Winemaker Detective Mysteries #5 Cognac Conspiracies by Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noël Balen

Cognac Conspiracies by Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noël Balen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paperback, 140 pages
Published February 18th 2015 by Le French Book (NY)
first published in French, 2004)

Winemaker Detective Mysteries (#5)

I'm a fan of this French cozy series that always keeps a background theme of fine wine and cigars, with a dash of French cuisine and vintage cars. This time the mystery isn't quite so cozy and I think this is my favourite in the Benjamin Cooker series so far! A devilish mystery with some dirty little secrets which, admittedly, weren't hard for this reader to guess but were wickedly fun to see popping up in Cooker's dignified world. Cooker's character has been pretty much defined by this fifth entry into the series. The books don't need to be read in any certain order for the sake of the plot as they are episodic but to appreciate Cooker and his assistant Nathan as human beings then reading them in published order will enlighten one as to their characters and why they behave in certain ways. For example, much is made of Benjamin's Catholicity in previous books, is only briefly mentioned in this one, but is most pivotal in his behaviour when an old flame is thrust upon him. Loved this entry and looking forward to the next book and enjoying a Cognac aperitif later on this evening.