The Vintage Vendetta

The Vintage Vendetta: A Franc Merlot Investigation introduces readers to the sun-drenched vineyards and shadowy secrets of southwestern France, where wine, wealth, and deception ferment just beneath the surface.

Franc Merlot, a seasoned investigator with a refined taste for wine and an aversion to unnecessary attention, is called into a quiet but curious disappearance involving an American investor, a renowned vineyard, and a controversial land deal. What begins as a missing persons case soon uncorks a deeper mystery involving stolen art, high society cover-ups, and a tangled syndicate operating behind the polished facades of wine country.

With the help of longtime friend and confidante Carly Provost, Franc moves between the cobbled streets of Bordeaux, the glittering coastline of Nice, and the secretive circles of Monaco. Each location offers more than picturesque charm-it reveals pieces of a puzzle larger than Franc anticipated. As whispers of forgery, betrayal, and power plays mount, Franc must rely on his instincts, his network, and his uncanny ability to detect truth buried beneath tradition.

Balancing charm and cunning, The Vintage Vendetta is rich with regional flavor, atmospheric detail, and a protagonist as complex as the wines he favors. This first installment in the Franc Merlot series invites readers to savor each clue and swirl every chapter-because in this world, the last sip might be the most revealing.

A mystery for lovers of culture, clever dialogue, and slow-burning suspense, The Vintage Vendetta uncovers what happens when passion for the past meets the price of progress.