Murder Uncorked

I enjoyed this book. I'm not a wine-lover, but I did enjoy learning about various wines. I did think that the recipes and wine pairings might be a bit overdone. For me, they interrupted the story. I did not guess the murderers until it was revealed. I liked that there were several crimes going on that had different perpetrators.

My biggest concern is how the author will sustain the series--unless she plans to have Nikki investigate other crimes/mysteries that don't involve murder. In real life, if a winery had quite a few murders attached to it, I can't imagine that people would still want to go there or buy wine from there--or at least not enough people to keep the winery solvent.

I read this book at the same time I was reading a Nero Wolfe mystery so I don’t know if my impression of this work was unduly influenced by a comparison of the two novels. This is the first book in a series and has quite a bit going for it. I loved the setting in Napa Valley and the “discussions” of wine and wine-making. The plot was acceptable and the mystery puzzling, the final clue not exposed until nearly the end of the story, but the author played fair with the reader who likes to figure out the puzzle. However, for me it was distracting that although narration was third person, it was given from the perspective of the two main characters. I found that distracting and one of the characters I would have considered a suspect show more (as did the other character) if there had not been that occasional POV shift. But that is a minor quibble. The biggest problem was in the writing and in the character development. I read a good portion of this in the car and hubby could tell you that my main reactions to the writing, especially to the way the characters often talked or reacted, tended to be “sappy” and “cheesy.” I read aloud some of those parts. I found the style, or lack thereof, of the narration distracting, to say the least, and often annoying. It definitely kept me from fully enjoying the story. I’m reading Nero Wolfe in order and the one I read this week is No. 14, so Stout’s work is much more polished. But remembering back to his first one, I don’t remember is being nearly this amateurish or clunky. So for plot and story a solid 3 stars, for writing a generous 1 star makes it a 2 star book for me. A bonus was the recipes that were included (a la Diane Mott Davidson). I even saved a few for hubby to try now that he is retired. He loves to cook. show less

Nikki Sands is an actress who was working as a waitress at an upscale Los Angeles restaurant when she met Derek Malveaux, owner of the famed Malveaux Vineyards. He is impressed with her knowledge of wine pairings and offers her a job at his Napa Valley vineyards. Not long after her arrival, she finds a body. There are plenty of suspects who have good motives and plenty of them that the reader hopes is the culprit. Nikki finds herself reprising her role as "Detective Martini" as she looks for the murderer. Lately I'd grown weary of most cozy mysteries because of the predictability of the plots. I had so many in my "to be read" pile that I decided I'd better grab one. I'm glad I picked up this one, because I found it a light (as are most show more cozies) but enjoyable read. There are some things (as there are in most cozies) that strike the reader as unrealistic, but even those things did not mar my enjoyment. Some of the recipes look tempting, too! show less

Murder and mayhem in Napa Valley, Murder Uncorked tells the story of Nikki Sands, an actress/waitress from Los Angeles. After a disastrous evening culminating with the loss of her waitressing job, Nikki is offered a job at a winery located in the Napa Valley. Derek Malveaux offers Nikki several times her waitressing salary to come to Napa and work at his vineyard.
Desperate to escape from LA, Nikki flies with Derek to Napa for a tour of the Malveaux vineyard and to make her decision. Before she can settle into the guest cottage, Nikki discovers the body of murdered winemaker Gabriel Assanti. Nikki discovers that there are many quirky and often dysfunctional people in the area who all seem to have a motive for the murder. Nikki chases show more down every lead to find the identity of the murderer while fighting against her attraction to the blonde-haired, blue eyed, owner, Derek Malveaux.
Nikki is a not-so-good actress coming to terms with her lack of real acting talent while discovering her talent for food and wine pairings. She is likeable and fun. Derek is an interesting character who remains a little mysterious to Nikki and the reader. He is complex and maybe a little too good to be true. Among the other characters in Murder Uncorked are Derek’s step-mother and ex-wife, the “Botox Twins”, as they are referred to, as well as Andres Fernandez, a neighboring winemaker, who seems to be eccentric, dark, and brooding. The plot is fun and engaging. Throughout the book recipes and wine pairing recommendations are shared. Murder Uncorked is a delicious, fast- paced, and fun loving cozy mystery with a surprising twist at the end. If you love a fun cozy mystery, a nice glass of wine, and good food you will enjoy this book. I recommend this book, curl up and enjoy. show less

Outside of a brief role as a police detective on a TV show, aspiring actress Nikki Sands has had little success and is working as a waitress. Unfortunately, she loses that job when she accidentally spills wine on an obnoxious customer. Luckily the customer's date was vineyard owner Derek Malveaux who immediately offers Nikki a job at his vineyard. Nikki is hesitant at first, but needs a job so she agrees to check out the place. Nikki has barely unpacked when she discovers a murder victim near her cottage. Rather than leave, Nikki decides to investigate the murder using the skills she picked up during her TV show. Even a second murder and Derek's dysfunctional family can't stop Nikki once she gets started.

"Murder Uncorked" is Michele show more Scott's first book in the new Wine Lover's Mystery Series and it has some good points and some bad points. The mystery is well plotted with some neat twists throughout the book that will keep the reader guessing. Nikki is at times a likable and sympathetic character, especially when the author gives readers a look into Nikki's troubled childhood. Yet Nikki has her faults, including the fact that she is far too eager to jump in and solve the mystery when most people would run, if not after the first murder, surely after the second one. Her efforts at crime solving are clumsy at times - she often gives her real name when questioning suspects. Derek Malveaux is movie star handsome (as is everyone in the book) and dedicated to his vineyard. He is attracted to Nikki, but understandably wary, especially since she keeps stumbling over dead bodies.

The writing is awkward at times. The viewpoint is mostly from Nikki's perspective, but it occasionally switches to Derek's viewpoint without warning. Many of the other characters in the book come across not as real characters, but as stereotypical rich snobs and much of their dialogue sounded false. Nikki's discovery of the second victim was awkward, especially when she says she is going to use her cell phone to make a call and in the next paragraph goes into a bedroom to find a phone to use, conveniently stumbling over another dead body. There's also a scene where the police question Nikki's alibi in a room full of people that rang false - wouldn't the police question her privately? Nikki's Aunt Cara, who helped raise her) is a cop (and I hope she shows up in future books), yet Nikki seems to have little respect for cops in general. Finally, as sympathetic a character as Nikki can be, it's hard to totally like someone who seems far too nosy; she hasn't even started working at the vineyard and yet is willing to break into people's offices to help solve the mystery.

Despite the flaws, readers should take into consideration that this is the first book in a new mystery series and first books are often awkward as characters and situations are maneuvered into place for future books. Many mystery series don't hit their stride until the second or third book in the series. I'm hoping this is the case in the Wine Lover's Series since Michele Scott has a way with plotting mysteries that will have me reading the second book. show less

Nikki Sands, an out of work actress, is waiting tables in Hollywood to make ends meet. She works at an upscale restaurant and has educated herself about wine pairings to increase her tip perspectives. One evening she shows off a bit of her knowledge, infuriating a blonde bimbo but intriguing her date. She gets fired for spilling wine on the bimbo, but is rescued by the hunk and learns that he is a winemaker from Napa Valley and is interesting in hiring her for marketing and general assistant staff support.

Nikki flies to Napa with Derek Malveaux where she is embroiled in a double murder investigation on the Malveaux Estate. Her one and only acting role seems to be coming alive - that of a Detective Sydney Martini. The story is complex show more but the writer allows the reader to gather the clues along with Nikki. Entertaining while providing recipes and wine pairings. show less

The story revolves around the Malveaux winery and set in California. Nikki Sands is lured to the winery by the handsome and charming owner only to find that there has been a murder on the vinyard the day that she arrives. Nikki decides to be become an amateur detective in order to figure out who has committed the crime only to find a second murder has been committed. Who can Nikki trust?

Overall the book was an easy, fun read. Some of the events are fairly predictable while other twists will keep you guessing. I really like the idea of putting the recipes at the end of the chapters as well as giving wine suggestions if you are interested in that aspect. I would have liked the ending to have discussed what happened to the person that was show more first accused of the murders(not to give away too much). It is the perfect book to curl up with in bed...and with a good glass of wine! show less