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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent start to a new mystery series, November 23, 2005
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.
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great new wine mystery series. I don't drink wine and I loved it., October 28, 2005
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!
[...]
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Have some wine with your mystery, March 12, 2006
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.
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