Peter Stafford-Bow is the pseudonym for a former supermarket wine executive who has blown open the serious and rather po-faced world of wine retailing. Why a pseudonym? Well, read the book and you’ll understand why a small army of enraged supermarket directors, law enforcement officials and organised crime gangs may have failed to see the funny side of this bawdy, irresponsible satire. Brum gets an honourable chapter to itself in a memorable set-piece based in a large exhibition centre just off the M42. The author, who is apparently a highly decorated wine educator (whatever that means), is supporting the launch of the novel with a series of combined readings and wine tastings, often teaming up with a local wine merchant. For this event, it’s Loki Wine, Brum’s most highly-decorated wine shop. Given that the author has gone to great pains to disguise their identity, I’m not clear on how the mystery will be maintained on the night. Perhaps the reading will be conducted from inside a large wine barrel.

Thu 2 Feb 7pm at Waterstones, 24-26 High Street, Birmingham, B4 7SL £3 waterstones