Scan barcode
bethfishreads's review against another edition
2.5
This second in the Enzo Macleod series is set in the Gaillac wine country of France.
In this outing, Enzo is trying to solve the murder of an American wine critic. The cold case takes on new life when the body is discovered about year after the critic disappeared. The mystery includes additional murders and several red herrings.
Enzo works with local authorities as well as his young (female) assistant, one of his daughters and her new boyfriend, another young woman, and a woman closer to his own age. His other daughter also makes an appearance. If you're wondering about all the women in Enzo's life, well, I am too. I can't say that I like Enzo nor can I say I liked the high degree of objectification of women in this book. There were parts of the novel that didn't make much sense to me (I'm not sure a winemaker would do some of the things that were done ) and I don't know why an animal had to be harmed.
On the good side, the novel is filled with wine-making details, which we learn along with Enzo as he visits various vineyards and talks to winemakers. I also liked the way May sets us up for the next book in the series.
Note: I absolutely loved May's Lewis trilogy and was over-the-moon thrilled to see that a fourth book will be released in the fall. I've also read a couple of May's standalone novels and loved them too. The Enzo books just aren't for me, and I'm going to drop the series.
Narrator Peter Forbes, though, is always a pleasure. He has narrated almost all of May's books, and his performances are excellent. He knows how to set the action and delivers on the emotions too. He is not the reason I'm quitting the Enzo books.
Thanks to Hachette Audio for the review copy.
In this outing, Enzo is trying to solve the murder of an American wine critic. The cold case takes on new life when the body is discovered about year after the critic disappeared. The mystery includes additional murders and several red herrings.
Enzo works with local authorities as well as his young (female) assistant, one of his daughters and her new boyfriend, another young woman, and a woman closer to his own age. His other daughter also makes an appearance. If you're wondering about all the women in Enzo's life, well, I am too. I can't say that I like Enzo nor can I say I liked the high degree of objectification of women in this book. There were parts of the novel that didn't make much sense to me (
On the good side, the novel is filled with wine-making details, which we learn along with Enzo as he visits various vineyards and talks to winemakers. I also liked the way May sets us up for the next book in the series.
Note: I absolutely loved May's Lewis trilogy and was over-the-moon thrilled to see that a fourth book will be released in the fall. I've also read a couple of May's standalone novels and loved them too. The Enzo books just aren't for me, and I'm going to drop the series.
Narrator Peter Forbes, though, is always a pleasure. He has narrated almost all of May's books, and his performances are excellent. He knows how to set the action and delivers on the emotions too. He is not the reason I'm quitting the Enzo books.
Thanks to Hachette Audio for the review copy.
lukef021's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Love me some wine. I really enjoy the detail of how wine is produced, but I was a bit confused by one particular plot point (this was cleared up in the next book). UGH I love Peter May.
anne1413's review
1.0
If you want to look into the mind of a deluded middle aged man then this is the book for you. I bought this series (6 books) for £10. The first book in this series had a decent story and the main character, Enzo, wasn’t quite as full on obnoxious as he is in this book, so I thought I’d give him another chance. Big mistake, Enzo, is extremely unlikable. He is sexist, chauvinistic, arrogant and fat phobic and yet we, the readers, are supposed to accept this and find him endearing! Every woman is described from his pervy point of view, reduced to breasts, hips, calves and so on; and of course they virtually all find Enzo to be irresistible and are desperate to have sex with him.
The story itself is ok but it should have been a novella as it was padded out with tediously long, pages on how to make wine and wine tasting techniques etc, yawn! Very little of this was necessary to tell the story, better authors find ways to incorporate what is needed without resorting to regurgitating lectures on the subject.
My advice: give this book a wide berth and feel for me because having bought the series as a set I feel obligated to read them all . . . eventually!
The story itself is ok but it should have been a novella as it was padded out with tediously long, pages on how to make wine and wine tasting techniques etc, yawn! Very little of this was necessary to tell the story, better authors find ways to incorporate what is needed without resorting to regurgitating lectures on the subject.
My advice: give this book a wide berth and feel for me because having bought the series as a set I feel obligated to read them all . . . eventually!
megan_blackett's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
livstreff's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this murder mystery set in the wine country of France. I didn’t realise there was so much to the art of wine making and tasting but Peter May certainly knows his stuff.
Most of the characters from the first book are the same, Nicole still sadly being stereotyped by her appearance (though slightly less than in the previous book) and Enzo still preying on younger women. However, Enzo is starting to grow on me a little.
The thing that I hated the most about this book was the needlessly cruel end to Braucol. I don’t want to spoil the book but I think an event like that needs a warning.
The ending of the book was also not as good as I was expecting it to be, but the build up was very exciting and had me dying to read more. On to Blacklight Blues…
Most of the characters from the first book are the same, Nicole still sadly being stereotyped by her appearance (though slightly less than in the previous book) and Enzo still preying on younger women. However, Enzo is starting to grow on me a little.
The thing that I hated the most about this book was the needlessly cruel end to Braucol. I don’t want to spoil the book but I think an event like that needs a warning.
The ending of the book was also not as good as I was expecting it to be, but the build up was very exciting and had me dying to read more. On to Blacklight Blues…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
baya_111's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like this book. At all. The writing, the story itself, there was nothing to redeem it. And the part with the dog? Thanks but no.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
traceymlee's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0