Jean-Pierre ALAUX and Noël BALEN
on Tour
May 6-15
with
Mayhem in Margaux
(cozy mystery)
Release date: May 14, 2015
at Le French Book 153 pages
ISBN: 978-1939474384
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SYNOPSIS
It’s summer in Bordeaux. There’s a heat wave, the vineyards are suffering, vintners are on edge, and wine expert Benjamin Cooker’s daughter is visiting. A tragic car accident draws the Winemaker Detective and his assistant Virgile into a case where the stakes are very personal, and they uncover the dirty secrets hiding behind some of Bordeaux’s finest grand cru classé wines from Margaux. [provided by the publisher]
An episode in a long successful French mysteries series
that is a hit television series now in its fourth season
and attracting an audience of over 4 million.
The series is a huge success in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
My Review
I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and enjoyable walk through the French vineyards!
The protagonist of this book is the family of Benjamin and its adventures, its vineyards and a little mystery to solve.
Margaux, the daughter of Benjamin, lives and works in New York and has returned home in Bordeaux for a short vacation. She is involved in a terrible car accident with a boy she had met recently and Benjamin will soon discover that it wasn't an accident: someone cut the threads of the brakes. Together with his assistant Virgile will try to find out who almost killed his daughter. In addition, the Winemaker detective must fight against the great heat wave that threatens his vineyards.
I liked a lot the family of Benjamin and their relationships: it is difficult for father to accept that her daughter is no longer a child but became a woman.
It's the first book I read of this series but can not wait to reading the other.
It 's a short reading, the pace is fast and engaging, the mystery is a little predictable but does not take away the taste of history.
If you love wine, France and its vineyards, and the lighthearted readings is the book for you.
I received the eBook free as a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Excerpt
As soon as Benjamin drove past the stone pillars and turned
onto the driveway lined with Japanese cherry trees, Bacchus got up from the
grass to welcome him. But it wasn’t his usual energetic greeting. The setter’s
Irish origins were not an advantage in this infernal heat. The dog’s tongue was
hanging out, and his gait was sluggish.
Even
his bark was feeble. Distracted by the dog’s lethargy, Benjamin almost slammed
into a red Porsche 911 turbo parked in the courtyard.
Margaux was on the doorstep, hugging her mother good-bye.
Antoine Rinetti was watching. He was wearing a sporty getup and a whimsical tie
that he had probably purchased in some luxury boutique on the Côte d’Azur.
“Don’t stay out too late, dear,” Elisabeth said. “Remember,
we’re leaving for Cap Ferret in the early afternoon, and I’m counting on you to
help me finish packing.”
“Let me sleep at least until ten, Maman.”
Benjamin ran a hand over his face and suppressed a grimace.
He got out of his Mercedes convertible. Its antique chrome and burr elm
dashboard seemed like relics, compared with Rinetti’s flashy sports car. The
young Gayraud-Valrose manager greeted him with the obsequious confidence of a
brat with a string of diplomas and opinions. Margaux ran to meet her father and
kissed him on the cheek.
“Antoine asked me out to dinner, so you two lovebirds will
have the house all to yourselves tonight,” she said with her characteristic warmth,
which he had never been able to resist.
“Well, have a nice evening, sweetheart,” Benjamin found
himself replying. He deliberately avoided eye contact with the young man from
Nice.
His daughter and her date got in the Porsche. It took off,
sending a volley of gravel toward the Anduze vases lining the house and
outbuildings. Feeling dejected, Benjamin turned to his wife.
“What could Margaux possibly see in a man who drives a car
that ostentatious?”
“It’s not very understated, I’ll admit.”
“I just hope his driving is better than his taste in cars and
ties.”
“Let’s hope that heaven hears your prayers.”
“I’ve always thought that expression was a bit silly,”
Benjamin grumbled. “I’d rather have heaven listen to me.”
The evening was gloomy and tense. For dinner, they just
nibbled cheese and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil. Elisabeth tried her best
to get a conversation going, but Benjamin was in a foul mood. Exhausted from
the day’s work but too wound up to relax, he soon disappeared into his office
to arrange his files. He worked methodically, completely absorbed in a task
that he could complete without actually thinking.
He slipped into the bed at midnight, gave his sleeping wife a
cursory peck on the neck, and brooded until he fell asleep. Three hours later,
the telephone jerked both Elisabeth and him awake.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jean-Pierre Alaux
and Noël Balen,
wine lover and music lover respectively,
came up with the idea
for the Winemaker Detective series
while sharing a meal,
with a bottle of Château Gaudou 1996,
a red wine from Cahors
with smooth tannins and a balanced nose.
ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR
Translator Sally Pane studied French at State University of New York Oswego and the Sorbonne before receiving her Masters Degree in French Literature from the University of Colorado. She has translated several titles in this series.
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thanks for your nice review, glad you like it. And the fun part if you already have 5 to catch up with. Keep an eye on FBT, we will launch soon the tour for #7 in this series
RispondiEliminaYou're welcome! Thanks for the chance! I'm reading #5 and I'm looking forward to reading #7!
Eliminadid you see, we are booking now for next one: http://francebooktours.com/2015/06/02/jean-pierre-alaux-and-noel-balen-on-tour-flambe-in-armagnac/
RispondiElimina