The Tainted Vintage (Dvorska & Dambersky #1) by Clare Blanchard #TheTaintedVintage @CBCrime @fahrenheitpress

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog blitz for this fabulous book by Clare Blanchard, the first in a new series set in the Czech Republic. My thanks to Emma at damppebbles blog tours for inviting me to take part and to Clare and Fahrenheit Press for providing my review copy.

The Blurb:

In the small Czech town of Vinice the mayor has been found dead in his wine cellar.

Detectives Jana Dvorska and Ivan Dambersky are called to the scene and soon realise that despite appearances, Mayor Slansky’s death was most definitely not from natural causes.

Almost immediately, the close-knit community closes ranks to try and brush the unexplained death under the carpet with the minimum of fuss.

Dvorska & Dambersky are drawn deeper and deeper into secrets that many hoped would remain buried forever and they’re forced into pursuing an investigation where their own lives are put in danger.

The Tainted Vintage is the first book in a wonderful new series set in and around The Czech Republic, an area rich in history, literature and culture that still remains largely unexplored by contemporary crime fiction fans.

It was published in eBook and paperback formats by Fahrenheit Press on 10th July 2018.

You can buy The Tainted Vintage from Amazon UK or US.

My Review:

I read a lot of crime books, but they have almost always been set in the UK or the US, with a bit of Scandi Noir thrown in. So I was interested to read a book set somewhere completely different, an area that I know nothing about.

Following the sudden death of the mayor, Dvorska and Dambersky are called in to investigate. It is clear to them that the death is not from natural causes, but nobody wants to listen.  Convinced there is more to the story, the two detectives begin an off the books investigation.

Dvorska and Dambersky seem to be an odd couple at first. Dvorska certainly has very little time for Dambersky initially. Although she knows little about him, she views him as lazy and shambolic, and so we do too. But as her opinion of him changes, ours does too. I found myself cross with Dambersky, or worried about him, or sad, because of how I viewed him through Dvorska, and I think this is down to great writing.

There is a large cast of characters, some of whom are distinctly unlikeable, but they are all brilliantly described. The sense of place and scene is very evocative - I felt claustrophobic in the cellar. The descriptions of the  village and surrounding areas are very vivid, and the author's love for the country shines through her writing. I was very jealous of Dvorska and her cabin.

The story certainly went in directions that I really didn't expect. It refers back to a difficult period in the country's history. There are some sad elements to it, with a few horrifying ones, and the author has provided a few shocks along the way.

I found The Tainted Vintage easy to read, but it totally managed to keep me hooked. I found myself keen to discover what had happened next, and the book has expanded my knowledge or rather my lack of knowledge, of the Czech Republic and its recent history. I engaged with the two main protagonists, Dvorska and Dambersky, and look forward to seeing them again in the future.

The Author:

Originally from the North Yorkshire coast in England, Clare Blanchard spent half her lifetime in the Czech Republic, where her books are mainly set. Inspired by Nordic noir, where the settings are often like another character in the plot, she writes crime mysteries and other fiction, usually with a historical twist. She loves beautiful landscapes and architecture, cross-country skiing, the wine of South Moravia, and of course Czech beer. When she’s not being literary she knits funky socks.

You can find out more by visiting her website, following her on Twitter or checking out her Facebook page.