Book Review: MURDER UNCORKED (Wine Lover's MysterySeries #1) by Michele Scott

About a month ago, I posted a review of MURDER BY THE GLASS, the second in the Wine Lover's Mystery series.  As indicated, I liked it enough to back up to the beginning of the series and find out how Nikki got her job at Malveaux Wineries... so here's MURDER UNCORKED:

SYNOPSIS

Nikki Sands was like every other aspiring actress—waiting tables between jobs. But Nikki had taken serving wines to heart. She knew enough to impress Napa Valley’s golden boy, Derek Malveaux, who offered her a job at his vineyard. And though Nikki may have left her dreams of stardom behind, the world of wine is ripe with intrigue—and the seeds of sleuthing are planted…

Nikki has just set foot on Napa Valley’s rich soil when she realizes her new job may not be as safe as she thought. First off, Derek Malveaux is disconcertingly sexy. Second, his top winemaker is dead in the bushes outside Nikki’s cottage. It doesn’t take a connoisseur of foul play to know something’s taken a terrible turn…

REVIEW

Nikki doesn't exactly like her job as a waitress but the bills need to be paid. She's also not stupid and isn't quite sure Derek Malveaux is being completely honest when he offers her a job and a weekend to try it out at his winery. But bills need to be paid. She didn't count on the dead body or her reactions to Derek. She isn't sure who to trust or not, particularly when it comes to some of Derek's family members.

This first book details not only the murder mystery - it provides some background on the step brother and his partner, the step-mother and others without being tedious. The plot is well-developed with enough, but not too many suspects. Guess I have a few more books to add to the TBR list...

The Wine Lover's Mystery Series

MURDER UNCORKED AMAZON

MURDER BY THE GLASS

SILENCED BY SIRAH

A VINTAGE MURDER

CORKED BY CABERNET

A TOAST TO MURDER

A KILLER MARGARITA

MICHELE SCOTT'S AMAZON PAGE WITH LINKS TO ALL THE BOOKS:

MICHELE'S AUTHOR PAGE

Book Review: MURDER BY THE GLASS (A Wine Lover's Mystery Book 2) by Michele Scott

Synopsis

Life is sweet for Nikki Sands. She’s toasting her new job at Malveaux Estate in Napa Valley and balancing a love triangle with a neighboring winemaker and her boss, vineyard owner Derek Malveaux—the catch of the county. And tonight, Nikki will be on the arm of Napa’s golden boy at a Sonoma mansion for the wedding of the decade… 

Nikki’s friend Isabel agreed to cater the wedding—before she learned that the groom was her cheating lover. After the ceremony, Isabel asks Nikki to bring the obnoxious bride another glass of wine. But Nikki finds the new wife sprawled on the floor—murdered. Since the dear departed made enemies easily, there’s a bushel of suspects—many of them close to Nikki. Now, it’s up to her to get to the bottom of what may have been a killer bottle of wine.

Wine Pairings and Recipes included.

Review

Nikki plays sleuth when she's the one to find the victim and many of her friends and acquaintances are potential suspects. The problem is that sometimes asking questions and such only adds to the suspicion. Scott keeps the story moving with a few twists and the advances and retreats of her two suitors. Personally, I liked Derek. The story is well-paced if not suspenceful. As an added bonus, there are recipes and wine pairings.

This is the second in the Wine Lover's Mysteries, but is the first one I've read. I had no trouble following along - definitely can be read as a stand alone. This was a good read at the end of stressful day. Of course, now I'll have to go back to MURDER UNCORKED and find out how Nikki ends up at Malveaux Estates. 

AMAZON