The guest of honor at the North American Epicurean Society's annual banquet is the single most influential critic on the West Coast. Augustus Poole is known by everyone. A thumbs up or down from Poole - especially where a new restaurant or winery is concerned - could make the difference between success and withering on the vine. Poole agreed to attend the banquet and demanded, in lieu of a fee, a bottle of '47 Yquem. That, and a bodyguard: retired BATF agent and private investigator Jack Donne ... whose own vineyard was batting .500 with the obnoxious critic. While he'd prefer to concentrate on the vintner's art rather than the craft of gumshoe, Donne agrees to help at the urging of friends for whom the banquet is a chance to make their mark.
According to Poole, someone is trying to kill him, though no one is taking his fears seriously; the shots are discounted by the police as a random drive-by. During the banquet, though, it becomes clear that any number of people might very well want the critic dead, and later that night, the threats become something more than idle.
It isn't Poole found lying on the floor beside the open bottle of Yquem, however, and that makes him one of several suspects. The poison in the wine is another matter.
Now it becomes Donne's job not only to clear his client's name but to find the person or persons responsible for a bottle of sweet poison.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: As New. No Jacket. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0802733166I2N00
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Very Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Seller Inventory # U03A-04544
Seller: Books From California, Simi Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Seller Inventory # mon0003123017
Seller: HPB-Ruby, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_424375796
Seller: Garys Books-Log Cabin Books, Apache Junction, AZ, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. Signed by Author(s) 0802733166 First edition, First Printing. Signed by the author on the title page. NOT inscribed, NOT REMAINDER marked. NOT ex library. NOT Book Club. Securely wrapped, dust jacket in protective cover and shipped in a box. Full # line starting with a 1. Fine/Fine. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 005057
Seller: Karl Theis, Torrance, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Signed & Dated By Author in year of publication. Signed & Dated By Author. Seller Inventory # 020652
Seller: The Book Scouts, Hamilton, ON, Canada
HARDCOVER. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. We're always buying collectible book collections. Contact us for details. We're happy to provide pictures of any book priced at $10 or more, please just ask! American first edition, first printing. Contains number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Virtually no wear to jacket. Jacket is NOT price clipped. Jacket is in a Mylar cover. Covers are clean and bright. Edges are sharp. No tears or creases. The book itself is in Near Fine condition. The binding is straight and tight. No remainder mark. Seller Inventory # sku520006921
Seller: Prairie Archives, Springfield, IL, U.S.A.
Very Good in Very Good Dust Jacket First Printing hardbound. Seller Inventory # BOOKS011749
Seller: Storbeck's, Georgetown, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. First Edition. Full number line 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 . 230 pages. Jack Donne. Ex-AFT agent-turned-vintner Jack Donne is hired to be the bodyguard for an influential wine critic speaking at an elite banquet. Though the critic believes someone wants him dead, it's not he who is killed, but the banquet chef who drinks the rare bottle of wine that someone had given the critic as a gift. Seller Inventory # 607300
Seller: H. W. Gumaer, Bookseller, Canandaigua, NY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition, First Printing. Usually regarded as a science fiction writer, Relling also wrote a pair of mystery novels featuring Jack Donne, a California vineyard owner and private detective. 'Sweet Poison,' the second book, sees Donne investigating the murder of an obnoxious food and wine critic, killed with poison in a bottle of rare wine; a Fine unread copy in like dustjacket. Scarce. Collectable. Seller Inventory # 003696