Another satisfying solution to a cold case murder in The Enzo Files series. This is Book #5 in the series and, as I read the conclusion out of order, I only have one more of this series to read. I hope to get to Cast Iron soon.

In this outing a renowned chef, Marc Fraysse, was murdered seven years ago while he was out on his daily run. Because his bag was missing, the local gendarmes decided the murder was committed by a random robber. Now Enzo Macleod is going to spend some time in the auberge where Fraysse had his three star dining establishment to see if he can find the killer. Enzo is an excellent cook and a oenophile so this commission is right up his alley. Fraysse's brother, Guy, and his widow, Elisabeth, have agreed to totally cooperate with Enzo. Also, the local gendarme, Dominique, is as anxious as Enzo to clear up this case. Enzo also has his daughter, Sophie, working undercover in the restaurant to supply him with all the gossip. Initially, it seems that Marc Fraysse had no enemies; certainly no-one seems to have a reason to want him dead. However, as Enzo continues to investigate he learns more about the chef that makes it obvious there could be a number of reasons, from infidelity to massive gambling debts, that someone would decide to kill him. Enzo will figure it all out while also having a brief sweet love affair with Dominique; learning his other daughter, Kirsty, intends to marry Richard Raffin, the author of the book about the unsolved murders that started Enzo on his quest; disclosing his estranged brother to his daughters who had no idea they had an uncle; and, working out an arrangement to have a relationship with the infant son who was the result of another love affair in one of the previous books. As you can see, there is a lot going on in this book and the conclusion is a twist that is heart-pounding.

Almost all of this book is set in the Massif Central region of France which is in south-central France. Wikipedia says that it is highland which covers about 15% of the country but I had to look at a map to see where that is. For a Scotsman like Enzo Macleod, this area almost feels like home but it sounds rather bleak to me, especially in the winter time. ( )

When France's top chef, Marc Fraysse, summoned the world's press to make a shattering announcement, rumors abounded that he was about to lose one of his three coveted Michelin stars. Instead, on arrival at his remote restaurant on a volcanic plateau in central France, they were greeted with the news that the troubled genius had been murdered, and the message he intended to deliver was never made. Seven years on, the identity of his killer also remains an enigma. Enzo Macleod takes on his fifth cold case and delves into the big business and high stakes of French haute cuisine.

I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second as it focused on the chef’s relationships and on Enzo’s relationships with similar circumstances. Still, the story kept my interest throughout. Enzo was very likeable and funny at times. The descriptions of food sounded delicious. Enzo has a complicated personal life that I want to find out more about so I’m planning to read more. ( )

A new author! Serendipitously discovered in a cafe in Playa del Coco, Costa Rica. We will be looking for more of his books. ( )

Having generally enjoyed the four previous instalments of Peter May's series of novels featuring half-Italian, half-Scottish forensic scientist Enzo Macloed, I feel that I, and indeed Enzo too, may have embarked on a volume too far.

Enzo Macleod has undertaken to unravel seven infamous and hitherto unsolved murders that had baffled the French police force. This latest story focuses on Enzo's investigation into the death a few years previously of Marc Fraysse, one of France's most celebrated chefs and holder of the cachet of three Michelin stars. Everyone who knew him declares that he was without an enemy in the world. He had, however, been shot not far from the site of his renowned restaurant high up in the Massif Central.

Though this novel was a fair bit shorter than the previous books in the series, I felt that it dragged. Perhaps I simply lack the rarefied tastes properly to enjoy this book. As a teetotaller with a brutally simple palate, the seemingly endless descriptions of the meals served up in the restaurant merely bored me, and left me feeling that May had succumbed to cliché.

Enzo is a very plausible character, but this was not an engaging adventure for him, and I imagine it may now be quite a while before I try out another book by Peter May. ( )

We have dog detectives, cat detectives, recipe mysteries, vampire sleuths, etc. Most of these I ignore. At least a university professor who is a forensic science expert and works on cold cases makes sense.

Enzo MacLeod, is investigating the cold case murder of Marc Fraysse, a three star restaurant chef, who owned a place so famous that reservations were required six months in advance. Discovered by the local flic, Dominique, who, Enzo discovers to his delight, cleans up spectacularly out of uniform. (Some of these fall-spring relationships, I find disconcerting. The idea of dating someone younger than my daughter is weird.) Speaking of daughters, we learn relatively early that Enzo has sent his daughter to work incognito at the restaurant and he soon learns (mostly through her flirting with Phillippe) that Marc had been having an affair with Anne, the wife of the sous chef. After his death the restaurant was taken over by Marc’s brother, Gus. Rumors had been circulating that Marc was about to lose his third star. It seems a restaurant critic had it in for Marc.

Enzo enlists his daughter to help gather some undercover inside information and soon discovers that Marc problems way beyond those of a restaurateur in fear of losing a star. He was losing millions at the track. A multitude of other motives begin to surface as Enzo explores Marc’s relationship with his wife and brother, Gus, from whom he had been estranged for many years before Marc achieved his third star. Familial discord is a theme that inflicts both the Fraysse and MacLeod families and the parallels between the two seemed a bit too coincidental if not irrelevant.

May clearly loves haute cuisine which he describes in loving detail as well as the French countryside. I’m not a an oenophile so I suspect I didn't appreciate the effete (if not absurd) descriptions of wines. Nevertheless, they elicited an unintended chuckle. Well written with an ingenious plot; I’ll add some some of the earlier Enzo titles to my reading list. I knocked off a star because the forensic science seemed to take a back seat to cuisine.

I received a free copy of this book as an advanced reader copy. That it was free affected my judgment not a whit. ( )