The Winemaker Detective

This omnibus edition collects Alaux and Balen’s first three novels in this lighthearted, popular French series: Treachery in Bordeaux, Grand Cru Heist, and Nightmare in Burgundy. Wine expert Benjamin Cooker and his new assistant, Virgile Lanssien, deduce the identity of a malevolent yeast adulterator in Bordeaux; turn a mugging into a chance to travel from Paris to the countryside, where they solve a mystery involving dead bodies and missing bottles; and explore the deadly meaning of biblical graffiti in Burgundy—all against a backdrop of lavishly described fine food and beautiful estates, plus accurate exposition about the details of wine tastings and the technicalities of wine production. Those who like detective stories that rely on the fine qualities of the investigator will find Cooker an enjoyable lead, though the very French ambience trumps the plotting, and the abrupt resolutions can seem like asides in the midst of Cooker’s social schedule. (Dec.)