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A Wine Lover's Mystery #1
Murder Uncorked
When an entitled customer with a bad attitude gets Nikki fired from her job as a waitress, Nikki Sands finds herself caught in the sights of the wealthy and incredibly sexy Derek Malveaux. Impressed by her knowledge of wines - and embarrassed by his date - he offers her a job as a winery manager at his vineyard and she accepts because - well, a girl's gotta eat. Where else would her wine expertise come in handy anyway? The eye candy was a nice bonus too.
On her first night at Malveaux Estate, Nikki finds something wrong with the fertilizer around the bushes by her cottage: there's a dead body in it.
Smack in the middle of the investigation, new girl Nikki is questioned as the prime suspect and told to stay put in Napa Valley. Nikki puts her sleuthing skills to work as she navigates the dramatic dynamic of Malveaux Estate's residents. As she gets closer to the truth, Nikki realizes she will have more than just a new job to worry about.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…
On her first night at Malveaux Estate, Nikki finds something wrong with the fertilizer around the bushes by her cottage: there's a dead body in it.
Smack in the middle of the investigation, new girl Nikki is questioned as the prime suspect and told to stay put in Napa Valley. Nikki puts her sleuthing skills to work as she navigates the dramatic dynamic of Malveaux Estate's residents. As she gets closer to the truth, Nikki realizes she will have more than just a new job to worry about.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…
219 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 2005
308 people are currently reading
1547 people want to read
About the author
Michele Scott
49 books350 followersMichele Scott is an American author and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professional’s Choice, Inc. She has written over forty novels in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult mysteries, fantasy, and women’s fiction. Her thriller Daddy’s Home from her Holly Jennings’ series written under her pen name of AK Alexander has sold over one million copies and was the #1 bestselling book in the UK Amazon. Her thriller Mommy, May I? and was number 2 on the Amazon list.
Subsequently, Daddy’s Home hit #4 in the US Amazon store (over all books). She was a featured author in Jeff Bezos letter to the shareholders and one of fifteen authors invited to the reveal of Kindle Fire. Amazon also produced a short documentary about her and her writing story and featured her in a book on bestselling Amazon writers. Daddy’s Home was also a top ten bestseller on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list.
Michele’s bestselling mystery series (The Wine Lover’s Mysteries) has gone into multiple printings and has been optioned by a Los Angeles based producer and production company.
Michele is a lifelong equestrian, having horses since she was five-years-old. If you don’t find her at her desk writing, you’re sure to find her at the barn!
Subsequently, Daddy’s Home hit #4 in the US Amazon store (over all books). She was a featured author in Jeff Bezos letter to the shareholders and one of fifteen authors invited to the reveal of Kindle Fire. Amazon also produced a short documentary about her and her writing story and featured her in a book on bestselling Amazon writers. Daddy’s Home was also a top ten bestseller on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list.
Michele’s bestselling mystery series (The Wine Lover’s Mysteries) has gone into multiple printings and has been optioned by a Los Angeles based producer and production company.
Michele is a lifelong equestrian, having horses since she was five-years-old. If you don’t find her at her desk writing, you’re sure to find her at the barn!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
September 30, 2022
MURDER UNCORKED by MICHELE SCOTT 🍷🍷🍷*FREE on KINDLE UNLIMITED!!*
I recently took part in my first readalong. If you have never done one, I highly recommend it. I had a blast! It feels like an online book club. Reading everyone's perspective was so interesting and I made new friends!
Murder Uncorked is a delightful mystery. It is the first book in the WINE LOVER'S MYSTERY SERIES and features recipes and wine pairings that accompany the plot. It is an absolute blast to read and the recipes are mouthwatering!
The mystery in the novel is light and holds your interest. The setting is in an elite wine vineyard in Nappa Valley and is picturesque. Throughout the investigation, I kept changing my mind about who the murderer was. Michelle Scott threw in many mind-bending plot twists that kept me guessing!
I had so much fun reading Murder Uncorked by Michele Scott with a very special group of friends during The Tandem Readalong. This book would make a delightful book club selection.
Thank you @MicheleScottAuthor and @TandemCollectiveGlobal for my complimentary copy of the book. Your kindness is appreciated!
#MurderUncorked #WineLoversMysterySeries #TandemCollectiveGlobal #TandemCollectiveUK #MurderUncorkedReadAlong #TandemReadalong
I recently took part in my first readalong. If you have never done one, I highly recommend it. I had a blast! It feels like an online book club. Reading everyone's perspective was so interesting and I made new friends!
Murder Uncorked is a delightful mystery. It is the first book in the WINE LOVER'S MYSTERY SERIES and features recipes and wine pairings that accompany the plot. It is an absolute blast to read and the recipes are mouthwatering!
The mystery in the novel is light and holds your interest. The setting is in an elite wine vineyard in Nappa Valley and is picturesque. Throughout the investigation, I kept changing my mind about who the murderer was. Michelle Scott threw in many mind-bending plot twists that kept me guessing!
I had so much fun reading Murder Uncorked by Michele Scott with a very special group of friends during The Tandem Readalong. This book would make a delightful book club selection.
Thank you @MicheleScottAuthor and @TandemCollectiveGlobal for my complimentary copy of the book. Your kindness is appreciated!
#MurderUncorked #WineLoversMysterySeries #TandemCollectiveGlobal #TandemCollectiveUK #MurderUncorkedReadAlong #TandemReadalong
January 8, 2016
Anyone who knows me, knows I do not like cozies. After reading my preferred genre of hard core police procedurals, murderers, serial killers, etc,. asking me to read a cozy is like offering me ONE vanilla wafer for dessert.
Nikki Sands is an actress, ok, she wants to be an actress. Right now she's working as a waitress, contemplating her life's choices. A run in with "The Bimbo" more or less causes the loss of that job. When "The Bimbo's" date, Derek Malveaux, winds up offering her a job at his winery, she agrees to go with him to check it out.
Note: The interaction between Nikki and the Bimbo had me in stitches!
On her first day at the winery, she discovers the murdered body of the little old winemaker.
Nikki is smart, she's sassy, and no one's fool. She, however, does need to learn that playing a detective on a TV show or that having an aunt who actually is a real-life detective or the fact that she has read Nancy Drew books do not make her a good detective. She tends to just jump right in and go for the gold!
There are plenty of suspects with all kinds of motives who might have wanted the winemaker dead. And Nikki is determined to ferret the killer out. Of course, the more she sticks her nose into things, the more danger she's in.
It's a very nice little mystery with twists and turns that actually surprised me. I really liked Nikki and was rooting for her all the way. Derek is a nice foil to her humorous way of looking at things. I like the attraction between them. There is the evil step-mother, a vicious ex-wife, a younger step-brother and his life partner, and the assorted other winery owners who may or may not have a reason to kill. And let's not forget the news reporter who wants Derek for herself.
If someone had told me a week ago I would actually read a cozy that I enjoyed, I'd have thought they were drunk. The only negative I have is all those recipes interwoven every chapter or two. I don't cook with wine, I don't even drink wine, so I skipped through those.
My thanks to the author and Wordsmith Publicity who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
October 4, 2022
Murder Uncorked is the first book in the Wine Lover’s Mystery Series, a cozy mystery by Michele Scott.
Nikki Sands is an aspiring actress from LA who is in between jobs waiting tables. Nikki meets Derek Malveaux, a Napa Valley wine maker, while serving him dinner. Impressed by Nikki’s wine knowledge, Derek immediately offers Nikki a job at his winery as a manager. All is well until Nikki finds herself surrounded by dead bodies. This cozy mystery is sprinkled with amazing wine pairings and delicious recipes.
Nikki Sands is an aspiring actress from LA who is in between jobs waiting tables. Nikki meets Derek Malveaux, a Napa Valley wine maker, while serving him dinner. Impressed by Nikki’s wine knowledge, Derek immediately offers Nikki a job at his winery as a manager. All is well until Nikki finds herself surrounded by dead bodies. This cozy mystery is sprinkled with amazing wine pairings and delicious recipes.
January 18, 2021
Aspiring actress Nikki Sands is tired of the endless auditions, and tired of being treated like crap by the patrons at the restaurant where she works. So she jumps at the chance to work in management at a Napa Valley winery. She just wasn't expecting to find a dead body on her first day.
The characters are interesting and entertaining. The plot kept me involved through to the end. It's a great start to a new mystery series and I can't wait to read the next one.
The characters are interesting and entertaining. The plot kept me involved through to the end. It's a great start to a new mystery series and I can't wait to read the next one.
October 7, 2022
A cute cozy mystery with plenty of wine talk. Even though I'm not a wine drinker, I appreciated the information. So fascinating. I also absolutely loved the recipes
August 11, 2011
★★★★☆ I read this nice little cozy mystery for a challenge and ended up being pleasantly surprised with the story, characters, and furtive plot - almost all of which takes place on a vineyard. I will definitely be continuing the series and may even try some of the recipes.
September 25, 2022
Aspiring actress and full time waitress Nikki quits her job after offending a customer. 'The Bimbo ' was on a date with 'luscious Casanova ' and wanted Nikki to tone down her wine expertise. Nikki had had enough of her job, life and nonexistent acting career, she walked out to another bar for a drink. Luscious Casanova aka Derek follows her, apologizes and offers her a job on his vineyard in Napa Valley.
Nikki is in Napa Valley and stumbles across the first of what will become a few dead bodies. Here the super sleuthing starts.
The novel is a cosy murder mystery, I was unaware of the trope initally, however my guilty pleasures are the Hallmark Murder Mystery movies, think Murder She Baked and Aurora Teagarden Movies, the further I read I recognized the connection.
I would liken Nikki to a 30 year old Nancy Drew with Sex in the City vibes and a sixth sense for solving murders. The Napa Valley setting delivers constant, vivid and salivating references to wines and food, do not read on an empty stomach.
The Nikki and Derek relationship develops slowly, but I can tell will deepen, Derek is charming, charismatic, handsome, wealthy and single.
The mystery deepens with the discovery of a second body, by Nikki again, after the arrest of an obvious and unlikely suspect. Nikki becomes determined to uncover the truth. My list of suspects changed constantly, and I felt I was one step behind Nikki in revealing the killer. It felt good to know I was on the correct track.
This novel is true cosy mystery, it is a lightweight, charming and entertaining read, with enough suspense and romance to draw the reader in. If you are in a reading slump or want a break from Scandinavian Nior, then this novel is for you. It can be read over a day or two.
Nikki is in Napa Valley and stumbles across the first of what will become a few dead bodies. Here the super sleuthing starts.
The novel is a cosy murder mystery, I was unaware of the trope initally, however my guilty pleasures are the Hallmark Murder Mystery movies, think Murder She Baked and Aurora Teagarden Movies, the further I read I recognized the connection.
I would liken Nikki to a 30 year old Nancy Drew with Sex in the City vibes and a sixth sense for solving murders. The Napa Valley setting delivers constant, vivid and salivating references to wines and food, do not read on an empty stomach.
The Nikki and Derek relationship develops slowly, but I can tell will deepen, Derek is charming, charismatic, handsome, wealthy and single.
The mystery deepens with the discovery of a second body, by Nikki again, after the arrest of an obvious and unlikely suspect. Nikki becomes determined to uncover the truth. My list of suspects changed constantly, and I felt I was one step behind Nikki in revealing the killer. It felt good to know I was on the correct track.
This novel is true cosy mystery, it is a lightweight, charming and entertaining read, with enough suspense and romance to draw the reader in. If you are in a reading slump or want a break from Scandinavian Nior, then this novel is for you. It can be read over a day or two.
October 7, 2022
This was such a quick and fun read that had me hooked from the start. I love a good cozy mystery and this one really hits the cozy mark for me. My wine knowledge is very lacking so it was fun to see all the wine pairings littered throughout the book. If you looking for a fun and cozy mystery book this autumn then definitely check this one out.
Thank you to Tandem Collective and the author for sending me a copy.
Thank you to Tandem Collective and the author for sending me a copy.
March 15, 2008
Let me start this review in a most unusual way. I met Michele Scott at the San Diego Writers Conference in February and was charmed by her easy-going and kind personality. I had a pretty good idea that I would enjoy her books, so I bought the first book in each of her series.
While at another book festival in South Carolina five days later, I met Valentine, the wonder greyhound. Being unfamiliar with this particular temporary member of the Regan Black household (Regan, the author of Justice Incarnate rescues greyhounds, so it is a bit of a revolving doggie door), I made the mistake of leaving my book on the coffee table when I went upstairs to do my hair.
Visit my blog at www.myspace.com/karensyed for an example of when bad things happen to good books!
And now, my review.
Nikki Sands is having a day…well, perhaps just a moment, but that one moment is changing everything for her. With one little slip, she finds herself thrown out of one situation and power-punched into another.
The entry of a very handsome man in her life is making a real mess of things and if her topsy-turvy feelings aren't enough, now she'd finding dead bodies and fighting for her own life.
Michele Scott has written a delectable tale of intrigue and betrayal in Murder Uncorked, book one in the Wine Lover's Mystery series. The characters are brilliantly and oddly portrayed, and best of all, the mystery is a real corker. I am actually looking forward to trying some of the recipes she has included.
While at another book festival in South Carolina five days later, I met Valentine, the wonder greyhound. Being unfamiliar with this particular temporary member of the Regan Black household (Regan, the author of Justice Incarnate rescues greyhounds, so it is a bit of a revolving doggie door), I made the mistake of leaving my book on the coffee table when I went upstairs to do my hair.
Visit my blog at www.myspace.com/karensyed for an example of when bad things happen to good books!
And now, my review.
Nikki Sands is having a day…well, perhaps just a moment, but that one moment is changing everything for her. With one little slip, she finds herself thrown out of one situation and power-punched into another.
The entry of a very handsome man in her life is making a real mess of things and if her topsy-turvy feelings aren't enough, now she'd finding dead bodies and fighting for her own life.
Michele Scott has written a delectable tale of intrigue and betrayal in Murder Uncorked, book one in the Wine Lover's Mystery series. The characters are brilliantly and oddly portrayed, and best of all, the mystery is a real corker. I am actually looking forward to trying some of the recipes she has included.
September 25, 2022
4/5
Nikki Sands is an aspiring actress - she’s starred in a short-lived TV detective show but, other than that, she pays rent by waiting tables at the local restaurant. What Nikki does have is a self-taught knowledge or wines and how to pair them well with the different dinner options of the restaurant.
When a chance encounter puts her in the path of Derek Malveaux, owner of Napa Valley’s wine-ing vineyard (get it?), her wine knowledge impresses him enough to offer her a job. Unfortunately, on her first day at the vineyard, Malveaux’s award winning winemaker is found dead outside Nikki’s new accomodation…
From then on, Nikki channels her Nancy Drew sleuthing skills to solve the murder and uncover the killer, putting her own life in danger as a result. And all while she still hasn’t ACTUALLY accepted a job with the vineyard yet…
Readers are introduced to a host of characters, who all have a different stake in the action. This is definitely one of author Michele Scott’s “cosy mysteries”; the drama is somewhat subdued, and you feel confident that your main characters are quite safe throughout - think Aurora Teagarden mysteries or similar.
My only real frustration was that you get such a light introduction to all the suspects in your pool that it was hard to easily work out the significance of certain clues, or assign them to the right suspect. That said, this was an easy and gentle read and I enjoyed learning about wine as I went. The wine pairings and recipe ideas were an added spark of brilliance, and I look forward to trying some of them out!
Nikki Sands is an aspiring actress - she’s starred in a short-lived TV detective show but, other than that, she pays rent by waiting tables at the local restaurant. What Nikki does have is a self-taught knowledge or wines and how to pair them well with the different dinner options of the restaurant.
When a chance encounter puts her in the path of Derek Malveaux, owner of Napa Valley’s wine-ing vineyard (get it?), her wine knowledge impresses him enough to offer her a job. Unfortunately, on her first day at the vineyard, Malveaux’s award winning winemaker is found dead outside Nikki’s new accomodation…
From then on, Nikki channels her Nancy Drew sleuthing skills to solve the murder and uncover the killer, putting her own life in danger as a result. And all while she still hasn’t ACTUALLY accepted a job with the vineyard yet…
Readers are introduced to a host of characters, who all have a different stake in the action. This is definitely one of author Michele Scott’s “cosy mysteries”; the drama is somewhat subdued, and you feel confident that your main characters are quite safe throughout - think Aurora Teagarden mysteries or similar.
My only real frustration was that you get such a light introduction to all the suspects in your pool that it was hard to easily work out the significance of certain clues, or assign them to the right suspect. That said, this was an easy and gentle read and I enjoyed learning about wine as I went. The wine pairings and recipe ideas were an added spark of brilliance, and I look forward to trying some of them out!
February 22, 2020
Twisted
What a twisted beginning to a start of a new friendship. Nikki wasn't looking for trouble but it sure did find her. From what was supposed to be a great job offer turned to a sleuthing position. Someone is killing people in Derricks vineyard but why is the big question and when you find out all the sects you'll wonder what is going on with this crazy bunch.
What a twisted beginning to a start of a new friendship. Nikki wasn't looking for trouble but it sure did find her. From what was supposed to be a great job offer turned to a sleuthing position. Someone is killing people in Derricks vineyard but why is the big question and when you find out all the sects you'll wonder what is going on with this crazy bunch.
September 27, 2022
If you fancy reading cozy mysteries this fall, try picking up Murder Uncorked. It is the first book in the Wine Lover’s Mystery Series. Aside from a whodunnit story, you also get some yummy sounding recipes with suggested wine pairings. Cool huh? Storywise, the plot is simple and predictable, but that’s the beauty of cozies — they are perfect for light reads, do not entail too much analytical thinking, but still a joy to read. Thank you @tandemcollectiveglobal for my gifted copy and for including me in this readalong. Can’t wait to discuss this with fellow “readalongers”! By the way, this book is also available for free on Kindle Unlimited so do check it out!💕
August 29, 2023
3.5 stars.
Murder mystery, wine pairings, and real recipes. What else could you have asked for from a cosy mystery?
Nikki Sands was an ex-actress who worked as a waiter. After an incident where she lost her job, she was approached by the sexy Derek Malveaux, who was impressed by her wine knowledge, to work at his winery in Napa Valley. It didn’t take long before Nikki found a dead body. Determined to figure out the mystery, Nikki started her own investigation.
Alright, if I were Nikki, I wouldn’t have followed a stranger to an isolated place (his winery) after he caused me to lose my job, stalked me to a pub, and gave me a sus job proposal. I’d be creeped out and run as fast as I could! Luckily though, Nikki did follow Derek so we got to read her adventure.
In a true manner of a cosy mystery heroine, Nikki stuck her nose in places where it didn’t belong, and managed to get in trouble multiple times. Derek’s family members were more dramatic than soap opera characters, and every single person could’ve been a murderer.
Even though the mystery was relatively straightforward, I didn’t manage to guess the details of the main plot twist. Some of the sub-twists also caught me by surprise. Granted, the villains in this book were over the top, and so was the conclusion. But they made an easy and lighthearted reading.
All in all, I had a lot of fun! And the distinguishing factor for me was the real recipes included in the book (there was always time for a good meal and wine in between murders!).
(Thanks to Tandem Collective Global & UK and the author for a #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Murder mystery, wine pairings, and real recipes. What else could you have asked for from a cosy mystery?
Nikki Sands was an ex-actress who worked as a waiter. After an incident where she lost her job, she was approached by the sexy Derek Malveaux, who was impressed by her wine knowledge, to work at his winery in Napa Valley. It didn’t take long before Nikki found a dead body. Determined to figure out the mystery, Nikki started her own investigation.
Alright, if I were Nikki, I wouldn’t have followed a stranger to an isolated place (his winery) after he caused me to lose my job, stalked me to a pub, and gave me a sus job proposal. I’d be creeped out and run as fast as I could! Luckily though, Nikki did follow Derek so we got to read her adventure.
In a true manner of a cosy mystery heroine, Nikki stuck her nose in places where it didn’t belong, and managed to get in trouble multiple times. Derek’s family members were more dramatic than soap opera characters, and every single person could’ve been a murderer.
Even though the mystery was relatively straightforward, I didn’t manage to guess the details of the main plot twist. Some of the sub-twists also caught me by surprise. Granted, the villains in this book were over the top, and so was the conclusion. But they made an easy and lighthearted reading.
All in all, I had a lot of fun! And the distinguishing factor for me was the real recipes included in the book (there was always time for a good meal and wine in between murders!).
(Thanks to Tandem Collective Global & UK and the author for a #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
September 19, 2010
I give this book two stars because it isn't the kind of mystery I enjoy, not because it was terrible. This was a romance with a mystery and I prefer cozies with less romance and more quirky but lovable neighbors and humor.
Girl meets handsome rich man who takes an interest in her and sweeps her away from her boring life. In this case she stumbles into a murder mystery and helps solve it. There is some discussion of wine and food but not too much to distract from the story. There are also recipes which culinary mystery fans would like.
I'm not sure this is a big spoiler but just in case I'll mark it as such. My one pet peeve is mysteries where much of the investigation comes from breaking and entering and this happens a lot in this book. It would have been so easy to get around this by having her actually start the job and get a set of keys and computer access at the vineyard. Other than that it wasn't bad and I think those that like romance and culinary mysteries would enjoy it.
Girl meets handsome rich man who takes an interest in her and sweeps her away from her boring life. In this case she stumbles into a murder mystery and helps solve it. There is some discussion of wine and food but not too much to distract from the story. There are also recipes which culinary mystery fans would like.
I'm not sure this is a big spoiler but just in case I'll mark it as such. My one pet peeve is mysteries where much of the investigation comes from breaking and entering and this happens a lot in this book. It would have been so easy to get around this by having her actually start the job and get a set of keys and computer access at the vineyard. Other than that it wasn't bad and I think those that like romance and culinary mysteries would enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2009
Loved the first half of the book which focused more on wine and pairings of food with wine. Nikki starts out as a waitress, one who knows her wines. Unbeknownst to her, she serves up wine and food to a sucessful vinyard manager. Derek is suitably impressed with Nikki's wine pairing skills and soon offers her a job at his vineyard...and that's when the murders start happening.
Nikki is nosy enough to investigate the deaths at the vineyard--managing to keep ahead of the killer in her investigation. However, all the running around was where the novel really fell apart for me. I still want wine stories with my murders...I hope the next in the series is like a fine wine, one that gets better with age.
Nikki is nosy enough to investigate the deaths at the vineyard--managing to keep ahead of the killer in her investigation. However, all the running around was where the novel really fell apart for me. I still want wine stories with my murders...I hope the next in the series is like a fine wine, one that gets better with age.
June 23, 2010
This fast paced mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end. It is such a tangled web that no one is truly innocent. My only complaint is that Derek seems a little too naive perhaps. I enjoyed learning about wines and reading about the delicious foods to pair with them. It made me so hungry and wanting a beautiful rich glass of wine!! I'll definitely be seeking out other books in this series.
May 22, 2022
I loved the idea of a murder mystery mixed with wine pairings and fun recipes. But you’d need a lot of wine to enjoy this book. Poorly written, cheesy and dragged on from the beginning to the end. The main character, in my opinion, has no growth and gets worse by the end. None of the characters are lovable and the romance barely builds. It felt more about the wine and food pairings than about actual food literature.
December 6, 2021
Nikki Sands takes a new job at a Napa Valley winery and finds a dead body on her first day. The plot was entertaining until the weak ending, but none of the characters came alive for me. And the writing style was weak as well.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 21, 2011
Highly enjoyable cozy murder mystery set in wine country. The plot was a bit unplausible, but easy enough to suspend disbelief. I enjoyed it quite a bit and finished it in short order. I plan to read more in the series.
October 3, 2022
Murder Uncorked is a quick read from author Michele Scott that I read as part of a readalong with Tandem Global, so thank you to them for my copy.
Nikki is a semi-successful actress, currently waiting on tables in an unsatisfying job in LA. She is having a bit of a life crisis deciding which direction her life is going to go in. She thought her passion was acting but she's getting older and the jobs are few and far between. One night a handsome customer and his obnoxious date dine in Nikki's restaurant and cause a bit of a scene. When Nikki is forced to resign because of it she goes off in search of some good wine to drown her sorrows. good looking guy from restaurant catches up to her, tells her how impressed he was with her wine knowledge, apologises for his date and offers her a job at his vineyard in Napa Valley. And so our story begins.
It isn't long before dead bodies start turning up on the vineyard and Nikki takes it upon herself to investigate. One of her most successful acting jobs was as a detective on a cop show and she uses what little knowledge she gained from this to find out who's been murdering people left right and centre.
A cosy mystery and one which you can play along with. It has charm and wit and a whole host of characters you can enjoy reading about. They all have quirks and some are quite wicked, but then there are the usual handsome good guys full of virtue and charm.
There is love, murder, romance, friendships, duplicity and a great twist at the end with the murderer.
One I would absolutely recommend and I can't wait to read the next in the series! :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
Nikki is a semi-successful actress, currently waiting on tables in an unsatisfying job in LA. She is having a bit of a life crisis deciding which direction her life is going to go in. She thought her passion was acting but she's getting older and the jobs are few and far between. One night a handsome customer and his obnoxious date dine in Nikki's restaurant and cause a bit of a scene. When Nikki is forced to resign because of it she goes off in search of some good wine to drown her sorrows. good looking guy from restaurant catches up to her, tells her how impressed he was with her wine knowledge, apologises for his date and offers her a job at his vineyard in Napa Valley. And so our story begins.
It isn't long before dead bodies start turning up on the vineyard and Nikki takes it upon herself to investigate. One of her most successful acting jobs was as a detective on a cop show and she uses what little knowledge she gained from this to find out who's been murdering people left right and centre.
A cosy mystery and one which you can play along with. It has charm and wit and a whole host of characters you can enjoy reading about. They all have quirks and some are quite wicked, but then there are the usual handsome good guys full of virtue and charm.
There is love, murder, romance, friendships, duplicity and a great twist at the end with the murderer.
One I would absolutely recommend and I can't wait to read the next in the series! :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
October 15, 2023
Nikki Sands is a waitress/aspiring actress in L.A. when she meets Derek Malveaux and he’s impressed enough with her wine knowledge to offer her a job at his winery in Napa Valley. What’s a failing actress to do, but leave L.A. behind for a weekend in Napa with a handsome multimillionaire that might end up on a steady paying job?
But when the first thing Nikki finds is a dead body and those start piling up, she’ll have to rethink whether Napa and the Malveaux Estates are the place for her.
This is definitely a fun read, with recipes and pairings included in a very clever way, but not so much up my alley. I found it predictable and a little inconclusive, though I know there are several full-lengths and short stories to follow and it’s a way of cliffhanger. Still, I’m not sure the first book game me enough enticement to make me want to read the other stories.
2 stars
But when the first thing Nikki finds is a dead body and those start piling up, she’ll have to rethink whether Napa and the Malveaux Estates are the place for her.
This is definitely a fun read, with recipes and pairings included in a very clever way, but not so much up my alley. I found it predictable and a little inconclusive, though I know there are several full-lengths and short stories to follow and it’s a way of cliffhanger. Still, I’m not sure the first book game me enough enticement to make me want to read the other stories.
2 stars
September 24, 2022
Murder uncorked by Michele Scott. First book in the Wine Lover's Mystery series.
Cozy mystery, Sub genre wine crime
I read Murder uncorked by Michele Scott for a Tandem collective global readalong. It is the first book in a cosy mystery series set at a Vineyard in the Napa Valley. The book also features recipes and wine pairings and a cute dog.
Main character Nikki, a sometime actress but mostly waitress is working in a restaurant when she gets invited to take a job working at a Napa Valley vineyard by good-looking customer/vineyard owner named Derek.
Nikki of course accepts the invite to come stay at the vineyard while she decides if she wants the job because Nikki likes wine and because Derek is good looking.
Pretty much as soon as Nikki arrives at the Vineyard she finds a dead body in the garden of the house where she is staying.
Also living on the Estate is Derek's unpleasant family (think Knives out) all with their own agendas. Derek's cheating ex wife, his step mother, his step brother and his partner.
Everyone is a suspect & Nikki who played a detective on TV for about 5 episodes a few years ago can't seem to stop snooping and sleuthing when she's not telling us how good looking Derek is.
Aside from all the murder and a surprising amount of non murder related crime there is of course a will they or won't they romantic sub plot between Nikki and Derek.
The entire series is available on Kindle unlimited.
Cozy mystery, Sub genre wine crime
I read Murder uncorked by Michele Scott for a Tandem collective global readalong. It is the first book in a cosy mystery series set at a Vineyard in the Napa Valley. The book also features recipes and wine pairings and a cute dog.
Main character Nikki, a sometime actress but mostly waitress is working in a restaurant when she gets invited to take a job working at a Napa Valley vineyard by good-looking customer/vineyard owner named Derek.
Nikki of course accepts the invite to come stay at the vineyard while she decides if she wants the job because Nikki likes wine and because Derek is good looking.
Pretty much as soon as Nikki arrives at the Vineyard she finds a dead body in the garden of the house where she is staying.
Also living on the Estate is Derek's unpleasant family (think Knives out) all with their own agendas. Derek's cheating ex wife, his step mother, his step brother and his partner.
Everyone is a suspect & Nikki who played a detective on TV for about 5 episodes a few years ago can't seem to stop snooping and sleuthing when she's not telling us how good looking Derek is.
Aside from all the murder and a surprising amount of non murder related crime there is of course a will they or won't they romantic sub plot between Nikki and Derek.
The entire series is available on Kindle unlimited.
September 23, 2022
A fast and mouth-watering read!!
Featuring an easily likeable protagonist, Nikki Sands, who loves and knows her wine but who isn't sure about her future until she was given a chance to... channel her inner Nancy Drew. Okay, so that really wasn't the job offer on the table but Nikki couldn't seem to stop herself from snooping.
I love all the food and wine descriptions which made me hanker to visit a winery soon! However, the cast of characters around Nikki were horrendous! I could count on the fingers of one hand just how many were genuinely kind and sincere.
The twist really caught me by surprise though; I really didn't pick it this time.
Thank you, Tandem Collective, for organising & publisher for the copy of the book
Featuring an easily likeable protagonist, Nikki Sands, who loves and knows her wine but who isn't sure about her future until she was given a chance to... channel her inner Nancy Drew. Okay, so that really wasn't the job offer on the table but Nikki couldn't seem to stop herself from snooping.
I love all the food and wine descriptions which made me hanker to visit a winery soon! However, the cast of characters around Nikki were horrendous! I could count on the fingers of one hand just how many were genuinely kind and sincere.
The twist really caught me by surprise though; I really didn't pick it this time.
Thank you, Tandem Collective, for organising & publisher for the copy of the book
September 24, 2022
Thank you to @tandemcollectiveglobal & @michelescottauthor for the chance to read this mystery.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a lovely cosy mystery that kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. I really liked Nikki and Derek as the main characters and enjoyed the parts they played within the storyline.
There was some absolute nutters in the book but they made for a fun read.
I thought this book was such an easy light read that could easily be read in one sitting.
I loved the recipes and wine pairings throughout the story, they all sounded great.
I definitely recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a lovely cosy mystery that kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. I really liked Nikki and Derek as the main characters and enjoyed the parts they played within the storyline.
There was some absolute nutters in the book but they made for a fun read.
I thought this book was such an easy light read that could easily be read in one sitting.
I loved the recipes and wine pairings throughout the story, they all sounded great.
I definitely recommend this book.
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September 23, 2022ad-pr product. I enjoyed the recipes and wine pairings scattered throughout the book (made me hungry), and the overall story was good. It just felt rushed, with no spaces. Everything was spelled out, every thought etc. - When sometimes just a raised eyebrow would do (poor example but hoping someone will know what I mean haha). Overall, it was OK but not sure if I will continue the series. I think if you want an easy read and love wine then you will enjoy this.
October 7, 2011
Murder Uncorked is okay, but I found myself wanting to like it a more than I did. Perhaps wine fans would enjoy it more; my knowledge of wine extends to knowing that red wine comes from red grapes and so on, as the main character so aptly stated, and thus I didn't have the faintest interest in all the discussion about whether this wine pairs well with that appetizer.
How I feel about a cozy mystery depends heavily on whether I like the main character, and here I couldn't really get behind Nikki Sands. The repeated references to her failed acting career and her sad past, etc. - I wasn't fond of them, but I could let that go. What really bothered me, however, was the inconsistency in the dialogue. Characters would often say things that totally departed from their previously described personality, and Nikki was the worst offender. One example is the way Nikki went from a polite waitress (described as friendly, social and well-liked) to rudely accusing Derek Malveaux of having other intentions when he chased after her to apologize for the way his date treated her. I don't blame her for her suspicions, but who challenges other people so bluntly when the other person has already clarified twice that they're only there to make amends? My resulting impression of her is that she's an uptight, nosey and rather annoying individual. I don't think that's what the author intended.
Surprisingly, the part I most enjoyed while reading this book was looking through the recipes and reading the accompanying comments from Michele Scott. Even though I'm never going to try the recipes for want of cooking skills, it's clear that a lot of thought went into writing them.
For those interested in picking up some newbie tips about wine, this isn't the book for it; it really requires some knowledge of wine for the mentions of different vintages and so on to make sense. I'm not sure I'll be trying the next book. Perhaps if I have time, I might give it (and Nikki) another chance in the hopes that it's improved.
How I feel about a cozy mystery depends heavily on whether I like the main character, and here I couldn't really get behind Nikki Sands. The repeated references to her failed acting career and her sad past, etc. - I wasn't fond of them, but I could let that go. What really bothered me, however, was the inconsistency in the dialogue. Characters would often say things that totally departed from their previously described personality, and Nikki was the worst offender. One example is the way Nikki went from a polite waitress (described as friendly, social and well-liked) to rudely accusing Derek Malveaux of having other intentions when he chased after her to apologize for the way his date treated her. I don't blame her for her suspicions, but who challenges other people so bluntly when the other person has already clarified twice that they're only there to make amends? My resulting impression of her is that she's an uptight, nosey and rather annoying individual. I don't think that's what the author intended.
Surprisingly, the part I most enjoyed while reading this book was looking through the recipes and reading the accompanying comments from Michele Scott. Even though I'm never going to try the recipes for want of cooking skills, it's clear that a lot of thought went into writing them.
For those interested in picking up some newbie tips about wine, this isn't the book for it; it really requires some knowledge of wine for the mentions of different vintages and so on to make sense. I'm not sure I'll be trying the next book. Perhaps if I have time, I might give it (and Nikki) another chance in the hopes that it's improved.
December 26, 2015
Nikki Sands is an aspiring actress trying to pay rent as a waitress. After spilling a drink accidentally on a customers date, she suddenly finds herself with a job offer at the customers Napa Valley vineyard.
Nikki goes to Napa and finds the body of the winemaker
Eccentric members of a family, lovers new and old and suspects all around give Nikki the chance to snoop.
A mystery with a twist and recipes and wine suggestions are always a bonus.
Nikki goes to Napa and finds the body of the winemaker
Eccentric members of a family, lovers new and old and suspects all around give Nikki the chance to snoop.
A mystery with a twist and recipes and wine suggestions are always a bonus.
April 21, 2022
good first book in the series
Lots of twists and turns. Never never trust family. Dereck owns a vineyard and hires Nikki to figure out who is stealing from him. Turns out to be…..oh you have to read it to find out!
Lots of twists and turns. Never never trust family. Dereck owns a vineyard and hires Nikki to figure out who is stealing from him. Turns out to be…..oh you have to read it to find out!
May 30, 2010
The recipes look yummy, the wine info is neat, and most of the characters are well-developed and interesting. However, it definitely has some narration and plot problems.
February 14, 2013
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, about halfway through I couldn't put it down because I wanted to see who the murder was. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot.
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