Synopses & Reviews
Set in Hollywood, Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseille, Peter Mayles newest and most delightful novel is filled with culinary delights, sumptuous wines, and colorful characters. Its also a lot of fun.
The story begins high above Los Angeles, at the extravagant home and equally impressive wine cellar of entertainment lawyer Danny Roth. Unfortunately, after inviting the Los Angeles Times to write an extensive profile extolling the liquid treasures of his collection, Roth finds himself the victim of a world-class wine heist.
Enter Sam Levitt, former corporate lawyer, cultivated crime expert, and wine connoisseur. Called in by Roths insurance company, which is now saddled with a multimillion-dollar claim, Sam follows his leadsto Bordeaux and its magnificent vineyards, and to Provence to meet an eccentric billionaire collector who might possibly have an interest in the stolen wines. Along the way, bien sûr, he is joined by a beautiful and erudite French colleague, and together they navigate many a château, pausing frequently to enjoy the countrysides abundant pleasures.
The unraveling of the ingenious crime is threaded through with Mayles seductive rendering of Frances sensory delightsfrom a fine Lynch-Bages and Léoville Barton to the bouillabaisse of Marseille and the young lamb of Bordeaux. Even the most sophisticated of oenophiles will learn a thing or two from this vintage work by a beloved author.
From the Hardcover edition.
Review
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“What really makes Longforth’s writing special is her deep knowledge of French history, landscape, cuisine, and even contemporary cafes and restaurants. This is that rare atmospheric mystery that is street-wise and café-canny.” – Booklist (starred review)
Review
“Longworth’s gentle procedural succeeds on several levels, whether it’s for academic and literary allusions, police work, or armchair travel. With deftly shifting points of view, Longworth creates a beguiling read that will appeal to Louise Penny and Donna Leon fans.” –
Library JournalReview
“Fans of European sleuths with a taste for good food … will have fun.” –
PWReview
Praise For Death at the Chateau Bremont .
“This first novel in a projected series has charm, wit, and Aix-en- Provence all going for it. Longworth's voice is like a rich vintage of sparkling Dorothy Sayers and grounded Donna Leon...Longworth has lived in Aix since 1997, and her knowledge of the region is apparent on every page. Bon appétit.” – Booklist
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“A promising debut for Longworth, who shows there's more to France than Paris and more to mystery than Maigret.” – Kirkus .“Mystery and romance served up with a hearty dose of French cuisine. I relished every word. Longworth does for Aix-en-Provence what Frances Mayes does for Tuscany: You want to be there-NOW!” – Babara Fairchild, former editor-in-chief, Bon Appetit magazine .“Death at Chateau Bremont is replete with romance, mystery, and a rich atmosphere that makes the south of France spring off the page in a manner reminiscent of Donna Leon's Venice. A wonderful start to a series sure to gain a legion of fans.” – Tasha Alexander, author of the Lady Emily mysteries .“Longworth has a good eye and a sharp wit, and this introduction to Verlaque and Bonnet holds promise for a terrific series.” – Globe and Mail .“Death at Chateau Bremont offers charming French locales, vivid characters and an intriguing who-done-it.” – Kevin R. Kosar, author of Whiskey: A Global History .“Here's hoping the series lasts for years.” – RT BookReviews .“Your readers will eat this one up.” – Library Journal
Review
“What really makes Longforth’s writing special is her deep knowledge of French history, landscape, cuisine, and even contemporary cafes and restaurants. This is that rare atmospheric mystery that is street-wise and café-canny.” – Booklist (starred review)
Review
“As intricate as the mystery is, what provides the most pleasure in reading Murder in the Rue Dumas is Longworths description of Verlaque and Bonets daily lives… one can practically smell the freshly-baked croissants.” - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Review
“French-set mysteries have never been more popular [and] among the very best is a series set in Provence featuring Monsieur Verlaque, an examining magistrate, and his sometime girlfriend, law professor Marine Bonnet.” –
The Denver PostSynopsis
A globetrotting detective story, filled with the culinary delights and entertaining characters that have made Peter Mayle our most treasured chronicler of French life.
The Vintage Caper begins high above Los Angeles with a world-class heist at the impressive wine cellar of lawyer Danny Roth. Enter Sam Levitt, former lawyer and wine connoisseur, who follows leads to Bordeaux and Provence. The unraveling of the ingenious crime is threaded through with Mayle s seductive renderings of France s sensory delights from a fine Lynch-Bages to the bouillabaisse of Marseille guaranteed to charm and inform even the most sophisticated palates."
Synopsis
A globetrotting detective story, filled with the culinary delights and entertaining characters from the national bestselling author of A Year in Provence and our most treasured chronicler of French life. "Wine and food aficionados will find much to savor.... Light, funny, and packed with a menu's worth of scrumptious descriptions of exceptional dinners and drinks." --USA Today
The Vintage Caper begins high above Los Angeles with a world-class heist at the impressive wine cellar of lawyer Danny Roth. Enter Sam Levitt, former lawyer and wine connoisseur, who follows leads to Bordeaux and Provence. The unraveling of the ingenious crime is threaded through with Mayle's seductive renderings of France's sensory delights--from a fine Lynch-Bages to the bouillabaisse of Marseille--guaranteed to charm and inform even the most sophisticated palates.
Synopsis
From Hollywood to Marseille with delicious stops in between, Peter Mayle’s latest novel is filled with the culinary delights and entertaining characters that make him our treasured chronicler of French food and life.
The story begins high above Los Angeles at the impressive wine cellar of lawyer Danny Roth. Unfortunately, after inviting the Los Angeles Times to write an extensive profile extolling the liquid treasures of his collection, Roth finds himself the victim of a world-class wine heist. Enter Sam Levitt, former lawyer and wine connoisseur, who follows leads to Bordeaux and Provence. The unraveling of the ingenious crime is threaded through with Mayle’s seductive rendering of France’s sensory delights—even the most sophisticated of oenophiles will learn a thing or two from this vintage work by a beloved author.
Synopsis
The second book in the delightful Verlaque and Bonnet mystery series is another page-turning whodunit, this time in set in a small community of theology students and professors at Aix-en-Provence's university.
When the director of the theology department at the university in Aix is found dead, Judge Verlaque is dumbfounded. Professor Moutte was about to announce the recipient of both a fellowship, and his position as Director—which includes the coveted apartment in a 17th century mansion. The prospective recipients and others close to Moutte make up a long list of suspects, but Verlaque isn’t convinced any of the eager students or desperate teachers are capable of murder, and he must dig deeper. With Marine’s help—and that of her plucky mother—Verlaque uncovers a world that proves more complicated than university politics.
About the Author
M.L. Longworth has lived in Aix-en-Provence since 1997. She has written about the region for The Washington Post, The Times (U.K.), The Independent (U.K.), and Bon Appétit Magazine. She is the author the Verlaque and Bonnet series, as well as of a bilingual collection of essays, Une Américaine en Provence. She divides her time between Aix and Paris, where she teaches writing at NYU's Paris campus.
Reading Group Guide
The questions, discussion topics, and suggestions for further reading that follow are designed to enhance your group's discussion of The Vintage Caper, a light-hearted adventure about dark doings in the highly competitive world of wine collecting.
1. How does Mayle use humor, exaggeration, and physical descriptions to define Danny Roth’s personality? To what extent is Roth a caricature of an arrogant, egotistical businessman? Does he have any redeeming characteristics—i.e. qualities that humanize him or with which you can identify?
2. Compare Mayle’s description of Hollywood [p. 15, p. 33] to impressions you have formed from in other books, films, television programs, or through your own experience. What particular references or images help to create a telling, recognizable snapshot? How would you characterize Mayle’s portrayal of the city and its inhabitants? Does he find charm and appeal behind the glitz and trendiness?
3. The Vintage Caper presents a host of insider information, historical tidbits, and sightseeing suggestions for visitors to Paris, and, especially, Marseille. Do Levitt’s meanderings in Paris present new ways of looking at the city and all it has to offer? The detective’s expectations are based on the film The French Connection and “one or two breathless articles by travel writers” and Sophie, who visited the city once, remembers it as “ a scruffy, crowded labyrinth, teeming with raucous, often rather sinister-looking men and women” [p. 92-3]. Do media representations and personal biases often distort the expectations of travelers and tourists? What do the taxi driver [p. 93], Phillipe, and Reboul reveal about the factors that influence how locals regard the city? Discuss how Mayle brings to life the charms of the city, as well as showing Marseille’s louche side.
4. Phillipe and Florian Vial play crucial roles in the plan to recover the wine. How does Mayle create a sense of these secondary characters as individuals with their own quirks, vanities, and motivations?
5. What is the significance of Levitt’s relationship with Elena Morales? Does it add to your understanding of the kind of man he is? Were you interested in learning more about their past—and about the romantic possibilities that might lie in the future?
6. Compare and contrast Danny Roth and Francis Reboul. What are their similarities? To what extent do they represent the conduct and mind-set of real-life wealthy and prominent men? What character traits make Reboul an attractive and appealing figure?
7. Levitt’s passion for food and wine is an essential part of his character. What effects do the frequent descriptions of his meals and the restaurants in which he eats have on the reader? Do they distract from the main story or are they integral to the atmosphere and flow of the novel?
8. In what ways is The Vintage Caper a commentary on the differences between Americans and the French? Consider the description of Levitt’s flight to Bordeaux [p. 65]; his reactions to Sophie [p. 66, p. 71]; the background material he reads about Reboul [p. 129-30]; and his observations on the clothing and mannerisms of people he encounters even briefly. Does Mayle apply the same moral and aesthetic standards in describing the behavior and attitudes of each nationality? What cultural stereotypes does he draw? Why are they effective within the scheme of the novel?
9. Mayle has written several bestselling memoirs about his life in Provence, as well as popular guides to the region. How do Mayle’s skills and interests as a nonfiction writer influence the style of The Vintage Caper?
10. In what ways is The Vintage Caper both an homage to and a satire of the hardboiled detective novels by Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler? Discuss the scenes, dialogue, and comments (particularly about women) that reflect this classic tradition.
11. How does The Vintage Caper compare to books and movies like To Catch a Thief, the Pink Panther series, and Ocean’s Eleven that feature clever capers, heists or cons? What characteristics does Levitt share with the heroes (or lead characters) in the genre? Is there a good balance of suspense, risk, and comic elements? Is the climax satisfying?
(For a complete list of available reading group guides, and to sign up for the Reading Group Center enewsletter, visit www.readinggroupcenter.com)