truffle Wood

This book, originally published in 1978 and translated in 2005, is a quick, charming read. Mysterious strangers are disappearing around a tiny French town. The townsfolk, whose lives revolve in part around the annual truffle harvest, are puzzled by odd happenings near the woods where the best truffles are found. We get to meet a delightful cast that includes a trained pig named Roseline who is pampered and treasured for her ability to root out the expensive gourmet fungi. We also meet a small group of men who uphold the traditions of generations hunting the treat, a rich girl whose brother is among the “disappeared,” a shepherd who can see ghosts, and a visiting investigator who gets sidetracked by his lovely landlady. The book provides suspense and a delightful peek into the small yet lucrative world of truffle hunting.