When Sybil Harcourt returns from Portugal, she expects her Bristol wine shop to be exactly as she left it. Instead, she walks into a mystery. A scientist has created a groundbreaking process to dehydrate wine?removing all water and leaving nothing but flavour in powdered form. It sounds absurd... until Sybil tastes the rehydrated result and can't tell it from the real thing.
When the inventor is found dead, Sybil's curiosity turns to alarm. Her samples prove shockingly perfect. Premium wines begin appearing at suspiciously low prices. And a sinister Welsh-Italian crime syndicate?known as the Taffia?seems determined to keep Sybil out of their business, no matter the cost.
As counterfeit vintages flood the market and a kidnapping attempt strikes too close to home, Sybil teams up with DS Dawn Vickery to uncork a sprawling fraud operation involving duty evasion, scientific theft, and murder. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous the case becomes.
In a world where even the finest wines can be faked, can Sybil trust her palate?and her instincts?before the Taffia strike again?
A witty, atmospheric cosy mystery filled with danger, deception, and the dark side of the wine trade. Perfect for fans of character-driven sleuths, high-stakes puzzles, and a dash of humour with their murder.
