The critic

Scots forensics expert Enzo Macleod investigates the grisly murder of renowned wine reviewer Gil Petty in this, his second outing. The body of Petty, whose influence is said to have eclipsed that of even the mighty Robert Parker, has turned up after a 12-month absence, gruesomely preserved in red wine. Macleod, an expatriate who teaches biology at the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, takes on the case over the protestations of the French authorities. Surrounded by a bevy of adoring and not-so-adoring women of all ages, he makes his investigations in the picturesque wine region of Gaillac in southwest France. Although May's dialogue is slightly confused by similarities in the voices of the international cast of characters, the reader will be carried along by the engaging, if slightly far-fetched, plot. The novel is rich in local atmosphere and winemaking lore and would make fine vacation reading, preferably with a good bottle of Gaillac close at hand.--Wunsch, Jared Copyright 2007 Booklist

Oenophiles and fans of CBS's Cold Case will relish May's slightly far-fetched second outing to feature France-based Scottish sleuth Enzo Macleod (after 2006's Extraordinary People). When the corpse of powerful American wine critic Gil Petty turned up in southwest France, local cops were perplexed: the body was dressed in the robes of a local fraternal organization and appeared to have been practically pickled in wine. Four years later, shortly after Enzo, who specializes in unsolvable murders, reopens the case, another wine-saturated corpse is found. Petty had made countless enemies in the wine world, and his ex-wife and daughter had few kind words to say about him, but what connects him to the second killing? Enzo's emotional drama with both his daughters and romantic attractions to two charming ladies, plus tidbits about wine production and the art of wine tasting, make this a full-bodied, satisfying read. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Enzo Macleod, a former forensics expert now teaching at a small French college, goes to the wine country in southwest France to solve the murder of Gil Petty, wine critic extraordinaire. This cold case leads Macleod to learn the basics of wine making, not to mention puts him in danger of being killed. Here, May loses sight of the group of amateurs who helped Macleod in Extraordinary People and dedicates too much time to the Scotsman's rampant libido. The mystery is there and the ending a shock, yet the story lacks May's usual verve. He lives in France. For larger mystery collections. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 7/07.] (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Now that Scots forensic expert Enzo Macleod (The Fourth Sacrifice, 2007, etc.) has moved to France, his attempt to solve another cold case causes trouble. After famous wine critic Gil Petty vanishes during a tasting trip to the unheralded Gaillac region, his wine-soaked body reappears, clothed in the ceremonial robes of a wine society and hanging in the woods. Determined to find the killer, Enzo rents a vineyard cottage. His welcome from the police and the local vintners isn't exactly cordial. But his contact, Gendarme Roussel, has to admit that mistakes were made when another wine-preserved body appears in the woods. Enzo's personal life is complicated when Petty's estranged daughter Michelle, arriving to claim her father's property, makes a pass at Enzo, arousing the disapproval of his sometime girlfriend Charlotte, his younger daughter Sophie and his student assistant Nicole. As they struggle to crack the code Petty used to write his reviews, Enzo digs up dirt in various vineyards to take to his chemist pal in California in hope of matching the soil to the wine used to pickle the bodies. Petit was not a popular man--his reviews could make or break a vineyard's reputation--so there are plenty of suspects. Enzo's search soon makes him the killer's target, and it takes all his skills and a bit of luck to escape death. Another oenophile's tip sheet with the bonus of a finely crafted and surprising mystery. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Scots forensics expert Enzo Macleod investigates the grisly murder of renowned wine reviewer Gil Petty in this, his second outing. The body of Petty, whose influence is said to have eclipsed that of even the mighty Robert Parker, has turned up after a 12-month absence, gruesomely preserved in red wine. Macleod, an expatriate who teaches biology at the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, takes on the case over the protestations of the French authorities. Surrounded by a bevy of adoring and not-so-adoring women of all ages, he makes his investigations in the picturesque wine region of Gaillac in southwest France. Although May's dialogue is slightly confused by similarities in the voices of the international cast of characters, the reader will be carried along by the engaging, if slightly far-fetched, plot. The novel is rich in local atmosphere and winemaking lore and would make fine vacation reading, preferably with a good bottle of Gaillac close at hand. Copyright 2007 Booklist Reviews.

Former forensics expert Enzo Macleod reopens an investigation into the gruesome murder of the world's foremost wine critic in this sequel to Extraordinary People. May ("China Thrillers" series) lives in France. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Enzo Macleod, a former forensics expert now teaching at a small French college, goes to the wine country in southwest France to solve the murder of Gil Petty, wine critic extraordinaire. This cold case leads Macleod to learn the basics of wine making, not to mention puts him in danger of being killed. Here, May loses sight of the group of amateurs who helped Macleod in Extraordinary People and dedicates too much time to the Scotsman's rampant libido. The mystery is there and the ending a shock, yet the story lacks May's usual verve. He lives in France. For larger mystery collections. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 7/07.]

Oenophiles and fans of CBS's Cold Case will relish May's slightly far-fetched second outing to feature France-based Scottish sleuth Enzo Macleod (after 2006's Extraordinary People ). When the corpse of powerful American wine critic Gil Petty turned up in southwest France, local cops were perplexed: the body was dressed in the robes of a local fraternal organization and appeared to have been practically pickled in wine. Four years later, shortly after Enzo, who specializes in unsolvable murders, reopens the case, another wine-saturated corpse is found. Petty had made countless enemies in the wine world, and his ex-wife and daughter had few kind words to say about him, but what connects him to the second killing? Enzo's emotional drama with both his daughters and romantic attractions to two charming ladies, plus tidbits about wine production and the art of wine tasting, make this a full-bodied, satisfying read. (Nov.)