This sixth book in the Winemakers Detective Series has a lot to live up to - so far we've had murders both personal and with historical resonance, wines ranging from classic reds to artisan brandies. Can the vintners of France pull off another great-tasting offering? MAYHEM IN MARGAUX again stars Benjamin Cooker, master vintner, and his assistant Virgile who has an eye for the ladies. One lady strictly off the list would be Benjamin's daughter, Margaux, now studying business.

Summer in wine country means heat, outdoor garden parties and elegance. An unexpected drought causes concern about the grape harvest. However the focus shifts abruptly when Cooker's daughter Margaux is in a serious car accident; the crash may have been deliberate sabotage. Was she the target, or the man who was driving her? Cooker drops everything for his family and can count on Virgile's aid to help him get to the bottom of the situation.

I find it ironic that Cooker asks if the driver had been drinking, when in earlier books we've seen him drive after being well wined and dined. Maybe this is the two authors' way of making a point - that they don't advise behaving recklessly. In other ways too we see modern standards intruding on the old country of the Medoc region. Winemakers here treasure their secrets, traditional methods and family employment, but the new commercial owners of an estate want to sweep clean and produce more economically. This has certainly produced enemies, whatever about wine.

Amid debate on whether to replace corks with metal screw- caps, and exploitation of migrant workers, we find a determined, human face to our senior vintner. Virgile too patiently spends time with the injured Margaux, reassuring her that there will still be a good life for her. While wine tasting takes a back seat in this snappy novella, and the weather's too hot for much but salads, MAYHEM IN MARGAUX is classic vintage from the team of Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noel Balen. You won't want to miss this exciting chapter in the lives of Cooker and Virgile.

Book Summary

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 some dirty secrets hiding behind some of Bordeaux’s finest grand cru classé wines from Margaux.

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