Cognac Conspiracies

Cognac Conspiracies The Winemaker Detective and his associate are pulled to the region of France known for superb Cognac. One of the last families still in the business has a Chinese shareholder who has hired out intrepid detective. He finds the business distasteful and declines his services. However, in the meantime, one of the family members dies mysteriously. Unusual things are happening, and the clues have to add up somehow. no matter how shocking!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1109020865 http://martysreads.blogspot.com/2014/11/cognac-conspiracies-winemaker-detective.html

The descriptions of cognac and cigar scents and flavors drew me in as if I, too, were a connoisseur. Rose gardens and sudden storms seem real enough to feel and smell. Then there is a very charming couple of detectives and a surprising mystery. All of this blends together to make an entertaining reading experience.

A book that is so evocative of France, you can visit it in an afternoon without leaving the comfort of your home!

Story starts with the one of the major cognac producers having a minority shareholder who is Chinese and who insists on having everything audited, we also meet a femme fatale character who likes to bathe in the moonlight (which I was thought was very sensuously written), she is also one of the shareholders.

Throw in meetings in cemeteries with representatives from the Government, Virgile (Benjamin's assistant) who seems to have caught the eye of more than one person, plus Benjamin's first love from over 30 years ago and you have a maelstrom of emotion, with the odd murder thrown in!

It is not a difficult or complicated read and will pass an afternoon or two. What I do like is that the end is wrapped up and there are no loose ends, I hate wondering afterwards what happened to a character

Highly recommended enjoyable reading

At the time this story was written in 2004, the wine industry like most of the world was sliding into a major recession. Hardest hit among the wine regions in France was the Province of Armagnac. The Lavoisier Vineyard had been the premier producer for over one hundred years. Cognac is a type of brandy made from distilled white grapes that are aged for at least two years in oak barrels, then blended with other flavoring (such as herbs or fruit juice) to give each a distinct flavor.

When their father died, he left one-third of the voting stock to each of his three children. But like many siblings they had their differences and the oldest (Claude-Henri) eventually sold his stake to a Chinese Consortium and moved to Canada. With the drop in sales the Chinese hire Benjamin Cooker and his assistant Virgile to look at the Chateau to see where it could be made more cost effective. The two siblings who are running the Chateau (Marie-France and Pierre) are worried about losing control.

When Pierre, who is the primary blender for the Chateau is found murdered it looks like the chance for his sister to hold onto the family vineyard is all but a fait-accompli. The two remaining siblings will each inherit half of Pierre’s stock, and the sale of Claude-Henri’s windfall will give the Chinese fifty percent control. At this point Benjamin decides to withdraw from his contract with the Chinese and try to solve Pierre’s murder.

The thorn in all of this is that Benjamin’s first love (from thirty years ago) is living on a property, growing prize roses, very near to the Lavoisier Chateau. Also, Virgile may be getting to close to the client, Marie-France, and their intimacy may cloud his judgment as to who killed Pierre.

In true Winemaker fashion, it is written as a TV script after all, everything is wrapped up in a neat bundle at the end. The bad guys go to jail, the Chateau is saved and Benjamin and Virgile drive off into the sunset. Fade to Black.

Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com

The main charm of this book s its humor and the description of a way of life around Cognac. The story inspires itself from real events. In the first years of the new century, some old industries in France got hit and had to adapt to the new problems of profitability. The oldest company making cognac had some rough times.before managing. From that idea, B. Cooker, wine detective extraordinaire came to analyze the books of the company for Japanese investors. But Pierre, one of the owners is murdered and Cooker will investigate... All is well that ends well, the vineyard will remain in the family and Cooker will go back to his wife.

The Winemaker Detective Mystery is a new obsession. With its fifth book, “Cognac Conspiracies”, Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen not only give readers a more complex mystery but also give more depth to the characters of Benjamin Cooker and his assistant Virgile.

As always in a series, be it in books, movies or on television, the heroes are as much a part of the storytelling as the plot. Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen has successfully crafted Benjamin Cooker and Virgile to be very lovable characters yet also made them more human with their frivolities.

For the fifth book, Benjamin and Virgile were faced with moral dilemmas as they tackle the very competitive and very small world of cognac. When a death occurs, our heroes find themselves in the middle of a controversy.

Not only the need to solve the crime; they also have to make sure that France’s oldest Cognac estates do not fall to a hostile takeover.

Cognac Conspiracies is Rated T for Teens due to some violence and some adult situations.

Pasted link to review below in the link

I really like this book,but it did get a little slow. I put that down to culture, although it was a good read. This is a book author that I was introduced to and I did learn about cognac that I didn't know before. I look forward to the next edition.

This is the second of this series I have read. I enjoyed it for the descriptions of the settings and information on cognac and wines. The mystery is secondary for me.

I have enjoyed each and every one of the stories in this series. The characters are always interesting and the mysteries compelling. There are always tidbits of information about wines to be gleaned from the stories without getting too weighed down in minutiae.
Benjamin Cooker is back but instead of being welcomed by the vintners, the owners of Lavoisier look at him with hostility as he is employed by the Chinese buyers of a part interest in a family owned (until then) cognac business. Three siblings inherited the concern upon the death of their father. One son sells his interest to the Chinese and it is apparent, they want more share but want to have Benjamin check the books before proceeding. He arrives in Cognac as an unwelcome guest to the two remaining siblings but chances upon a lost love of his youth who is very happy to see him. The remaining brother dies mysteriously and the intrigue goes into high gear as his sister tries desperately to hold control. Benjamin is unhappy with his assignment and resigns but not before he and his assistant are pulled into the machinations and the dark secrets that the murder brings to light.
Before it is over, Benjamin is on the side of the angels again and despite some disenchantment, the story does have a satisfying ending, albeit not happy.
As I mentioned before, I do like this series. This one may have been the one I liked the least but I would still recommend it and look forward to the next story.

A venerated cognac producer with a long history, Chinese investors, interesting family dynamics and a suspicious death make for a compelling read.

The added bonus of this cozy mystery is the atmosphere the authors create and the landscape descriptions. Reading Cognac Conspiracies is like visiting the Cognac region, so vivid is the setting. The text is imbued with a certain ‘Frenchness’ that gives it a special charm. On top of that, the reader gets a lesson on cognac, wines and winemaking.

Although this mystery was rather easy to solve, the characters in this series are anything but simple. Particularly the relationship between Benjamin Cooker and his assistant Virgile is intriguing. The appearance of an old flame of Benjamin’s also revealed new aspects of his character. The Lavoisier family is another bunch of compelling characters, but I was disappointed in how vaguely Benjamin’s wife was characterized. I’d love to know more about her.

Cognac Conspiracies is a quick read, with a story that moves along at a fast pace so that it never loses the reader’s interest. But particularly at the beginning, the time frame was a bit confusing and I had to re-read certain passages about the history of the Lavoisier family to understand the timeline.

Cognac Conspiracies is the fifth book in the Winemaker Detective Series but can easily be read as a standalone. It’s a quick, fun read with entertaining characters and little drama.

There is an easy way to gage if this book is for you; what do you think of this excerpt from the publisher's blog?

"the Winemaker Detective goes to Jarnac, an haut lieu of cognac production. [...] the region of Cognac is divided into six zones—Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois ordinaires. A cognac blend made of Grande Champagne cognac and Petite Champagne cognac makes a Fine Champagne cognac. Of course, the drink cognac, as Grande, Petite or Fine a Champagne it may be, has nothing in common with the sparkling wine. Cognac is a brandy, distilled from wines made from specific grapes grown in specific areas of (primarily) the Charente and Charente-Maritime region of France. It goes through two distillations, in an alembic, and is aged in oak. Now you know.
[...] Jean-Pierre tells me that he has a special soft spot for both cognac and armagnac, both of which he usually enjoys with a cigar. As for cognac, he particularly enjoys those made by Delamain."

If you found it boring and could not care less about that kind of stuff - walk away now. This book and series are not for you.

If you found it fascinating, stick around, as the strength of these tales lies in their insights into the wine-making industry and of the picturesque French country side. In both cases the authors manage to paint a detailed picture that transports you right there where the action is unfolding: the sights, the smells, the tastes, the passion.

The Cognac Conspiracies is a stand-alone cosy-mystery which is part of the Winemaker Detective series, which suits itself to be read in one sitting, whilst sitting back and relaxing with a good drink, preferably in the great outdoors.

The language struck me immediately as more continental in its structure and choice of vocabulary, perhaps it does feel a little like a translation at the beginning, but I think that overall the translator did well to retain the original feel of the French language.

The story is well written and developed, its characters vivid, although some are explored better than others; Virgile shone for me and I certainly hope to find out more about him in the other offerings in this series. The plot isn't over complicated, with sudden twists, but it is full of intrigue and deceit, and it kept me turning pages and guessing who'd-done-it till the very end.

A very pleasant and enticing read, with a few epicurean suggestions.

[ARC received via Netgalley]

This is the second book that I have read in this series and I have really enjoyed them both. This book is a really traditional whodunnit and I really enjoyed how characters interracted with each other as the plot developed. I enjoyed it even more when it turned out that I guessed who did it wrong!

Winemaker Detective #5!

When you find a great series, you can’t help but just go hungrily from one title to the next. The only downside is when you begin to near the end of the currently published or translated works, and have to begin the eager wait for the next!

I’ve said it before in my reviews, and I’ll say it over again – the mark of a stellar author is one that remains true to their style, but also innovates with each new work. And the authors of the Winemaker Detective series have hit that mark each and every time. The new facet they bring out in Cognac Conspiracies is that of extended passages from other viewpoints than that of Cooker. I even noticed the word usage changed depending on the character, as certain words and descriptive styles would show up more often respectively, and it really helped to shift the perspective. I really liked that about this work, it added a layer of interest.

This book also stretched me as a linguist, as I had to stop and look up no less than 3 words throughout my reading. I greatly enjoyed getting to expand my vocabulary and understanding of the world of the book, but I must recommend that readers keep a dictionary close at hand when they pick up Cognac Conspiracies!

I’ve shared before how these books are written from a world-view and style very different from my previous experience, and I’ve enjoyed getting to experience that. However, this particular title seemed a little out of the normal cadence for the authors. My reading felt like the sensation of going down a bumpy road while having a conversation. There was bumpy, wobbling aspect to the voice in this work, but as always, the mystery wrapped with a straight forward, clean ending. I didn’t feel the quality of the tale suffered any, it was just something that gave me pause in my reading.

Cognac Conspiracies went back to more of your classic mystery feel, but this was enriched by the multiple viewpoint format. The tale brings to life the business perils that are a reality in the world of spirits, or really any enterprise – but gave the reader something more to ponder by focusing on how different parties react when it comes to dealing with a family business; how to balance generational legacy with profits and market relevancy.

Highly recommended!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

this is entirely the most enjoyable series, and I love being in the world created - the wine master who has a good nose, is also good at benevolence and figuring out crime - and in this one encountering an old love - we see Ben in early days and it's all part of the mystery of who killed the scion of the famous Cognac brand family - sexy, dangerous women and his stalwart assistant more son than colleague has wonderful vulnerability to just such women, but he has a different take on things. Younger and charismatic, men and women are drawn to him and vice versa - it's a problem!! we also tour the French countryside and life, back and forth this time too to Paris to trace an undisclosed offspring ... really good fun. More complex and honed down than others in the series as well; but beware, it will keep you up at night!

This is the fifth book in the Winemaker detective series. Well crafted characters and a excellent depiction of the wine business, the food, location and mystery. Even not being interested in wine its a fascinating look at the business. The description of the location is enchanting. Each book is true to the series and the characters evolve. For those that are squeamish to sexual scenes do be aware you may want to skip a few pages as it has some shocking sexual content that should be left out. and a implied shocking relationship that I hope is not continued in the next book. but the series continues to be excellent in every other way. Well Done.

Benjamin and Virgile are back when a Chinese company hires Benjamin to do an audit to see if the cognac business is worth it to take over. Benjamin meets a former lover and really does not like the family that owns the vineyard so Virgile takes over while Benjamin visits his former lover.
This is another well written storyline and of course wonderful characters and a great translation. Bring on the next one!!!!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review!!!

This series is really very readable, this is the third book I have read and I enjoyed all of them. This one was a little different - not so much about making wine or spirits but very may twist and turns in the storyline that keeps the reader on his toes. It was nice to learn a little more about the characters and I look forward in reading more by these French author and wonderfully translated.
This book was provided to me in return for a honest and unbiased review.

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 thnk 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. 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 tonight.

A gentle mystery. Again for the sumptuous French scenes and a family cognac business is the basis for this murder mystery. I never guess who did it and that is why I love this series. I will look for more in this series! Well done.

Book Review Cognac Conspiracies by Jean Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen Review by Dawn Thomas

164 Pages Publisher: Le French Book

Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, French Detective, Wines, Vineyards

Marie-France Lavoisier and her brother Pierre run Lavoisier Cognac, a family business. When their older brother, Claude-Henri, sells shares of Lavoisier Cognac to a company in Hong Kong, Benjamin Cooker is hired to review the company books. Benjamin and his assistant, Virgile arrive to a less than warm reception.

Marie-France is hostile to them and asks them to leave but Virgile meets with Pierre and learns a bit about the company. Pierre is found dead from an apparent drowning, but Virgile does not believe it.

While sitting in a café, Benjamin sees an old lover, Sheila Scott. He pays her a visit at her cottage and they reminisce on old times.

Benjamin resigns from the Hong Kong company and returns their retainer but not before he accuses they of killing Pierre. Claude-Henri returns home and asks Marie-France if he can stay. Together they can rebuilt the company.

Benjamin cannot rest though until he finds the truth about Pierre’s death. This is the fifth book in the Winemaker Detective series. I enjoyed learning about cognac. The end also was a surprise to me.