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Winemaker Detective Mysteries #1
Treachery in Bordeaux
In modern-day Bordeaux, there are few wine estates still within the city limits. The prestigious grand cru Moniales Haut-Brion is one of them. When some barrels turn, world-renowned winemaker turned gentleman detective Benjamin Cooker starts asking questions. Is it negligence or sabotage? Who would want to target this esteemed vintner? Cooker and his assistant Virgile Lanssien search the city and the vineyards for answers, giving readers and inside view of this famous wine region. The start of a 22-book wine-plus-crime mystery series that delves into the underworld of a global luxury industry. The world of wine is no more respectable than the world of finance. There’s money, deceit, death, crime, inheritance, jealousy―all the ingredients needed to distill a fine detective series. The series is a hit on TV in France.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 27, 2021
Well written
Not a particularly exciting mystery. Nor are there displays of sleuthing genius. The mystery is solved with a mixture of intuition, coincidence and good luck. There is good writing and character development.
There is also far more than I ever wanted to know about winemaking. Dick Francis does something similar and, to my mind, better with horses and horse racing. Perhaps I feel this way because, while I have little interest in horse racing, I do like horses, stables, farms etc. But wine? I have almost no interest and consider many of the aficionados I've known to be pompous posers. More than one has admitted to me that they just make up at least part of the descriptions.
Not a particularly exciting mystery. Nor are there displays of sleuthing genius. The mystery is solved with a mixture of intuition, coincidence and good luck. There is good writing and character development.
There is also far more than I ever wanted to know about winemaking. Dick Francis does something similar and, to my mind, better with horses and horse racing. Perhaps I feel this way because, while I have little interest in horse racing, I do like horses, stables, farms etc. But wine? I have almost no interest and consider many of the aficionados I've known to be pompous posers. More than one has admitted to me that they just make up at least part of the descriptions.
October 30, 2025
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: THE PERFECT BLEND OF MYSTERY & GASTRONOMY
Treachery in Bordeaux is the first book in the beloved Winemaker Detective novels, the "addictive" French series featuring master winemaker Benjamin Cooker and his sidekick Virgile. When some barrels turn at the prestigious grand cru Moniales Haut-Brion wine estate, Cooker and Virgile start to investigate. Is it negligence or sabotage? They search the city and wine region for answers, welcoming readers into the underworld of a global luxury industry. Grab a glass of your favorite Bordeaux and delve into a world of money, deceit, inheritance, greed, and fine wine.
Brimming with description, intrigue, and compelling characters, Treachery in Bordeaux kicks off this unbeatable series, which was adapted to television in France.
"I love good mysteries. I love good wine. So imagine my joy at finding a great mystery about wine, and winemaking, and the whole culture of that fascinating world. This is a terrific new series." — William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Back Bay and The Lincoln Letter
"A fine vintage forged by the pens of two very different varietals. It is best consumed slightly chilled, and never alone. You will be intrigued by its mystery, and surprised by its finish, and it will stay with you for a very long time." —Peter May, international bestselling author
“Intrigue and plenty of good eating and drinking within just a few pages.”—Booklist
“Those who like detective stories that rely on the fine qualities of the investigator will find Cooker an enjoyable lead.”—Publishers Weekly
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I read these ages ago; I blew through them in a week, all eight that I possess. They're all short, punchy reads, really an afternoon's enjoyable reading and pondering.
More than anything else, the scratch the same itch as Martin Walker's Bruno series does, the desire to be taken into a place that feels charmingly unfamiliar yet guided around that place by a friendly, experienced polymath who makes us feel less...foreign...than a less cultured native's PoV would. In this story he is training a new assistant, Virgile, in the course of investigating a murder among the élite of historic winemaking center Bordeaux. That makes the emotional investment in the action so much easier; and it provides a reason for some basic questions we'd like answered to be asked.
The book offers us this explanation of the writing duo responsible for the series:
As is obvious from this potted biography, the duo clearly understand wine, luxury goods, and storytelling; the series was adapted to TV and was available in the US via the MHz Channel. I do not know if they are still available there; I'm disgruntled enough that the books are only available on Amazon.
Anyone wanting to escape the challenging emotional landscape of 2025 would do well to follow Benjamin and Virgile as they navigate the high-stakes world of French cultural treasures like wine, paintings, and that indefinable thing called "milieu." As cozy and escapist as a satisfying (if brief) vacation into the world of those who exist as natives in a beautiful lifestyle in a beautiful setting can be.
NB my blogged review has links to sources and definitions
The Publisher Says: THE PERFECT BLEND OF MYSTERY & GASTRONOMY
Treachery in Bordeaux is the first book in the beloved Winemaker Detective novels, the "addictive" French series featuring master winemaker Benjamin Cooker and his sidekick Virgile. When some barrels turn at the prestigious grand cru Moniales Haut-Brion wine estate, Cooker and Virgile start to investigate. Is it negligence or sabotage? They search the city and wine region for answers, welcoming readers into the underworld of a global luxury industry. Grab a glass of your favorite Bordeaux and delve into a world of money, deceit, inheritance, greed, and fine wine.
Brimming with description, intrigue, and compelling characters, Treachery in Bordeaux kicks off this unbeatable series, which was adapted to television in France.
"I love good mysteries. I love good wine. So imagine my joy at finding a great mystery about wine, and winemaking, and the whole culture of that fascinating world. This is a terrific new series." — William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Back Bay and The Lincoln Letter
"A fine vintage forged by the pens of two very different varietals. It is best consumed slightly chilled, and never alone. You will be intrigued by its mystery, and surprised by its finish, and it will stay with you for a very long time." —Peter May, international bestselling author
“Intrigue and plenty of good eating and drinking within just a few pages.”—Booklist
“Those who like detective stories that rely on the fine qualities of the investigator will find Cooker an enjoyable lead.”—Publishers Weekly
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I read these ages ago; I blew through them in a week, all eight that I possess. They're all short, punchy reads, really an afternoon's enjoyable reading and pondering.
More than anything else, the scratch the same itch as Martin Walker's Bruno series does, the desire to be taken into a place that feels charmingly unfamiliar yet guided around that place by a friendly, experienced polymath who makes us feel less...foreign...than a less cultured native's PoV would. In this story he is training a new assistant, Virgile, in the course of investigating a murder among the élite of historic winemaking center Bordeaux. That makes the emotional investment in the action so much easier; and it provides a reason for some basic questions we'd like answered to be asked.
The book offers us this explanation of the writing duo responsible for the series:
Jean-Pierre Alaux is a magazine, radio and television journalist when he is not writing novels in southwestern France. He is a genuine wine and food lover, and won the Antonin Carême prize for his cookbook La Truffe sur le Soufflé, which he wrote with the chef Alexis Pélissou. He is the grandson of a winemaker and exhibits a real passion for wine and winemaking. Coauthor of the series Noël Balen lives in Paris, where he shares his time between writing, making records, and lecturing on music. He plays bass, is a music critic and has authored a number of books about musicians in addition to his novel and short-story writing.
As is obvious from this potted biography, the duo clearly understand wine, luxury goods, and storytelling; the series was adapted to TV and was available in the US via the MHz Channel. I do not know if they are still available there; I'm disgruntled enough that the books are only available on Amazon.
Anyone wanting to escape the challenging emotional landscape of 2025 would do well to follow Benjamin and Virgile as they navigate the high-stakes world of French cultural treasures like wine, paintings, and that indefinable thing called "milieu." As cozy and escapist as a satisfying (if brief) vacation into the world of those who exist as natives in a beautiful lifestyle in a beautiful setting can be.
NB my blogged review has links to sources and definitions
November 9, 2014
Blurb: An immersion in French countryside and gourmet attitude with two amateur sleuths gumshoeing around Bordeaux wine country. In modern-day Bordeaux, there are few wine estates still within the city limits. The prestigious grand cru Moniales Haut-Brion is one of them. When some barrels turn, world-renowned winemaker turned gentleman detective Benjamin Cooker starts asking questions. Is it negligence or sabotage? Who would want to target this esteemed vintner? Cooker and his assistant Virgile Lanssien search the city and the vineyards for answers, giving readers and inside view of this famous wine region. Treachery in Bordeaux is the first of the 20-book Winemaker Detective series that delves into the underworld of a global luxury industry. The world of wine is no more respectable than the world of finance. There’s money, deceit, death, crime, inheritance, jealousy—all the ingredients needed to distill a fine detective series!
Comments: I bought this book after reading Deadly Tasting#4 as an ARC.
There's no suspense keeping me awake, having me bolt up the doors and windows, but the French charm in the writing made it a good Sunday afternoon lazy read. A fast-moving 140 pages, more or less. Although I would love to read more of the books in the series, there is simply no way that I can afford 20 books at an average of $9.00 (kindle version) per book. This book was a very good start for the serious though. But I would rather read a longer suspense thriller of 300+ pages for which I pay $6.00.
The book is a wonderful introduction to the French wine industry. Quite informative. Portions of the book hid a little bit of information dumping, but it was skipped here and there. The author is well qualified to write these books.
From the book:
Benjamin Cooker, the protagonist, is a very likable character. The villains are treated with a French politeness. I found it delightful.
Not a bad read at all. But I have read some much more entertaining reads in this murder/detective genres.
Great quotes from the book:
"Great writing is like a great wine. It finds those deserving of it."
"“A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.” — Louis Pasteur
Sela. It was good. If you consider the books, I would suggest reading #1 first. It is a good introduction to the others.
More information"http://www.lefrenchbook.com/winemaker...
Comments: I bought this book after reading Deadly Tasting#4 as an ARC.
There's no suspense keeping me awake, having me bolt up the doors and windows, but the French charm in the writing made it a good Sunday afternoon lazy read. A fast-moving 140 pages, more or less. Although I would love to read more of the books in the series, there is simply no way that I can afford 20 books at an average of $9.00 (kindle version) per book. This book was a very good start for the serious though. But I would rather read a longer suspense thriller of 300+ pages for which I pay $6.00.
The book is a wonderful introduction to the French wine industry. Quite informative. Portions of the book hid a little bit of information dumping, but it was skipped here and there. The author is well qualified to write these books.
From the book:
"Jean-Pierre Alaux is a magazine, radio and television journalist when he is not writing novels in southwestern France. He is a genuine wine and food lover, and won the Antonin Carême prize for his cookbook La Truffe sur le Soufflé, which he wrote with the chef Alexis Pélissou. He is the grandson of a winemaker and exhibits a real passion for wine and winemaking. Coauthor of the series Noël Balen lives in Paris, where he shares his time between writing, making records, and lecturing on music. He plays bass, is a music critic and has authored a number of books about musicians in addition to his novel and short -story writing.
Benjamin Cooker, the protagonist, is a very likable character. The villains are treated with a French politeness. I found it delightful.
Not a bad read at all. But I have read some much more entertaining reads in this murder/detective genres.
Great quotes from the book:
"Great writing is like a great wine. It finds those deserving of it."
"“A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.” — Louis Pasteur
Sela. It was good. If you consider the books, I would suggest reading #1 first. It is a good introduction to the others.
More information"http://www.lefrenchbook.com/winemaker...
May 22, 2014
Disclaimer: ARC courtesy of Le French and Netgalley.
First, I have to say that I am so p’oed over the fact that MHZ is not, NOT, in my area anymore because apparently the French television version of this series is shown on that channel in the US.
Second, this is not something I would normally pick up, but the first book I read by this publishing house I gave one star to, and they still auto approved me, so I felt I should try something else.
Treachery in Bordeaux is a French cozy mystery; there really is no other way to describe it. Benjamin Cooker is a wine expert. He has a murder on his hands, but more importantly, he has some ruined wine. Sabotage! Mon Dieu!
I don’t mean to sound snarky because it was rather entertaining and a quick read. In short, it was fun.
Benjamin, who I don’t think will ever be called Ben, is actually a fascinating character. He is more than a French version of Jessica Fletcher, which was who I first pegged him as. He is more complex and actually has relationships and interest outside of wine. He is the love child of Wallander (depressive), Fletcher (quirks and cozy), Lovejoy (antiques), and Dagliesh (poetry).
And he has a dog. An Irish Setter.
The drawback to the series is that if you don’t have easily access to the series you will be gashing your teeth. (And no, watching online is not the same. I’m sorry). It has wonderful descriptions of Bordeaux and of wine making. It won’t necessary be to everyone’s taste because it does seem to get technical during wine discussions). This is because Cooker also works as a consultation- he has a lab run by a very intelligent woman. If you are worried about the use of romance, there isn’t any. Cooker is married, happily, and while his wife is more developed than some spouses in other series, the relationship is shown to be solid. Some cozy mysteries the romance idea bugs me, and it was nice to read one where the focus was on the mystery as opposed to whomever’s package.
The book is a short read; it’s only 144 pages, so most readers will be able to polish it off in a day, if not a sitting.
A quick note about translation – I haven’t read the French originals so I can’t speak to the accuracy of translation, however; when reading a book in translation, it can be hard to judge when disliking a book whether that is due to the actual writing or the translation. The translation here is smooth. (If you have read any Nordic writing, you’ve probably heard of Tianna Nunnelly. It’s that type of translation).
Crossposted at Booklikes.
First, I have to say that I am so p’oed over the fact that MHZ is not, NOT, in my area anymore because apparently the French television version of this series is shown on that channel in the US.
Second, this is not something I would normally pick up, but the first book I read by this publishing house I gave one star to, and they still auto approved me, so I felt I should try something else.
Treachery in Bordeaux is a French cozy mystery; there really is no other way to describe it. Benjamin Cooker is a wine expert. He has a murder on his hands, but more importantly, he has some ruined wine. Sabotage! Mon Dieu!
I don’t mean to sound snarky because it was rather entertaining and a quick read. In short, it was fun.
Benjamin, who I don’t think will ever be called Ben, is actually a fascinating character. He is more than a French version of Jessica Fletcher, which was who I first pegged him as. He is more complex and actually has relationships and interest outside of wine. He is the love child of Wallander (depressive), Fletcher (quirks and cozy), Lovejoy (antiques), and Dagliesh (poetry).
And he has a dog. An Irish Setter.
The drawback to the series is that if you don’t have easily access to the series you will be gashing your teeth. (And no, watching online is not the same. I’m sorry). It has wonderful descriptions of Bordeaux and of wine making. It won’t necessary be to everyone’s taste because it does seem to get technical during wine discussions). This is because Cooker also works as a consultation- he has a lab run by a very intelligent woman. If you are worried about the use of romance, there isn’t any. Cooker is married, happily, and while his wife is more developed than some spouses in other series, the relationship is shown to be solid. Some cozy mysteries the romance idea bugs me, and it was nice to read one where the focus was on the mystery as opposed to whomever’s package.
The book is a short read; it’s only 144 pages, so most readers will be able to polish it off in a day, if not a sitting.
A quick note about translation – I haven’t read the French originals so I can’t speak to the accuracy of translation, however; when reading a book in translation, it can be hard to judge when disliking a book whether that is due to the actual writing or the translation. The translation here is smooth. (If you have read any Nordic writing, you’ve probably heard of Tianna Nunnelly. It’s that type of translation).
Crossposted at Booklikes.
October 5, 2013
Treachery in Bordeaux by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noel Balen is a Le French publication. This book was released in August 2012. This book was translated from French to English by Anne Trager, who did an outstanding job as usual.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Benjamin Cooker is an expert wine consultant and writes reviews and articles about wine. His new and rather "green" assistant, Virgile get an urgent request to check out a possible deliberate contamination of some wine barrels.
Benjamin also enjoys art and has found a rather unusual, wine related, painting that appears to have touched been up and there are several other versions floating around that have also been altered. This leads Benjamin and Virgile to a medieval professor that tells them all about the wine paintings.
Now Benjamin and Virgile find themselves investigating several crimes, one of which may be murder.
Benjamin is an old school gentleman. He is patient with his new assistant and obviously adores his wife and her gormet cooking skills.
This is the first in a series featuring Benjamin and his investigating skills. Wine, like art or any other thing can subject to criminals, competition, and well, treachery.
The information about wine and the history lesson was really interesting to me. This mystery had the feel of older detective novels written in the forties and fifties. There were no modern technology devices used, just the knowledge of wine, a lot of leg work, and a little help from friends.
I was engaged in the story and my only complaint is that it wasn't a very long novel. I read in one sitting.
If you like a good old fashioned mystery set in another country, and you like learning about culture and wine and good food, with excellent character development and the promise of future growth in the series, check this one out.
Overall I give this on an A.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Benjamin Cooker is an expert wine consultant and writes reviews and articles about wine. His new and rather "green" assistant, Virgile get an urgent request to check out a possible deliberate contamination of some wine barrels.
Benjamin also enjoys art and has found a rather unusual, wine related, painting that appears to have touched been up and there are several other versions floating around that have also been altered. This leads Benjamin and Virgile to a medieval professor that tells them all about the wine paintings.
Now Benjamin and Virgile find themselves investigating several crimes, one of which may be murder.
Benjamin is an old school gentleman. He is patient with his new assistant and obviously adores his wife and her gormet cooking skills.
This is the first in a series featuring Benjamin and his investigating skills. Wine, like art or any other thing can subject to criminals, competition, and well, treachery.
The information about wine and the history lesson was really interesting to me. This mystery had the feel of older detective novels written in the forties and fifties. There were no modern technology devices used, just the knowledge of wine, a lot of leg work, and a little help from friends.
I was engaged in the story and my only complaint is that it wasn't a very long novel. I read in one sitting.
If you like a good old fashioned mystery set in another country, and you like learning about culture and wine and good food, with excellent character development and the promise of future growth in the series, check this one out.
Overall I give this on an A.
June 4, 2019
I have not found the other books in this series yet but if they are as enjoyable as this book I am a fan. If you are a wine lover you should find this book interesting and entertaining.
May 26, 2014
Treachery in Bordeaux is the first in the Winemaker Detective series, featuring Benjamin Cooker and his new assistant, Virgile Lanssien. Benjamin Cooker is the owner of Cooker & Co and author of a famous guide on wines. Asked, with his enormous knowledge of winemaking, to troubleshoot problems, he is called by his old friend Denis Massepain to the Chateau Haut-Brion and the only vineyard still found within great Bordeaux. There is an infection in the winery, which both Benjamin and Virgile believe has been contaminated on purpose. There is also a side story, which ties in, concerning a decorative panel brought by Cooker.
This is very much a mystery in the gentle vein of the ‘cozy,’ in that there is no violence and a wonderful setting in the beautiful French countryside. I have to say that I found this a charming read and I enjoyed the company of the characters of this novel, as well as the gentle musings on food, wine, art and antiques. Cooker is both a man with great reputation and status, yet has an endearing trait of being unsure about this writing. Virgile has just started working for Cooker, so is not yet completely formed as a character, but I am sure he will grow in confidence as the series progresses. There are others featured – friends, family and colleagues, that can flesh the books out and bring depth to the main characters. I look forward to reading on in the series – the second book is ‘Grand Cru Heist.” Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
This is very much a mystery in the gentle vein of the ‘cozy,’ in that there is no violence and a wonderful setting in the beautiful French countryside. I have to say that I found this a charming read and I enjoyed the company of the characters of this novel, as well as the gentle musings on food, wine, art and antiques. Cooker is both a man with great reputation and status, yet has an endearing trait of being unsure about this writing. Virgile has just started working for Cooker, so is not yet completely formed as a character, but I am sure he will grow in confidence as the series progresses. There are others featured – friends, family and colleagues, that can flesh the books out and bring depth to the main characters. I look forward to reading on in the series – the second book is ‘Grand Cru Heist.” Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
August 22, 2021
The Moniales Haut-Brion vineyard is known for its prestigious wines. When several barrels of wine from the vineyard are contaminated, wine critic Benjamin Cooker is called to investigate. Was it a rare honest mistake for the vineyard? Or, as Benjamin's assistant Virgile Lanssien suspects, was the vineyard sabotaged?
I loved the premise of this book. I wouldn't have thought of writing a mystery featuring a wine critic and his assistant in Bordeaux, France, but the authors make it work very well! The authors offer beautiful descriptions of the scenery in Bordeaux and its local history. It was as if I was transported to Bordeaux alongside the protagonists! It's clear that both authors know the region well.
What's more, the book contains lots of information about wine production and wine tasting. Alaux is the grandson of a winemaker and is a wine and food lover himself. As a reader, I can see his passions come alive on the page - though, as someone who doesn't drink a lot, some of the wine talk flew right over my head.
Where this book falters is in the mystery. I appreciated that there was no violence in this book, as that can be quite difficult to pull off in a mystery novel. However, the mystery itself was quite slow - a bit too slow for my personal tastes. I also think that the clues leading to the big solve were not as clear as they could have been, as the final reveal was somewhat puzzling to me.
Wine-lovers and people looking to escape to Bordeaux, France are likely to enjoy this book. However, readers who are interested in the mystery may want to give this book a pass.
Do note that this book is translated from its original in French. Components like writing style or word choice can be lost in translation. If you can read French, it may be worth checking out the original, which is titled Mission à Haut-Brion. There is some foul language in this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
I loved the premise of this book. I wouldn't have thought of writing a mystery featuring a wine critic and his assistant in Bordeaux, France, but the authors make it work very well! The authors offer beautiful descriptions of the scenery in Bordeaux and its local history. It was as if I was transported to Bordeaux alongside the protagonists! It's clear that both authors know the region well.
What's more, the book contains lots of information about wine production and wine tasting. Alaux is the grandson of a winemaker and is a wine and food lover himself. As a reader, I can see his passions come alive on the page - though, as someone who doesn't drink a lot, some of the wine talk flew right over my head.
Where this book falters is in the mystery. I appreciated that there was no violence in this book, as that can be quite difficult to pull off in a mystery novel. However, the mystery itself was quite slow - a bit too slow for my personal tastes. I also think that the clues leading to the big solve were not as clear as they could have been, as the final reveal was somewhat puzzling to me.
Wine-lovers and people looking to escape to Bordeaux, France are likely to enjoy this book. However, readers who are interested in the mystery may want to give this book a pass.
Do note that this book is translated from its original in French. Components like writing style or word choice can be lost in translation. If you can read French, it may be worth checking out the original, which is titled Mission à Haut-Brion. There is some foul language in this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
May 29, 2019
A good first read and a new series for me. It was a bit tedious at times with way more detail about winemaking in France than I needed. The mystery was good and the characters interesting. I will be attempting the next in the series.
September 4, 2018
2 1/2 stars, but partly because I'm *very* picky about cozy mysteries and rarely like them.
I found the writing to be better quality than some cozy mysteries I've tried to read, and I liked the information about wine making that was threaded through the story. Be aware, despite being a cozy mystery, this isn't the 'dead bodies around every corner' kind of story, so don't be confused as I was when they don't appear. The mystery part wasn't that amazing, in fact, but if you're okay with a heavy emphasis on the 'cozy' in cozy mystery, and have any interest in France ans winemaking, you should probably give this one a try.
As far as content, there was almost none. I think some very minor language, and brief overly personal descriptions of a couple of females, but nothing most teens couldn't handle easily.
I found the writing to be better quality than some cozy mysteries I've tried to read, and I liked the information about wine making that was threaded through the story. Be aware, despite being a cozy mystery, this isn't the 'dead bodies around every corner' kind of story, so don't be confused as I was when they don't appear. The mystery part wasn't that amazing, in fact, but if you're okay with a heavy emphasis on the 'cozy' in cozy mystery, and have any interest in France ans winemaking, you should probably give this one a try.
As far as content, there was almost none. I think some very minor language, and brief overly personal descriptions of a couple of females, but nothing most teens couldn't handle easily.
December 9, 2021
Wine, Bordeaux region in France, sleuthing & a book published by Le French. I thought this had all the ingredients to make a delightful reading recipe with. Though I thought the writing was really good, I somehow failed to connect with the story on any level unfortunately. There was no element of a mind puzzle while solving the case, the characters were not very memorable and overall it took me way longer to read this than usual, even though it was a fairly short novel. I still have 2 more books in this series and will attempt to tackle them at some point but as a reader my level of enthusiasm is very low.
My gratitude to Le French publisher for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Probably their only publication that I didn't give a raving review to.
My gratitude to Le French publisher for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Probably their only publication that I didn't give a raving review to.
April 7, 2020
The writing is above average, the setting is great, the insight into wine making and it's history held my interest. The story or mystery itself I found a little weak. Although, all in all I found, it worth another read in this series, having often found in the past, that it's not unusual for the first book in a series to be one of the weaker entries.
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October 7, 2025Il semble que le livre original soit meilleur que celui de la traduction. Quelle surprise !
Disponible sur archive.org:
https://archive.org/details/missionhautbrion0000jean/
Disponible sur archive.org:
https://archive.org/details/missionhautbrion0000jean/
February 24, 2020
A good mystery that centers on a crime that isn't murder - there are not very many of those! This book is the first of a series & luckily for me, I have quite a few of them :)
Translated by Anne Trager
Translated by Anne Trager
August 20, 2014
Wining and dining...
When some barrels of wine in the Moniales Haut-Brion vineyard are contaminated, the owner turns for advice to his friend Benjamin Cooker, a highly talented winemaker and renowned writer of wine guides. Cooker and his new assistant Virgil work to save the wine but soon become convinced that the contamination was deliberate. With the reputation of the vineyard at stake, they must try to find out who would do this and why, while making sure the whole matter stays confidential. Meantime, Cooker finds out that a painting he owns and which he thought was unique may in fact be part of a set. As he tries to track down the other paintings he finds they may be hiding a mystery...
This is the first in a series of stories featuring Cooker and Virgil, set in the winemaking industry in France. Not much longer than novella length, these fall more or less into the 'cosy' category of crime fiction - amateur detectives, attractive setting and a mystery to solve. Being the first, quite a lot of space is taken up with introducing the main characters and the setting, and this means the actual investigation is somewhat relegated to the background. There's also a bit too much technical information about the chemistry involved in wine-making for my liking - I prefer to think of peasants singing in the sunshine as they tramp the grapes (with very clean feet of course). But the book is set very much in the real world of wine-making as a modern industry, subject to all the pressures of profit and loss, and open to industrial sabotage and general skulduggery.
Cooker is an interesting character. He takes his role as a wine expert very seriously but also has time for the good things in life - antiques, fine dining, good cigars and, of course, the best of French wines. It's this aspect that makes the books enjoyable, though probably best not to read while hungry! Happily married and pleasantly angst-free, he has taken on a young assistant to give him more time to do the things he enjoys. Virgil is straight out of college, eager to learn. He's also attractive and likeable and I'm sure will have some romance in his life as the series develops.
I actually read the second in the series, Grand Cru Heist, before this one, and I'm rather glad I did. While this one is a good introduction, the actual mystery part is a bit weak and if I'd read it first I may not have been enthusiastic enough to read the others. However, knowing that in the second one, with the introductory spadework out of the way, there is more room for a fuller investigation element means that I'll look forward to taking the occasional short break in France with Cooker in the future. Recommended as a light and pleasurable read for those days when you just want to chill out for a few hours with a glass of wine and some good company.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Le French Book.
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When some barrels of wine in the Moniales Haut-Brion vineyard are contaminated, the owner turns for advice to his friend Benjamin Cooker, a highly talented winemaker and renowned writer of wine guides. Cooker and his new assistant Virgil work to save the wine but soon become convinced that the contamination was deliberate. With the reputation of the vineyard at stake, they must try to find out who would do this and why, while making sure the whole matter stays confidential. Meantime, Cooker finds out that a painting he owns and which he thought was unique may in fact be part of a set. As he tries to track down the other paintings he finds they may be hiding a mystery...
This is the first in a series of stories featuring Cooker and Virgil, set in the winemaking industry in France. Not much longer than novella length, these fall more or less into the 'cosy' category of crime fiction - amateur detectives, attractive setting and a mystery to solve. Being the first, quite a lot of space is taken up with introducing the main characters and the setting, and this means the actual investigation is somewhat relegated to the background. There's also a bit too much technical information about the chemistry involved in wine-making for my liking - I prefer to think of peasants singing in the sunshine as they tramp the grapes (with very clean feet of course). But the book is set very much in the real world of wine-making as a modern industry, subject to all the pressures of profit and loss, and open to industrial sabotage and general skulduggery.
Cooker is an interesting character. He takes his role as a wine expert very seriously but also has time for the good things in life - antiques, fine dining, good cigars and, of course, the best of French wines. It's this aspect that makes the books enjoyable, though probably best not to read while hungry! Happily married and pleasantly angst-free, he has taken on a young assistant to give him more time to do the things he enjoys. Virgil is straight out of college, eager to learn. He's also attractive and likeable and I'm sure will have some romance in his life as the series develops.
I actually read the second in the series, Grand Cru Heist, before this one, and I'm rather glad I did. While this one is a good introduction, the actual mystery part is a bit weak and if I'd read it first I may not have been enthusiastic enough to read the others. However, knowing that in the second one, with the introductory spadework out of the way, there is more room for a fuller investigation element means that I'll look forward to taking the occasional short break in France with Cooker in the future. Recommended as a light and pleasurable read for those days when you just want to chill out for a few hours with a glass of wine and some good company.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Le French Book.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
June 14, 2022
Picked this up in anticipation for our trip to Bordeaux! Was pretty dull, with unmemorable (and very self absorbed) characters. Also... There wasn't very much mystery and way too much descriptions of how wine is made, but I guess that's the point of this series.
July 15, 2014
Both wine and mystery aficionados will love this book! It is first of a planned series of Winemaker Detective stories, and it has already been adapted for television in France. And you don't have to know a lot about wine...you'll know even more after you have read the book anyway.
The protagonist is a wine connoisseur, steeped in the arts, the culture and the history of the Bordeaux region of France, and though he doesn't fancy himself a detective, he can't help but ponder a mystery when he finds it. The mystery is presented to him as a problem to solve, and an urgent one at that. The wine that is aging in the barrels of a local vintner/friend of Benjamin Cooker has somehow become contaminated with a bacteria. The conditions in the winery are pristine...how could it have happened?
The book is enjoyable, easy to get caught up in as one learns about great wine, good food, and the intriguing history of the region along the way. I am thankful that an excellent translator, Anne Trager, has taken on the task of sharing French mysteries with English readers. I'd hate to have missed out on the growing library of the Le French Book portfolio!
The protagonist is a wine connoisseur, steeped in the arts, the culture and the history of the Bordeaux region of France, and though he doesn't fancy himself a detective, he can't help but ponder a mystery when he finds it. The mystery is presented to him as a problem to solve, and an urgent one at that. The wine that is aging in the barrels of a local vintner/friend of Benjamin Cooker has somehow become contaminated with a bacteria. The conditions in the winery are pristine...how could it have happened?
The book is enjoyable, easy to get caught up in as one learns about great wine, good food, and the intriguing history of the region along the way. I am thankful that an excellent translator, Anne Trager, has taken on the task of sharing French mysteries with English readers. I'd hate to have missed out on the growing library of the Le French Book portfolio!
July 31, 2015
I've read every book in this series save the first, so with the 7th book coming out next week thought I'd take care of this unfinished business. I truly adored meeting all the characters in this introductory novel. Benjamin and Virgil actually meet each other too just as Virgil is hired for the job! They've both come a long way as characters since this one. The mystery was all wine business related and not that excited, I mean there isn't even a murder! but watching Benjamin and Virgil putting their heads together over a puzzle for the first time was extremely fun. I tucked into this book and didn't come up for air until everything was solved and I raised my glass of Pinot Noir in celebration. {cheers}
June 9, 2019
If you like wine or just want to learn more whilst enjoy a cosy mystery set in France, then these books are for you. They are easy to read, there is no overt violence, the descriptions of the scenery make the story come to life; and there is a great personal interaction between Benjamin and his protegee, Virgile. The stories are not overly long, and the pace is constant, all being riveting to the end.
July 13, 2016
This book was not my favorite, and I probably would not have picked it up if it weren't for a book club. The plot line is choppy, there are several misspellings and typos, and the resolution isn't very well-explained. The novel was confusing and not very captivating.
September 20, 2018
An immersion in French countryside and gourmet attitude with two amateur sleuths gumshoeing around Bordeaux wine country. In modern-day Bordeaux, there are few wine estates still within the city limits. The prestigious grand cru Moniales Haut-Brion is one of them. When some barrels turn, world-renowned winemaker turned gentleman detective Benjamin Cooker starts asking questions. Is it negligence or sabotage? Who would want to target this esteemed vintner? Cooker and his assistant Virgile Lanssien search the city and the vineyards for answers, giving readers and inside view of this famous wine region. Treachery in Bordeaux is the first of the 20-book Winemaker Detective series that delves into the underworld of a global luxury industry. The world of wine is no more respectable than the world of finance. There’s money, deceit, death, crime, inheritance, jealousy—all the ingredients needed to distill a fine detective series!
July 19, 2017
Treachery in Bordeaux
A savvy winemaker/consultant/sleuth exploring the wine regions of France! Why didn't I think of that?
Usually I do not like "series" books, but this series works because it uses all the scenery, characters, and workings of the terroirs as a backdrop to a witty encyclopedia of wine facts and fancies. The mysteries are enough to carry the reader from fact to fact. If things slow down, open another wonderful bottle of wine. The protagonist could be a less physical retired James Bond. His sidekick, the winemaker's apprentice, gives the reader an insight into the protagonist at the beginning of his career.
NOTE: I was reviewing Treachery in Bordeaux in preparation for read a new volume in The Winemaker Series when I got hooked again and spent a pleasant afternoon rereading the whole story.
A savvy winemaker/consultant/sleuth exploring the wine regions of France! Why didn't I think of that?
Usually I do not like "series" books, but this series works because it uses all the scenery, characters, and workings of the terroirs as a backdrop to a witty encyclopedia of wine facts and fancies. The mysteries are enough to carry the reader from fact to fact. If things slow down, open another wonderful bottle of wine. The protagonist could be a less physical retired James Bond. His sidekick, the winemaker's apprentice, gives the reader an insight into the protagonist at the beginning of his career.
NOTE: I was reviewing Treachery in Bordeaux in preparation for read a new volume in The Winemaker Series when I got hooked again and spent a pleasant afternoon rereading the whole story.
January 9, 2022
La première aventure de l'œnologue Benjamin Cooker, sa rencontre avec son assistant Virgile Lanssien, et leur complicité pour démêler deux "mystères" dans la région bordelaise. En premier lieu, qui pourrait nuire au domaine des Moniales au point de laisser des traces de brettanomyces dans les barriques ? En second lieu, Cooker retrouvera-t-il l'origine du trumeau ? Les réponses sont parfois loin du monde viticole...
La plume des auteurs est précise, notamment en ce qui concerne le vin (et le lecteur se retrouve souvent affamé ou assoiffé lorsque Cooker évoque un pessac-léognan, un haut-brion, un gruaud-larose...), et la région, sans aucunement se perdre, ni parmi les rues décrites ni dans les explications (souvent un peu trop) œnologiques et techniques.
Lecture recommandée. NOTE : avis aux intéressés par le monde viticole.
La plume des auteurs est précise, notamment en ce qui concerne le vin (et le lecteur se retrouve souvent affamé ou assoiffé lorsque Cooker évoque un pessac-léognan, un haut-brion, un gruaud-larose...), et la région, sans aucunement se perdre, ni parmi les rues décrites ni dans les explications (souvent un peu trop) œnologiques et techniques.
Lecture recommandée. NOTE : avis aux intéressés par le monde viticole.
April 11, 2019
This was a gentle mystery with not a hint of violence, bad language, or sexual tension. There were no hit-men, secret societies, or renegade government agents. In short, not my usual fare! It was a low-key story involving the search for whoever had caused a large amount of a winery's production to go bad. The protagonist is a very academic wine aficionado who goes into great detail concerning the provenance and growing of grapes as well as the wine-making process. With the help of an eager young assistant, our man solves the puzzle. I found the story interesting and well-told. A friend recommended this series to me, and I can see why - I will continue to read more books in the series.
May 18, 2019
A cozy French mystery. Short on excitement, chaos, mayhem, and dead bodies; long on descriptions of Bordeaux and the beautiful surrounding countryside, and way, way too long on descriptions of the minutia of wine making and wine makers. Benjamin is a world renowned wine consultant and a bit of a wine snob. His new assistant is learning from Benjamin. Together they investigate the tainting of several barrels of a well-known local wine. If you love wine making, you’ll love the book. If you love wine, you’ll like the book. If you love descriptions of French locations and food, you may like the book. Or, you may be bored....in any case, it’s a short read.
August 8, 2022
Virgile Lanssien, newly graduated from university, is hired as an assistant to Benjamin Cooker at his famous winery in Bordeaux. Their main task was to discover who had contaminated many barrels of wine and find ways to fix the wine. The story is filled with much history and geography of the area to the extent that it distracts somewhat from the story and yet embellishs it richly. Anyone who is interested in the background of French history and the methods of wine making, as I was, will be richly rewarded. I recommend this story to those people.
May 30, 2023
Well, this is my first in this series. If you want to learn about wine, wineries, art and French food this is a book for you. The mystery involves the sabotaging of a winery. After reading this book you'll know how that is done - just in case there's a winery you don't like. The writing is very good. Jean-Pierre is a very talented writer. You'll stay interested even if you need to learn some of the French words. Bon Appetite!
June 7, 2017
Ok. Kind of fun, a mystery without a murder—yay, it can be done. But seemed like nothing much happened, then poof it was over, leaving me wondering what I'd missed. Writing pretty ordinary, but since it's a translation it's hard to know where the problem lies. Probably one of the better kindle freebies that I've read.
July 28, 2018
First in a French mystery series set amongst wine experts and vinyards in Bordeaux, France. Our sleuth is a middle-aged wine expert, a writer, a bit stuffy, reminiscent of Poirot actually. The mystery was uncomplicated, and the wine discussions perhaps a bit too technical, but it was certainly enjoyable. I will definitely read more of the series.
May 19, 2019
"Each story is an homage to wine and winemakers, as well as a mystery"; 'Treachery in Bordeaux' is the introductory title for a very popular mystery series in France (also a television series). I may continue a little farther, but I didn't really engage with the central character or with the depth of detail in the wine information. Perhaps lost in translation?
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