"Intrigue and gold hunting among the vineyards of Portugal."
A young farmer, Robin, arrives at a vineyard in Portugal from his family farm in Denmark as a chance to get away and figure out what he wants to do with his life. He’s inspired by the work in the brutal Portuguese heat and begins to regain some of his passion. Filling out the larger canvas of this story is a narrative of hidden gold. The prologue shares how lost treasure purchased the struggling vineyard, and as the story progresses rumours about gold in the area could be the vineyard's saviour from an injudicious owner.
The Caramel Vineyard is an easy to read story, the hard work among the vines evokes images of intensely sunny days and hard work to harvest the grapes. The intrigue of Dinis’ initial discovery and revelation of his financial difficulties adds tension to the plot, and Catarina’s decision to try to keep the vineyard in her family adds a race against time, urgency and pace. The introduction of Hans Neurath was interesting and a clever way of answering some questions about the gold.
I liked Robin, his uncertainty and search for a decision about what his future might bring and how settled he became working on the vineyard felt like it had a coming-of-age arc. Although some of that is offset by the ending, I was left hoping he doesn’t end up following in Dinis’ shadow. I also liked José, the way he watched and guided Robin, introducing him, and the reader by extension to the life and family of working on the vineyard, the emphasis on community and shared meals.
A sunny, enjoyable read that would pair well with a nice tipple and small plate.
| Primary Genre | Crime and Mystery |
| Recommendations: |
Just out of university, Robin has no idea that a decision to take up a summer job on a wine estate in Portugal will change his life forever. At first, he is as enchanted by the vineyard as he is by his hostess, Catarina.
But he does not know that dark secrets hide beneath the surface of Catarina’s relationship with her husband, Dinis. When Robin stumbles on a treasure at harvest time, those secrets unleash a series of events that change everything on the venerable family estate of Herdade de Aurora.
"Whan I saw Dinis for the first time, I never imagined that one day I would steal from him. It wasn't because he was a towering figure, as such, even though he had a strong presence that inspired a subtle fear in some and a form of respect in others. My first impression was simply of fascination and gratitude. After all, he was about to take me in, to his splendorous estate, inviting me into a private place of wonder that people like me rarely inhabit."
The Caramel Vineyard features in the following genres: Indie Author Books, Indie Books We Love, Crime and Mystery
The Caramel Vineyard is available in Paperback
The Caramel Vineyard was written by Axel Georg and published by Independently published
