Blowback by Peter May

This is a review of a Peter May book that will published in march 2011. It is number 5 in the Enzo Macleod series, and I really loved this book !

Blowback  by Peter May

Peter May has done it again!! Blowback, the 5^th Enzo Macleod mystery, is great and sure to please all those fans that follow his exploits. Enzo has agreed, on a bet, to solve seven cold cases that a friend of his has written about. So far he’s 5 for 5 ! Off course, new readers to the series will also be haopy that they found him!

Readers always learn something from a Peter May mystery. These time they’lll learn about haute cuisine and the Michelin rating system. The mystery is set in a three star restaurant in a beautiful, remote area about 4 hours out of Paris. The mystery revolves about the two brothers that own and operate a Michelin three star restaurant. The wine and food described in the book will make you want to go out and indulge in some fine dining.  Calories be dammed!! The brother theme dovetails with another aspect of the story and adds another dimension to Enzo. The book opens with the chef summoning journalist to reveal some news…..and the mystery is on!  The murderer is never easy to solve in any of his books and this one is no exception!  I love the way that May blends the modern world with vices that are as old as mankind.

As in other MacLeod mysteries, Macleod’s family plays a part in helping him with the case. The tension between his daughters is missing from this one and it works well for the story.  His family grows in this one in a way that follows the others in the series and with a new addition that takes the story in a new direction. There are the usual romantic interests, and tensions, in the story and the odd character that adds to the story without taking it over. May is really good with this technique!

This book is well plotted and beautifully written. Peter May has a series that is a winner! I’m looking forward to more from him!