Book Review: Red-Handed in Romanee-Conti

Book: Red-Handed in Romanee-Conti (Winemaker Detective Mysteries book #12) by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noel Balen with translations by Sally Pane

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

The perfect wine, the perfect harvest... and the perfect murder?

When world-renowned wine expert Benjamin Cooker’s elderly father needs him most, the erudite consultant and his dashing assistant Virgile Lanssien are called away to Burgundy to orchestrate the harvest. More than just picking grapes, the Winemaker Detective must keep a delicate balance between an old-time vintner and his heir as a catastrophic hailstorm endangers some of France’s most celebrated wines. Adding insult to injury, the brutal and mysterious murder of a grape picker sends shock waves through the winemaking world and the small-town gendarmes find evidence incriminating Cooker. He and his trusty assistant put their sharp senses to work detecting clues and subtleties in the tight-knit community to find where the real killer is lurking.

In another satisfying wine novel with a French flair, authors Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen give readers a perfectly intoxicating combination French wine, gourmet meals, and mystery in the gloriously described Burgundy wine region with all the scenery, scents, and sounds of France. This light, fun mystery combines amateur sleuths, food, and wine in a wonderfully French mystery novel that doubles as a travel guide. It is a new kind read on the international mystery and crime scene: a pitch-perfect, wine-infused, French-style cozy mystery.



Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Red-Handed in Romanee-Conti had an engaging mystery. Initially, the story began with wine expert Benjamin Cooker and his wife Elizabeth in London spending time with his aging father Paul William who announced he was getting married. In what should have been an awkward yet delightful occasion, Cooker was soon called to Burgundy to help his clients father and son Marcel and Rafael Lemione with their harvest.

When Cooker and his assistant Virgile Lanssien arrived in Burgundy the weather wasn't the only thing they found that was stormy. There was a growing strain between the Lemiones and another brewing between them and their winemaker Philippine Perraudin. As all the vintners in the area prepared to harvest their grapes before the storm rolled in, the body of a young woman Clotilde Dupont was found in the abandoned Saint-Vivant abbey. 

In a surprising twist, the police investigation pointed to Cooker as the prime suspect. Thankfully he had an alibi. And working with local police inspector Cluzel, Cooker and Virgile set out to find the real killer and there are plenty of suspects to keep them busy investigating.

There was a subplot that focused on Cooker's father who was not only discovering the truth about the woman he was going to marry but also coming to terms with his health and loneliness. I like that Elizabeth was in London helping him and out of all the Winemaker Detective Mystery books I've read, this is the first time Elizabeth was given more of the spotlight.

As interesting as I found this story to be, it's hard not to overlook the negative portrayal and treatment of almost all the female characters of course with the exception of Elizabeth Cooker. She was the only female character in this book that was shown in a good light. There was this slimy undercurrent of misogyny as well as most of the women were shown as being conniving, jealous and many other unfavorable qualities.

With that said it's still a good read as it mixes intrigue and suspense as they try to solve the mystery. The side story with Cooker's father was also very interesting to read. And as with each book, the story contains a little bit of history along with information about wine and winemaking. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series because I like the main characters, Benjamin and Virgile and all the thrilling and sometimes dangerous mysteries they seem to stumble upon.