I cannot believe that I first reviewed one of Peter Stafford-Bow’s books eight years ago, and now, here we are on number five: Black Odesa. The latest instalment of the Felix Hart series has all the elements I’ve come to know very well. Felix is a trained wine snob and bon vivant. At the start of this adventure, we find him where we left him – working as a supermarket wine buyer, enjoying a life of luxury and serving as a member of the elite Minstrels of Wine organisation (which is definitely nothing like the Masters of Wine qualification I am sure.)
And, as usual, partly through his own greed (in all things) and partly through a voluminous dose of bad luck, Felix finds himself in a series of scrapes that see him, amongst other things, wend his way to Crimea, whilst wanted by the Metropolitan Police, in search of a legendary wine called Black Odesa. There is quite a bit more to it than that. But I literally cannot tell you anything more without entirely spoiling the fun.
The charm of Black Odesa
And it is fun. Stafford-Bow’s writing is hugely entertaining and his narratives are gripping. Once you get started it’s very hard to put this book down. I’ve noticed that as the Felix Hart series goes on the wine geek element is getting less dominant, but perhaps that makes it more appealing to a broader audience. Instead, Felix’s odysseys have developed a fascinating hyper-contemporary resonance that is quite remarkable. This book has several themes which are entirely of today – including the role of social media wine influencers and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In previous volumes, there were hints of life in the newly post-lockdown world which were entirely on the nose for that moment in time, for example.
I can’t help but think that this utter relevance to now will not stand in the way of Peter’s work ageing beautifully. I’ll let you put your own fine wine analogy in there. For those of us who live these global events with him, they will hold a sense of nostalgia in years to come. For younger readers coming through the ranks, they will give a fascinating glimpse into what these considerable upheavals were like to experience – but through the medium of the most bizarre and unlikely plot twists.
The exquisite agony of Felix Hart
Much of Black Odesa, like the previous books, makes your toes curl. How can things continue to go so wrong for Felix Hart? And how can he possibly navigate his way through the latest episode without dying [of hunger/of shame/in a foreign jail]? It feels like you must cover your eyes with your hand so that you don’t have to be sucked along on the tide of the next catastrophe, but you peep through your fingers… Just one more chapter… all the same.
Perhaps more surprisingly, you think: why do I care what happens to Felix? Perhaps it sounds a little like Felix is a lovable rogue, but I’ll be honest, he’s awful. He’s narcissistic, greedy, spoiled, and almost utterly without empathy. Yet still you find yourself on his side, willing him through because at least 10% of the unspeakable things that happen to him probably aren’t really his fault. When the odds are entirely against him, your respect is renewed as he finds another unimaginable way to creatively avoid oblivion.
Black Odesa is a masterclass in the art of the page-turner. There are no depths that Stafford-Bow will not plumb to torture his raconteur protagonist, Felix Hart. And you will enjoy every moment of it.
A free copy of Black Odesa was sent to me for the purpose of review, but I can assure you that I’ve managed to form an opinion of the book quite of my own volition regardless.
