Grand Cru [Mass Market Paperback]

Barney Leason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2001

Clara Morelli's small Sonoma Valley vineyard produces a luscious cabernet. Bertram Hill, an aggressive corporation of dubious reputation, wants to take over Morelli Vineyards, making an offer almost too generous to refuse. But Clara is suspicious of the would-be buyers' motives -- especially when they will not take "no" for an answer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A veteran of many European wine experiences, Leason takes a look at the Sonoma Valley of California. Ex-foreign correspondent, Barney Leason, lives and works these days in the wilds of Colorado --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forge (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812576349
• ISBN-13: 978-0812576344
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,560,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barney Leason is an ex-journalist, foreign correspondent, and former West Coast editor of "Look" magazine. He published his first book, best-selling "Rodeo Drive", in 1981 and produced four more best-sellers: "Scandals", "Passions", "Grand Illusions", and "Fortunes", along with "North Rodeo Drive", "Rich and Reckless", and "Richer Than Sin" --- all greatly entertaining novels chronicling intrigue, passion, and power games. His novel "Grand Cru", published in 2001, blends satire, investigative reporting, and high comedy in the California wine country. "Shredded" published in 2003 is a mysterious, scandalous, and playful romp through the publishing business with literary agent Phil Ford and his partner (and ex-wife) Gwen Mather. With several new novels in the works, Barney is a natural storyteller, a keen observer of social mores, and a bottomless well of creativity. He writes for the masses, but with a touch of class---and humor---that makes him special. "L.A. Magazine" once aptly described him as "The Balzac of Beverly Hills." You will find his new work full of great stories, fascinating people, and irresistible relationships.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World Wine Thriller, February 15, 2001

By 

Leslie H. Whitten "novelist" (silver spring, md USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Cru (Mass Market Paperback)

This is surely the be-all and end-all of wine thrillers. A clown-and-demon bunch of international plotters try to take over a fine, small American vineyard. Their efforts explode with murder, mayhem, sea and highway chase scenes, and yes, there's also high and low comedy and a quality cabernet romance. Tucked in are fascinating and obscure goblets of information on wine-selling, wine-tasting and wine-adulterating. I'd sooner put aside a glass of some grand cru than "Grand Cru." If this isn't a bestseller, there's no literary justice left.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fast-paced comic thriller, February 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Grand Cru (Mass Market Paperback)

Barney Leason knows his California wine country as well as Elmore Leonard knows the underside of Florida. "Grand Cru" is as smooth as a fine California Pinot Noir, a fast-paced comic thriller that occasionally erupts into outrageous farce, a Leason specialty. Laugh-out-loud funny in places, warm-hearted, consistently readable, just the book to have handy in your carry-on bag for a long flight to the West Coast.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Over-the-top characters and not-so-thrilling....., August 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Grand Cru (Mass Market Paperback)

The descriptions of Wine Country were interesting, and I did WANT to like the book........but frankly, it was less-than-riveting and the characters were more like the Three Stooges, especially the WAY over-the-top Nurse Astrid. I much prefer the tongue-in-cheek, subtle humor of Robert B. Parker or Lawrence Sanders' Archie McNally character. Had it not been for Wine Country descriptions, I don't think I would have finished the book!