Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Picked this up after running out of books in Japan. Every hole-in-the-wall bookstore was filled with Francis. Paced well and was full of action.

Full of the usual suspects: the gruff slightly obvious police detective who asks Tom the wine merchant expositional questions, the overly fussy older lady who helps with his store etc

Like a classic Agatha Christie, the pieces all fit perfectly together at the end. The pen knife Tom receives as a gift halfway through is in his pocket at just the right moment in the final scuffle.

I don't usually condemn books for old white man syndrome but Francis deserves it.

Besides a tough old pub owner, every female character is a damsel in distress, constantly uttering lines like "oh dear" and demanding men save them from social situations. Tom's internal character arc is becoming as brave as his army officer father. The owner of the Chinese restaurant next door "bows" to everyone...the list goes on

The only redeeming quality was learning a lot about owning a wine shop and making whiskey!