Customer Reviews

Murder Uncorked (Center Point Premier Mystery (Large Print))

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Nikki, a failed actress from LA who's working as a waitress in a high-class restaurant, finds herself invited to consider a position working in a Napa valley winery. But all too soon, she stumbles over a body. Nikki has all the requisite skills of a volunteer sleuth -- among other things, she played a detective on TV -- and she "naturally" falls into the role.

The story is an enjoyable one, and I didn't even get close to correctly guessing who committed the murder. The author did a very good job of creating a setting, but she didn't let the wine info overtake the tale telling. If you don't know much about wine, you'll definitely learn quite a bit. If you *do* know something about wine, however, you won't find the basic information to be distracting or annoying, In other words, she go the tone exactly right.

The author also included a few recipes for dishes that the characters cook during the course of the novel. It's a nice touch.

The characters are believable, too. Nikki didn't do anything that made me roll my eyes, even in the unusual circumstances. There's more to learn about these characters... and I'm looking forward to learning more about them in the novels to follow.

I'm pretty sure this is a first novel. It has some of the rough edges you expect from one -- and the pacing isn't perfectly smooth. In particular, the ending feels rushed; I can almost hear a New York editor saying, "We need that last chapter by Monday!" Nonetheless, it's a great little cozy mystery. I definitely recommend it.

When Nikki Sands accidentally spills a drink on a nasty bimbo she was serving at her waitress job, she has no idea how it is going to change her life. The bimbo starts making a scene so Nikki quits. While getting a drink across the street, in walks the bimbo's date, the hunk. He buys her dinner. He was so impressed with her wine knowledge at the restaurant, so he has her order the wine for their dinner.

After dinner he offers her a job at Maleveaux Estates, a Napa Valley winery. He is Derek Maleveaux. Having nothing to lose, she flies with him to his winery to look into this job.

As Nikki is settling in at the guest cottage, she notices something strange outside. When she goes outside to check it out, she finds the murdered corpse of Gabriel Asant, Derek's winemaker and friend.

Nikki, a wannabe actress, once played a detective on TV, so she decides to do some investigating. The police are interested in Derek. She doesn't believe he did it.

Between the rival winery, Derek's strange family, and Gabriel's women, Nikki has plenty of people to investigate. But can she do that without becoming a victim herself?

This is a great first book in a new series. The characters are wonderful and the setting is delightful. I'm not a wine drinker, but the information about wine and its making is not overpowering. The author has blended it in well with the mystery. I found myself laughing out loud. It is a very fast, enjoyable read.

I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book!
[...]

Aspiring actress Nikki Sands researches all her roles, even her rent-paying gig as a waitress. When she impresses a customer with her wine knowledge, the customer's jealous date stages a spill to get Nikki fired. But this backfires. The customer, a Napa Valley vineyard owner, offers Nikki a job. Realizing her acting career isn't going anywhere, Nikki agrees. The job comes with gorgeous surroundings, a gorgeous guesthouse and a gorgeous boss. Less gorgeous is the dead body of the winemaker she finds on her first day there.

Suspects abound. Eccentric family members, old and new lovers, rival vineyard owners. Then Nikki finds another body. Will she be next?

Nikki is a smart and witty heroine, and I enjoyed spending time with her. The crisp writing, interesting characters and plot makes MURDER UNCORKED a great book. The recipes and wine suggestions are a bonus. I'm looking forward to Michele Scott's next wine lover mystery, plus her new equestrian mystery series. She writes the kind of books I like to read.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a light, funny read that kept me entertained and hooked all the way to the end, which I found delightfully funny. The main character, Nikki, is humorous and someone I could relate to because she says things and does things the rest of wish we would. From the Bimbo in the beginning to the off the wall characters scattered throughout, Nikki pegs them all. Sure, the story can be outrageous at times, but that's what I thought made it so fun. I love Derek Malvaux and hope the two of them wind up together. He sounds a bit like McDreamy on Greys Anatomy! Maybe Patrick Dempsey could play the part if it was ever a movie!

The mystery had a nice twist at the end and I liked the author's approach to the wine information. It was not too much and it was an interseting fun way the way she did it at the end of the chapters. I'm not a very good cook, but I think I will try one or two of the recipes. A couple didn't look too difficult. I would like to try the wines.

If you want a good cozy with a bit of romance and a chuckle on your day off, read this book. I can't wait to get her next book.

What a charming book! The author captures the appeal of the wine country (one of my favorite places) so well and it makes a great setting for a mystery. Nikki is appealing and believable in her quest to solve the crime. The suspects make quite interesting characters and I was left guessing up until the end. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book, especially between Nikki and Derek. I also enjoyed the recipes and wine pairings with the author's voice shining through.

What a debut!

Whether you're a mystery lover, a romance lover, a wine enthusiast or a foodie, this is the book for you. (And if you're all four -- even better!) Nikki Sands loses her waitressing job after a run-in with a blonde bimbo... only to receive an enticing career offer from handsome winery owner Derek Malveaux. She's not sure if it's the thing for her, but she agrees to spend a few days in wine country finding out. Unfortunately, no sooner has she unpacked her suitcase in the cozy guesthouse when she steps outside and makes a gruesome discovery -- Malveaux's winemaker, strangled with grapevines.

With tantalizing recipes and descriptions of vintages that would drive a Baptist to drink, this book is a feast for the senses -- and a devil of a mystery.

Highly recommended.

Although its a short easy read, this book is really suspenseful and entertaining. The book has added perks like recipes, and wine pairings and talks about a lot of wineries and restaraunts in the Napa valley. I had the privelidge to actually meet Michelle yesterday at a book signing/private luncheon at my restaraunt and shes one the most genuine, down to earth people you will meet. I had to bring up that Nikki needs to get smacked on the head for ending up with the wrong men!!!
Her second book just came out and I am looking forward to reading it.

Michele Scott's Murder Uncorked is a yummy read. Her main character Nikki Sands is funny and relatable. She handles herself really in Napa Valley around some nutty characters, and I couldn't help but laugh at some of her comebacks, both internal and outward, especially in the beginning when the horrible "Bimbo," gives her a ton of grief.

The mystery stumped me. I thought it was one character and it turned out to be another. But that's what a good mystery is all about. I really liked the recipe and wine pairings and the way Scott incorporated them in the book. I thought it was fun and different. There was a blooming of a romance between Nikki and Derek Malveaux the vineyard owner, and I can't wait to see what happens next between them.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. It's a fun read that had me laughing and made me want to try the recipes and check out some of the wines in the book.

Loved this book! The pace of the book kept me reading, ignoring all household chores, etc. Couldn't put it down. The characters are well drawn and each has their own voice. The amateur slueth Nikki Sands character is believable, very likeable and she is very adept at amateur sluething. The plot is good and unfolds slowly. Everything isn't dropped on you at the end of the book. No questions went unanswered. The relationship between Nikki and Derek develops at a believable pace and I cannot wait to find out what happens with them next.

I look forward to many more books from this new author. The wine pairing and recipes are an added bonus. I actually learned something :)

I read the book cover to cover in one evening - I couldn't put it down. The main character Nikki is hysterical and heroic and actually quite believable. The wine pairings and recipes in the book are such a neat concept - I made the goat cheese and mushroom bruchetta for our book club meeting - it was delicious. I would definately recommend this book - especially if you have a book club like ours that loves to discuss our books over a great bottle of wine and yummy food!