Passion: Terrorism, Wine and Love

LadyKillers welcomes guest blogger William S. Shepard.

Prize winning mystery writer William S. Shepard is the creator of a new genre, the diplomatic mystery, whose plots are set in American Embassies overseas. That mirrors Shepard’s own career in the Foreign Service of the United States, during which he served in Singapore, Saigon, Budapest, Athens and Bordeaux, in addition to five Washington tours of duty.

 His books explore this rich, insider background into the world of high stakes diplomacy and government. He evokes his last Foreign Service post, Consul General in Bordeaux, in Vintage Murder, the first of the series of four “diplomatic mysteries.” The second, Murder On The Danube, mines his knowledge of Hungary and the 1956 Revolution. In Murder In Dordogne Robbie Cutler, his main character, is just married, but their honeymoon in the scenic southwest of France is interrupted by murders. The most recent of the series, The Saladin Affair, has Cutler transferred to work for the Secretary of State. Like the author, Cutler arranges trips on Air Force Two – now enlivened by serial Al Qaeda attempts to assassinate the Secretary of State.

 

 Here's William's take on this week's topic: Passion!

Vintage Murder is set in Paris and Bordeaux, France. It takes you behind the scenes of high stakes diplomacy, and into the shadow world of terrorism. It has several sorts of passion, both murderous and constructive.

First, there is passion born of family loss and honor. A young, gifted French Basque man witnesses the death of his father, wrongly thought to be a member of the Basque ETA terrorist group. His abilities turned sour, he decides to revenge his loss, and that decision sets off a chain of blackmail and murder in the wine regions of Bordeaux.

That decision also sets him against the Bordeaux’s perfectionist cult of world class winemaking. Their dedication to producing the finest wines is itself a form of passion. High stakes are taken for granted with each vintage, but worries about the weather and the blend of fine wines now yield to new concerns – will the wine crop itself be sabotaged? All it would take is changing a few temperature switches during the fermentation process for fine wines to be turned to vinegar. Finally, one wine estate owner decides to confront the blackmailers. He would rather face them down than compromise his own family’s high standards.

That sets off a web of further conflicts and murder. In Vintage Murder, American diplomat Robbie Cutler witnesses the murder of America’s leading wine critic at a vintage dinner at the Willard Hotel in Washington. Returning to the Consulate in Bordeaux, he is threatened by the Basque ETA, “the last active terrorist network in Western Europe.” A love story ensues, set against the scenic glories of France, as the lovely Sophie Marceau, a journalist, helps Cutler discover that the Washington murder is linked with terrorist threats against Bordeaux’s famous vineyards. They explore the wine regions of Bordeaux, attend a reception at storied Château Margaux, and visit Lourdes, Montségur, and the prehistoric Caves at Lascaux,

 As their love story deepens, the stakes are raised. Robbie Cutler escapes a car bomb. And you will be present at a special dinner reception at the American Embassy in Paris, as you match wits with Robbie – and the ETA. With Sylvie’s help, the assassins begin to be identified – but perhaps not all of them.  The stakes are further raised with the visit of a prominent United States Senator of Basque origin. He and Robbie Cutler are both targeted for assassination, in a thrilling conclusion that takes place in the storied wine city of St. Emilion.

  Which will prove stronger, the terrorist passion for revenge, or the developing love story of Robbie Cutler and Sylvie?

Now residents of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Shepards enjoy visits from their daughters and granddaughters, fine and moderate weather, ocean swims at Assateague, Chesapeake Bay crabs, and the company of Rajah and Rani, their two rescued cats.

Shepard is Wine Editor for French Wine Explorers (www.wine-tours-france.com) and is also the author of Shepard’s Guide to Mastering French Wines.

 

 

 

Comments

[Susan C Shea]

The series sounds like fun. Thanks for pointing us toward it, Camille.

[William S. Shepard]

Thanks for your note, Susan. It was lots of fun writing the series, too. I served in Bordeaux, where Vintage Murder takes place. The next in the series, Murder On The Danube, takes place in Budapest, where I also served at the US Embassy. I'm preparing Murder On The Danube in Kindle format now, and hope to finish it soon. Robbie Cutler, my sleuth, is lucky to meet Sylvie Marceau in the first book. She is better at sizing up people than he is. She will be his finest helper as the series proceeds, sort of a co-sleuth. She even solves a murder mystery that he didn't know about, as the series proceeds!
William S. Shepard

[Ellis Vidler]

William, I so miss the old spy thrillers with foreign settings and intrigue. Now there's Robbie Cutler to take their place, with a diplomatic twist, of course. Good reading!

[Camille Minichino]

Thanks for stopping by, William! The LadyKillers wish you great success with series!