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A Wine Country Mystery #1
A Case of Syrah, Syrah
Taylor O’Brian is a new businesswoman, founder of “Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours,” who lives on a small winery with her Aunt Jemma. She plans to take small groups around romantic Sonoma county to discover some of the county’s outdoor gardens. It’s all running as smooth as can be until Laura, the leader of the group of yoga instructors she’s leading, is found dead. And it’s Taylor’s corkscrew that’s found buried in Laura’s neck.
She’s not sure who to trust, and everyone around suddenly seems suspect. Only two weeks after the murder, her very own administrative assistant, Amy, marries Laura’s husband, Dan, who doesn’t seem very bereaved about being widowed, and the three yoga masters who were also out on the tour begin to seem shady. Taylor can’t afford to jump ship from her new business endeavor, but just as she begins her investigation, another dead body surfaces. This time, it’s Dan’s sister. And the killer is coming for Taylor next.
Now it’s up to Taylor to uncork this open-bottle mystery, before more blood is spilled. For fans of Laura Childs and Ellen Crosby, A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the charming first in bestselling author Nancy J. Parra’s Wine Country mysteries.
She’s not sure who to trust, and everyone around suddenly seems suspect. Only two weeks after the murder, her very own administrative assistant, Amy, marries Laura’s husband, Dan, who doesn’t seem very bereaved about being widowed, and the three yoga masters who were also out on the tour begin to seem shady. Taylor can’t afford to jump ship from her new business endeavor, but just as she begins her investigation, another dead body surfaces. This time, it’s Dan’s sister. And the killer is coming for Taylor next.
Now it’s up to Taylor to uncork this open-bottle mystery, before more blood is spilled. For fans of Laura Childs and Ellen Crosby, A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the charming first in bestselling author Nancy J. Parra’s Wine Country mysteries.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published December 12, 2017
43 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Nancy J. Parra
23 books312 followersBest known for writing plucky heroines, USA Today Bestselling Author, Nancy J. Parra has 30 books published-
Most recently Nancy has five cozy mystery book series going.
All Fudged Up, To Fudge or Not To Fudge, All You Need is Fudge, Oh Say Can You Fudge, All I want For Christmas is Fudge, Oh Fudge, Forever Fudge, Fudge Bites and Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas are part of the USA Today Bestselling Candy-Coated Mystery series (Kensington) -which Nancy writes as Nancy Coco.
Also from Nancy Coco, the Oregon Honeycomb Series which includes: Death Bee Comes Her and a Matter of Hive and Death.
Writing as Nell Hampton, Kale to the Queen is the debut in the Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah and Seven Deadly Zins are part of the Wine Country Tours mystery series.
Gluten for Punishment, Murder Gone A-Rye and Flourless to Stop Him are both part of the Gluten Free Baker's Treat Mystery series. (Berkley Prime Crime)
Then there is Engaged in Murder, Bodice of Evidence and Newlywed Dead, the Perfect Proposal series from Berkley Prime Crime.
Most recently Nancy has five cozy mystery book series going.
All Fudged Up, To Fudge or Not To Fudge, All You Need is Fudge, Oh Say Can You Fudge, All I want For Christmas is Fudge, Oh Fudge, Forever Fudge, Fudge Bites and Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas are part of the USA Today Bestselling Candy-Coated Mystery series (Kensington) -which Nancy writes as Nancy Coco.
Also from Nancy Coco, the Oregon Honeycomb Series which includes: Death Bee Comes Her and a Matter of Hive and Death.
Writing as Nell Hampton, Kale to the Queen is the debut in the Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah and Seven Deadly Zins are part of the Wine Country Tours mystery series.
Gluten for Punishment, Murder Gone A-Rye and Flourless to Stop Him are both part of the Gluten Free Baker's Treat Mystery series. (Berkley Prime Crime)
Then there is Engaged in Murder, Bodice of Evidence and Newlywed Dead, the Perfect Proposal series from Berkley Prime Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
October 27, 2017
Taylor O’Brian had moved to live with her Aunt Jemma when her health came into question on her aunt's small winery. Wanting to make her own way though Taylor decided to cash in on the local scenery and bought an old VW bus much like the famous Mystery Machine and planned to start up Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours.
On the day of Taylor's very first tour however things did not go as planned. Taylor had set the day up for her yoga instructor Laura and her group but as the first stop is winding down and it's time for lunch Laura is no where to be found. Taylor heads back up the path to search for Laura and before she knows it she finds the missing yoga instructor with Taylor's own corkscrew in her back. Now to clear her name Taylor vows to find out who the real killer is before she goes down for the murder herself.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah by Nancy J. Parra is the first cozy mystery in the Wine Country Mystery series. The series is set in the lovely area of Sonoma which is known for it's many wineries. It was easy to picture Taylor and her VW bus heading out into this lovely setting only to have things go wrong.
I have to say this is one of those books that I found myself easily digging into and enjoying from the start. I liked Taylor along with the other characters in the book as the story went along. There are hints to maybe finding Taylor a match in later books but nothing on that front so far, just a lot of questioning and following the clues with some quirky happenings here and there. With this solid first book with some nice writing I'll certainly be interested in seeing where the series goes form here.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
On the day of Taylor's very first tour however things did not go as planned. Taylor had set the day up for her yoga instructor Laura and her group but as the first stop is winding down and it's time for lunch Laura is no where to be found. Taylor heads back up the path to search for Laura and before she knows it she finds the missing yoga instructor with Taylor's own corkscrew in her back. Now to clear her name Taylor vows to find out who the real killer is before she goes down for the murder herself.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah by Nancy J. Parra is the first cozy mystery in the Wine Country Mystery series. The series is set in the lovely area of Sonoma which is known for it's many wineries. It was easy to picture Taylor and her VW bus heading out into this lovely setting only to have things go wrong.
I have to say this is one of those books that I found myself easily digging into and enjoying from the start. I liked Taylor along with the other characters in the book as the story went along. There are hints to maybe finding Taylor a match in later books but nothing on that front so far, just a lot of questioning and following the clues with some quirky happenings here and there. With this solid first book with some nice writing I'll certainly be interested in seeing where the series goes form here.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 5, 2017
Taylor O'Brien and her Aunt Jemma live in Sonoma, CA. Aunt Jemma owns a small winery. Her home is located nearby, along with a pool and a building for wine tastings, weddings, etc. Taylor lives in the pool house. She moved back to Sonoma six months before after her Aunt had a heart attack. She loves the winery and helping her aunt run her business, but she's getting a bit restless. So, she buys a van and starts planning her own Wine Country Tours as a side business. "Off the Beaten Path'' tours will take people to some lesser known, but fabulous, small wineries in the area. Her first tour is booked by a group of local yoga instructors. The first tour might just be the last, however. One of the instructors is found murdered during the tour. Even worse -- the murder weapon is Taylor's corkscrew. Who bumped off Laura Scott? None of the others who were on the tour seem too broken up about her death. In fact, Laura's husband remarries just days after the murder. Then another body turns up.... Can Taylor discover the identity of the killer before anyone else dies? Or before the murderer comes after her!
The background theme of California wines and wineries was interesting,and gave a nice depth to this book. I don't know a lot about wine so the little facts about wine sprinkled throughout the book were interesting to me. The mystery moved along at a nice pace with some great twists and action at the end. I didn't figure out the murderer ahead of time....it was an exciting surprise. And the case led to some interesting developments for Taylor's tour business. I would have liked a bit more character development, and at times some of the characters and situations seemed a bit trope-y (pretty but snooty yoga instructors for example). But, all in all, this is a nice start to a new cozy series. I am interested in seeing how the characters and locations continue to develop in the second book.
Nancy J. Parra also writes as Nell Hampton and Nancy Coco. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.nancyjparra.com/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
The background theme of California wines and wineries was interesting,and gave a nice depth to this book. I don't know a lot about wine so the little facts about wine sprinkled throughout the book were interesting to me. The mystery moved along at a nice pace with some great twists and action at the end. I didn't figure out the murderer ahead of time....it was an exciting surprise. And the case led to some interesting developments for Taylor's tour business. I would have liked a bit more character development, and at times some of the characters and situations seemed a bit trope-y (pretty but snooty yoga instructors for example). But, all in all, this is a nice start to a new cozy series. I am interested in seeing how the characters and locations continue to develop in the second book.
Nancy J. Parra also writes as Nell Hampton and Nancy Coco. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.nancyjparra.com/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
February 16, 2018
This debut cozy mystery takes place in the wine country of Sonoma, California. The protagonist moves to be closer to her aunt who owns a vineyard. Starting a tour business, the very first trip ends in someone being murdered. Many of the characters are likable, and the pets are cute and add to the story. I found a few inconsistencies to the plot, and hope the protagonist and the series as a whole grows stronger in book two.
October 1, 2017
Winery mystery - TASTY! If only it was possible to Skype a glass. Taylor has recently moved back to Albuquerque to be near her Aunt Jemma. Syrah wine is sampled at Jemma's winery which has been in business for many years. I would have liked more background on the winery and it's workers. To accompany her aunt's business and make her own way; Taylor offers "Off the Beaten Path" tours that pair perfectly with the Syrah. Conducting her first group tour that results in a murder, Taylor finds herself arrested. Against the advise of her lawyer and the sheriff, Taylor snoops for clues leading to another murder. Cast of characters to investigate and the hint of romance that Parra with probably pursue at a later telling. A cute puppy is included and held for ransom; kind of hard to believe. "A copy of this book was supplied by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
June 9, 2023
3.5 stars - I love the premise and think this series has a lot of potential.
December 16, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As soon as I saw this cover I knew I had to read this book. Yes, the wine, the vineyard, and the VW bus, but it was the cat the really caught my attention. Look at those eyes. I was happy to learn there is a canine in the story too.
Taylor O’Brian’s Aunt Jemma was having “heart problems” so she asked Taylor to come to her winery to help run the place. There are other employees and Aunt Jemma is still very hands-on with the winery so Taylor doesn’t have to spend all her time there. She has decided to put her marketing knowledge to the test by opening “Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours”. She doesn’t get off to a good start. As the group was wrapping up the first stop they discover one of the guests was missing. A quick search finds the woman dead with Taylor’s corkscrew plunged into her neck. Taylor believes there are plenty of other suspects including the woman’s husband but he is telling everyone she is the murderer. It is not long before another dead body is found by none other than Taylor. Taylor needs to save herself, her reputation, and her business. Hopefully, she doesn’t have to do that from behind bars.
Ms. Parra has introduced us to several characters in the first story. The all seem genuine and I hope the characters develop more fully as the series continues. Taylor really is her own worse enemy. The hot water she found herself in time and time again was because of her poor judgment. I understand the whole amateur sleuth thing but she really made some poor choices. I hope that she has learned something for the future cases. Aunt Jemma is quite a woman and while the way she brought Taylor to the winery was a little shady, she is my favorite character in the first installment. She reminds me of my own mother in many ways. We barely have scratched the surface on the other characters but am excited to get to know them better.
The plot was truly puzzling. The murderer had to be someone on the tour, didn’t it? Taylor learned more about the group every day and a variety of motives were uncovered. I didn’t put all the pieces together until the very end. Twists, turns, red herrings, this story has them all.
The setting was extraordinary, Sonoma, wine country, the vineyards and the gardens. I have always wanted to visit and this author gave me an excellent virtual trip.
This series has a lot going for it with plenty of potential. The area is full of wineries to visit no matter what direction Taylor takes her business. As the characters continue to evolve this series will have no bounds. I have enjoyed everything this author has written and I am looking forward to my next trip to Sonoma.
As soon as I saw this cover I knew I had to read this book. Yes, the wine, the vineyard, and the VW bus, but it was the cat the really caught my attention. Look at those eyes. I was happy to learn there is a canine in the story too.
Taylor O’Brian’s Aunt Jemma was having “heart problems” so she asked Taylor to come to her winery to help run the place. There are other employees and Aunt Jemma is still very hands-on with the winery so Taylor doesn’t have to spend all her time there. She has decided to put her marketing knowledge to the test by opening “Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours”. She doesn’t get off to a good start. As the group was wrapping up the first stop they discover one of the guests was missing. A quick search finds the woman dead with Taylor’s corkscrew plunged into her neck. Taylor believes there are plenty of other suspects including the woman’s husband but he is telling everyone she is the murderer. It is not long before another dead body is found by none other than Taylor. Taylor needs to save herself, her reputation, and her business. Hopefully, she doesn’t have to do that from behind bars.
Ms. Parra has introduced us to several characters in the first story. The all seem genuine and I hope the characters develop more fully as the series continues. Taylor really is her own worse enemy. The hot water she found herself in time and time again was because of her poor judgment. I understand the whole amateur sleuth thing but she really made some poor choices. I hope that she has learned something for the future cases. Aunt Jemma is quite a woman and while the way she brought Taylor to the winery was a little shady, she is my favorite character in the first installment. She reminds me of my own mother in many ways. We barely have scratched the surface on the other characters but am excited to get to know them better.
The plot was truly puzzling. The murderer had to be someone on the tour, didn’t it? Taylor learned more about the group every day and a variety of motives were uncovered. I didn’t put all the pieces together until the very end. Twists, turns, red herrings, this story has them all.
The setting was extraordinary, Sonoma, wine country, the vineyards and the gardens. I have always wanted to visit and this author gave me an excellent virtual trip.
This series has a lot going for it with plenty of potential. The area is full of wineries to visit no matter what direction Taylor takes her business. As the characters continue to evolve this series will have no bounds. I have enjoyed everything this author has written and I am looking forward to my next trip to Sonoma.
October 30, 2017
A new series featuring California wine county. A fast-moving and easy to read cozy mystery. I felt the characters were not well developed and the author has not done a lot of research on the subject. The plot has been used often. There is a dog and cat but they are not really involved in the story.
Taylor O'Brien is helping her Aunt run her winery. Taylor has her own started business of special tours of the area. In her first tour, one of the guests is murder. Taylor is framed for the death. She is arrested and charged with me manslaughter. Against the advice of her lawyer and the sheriff, Taylor works to clear her name. As the bodies added up, it begins to look like Taylor will be convicted. I recommend this book. Recipes are included.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Taylor O'Brien is helping her Aunt run her winery. Taylor has her own started business of special tours of the area. In her first tour, one of the guests is murder. Taylor is framed for the death. She is arrested and charged with me manslaughter. Against the advice of her lawyer and the sheriff, Taylor works to clear her name. As the bodies added up, it begins to look like Taylor will be convicted. I recommend this book. Recipes are included.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
October 31, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author and the first in a new series. I enjoyed the premise of the book and thought it was well written. The mystery was solid and woven throughout the story. The victim was not well liked so that allowed the author to provide a number of suspects that were plausible with well thought out motives. My problem really was with the main character Taylor. She was impulsive, reckless, stubborn and wouldn't listen to any advice. This caused more problems than help and left me feeling really annoyed with her. As a result I found I didn't really connect with her and that hinder some of my enjoyment with this story.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
January 25, 2019
I'd been wanting to read this before I read my ARC of the next book in the series, so I found it on Overdrive to borrow from my library. I just love Nancy's Candy-Coated series she writes as Nancy Coco, and this series didn't disappoint either!
Taylor O'Brian ran wine country tours business, but when she came across the dead body of a yoga instructor on her very first tour, that business came to a screeching halt until someone could prove Taylor's innocence. Her corkscrew was the murder weapon and someone who apparently lied had said they saw her shove the woman off the cliff. Taylor and her bestie, Holly teamed up with a college friend of Holly's, Chelsea, an investigative free-lance reporter and started snooping around on their own, despite numerous warnings from the sheriff and Taylor's lawyer. There was a side mystery about identity theft that Taylor was sure had to be connected to what ended up being two murders total. Hopefully she and her friends could solve this before she ended up in jail for something she didn't do...or became the next murder victim.
Holly is another bestie that you just gotta love! She's got a ton of enthusiasm and loyalty--but at least she had the sense to stay out of "just one more stake-out." The showdown was great! Taylor may not have been good at paying attention to people who told her to stop snooping, but she was good at remembering to record things! I loved Aunt Jemma too, what a sweetheart! And the adorable cocker spaniel Millie who came into Taylor's life was a cute little addition.
I'll be reading the next book starting a little later today!
Taylor O'Brian ran wine country tours business, but when she came across the dead body of a yoga instructor on her very first tour, that business came to a screeching halt until someone could prove Taylor's innocence. Her corkscrew was the murder weapon and someone who apparently lied had said they saw her shove the woman off the cliff. Taylor and her bestie, Holly teamed up with a college friend of Holly's, Chelsea, an investigative free-lance reporter and started snooping around on their own, despite numerous warnings from the sheriff and Taylor's lawyer. There was a side mystery about identity theft that Taylor was sure had to be connected to what ended up being two murders total. Hopefully she and her friends could solve this before she ended up in jail for something she didn't do...or became the next murder victim.
Holly is another bestie that you just gotta love! She's got a ton of enthusiasm and loyalty--but at least she had the sense to stay out of "just one more stake-out." The showdown was great! Taylor may not have been good at paying attention to people who told her to stop snooping, but she was good at remembering to record things! I loved Aunt Jemma too, what a sweetheart! And the adorable cocker spaniel Millie who came into Taylor's life was a cute little addition.
I'll be reading the next book starting a little later today!
December 8, 2021
I almost didn’t finish this cozy mystery, but then I explained the basic plot to my hubby and began reading the idiotic things the main character did out loud to him and ended up finishing. I wanted to like this one at the start. The setting was fabulous, the initial set up and murder good with enough realism for some suspicion to fall on the main character. Then this woman who was supposed to be smart and business savvy ignored any good advice given to her (repeatedly!!) and did everything possible to look guilty or suspicious. And the author felt the need to throw in the beginning of a love triangle and a dog-napping for good measure. I enjoy a good cozy mystery, but could not stand this main character.
March 1, 2020
I picked this book out of a neighborhood "tiny library" and, sorry Ms. Parra, I have to say it is one of the worst books I have ever read. I should not have finished it, but I started getting a kick out of how bad it was. So, I admit that I was entertained, and you could pour yourself a nice glass of Syrah and go ahead and read this if you are in the mood.
August 16, 2021
I struggled with this book. I liked the premise, a great setting for a cozy mystery but the main character is an idiot that doesn't listen to the police or her lawyer, and it isn't gutsy it's just annoying. Also, the plot is pretty convoluted and absurd at times.
September 19, 2021
I guess there’s a reason I never read a “cozy” mystery before… but I was lured to this by the title of course. Found it pretty silly, a bit mundane, and all too convoluted for a simple murder mystery
December 8, 2017
**I voluntarily read this ARC**
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I loved the mystery, I just couldn't handle Taylor. I found her to be annoying and a bit obnoxious. I did love how delightfully quirky some of the minor characters were.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I loved the mystery, I just couldn't handle Taylor. I found her to be annoying and a bit obnoxious. I did love how delightfully quirky some of the minor characters were.
January 17, 2018
I quite liked Taylor, the amateur sleuth, who runs a California wine country tour in between showing guests around her aunt's boutique vineyard. The account is nicely modern with people tweeting their trip and photos.
The body count is implausibly high but a good point is that many different characters are well described. This is first in a series and I would read more.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
The body count is implausibly high but a good point is that many different characters are well described. This is first in a series and I would read more.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
March 14, 2020
This was a great beach read for a wine and crime fan. Ms. Parra tells a fun, easy to read story of an engaging heroine and her fun side kicks. Set in the beautiful Sonoma wine county, this book is just simple fun escapism and a good time. No frills, just a nice easy beach read to escape from the stress of life. Thanks so much. Looking forward to book #2
March 29, 2021
The story is set in the wine country of Sonoma County, California. The main character is Taylor O'Brian who lives with her aunt in a vineyard. She is starting a new business and her first client is murdered. Taylor has to investigate since the criminal system has her as the killer. The book was a quick easy read.
November 20, 2017
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is a great first book in Nancy J. Parra’s new Wine Country Mystery series. It has a very interesting and fast-paced mystery and although the lead character needs more personality, the secondary characters are great.
Our protagonist is Taylor O’Brian who has moved back to Sonoma and lives on a small winery with her Aunt Jemma. She has recently started her own business giving tours of the hidden gems in Sonoma. However, on her very first tour, disaster strikes. She finds Laura, the domineering leader of the group of yoga instructors that she’s accompanying, dead with one of Taylor’s corkscrews in her neck. Taylor is soon framed for murder and arrested. She must solve the mystery before her tour business goes under and she becomes the next murder victim.
The novel begins a little stiffly and sometimes, there is info dumping in an obvious attempt to move the plot along. This leads to some stilted dialogue. However, a few chapters in, the book finds its stride and the plot soon progresses at a quick but natural pace. There is a lot of action, making the novel an exciting and enjoyable read. There are numerous suspects, including the dead woman’s husband and sister-in-law who both accuse Taylor of murder as well as the yoga masters who gain clients in the wake of Laura’s death. There is even a dognapping, an identity theft ring and Taylor soon finds another body, adding even more twists and turns to this mystery. I like that I couldn’t easily figure out the killer’s identity nor their motives. I also really like that all the suspects seemed plausible.
However, I would like to see Taylor be a more interesting narrator. On the positive side, she takes a very active sleuthing role and while she is extremely reckless, she’s smart and determined. However, she doesn’t have much of a personality otherwise. Awful things are happening to and around her and yet, we rarely know what she’s thinking or feeling. I would really like to see some more emotion and personality from her.
The supporting characters are great, especially Taylor’s best friend, Holly, who has a larger than life personality and is always up for playing detective. Parra also introduces Taylor’s potential love interests: her lawyer, sexy Patrick Aimes and the sexy Sheriff Hennessey who must prosecute Taylor. Other than being good-looking, neither of them are very interesting. I hope that Parra will flesh them both out as the series progresses.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is a quick and easy read with a well-developed mystery. The plot has many great twists, but everything comes together quite nicely in the end. Although Taylor and her love interests would benefit from better characterization, I really enjoyed this book. I am definitely looking forward to more wine mysteries!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Our protagonist is Taylor O’Brian who has moved back to Sonoma and lives on a small winery with her Aunt Jemma. She has recently started her own business giving tours of the hidden gems in Sonoma. However, on her very first tour, disaster strikes. She finds Laura, the domineering leader of the group of yoga instructors that she’s accompanying, dead with one of Taylor’s corkscrews in her neck. Taylor is soon framed for murder and arrested. She must solve the mystery before her tour business goes under and she becomes the next murder victim.
The novel begins a little stiffly and sometimes, there is info dumping in an obvious attempt to move the plot along. This leads to some stilted dialogue. However, a few chapters in, the book finds its stride and the plot soon progresses at a quick but natural pace. There is a lot of action, making the novel an exciting and enjoyable read. There are numerous suspects, including the dead woman’s husband and sister-in-law who both accuse Taylor of murder as well as the yoga masters who gain clients in the wake of Laura’s death. There is even a dognapping, an identity theft ring and Taylor soon finds another body, adding even more twists and turns to this mystery. I like that I couldn’t easily figure out the killer’s identity nor their motives. I also really like that all the suspects seemed plausible.
However, I would like to see Taylor be a more interesting narrator. On the positive side, she takes a very active sleuthing role and while she is extremely reckless, she’s smart and determined. However, she doesn’t have much of a personality otherwise. Awful things are happening to and around her and yet, we rarely know what she’s thinking or feeling. I would really like to see some more emotion and personality from her.
The supporting characters are great, especially Taylor’s best friend, Holly, who has a larger than life personality and is always up for playing detective. Parra also introduces Taylor’s potential love interests: her lawyer, sexy Patrick Aimes and the sexy Sheriff Hennessey who must prosecute Taylor. Other than being good-looking, neither of them are very interesting. I hope that Parra will flesh them both out as the series progresses.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is a quick and easy read with a well-developed mystery. The plot has many great twists, but everything comes together quite nicely in the end. Although Taylor and her love interests would benefit from better characterization, I really enjoyed this book. I am definitely looking forward to more wine mysteries!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2017
Taylor O'Brian has started a new business in the Sonoma wine country. She wants to do bus tours of little known attractions. Her first tour group are yoga instructors including the instructor who had an argument with Taylor when she came late to a class. Laura, the micromanaging instructor, is found dead with a corkscrew in her throat, and Taylor becomes the prime suspect.
Taylor and her friend Holly begin to investigate to clear her name. Then, Laura's sister-in-law is found dead - by Taylor - which just makes her look more suspicious. Despite constant warning by the handsome sheriff and her equally hand some lawyer, Taylor keeps investigating the crime and putting herself and her friends in danger.
I kept hoping that the sheriff would put her in jail for her own protection. She was impulsive, thoughtless, and reckless. Her friend Holly wasn't much better and encouraged Taylor in her reckless behavior. When they teamed up with reporter Chelsea, the dangerous behavior escalated. The girls were trying to figure out who killed Laura and Ivy and why. Meanwhile, Holly has been a victim of identity theft and is dealing with all the issues that comes with that and Taylor is trying to save her fledgling tour business.
Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this one if they can get beyond the reckless behavior of the main character.
Taylor and her friend Holly begin to investigate to clear her name. Then, Laura's sister-in-law is found dead - by Taylor - which just makes her look more suspicious. Despite constant warning by the handsome sheriff and her equally hand some lawyer, Taylor keeps investigating the crime and putting herself and her friends in danger.
I kept hoping that the sheriff would put her in jail for her own protection. She was impulsive, thoughtless, and reckless. Her friend Holly wasn't much better and encouraged Taylor in her reckless behavior. When they teamed up with reporter Chelsea, the dangerous behavior escalated. The girls were trying to figure out who killed Laura and Ivy and why. Meanwhile, Holly has been a victim of identity theft and is dealing with all the issues that comes with that and Taylor is trying to save her fledgling tour business.
Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this one if they can get beyond the reckless behavior of the main character.
October 28, 2017
This is the first book in the Wine Country mysteries, and it's a fantastic start. The characters are interesting and the wine country setting of Sonoma is beautifully described. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Taylor O'Brian moved in with her grandmother in Sonoma after she had a heart attack. She decides to start a tour company she calls Taylor's Off the Beaten Path Wine Tours. The idea is to take small groups to wineries and hikes they might not know existed. For her first tour, she's taking a group of yoga teachers that includes her own teacher Laura and her husband Dan. Everything is going smoothly until Laura disappears and is found murdered with Taylor's corkscrew in her neck. When Dan's sister is murdered, Taylor has a real problem.
Taylor's reputation and her new business are on the line, and she needs to find out who murdered Laura and Dan's sister to save both.
I really liked the writing style in this book; it made the story flow nicely. This was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Taylor O'Brian moved in with her grandmother in Sonoma after she had a heart attack. She decides to start a tour company she calls Taylor's Off the Beaten Path Wine Tours. The idea is to take small groups to wineries and hikes they might not know existed. For her first tour, she's taking a group of yoga teachers that includes her own teacher Laura and her husband Dan. Everything is going smoothly until Laura disappears and is found murdered with Taylor's corkscrew in her neck. When Dan's sister is murdered, Taylor has a real problem.
Taylor's reputation and her new business are on the line, and she needs to find out who murdered Laura and Dan's sister to save both.
I really liked the writing style in this book; it made the story flow nicely. This was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2017
I liked this book. Nancy Parra has a writing style I enjoy and the subject matter was quite timely with the disclosure of the Equifax mess last week. I would warn readers that Taylor is one of those cozy heroines who doesn't listen to her lawyer and the extent she goes to in her investigation gets close to being head knocking extreme, but didn't cross the line for me.
There seem to be two prospective love interests developing, but it's just hinted at. Please, please don't let this become another cozy series with a love triangle.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
There seem to be two prospective love interests developing, but it's just hinted at. Please, please don't let this become another cozy series with a love triangle.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 10, 2018
Taylor drove me nuts with her determination to investigate, despite the millions of warnings from her lawyer and the sheriff. Yes, that's the point of cozy mysteries, the main character investigates. But with Taylor, it's like the warnings go in one ear and straight out the other. The way she investigates and just barrels headlong into things without thinking and how she keeps saying, What could go wrong? are annoying.
September 25, 2018
Taylor O'Brian returned to Sonoma County from San Francisco because her aunt, who owns a winery, needs help. She decided to open her own wine country tour company - Taylor O'Brian's "Off the Beaten Path" Wine Country Tours - in the hopes it will give her a decent income.
Her first tour group consists of her yoga instructor Laura, Laura's husband and several other people. But when returning to the van after a long hike, Laura is nowhere to be found. Both Dan and Taylor head in search of her, but it's Taylor who finds her down a ravine. When she and Dan reach Laura they call 911, but it's too late. Laura has been killed by a corkscrew to the next - Taylor's corkscrew - and no one even knows who did it.
While Dan thinks she's guilty, Taylor knows something is going on, especially when Dan remarries quickly and it looks as if the police have her pegged for the murder. Even though the sheriff warns her away from the crime, her aunt urges her to investigate, so she and her best friend Holly set out to find a killer before Taylor is put away for good...
This is the first book in a new series and I really wanted to like it, but I should have known when it was mentioned that Aunt Jemma was a little "hippy." I think the author meant 'hippie' which we all know what means, but 'hippy' means Aunt Jemma has a little too much flesh above the knees, if you get my drift...I know, nitpicking; but it was only a hint of what was to come, unfortunately.
Anyway, Taylor hires an attorney right away (who turns out to be a hunk, of course) because she's afraid the sheriff (another hunk) might have her pegged for the crime. Well, here we go, folks: another love triangle in the making. No surprise there...
So after she's been fingerprinted to eliminate her as a suspect, she takes a casserole to the grieving widower and he immediately accuses her of murdering his wife. Never mind that she was only alone with the body for a short time - not long enough to force her down a ravine, change into different clothes to stab the woman, change back (because the other clothes would have a lot of blood on them since she was stabbed in an artery) and then climb back up again - but hey - and then, leaving the man's home she's stopped by the police who got a call saying she was harassing Dan. Even when she shows the casserole, no dice. The cop outright asks her if she murdered Laura, although I don't know why. Was he there at the time of murder? Was it running through the police station that she was a 'person of interest' even though she was told by the sheriff she wasn't? How did this officer know her connection? He didn't mention that Dan said she murdered his wife, otherwise he would have put handcuffs on her. He said she was harassing him. How did one equate to the other? Why was he asking her if she killed Laura anyway? He's a patrolman. Shouldn't that be up to the homicide detectives, not him? Did he really think if she were guilty, that she'd randomly admit it? It sounds to me like the officer was harassing her. Details count.
Then her aunt actually encourages her to investigate, knowing there's a killer on the loose. I guess she doesn't think her niece could be the next one killed. Also, newspapers don't print the names of people of interest. It keeps them from being sued by injured parties. They wait until someone has been arrested.
As you can tell, I wasn't enthralled by this book. I really dislike love triangles (as it's looking to go that way). Look at it this way: if the protagonist were a man, and he was stringing along two women, people would think he was a slimeball. So why is it okay for two men to pursue one woman? And why would she do that to them? You'd think authors would know by now not to do this. Of course, I could be wrong and she might only be interested in one of them, but one of the last few scenes suggests otherwise...
At the end, I really didn't care who the murderer was. Taylor was dumber than a box of rocks. First she investigates because her aunt tells her to do it, even though her attorney (and the sheriff) tells her not to. She doesn't try to hide it. As you can read, I wasn't a fan of this book and I may or may not read the second in the hope it will improve, because it sure needs a lot of tweaking.
Her first tour group consists of her yoga instructor Laura, Laura's husband and several other people. But when returning to the van after a long hike, Laura is nowhere to be found. Both Dan and Taylor head in search of her, but it's Taylor who finds her down a ravine. When she and Dan reach Laura they call 911, but it's too late. Laura has been killed by a corkscrew to the next - Taylor's corkscrew - and no one even knows who did it.
While Dan thinks she's guilty, Taylor knows something is going on, especially when Dan remarries quickly and it looks as if the police have her pegged for the murder. Even though the sheriff warns her away from the crime, her aunt urges her to investigate, so she and her best friend Holly set out to find a killer before Taylor is put away for good...
This is the first book in a new series and I really wanted to like it, but I should have known when it was mentioned that Aunt Jemma was a little "hippy." I think the author meant 'hippie' which we all know what means, but 'hippy' means Aunt Jemma has a little too much flesh above the knees, if you get my drift...I know, nitpicking; but it was only a hint of what was to come, unfortunately.
Anyway, Taylor hires an attorney right away (who turns out to be a hunk, of course) because she's afraid the sheriff (another hunk) might have her pegged for the crime. Well, here we go, folks: another love triangle in the making. No surprise there...
So after she's been fingerprinted to eliminate her as a suspect, she takes a casserole to the grieving widower and he immediately accuses her of murdering his wife. Never mind that she was only alone with the body for a short time - not long enough to force her down a ravine, change into different clothes to stab the woman, change back (because the other clothes would have a lot of blood on them since she was stabbed in an artery) and then climb back up again - but hey - and then, leaving the man's home she's stopped by the police who got a call saying she was harassing Dan. Even when she shows the casserole, no dice. The cop outright asks her if she murdered Laura, although I don't know why. Was he there at the time of murder? Was it running through the police station that she was a 'person of interest' even though she was told by the sheriff she wasn't? How did this officer know her connection? He didn't mention that Dan said she murdered his wife, otherwise he would have put handcuffs on her. He said she was harassing him. How did one equate to the other? Why was he asking her if she killed Laura anyway? He's a patrolman. Shouldn't that be up to the homicide detectives, not him? Did he really think if she were guilty, that she'd randomly admit it? It sounds to me like the officer was harassing her. Details count.
Then her aunt actually encourages her to investigate, knowing there's a killer on the loose. I guess she doesn't think her niece could be the next one killed. Also, newspapers don't print the names of people of interest. It keeps them from being sued by injured parties. They wait until someone has been arrested.
As you can tell, I wasn't enthralled by this book. I really dislike love triangles (as it's looking to go that way). Look at it this way: if the protagonist were a man, and he was stringing along two women, people would think he was a slimeball. So why is it okay for two men to pursue one woman? And why would she do that to them? You'd think authors would know by now not to do this. Of course, I could be wrong and she might only be interested in one of them, but one of the last few scenes suggests otherwise...
At the end, I really didn't care who the murderer was. Taylor was dumber than a box of rocks. First she investigates because her aunt tells her to do it, even though her attorney (and the sheriff) tells her not to. She doesn't try to hide it. As you can read, I wasn't a fan of this book and I may or may not read the second in the hope it will improve, because it sure needs a lot of tweaking.
December 23, 2017
This book introduces us to Taylor O'Brian, a young, newly single former advertising executive from San Francisco living at her aunts winery. She has moved to Sonoma to help look after her Aunt Jemma who recently suffered a heart attack. Although her aunt is doing much better she doesn't really want Taylor to leave. Taylor decides to open her own business "Taylor O'Brian Presents 'Off The Beaten Path' Wine Country Tours" catering to tourists and locals who want to find neat and unique little places in town. She is all set for her first tour group which consists of a group put together by her Yoga Instructor, Laura. Laura is a bit high strung, not at all what Taylor had imagined for someone in her line of work. Laura doesn't really like Taylor nor does Taylor like Laura, in fact Taylor was just banned from Laura's Yoga class, but business is business. Taylor is looking forward to her first tour and being her own boss. The day of the tour arrives and everything is planned out in great detail. A stop at the botanical gardens for a hike and a picnic--with wine from her aunts winery; then on to a winery for a tasting and dining. Things are off to a great start. Taylor was able to give historical tidbits about the area and everyone seemed to really enjoy hiking. Laura thinks that it is 'okay' but that it could be better. She and her husband, Dan. offer to help Taylor improve her business. A little offended Taylor politely declines. It is her first tour and there will be a learning curve but she will get it on her own. Things take a turn when everyone gets ready for the picnic. Laura is missing. Taylor instructs the rest of the group, minus herself and Dan, to stay put. Dan and Taylor take off in opposite directions to hopefully find Laura or meet in the middle. Taylor happens across Laura. She seems to have fallen off a cliff and is hurt. She contacts the authorities but it's soon discovered that Laura was murdered--and with Taylor's corkscrew. The police believe that Taylor is involved. She has to clear her name.
I am a fan of Nancy J. Parra novels. I first came upon her books by accident a few years ago. My library system had her book Engaged In Murder mistakingly listed under A First Date With Death by Diana Orgain. I had requested A First Date With Death and my husband picked up the books from the library for me while I was at work. I realized right away that it wasn't the book that I was looking for but after reading the back cover it still sounded intriguing so I read it and loved it. I ended up buying the next two books in the series. I was excited to see this new series and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Taylor can be a bit whiny at times and absolutely refuses to listen to her lawyer, Patrick. Not listening to Patrick does not work in her favor and she keeps looking guilty. The book is a light, quick read. One thing I didn't really enjoy was the dognapping. It seemed a little farfetched to me. It would have been more believable if it were either a prize winning dog worth alot of money or her aunt or julio or juan or holly. I just can't see a person using their entire savings (when they are a suspect in a murder and their business is hurting because of that) for a dog they have had for a couple of weeks. I didn't know who the murderer was until the very end of the book, so the mystery wasn't too easy to solve which i always appreciate.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley.
I am a fan of Nancy J. Parra novels. I first came upon her books by accident a few years ago. My library system had her book Engaged In Murder mistakingly listed under A First Date With Death by Diana Orgain. I had requested A First Date With Death and my husband picked up the books from the library for me while I was at work. I realized right away that it wasn't the book that I was looking for but after reading the back cover it still sounded intriguing so I read it and loved it. I ended up buying the next two books in the series. I was excited to see this new series and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Taylor can be a bit whiny at times and absolutely refuses to listen to her lawyer, Patrick. Not listening to Patrick does not work in her favor and she keeps looking guilty. The book is a light, quick read. One thing I didn't really enjoy was the dognapping. It seemed a little farfetched to me. It would have been more believable if it were either a prize winning dog worth alot of money or her aunt or julio or juan or holly. I just can't see a person using their entire savings (when they are a suspect in a murder and their business is hurting because of that) for a dog they have had for a couple of weeks. I didn't know who the murderer was until the very end of the book, so the mystery wasn't too easy to solve which i always appreciate.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2017
Title: A Case of Syrah, Syrah - Wine Country Mystery
Author: Nancy J. Parra
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 12-12-2017
Pages: 320
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Suspense, Cozy Mystery, Women's Fiction,
ISBN: 9781683314332
ASIN: B0723967CW
Reviewed For NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Taylor O’Brian is a new businesswoman, founder of “Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours,” who lives on a small winery with her Aunt Jemma. She plans to take small groups around romantic Sonoma county to discover some of the county’s outdoor gardens. It’s all running as smooth as can be until Laura, the leader of the group of yoga instructors she’s leading, is found dead. And it’s Taylor’s corkscrew that’s found buried in Laura’s neck.
She’s not sure who to trust, and everyone around suddenly seems suspect. Only two weeks after the murder, her very own administrative assistant, Amy, marries Laura’s husband, Dan, who doesn’t seem very bereaved about being widowed, and the three yoga masters who were also out on the tour begin to seem shady. Taylor can’t afford to jump ship from her new business endeavor, but just as she begins her investigation, another dead body surfaces. This time, it’s Dan’s sister. And the killer is coming for Taylor next.
Now it’s up to Taylor to uncork this open-bottle mystery, before more blood is spilled.
Believable characters that bring the story to life and draw a reader into the story. Making them part of the adventure taking place. Help Taylor find the clues, talk to suspects and fift through the evidence to find a killer before Taylor becomes the latest victim. Read the descriptions of the scenes and see the bloom in full color in your imagination. First in a new series to enoy.
My rating of "A Case of Syrah, Syrah - Wine Country Mystery" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0723967CW/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ca...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Case-S...
Google Play Link: Not Available
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: Not Available
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Nancy J. Parra
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 12-12-2017
Pages: 320
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Suspense, Cozy Mystery, Women's Fiction,
ISBN: 9781683314332
ASIN: B0723967CW
Reviewed For NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Taylor O’Brian is a new businesswoman, founder of “Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours,” who lives on a small winery with her Aunt Jemma. She plans to take small groups around romantic Sonoma county to discover some of the county’s outdoor gardens. It’s all running as smooth as can be until Laura, the leader of the group of yoga instructors she’s leading, is found dead. And it’s Taylor’s corkscrew that’s found buried in Laura’s neck.
She’s not sure who to trust, and everyone around suddenly seems suspect. Only two weeks after the murder, her very own administrative assistant, Amy, marries Laura’s husband, Dan, who doesn’t seem very bereaved about being widowed, and the three yoga masters who were also out on the tour begin to seem shady. Taylor can’t afford to jump ship from her new business endeavor, but just as she begins her investigation, another dead body surfaces. This time, it’s Dan’s sister. And the killer is coming for Taylor next.
Now it’s up to Taylor to uncork this open-bottle mystery, before more blood is spilled.
Believable characters that bring the story to life and draw a reader into the story. Making them part of the adventure taking place. Help Taylor find the clues, talk to suspects and fift through the evidence to find a killer before Taylor becomes the latest victim. Read the descriptions of the scenes and see the bloom in full color in your imagination. First in a new series to enoy.
My rating of "A Case of Syrah, Syrah - Wine Country Mystery" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0723967CW/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ca...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Case-S...
Google Play Link: Not Available
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: Not Available
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
December 11, 2017
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the first book in the A Wine Country Mystery series.
Taylor O’Brian help her Aunt Jemma at her aunt’s winery while she is busy getting her tour business off the ground. Her business, Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours, will tour interesting sights in the area and then relax and discuss what was seen while having appetizers and sipping some wine.
Taylor’s first tour is a group of yoga instructors from her yoga class and headed by Laura Scott. Just a day or two Taylor had a run-in with Laura and hopes the tour will go better. The tour begins with a walking tour of the Quarryhill Botanical Gardens to view a large collection of Asian native plants. As the walk begins, Laura is rather insistent that Taylor needs to take some her management classes to really be successful. Taylor takes exception to this and tells her so. Later in the walk, Laura’s husband Don, starts the same type of discussion with Taylor. As everyone is returning to Taylor’s VW van for wine and cheese, everyone realizes that Laura is missing. Everyone starts to retrace their steps from where she was last seen. Taylor is paired with Don and they soon find the body of Laura off the path with a corkscrew of Taylor’s in her neck. Taylor is soon arrested for the murder of Laura.
Granted, most of the evidence that is being used is circumstantial, Sheriff Hennessey doesn’t, in Taylor’s mind seem to be looking for any other suspects. Once she is bonded out of jail Taylor set off with her best friend, Holly Petree, to find who killed Laura. They soon find that the other members are all providing each other with alibis, so this is where they start looking. They soon learn that Laura had an SD card on her with personal information of all her students. They then begin looking into that someone might have been involved with selling stolen identity information, but they are still no closer to knowing who or if that was why Laura was killed.
I really liked the premise the story and it was a well-developed story with interesting characters, which I hope more will be learned about in future books. What I did have a problem with is that Taylor was told many times by her lawyer, Patrick Aimes, to not talk to anyone but him and numerous times by Sheriff Hennessey to stay out of the investigation which she failed to follow, thereby, making herself look more guilty, to say nothing of putting her life and Holly’s in danger.
I will be watching for the next book in the series to learn if Taylor will in the future take the advice of those in the know. Also whether there might be a romantic interest that was hinted at in this book and whether her tours will be visiting wineries in the area where crimes have taken place.
Recipes and wine pairing are also included with the book.
Taylor O’Brian help her Aunt Jemma at her aunt’s winery while she is busy getting her tour business off the ground. Her business, Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours, will tour interesting sights in the area and then relax and discuss what was seen while having appetizers and sipping some wine.
Taylor’s first tour is a group of yoga instructors from her yoga class and headed by Laura Scott. Just a day or two Taylor had a run-in with Laura and hopes the tour will go better. The tour begins with a walking tour of the Quarryhill Botanical Gardens to view a large collection of Asian native plants. As the walk begins, Laura is rather insistent that Taylor needs to take some her management classes to really be successful. Taylor takes exception to this and tells her so. Later in the walk, Laura’s husband Don, starts the same type of discussion with Taylor. As everyone is returning to Taylor’s VW van for wine and cheese, everyone realizes that Laura is missing. Everyone starts to retrace their steps from where she was last seen. Taylor is paired with Don and they soon find the body of Laura off the path with a corkscrew of Taylor’s in her neck. Taylor is soon arrested for the murder of Laura.
Granted, most of the evidence that is being used is circumstantial, Sheriff Hennessey doesn’t, in Taylor’s mind seem to be looking for any other suspects. Once she is bonded out of jail Taylor set off with her best friend, Holly Petree, to find who killed Laura. They soon find that the other members are all providing each other with alibis, so this is where they start looking. They soon learn that Laura had an SD card on her with personal information of all her students. They then begin looking into that someone might have been involved with selling stolen identity information, but they are still no closer to knowing who or if that was why Laura was killed.
I really liked the premise the story and it was a well-developed story with interesting characters, which I hope more will be learned about in future books. What I did have a problem with is that Taylor was told many times by her lawyer, Patrick Aimes, to not talk to anyone but him and numerous times by Sheriff Hennessey to stay out of the investigation which she failed to follow, thereby, making herself look more guilty, to say nothing of putting her life and Holly’s in danger.
I will be watching for the next book in the series to learn if Taylor will in the future take the advice of those in the know. Also whether there might be a romantic interest that was hinted at in this book and whether her tours will be visiting wineries in the area where crimes have taken place.
Recipes and wine pairing are also included with the book.
October 15, 2017
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the first in the A Wine Country Mystery series set in Sonoma, CA and introducing Taylor O'Brian owner of Taylor O'Brian Presents "Off The Beaten Path" Wine Country Tours. Taylor has recently moved back to live with her only living relative, Aunt Jemma owner of Sookie's Vineyard, after the woman suffered a heart attack.
Looking to take people to many of the hidden gems in Sonoma and visit some of the lesser known vineyards, Taylor has purchased herself a 1970's VW Van and is preparing for her first tour. Laura Scott owner of Divine Yoga has signed up her husband and 3 of her employees to visit the Quarryhill Botanical Gardens. The gardens are full of native Asian plants, a babbling creek and impressive waterfall and unfortunately become the scene of a crime.
When Laura goes missing on the hike, Taylor sets out along with her furry puppy companion Mille to retrace the woman's steps. Discovering Laura's bloody body over the cliff's edge, Taylor quickly becomes the prime suspect in the woman's murder - having had a verbal argument the day before at the yoga studio - and the presence of her corkscrew impaled in her neck isn't helping.
Determined to save her fledging business and her Aunt's reputation Taylor sets out with the help of best friend Holly Petree to find the killer. Taylor stumbles across another dead body in the course of her investigation and really rockets to the top of Sheriff Ron Hennessey's suspect list. Working double time Taylor uncovers an identity theft ring that seems to tie the two killings together.
A great start although the storyline seemed a little scattered at times. An interesting cast of characters, I do hope the author tones down Taylor a little in the future. Her constant obsessing about the Sheriff's eyes and her complete disregard for her safety and that of her friends and family was a tad too farfetched. With plenty of other vineyards to visit, the series has a lot of potential.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
Looking to take people to many of the hidden gems in Sonoma and visit some of the lesser known vineyards, Taylor has purchased herself a 1970's VW Van and is preparing for her first tour. Laura Scott owner of Divine Yoga has signed up her husband and 3 of her employees to visit the Quarryhill Botanical Gardens. The gardens are full of native Asian plants, a babbling creek and impressive waterfall and unfortunately become the scene of a crime.
When Laura goes missing on the hike, Taylor sets out along with her furry puppy companion Mille to retrace the woman's steps. Discovering Laura's bloody body over the cliff's edge, Taylor quickly becomes the prime suspect in the woman's murder - having had a verbal argument the day before at the yoga studio - and the presence of her corkscrew impaled in her neck isn't helping.
Determined to save her fledging business and her Aunt's reputation Taylor sets out with the help of best friend Holly Petree to find the killer. Taylor stumbles across another dead body in the course of her investigation and really rockets to the top of Sheriff Ron Hennessey's suspect list. Working double time Taylor uncovers an identity theft ring that seems to tie the two killings together.
A great start although the storyline seemed a little scattered at times. An interesting cast of characters, I do hope the author tones down Taylor a little in the future. Her constant obsessing about the Sheriff's eyes and her complete disregard for her safety and that of her friends and family was a tad too farfetched. With plenty of other vineyards to visit, the series has a lot of potential.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
January 25, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Taylor O'Brian has moved back to Sonoma, in California's wine country, from San Francisco after five years as an ad executive ostensibly to assist her Aunt Jemma after a heart attack, which may or may not have actually happened. Aunt Jemma has a small vineyard and Taylor is assisting with the day-to-day running of it whilst also setting up her own business venture, "Taylor O'Brian's 'Off the Beaten Path' Wine Tours". Her first tour is the following day; a local yoga instructor and her employees are booked for a day trip of a local garden, but it ends badly when the instructor is murdered! Taylor gets fingered for the deed and decides that she needs to investigate what exactly happened to clear her name.
I've read the gluten-free series by Ms Parra and enjoyed them, but this is the first in her new series and I'm already looking forward to the second instalment.
There are two potential love interests for Taylor - her lawyer and the county sheriff - and it will be interesting to see how Ms Parra works that out (BUT PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM A LOVE TRIANGLE!! PLEASE??). Taylor is fun, when she's not rushing off and doing things that she shouldn't - like talking to everyone involved in the murder whilst she's a suspect, despite being warned by both her lawyer and the sheriff multiple times. I can appreciate she wants to clear her name, but too many TSTL moments can ruin a series quickly.
There are plenty of characters involved, all of whom have a reason to kill the victim, and the mystery is good and convoluted enough to keep you guessing until the end. I admit I did wonder if I was correct about the murderer, but there were plenty of red herrings that diverted me away from them, so the ending was quite satisfactory. I think some of the actions undertaken by Taylor and her friends would seriously compromise a murder investigation in real life (stalking suspects, filming or taping a discussion without express permission of the person involved, breaking into someone's house...).
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Taylor O'Brian has moved back to Sonoma, in California's wine country, from San Francisco after five years as an ad executive ostensibly to assist her Aunt Jemma after a heart attack, which may or may not have actually happened. Aunt Jemma has a small vineyard and Taylor is assisting with the day-to-day running of it whilst also setting up her own business venture, "Taylor O'Brian's 'Off the Beaten Path' Wine Tours". Her first tour is the following day; a local yoga instructor and her employees are booked for a day trip of a local garden, but it ends badly when the instructor is murdered! Taylor gets fingered for the deed and decides that she needs to investigate what exactly happened to clear her name.
I've read the gluten-free series by Ms Parra and enjoyed them, but this is the first in her new series and I'm already looking forward to the second instalment.
There are two potential love interests for Taylor - her lawyer and the county sheriff - and it will be interesting to see how Ms Parra works that out (BUT PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM A LOVE TRIANGLE!! PLEASE??). Taylor is fun, when she's not rushing off and doing things that she shouldn't - like talking to everyone involved in the murder whilst she's a suspect, despite being warned by both her lawyer and the sheriff multiple times. I can appreciate she wants to clear her name, but too many TSTL moments can ruin a series quickly.
There are plenty of characters involved, all of whom have a reason to kill the victim, and the mystery is good and convoluted enough to keep you guessing until the end. I admit I did wonder if I was correct about the murderer, but there were plenty of red herrings that diverted me away from them, so the ending was quite satisfactory. I think some of the actions undertaken by Taylor and her friends would seriously compromise a murder investigation in real life (stalking suspects, filming or taping a discussion without express permission of the person involved, breaking into someone's house...).
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 20, 2017
First all, the main reason I wanted to read this was because I read one of Parra’s previous books: Kale to the Queen—a cozy mystery series that she writes under the pen name Nell Hampton, and I absolutely loved that so I was excited to pick up something new by the author!
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the first book in the new Wine Country Mystery series, and I have to say that it was really fun to read! In the book, we meet up with the main character Taylor O’Brian who just started her own wine touring business and while she’s giving her first tour—someone winds up dead with her corkscrew buried in their neck. So Taylor must clear her name before she winds up in prison!
I LOVE cozies, but I’m very picky—I’m quick to DNF if it’s boring or predictable or I hate the characters or the writing style, but I loved everything about this book! It was exciting and easy to read. Taylor was very intelligent, clever and down-to-earth. She made smart, realistic choices in regards to solving the mystery, and I related to her very easily. The secondary characters were all delightful and enjoyable as well, especially her aunt and her best friends. #GirlPower.
The mystery itself unfolded rather quickly and kept my interest throughout the entire book. It was very intriguing and unpredictable—there were so many twists and turns that I didn’t want to put the book down. I literally devoured it in one day because the storyline and the characters were just so much fun to read about, and I had to know who the bad guy was—the author kept stumping me and throwing me off so I wasn’t putting it down until I found out haha.
Overall, a great start to a new series! I do hope we get to learn more about Taylor’s possible love interests in the next book—I can’t figure out which one I like more: the cute sheriff or the sexy lawyer? Oh, well—either way, I can’t wait for the next installment!
*I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review*
A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the first book in the new Wine Country Mystery series, and I have to say that it was really fun to read! In the book, we meet up with the main character Taylor O’Brian who just started her own wine touring business and while she’s giving her first tour—someone winds up dead with her corkscrew buried in their neck. So Taylor must clear her name before she winds up in prison!
I LOVE cozies, but I’m very picky—I’m quick to DNF if it’s boring or predictable or I hate the characters or the writing style, but I loved everything about this book! It was exciting and easy to read. Taylor was very intelligent, clever and down-to-earth. She made smart, realistic choices in regards to solving the mystery, and I related to her very easily. The secondary characters were all delightful and enjoyable as well, especially her aunt and her best friends. #GirlPower.
The mystery itself unfolded rather quickly and kept my interest throughout the entire book. It was very intriguing and unpredictable—there were so many twists and turns that I didn’t want to put the book down. I literally devoured it in one day because the storyline and the characters were just so much fun to read about, and I had to know who the bad guy was—the author kept stumping me and throwing me off so I wasn’t putting it down until I found out haha.
Overall, a great start to a new series! I do hope we get to learn more about Taylor’s possible love interests in the next book—I can’t figure out which one I like more: the cute sheriff or the sexy lawyer? Oh, well—either way, I can’t wait for the next installment!
*I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review*
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