Grape Noir

Margot O'Banion Mysteries #2

by Kit Sloane

Film editor Margot O'Banion's dream of a wine country vacation with lover director Max Skull turns into a nightmare when a fellow tourist is murdered. Now the couple is trapped in paradise; not to eat, drink, and be merry, but as material witnesses to a capital crime. Battling brothers, greedy businessmen, aspiring movie producers, a killer creeping ever closer, and a daffy young woman intent on making the best wine in the valley, even if it kills her.... This was not the vacation Margot had in mind.

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

KIT SLOANE ....A GRADUATE IN Art History from Mills College, Oakland, California, Kit has published short stories and many articles on the art of writing and the writing business. She served as first fiction editor for Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine. She especially enjoys lecturing about the writing world and mentoring new writers. She is a long time member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Mystery Women of the UK and was named one of Mills College’s Literary Women for 2007. Kit and her professor husband live on a small hilltop horse ranch in Northern California’s sublime wine country.

Reviews

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is number two in the very original crime series 'A Margot O'Banion Mystery.' The Author states each book is able to stand on it's own and since I read number two prior number one, I can say this is very true.

Each character is well drawn and carries itself without depending on your knowing more about them, however, I liked them so much I found I did want to know more about them.

Margot O'Banion Lake is a film editor of repute. Her lover of many years and father of her son is Max Skull, a famous film director. Margot joins Max on vacation, which I believe is their first together, in twenty years. Margot does not live with Max, nor does she wish marriage. A very contemporary and successful pairing of two great talents.

They go wine tripping through Northern California. While enjoying themselves, so cleverly written that you feel you are with them, a woman is poisoned and the mystery begins.

There is a chilling prologue to the book that I shall not mention except to say, it is a brilliant lead-in.

I was totally engrossed in this mystery. Never tempted to read the ending as I enjoyed the journey so much. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, however, do seek a copy out. It is a wonderful mystery and you shake your head in wonderment at the ending.