Blinders

by Michael Amon

Trilby was a champion “blinder.” A champion in the art of identifying wines in blind tastings--and an even more avid gambler on the competitions. Yet Trilby’s luck has turned and his debts to Chinese Mafia kingpin Johnny Tan, who runs the games, have nearly destroyed his once impressive fortune. Along comes Bobby, a clumsy, poorly dressed hick from Nebraska with an astonishingly accurate talent for recognizing wines. Desperate for an opportunity to save himself from ruin, Trilby lures Bobby into the seamy yet sophisticated world of underground wine tasting competitions. With Trilby’s help, Bobby shocks everyone by winning, and winning again, until he wins an invite to the biggest wine tasting stage of all--La Paulee. But Trilby is far from the only high stakes hustler. As he and Bobby celebrate their success with wine and women, Johnny Tan schemes. Nothing is as it appears, as Bobby and Trilby face Trilby’s old nemesis, the greatest blinder of all time. Will Trilby ride Bobby to the most improbable championship of all? Or will he be outplayed on and off the competition table? Written with an insider’s perspective by sommelier Michael Amon, Blinders is a wild journey into the dark underside of wine obsession. "absolutely one of the most exciting books I have ever read" - OnlineBookClub.org "plenty of Pulp Fiction-style punch to this rollicking story of wine snob grifters" - Kirkus Reviews "from the very first pages, you're captivated" - Social Vignerons

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2015

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine the movies The Hustler and The Color of Money on steroids and if they were about wine. This book was one of the most unique pieces of literature I've ever read. Trilby is a former wine tasting competitor. He meets a dumb looking guy named Bobby who knows his way around a wine cellar. They strike up a partnership and take the underground world of wine tasting by storm.

The author is a certified sommelier and he describes wines in such detail that it's ridiculously impressive. He also describes fashion, lifestyles and uses humorous references in such detail that you find yourself drawn in and as an author taking notes so you too can truly describe things as well.

I pictured Trilby as Paul Newman and Bobby as every bumbling dumb character you can think of but they are totally fun and likeable. The antagonist Johnny Tan is an overzealous eccentric Asian boss type character who you either admire or find repulsive. I found myself going back and forth on him.

Overall, this book was amazing and a great read. Sure, there's an aircraft carrier amount of swears but aside from this and a few graphically explicit pages the book is a great crime read. If you like crime thrillers and books on gambling then you'll enjoy this wildly entertaining thrill of a book.

[Kevin Lintner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say that I have never read anything like "Blinders" by Michael Amon. I had never entertained the idea that there was anything like high-stakes gambling in the wine tasting industry. Amon takes something that seems like the harmless entertainment of the upper class and spins into a fascinating and exciting tale of intrigue and action. If you could imagine Quentin Tarantino making a movie about wine tasting with his signature wry wit and sudden jarring violence, then you could imagine this being the movie's novelization.. Great stuff!

[Cherie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the world of wine, so it was great to find a story like ‘Blinders.’ It was fun how the story turned into a piece of crime fiction — I really got into the story and just had to know how things were going to turn out for Trilby. Author Michael Amon really knows how to write unique characters that keep the reader engaged in the story. Johnny Tan was the ultimate kingpin and Bobby was a quintessential hick with a surprising skill. Put everyone together on the tasting stage and you have an exciting story that any wine or crime fiction lover will enjoy.

[Rosemary Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I love trying different wines and learning about where they are made. Who knew that a story could be made around the world of wine tasting. I love a good story about back room gambling rings and the danger that comes along with them, add to it the competitive wine tasting you have a fantastic story. Michael Amon did a great job developing the characters and creating the tension in the room during the competitions that I could not put my kindle down.