by Peter Mayle
First published 2009
Sam Levitt thought his days of high-stakes cases were behind him when he left law practice. Then a collector's priceless wine vanishes from what seemed like an impenetrable cellar. The theft appears impossible, but the bottles are gone. Levitt partners with Elena Moreau, a sharp French investigator who knows the wine world's hidden networks. Their hunt takes them through Bordeaux estates and Burgundy vineyards, where old money flows as freely as vintage Château d'Yquem. The thieves stay several steps ahead, leaving behind only cryptic clues and empty wine racks. As Levitt and Moreau follow the trail deeper into France's wine country, they sample legendary bottles and feast at countryside tables. The investigation becomes something neither expected. The stolen wine matters less than the intoxicating world they've discovered together.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Bordeaux, Provence (France)
240 pages · Hardcover · Knopf