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Wine & Dine Mysteries #1
A Sip Before Dying
From New York Times bestselling author Gemma Halliday comes the USA TODAY bestselling debut to a series full of mystery, laughter, and murder in wine country...
The Oak Valley Vineyard has been in Emmy Oak's family for generations. So when the small Sonoma winery is suddenly in financial trouble and in danger of being gobbled up by the corporate giants, Emmy moves home to try to save her legacy with her modern culinary know-how. First step—she throws a party showcasing her latest vintage and signature tasty treats to a group of wine country's most elite enthusiasts. Only when one of her VIP guests sips a glass of poisoned wine and dies in her cellar, Emmy's name is on everyone lips for all the wrong reasons.
The victim was the young, boy-toy husband of one of Silicon Valley's most successful female CEOs... and his playboy ways and suspicious spending habits have almost no one mourning his death. Enter Detective Christopher Grant, recent SFPD transplant, who is assigned to the case and immediately homes in on Oak Valley. But Emmy is determined to clear her winery's name—even if Grant's dark eyes, sexy smile, and mysterious past threaten to distract her. After calling in the big guns to help her—a.k.a. her jewelry designer best friend and copious amounts of cookie dough ice cream—Emmy finds herself digging through a slew of suspects to uncover crimes, grudges, and secret affairs that could put a soap opera to shame. Can Emmy find out just which of the upper crust poisoned the victim's vintage...or will Emmy's next sip be her last?
**Simple and delicious recipes included!**
**USA TODAY bestseller!**
"Ms. Halliday is the undisputed queen of the she knows how to blend fashion, suspense, laughter, and romance in all the right doses."
~ Fresh Fiction
"Gemma has a natural flow to her writing, a vibrant, witty voice that makes you want to keep reading. 5 stars!"
~ Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine
" Halliday is on top of her game!"
~ Booklist
Wine Dine
A Sip Before Dying – book #1
Chocolate Covered Death – book #2, COMING in July!
Victim in the Vineyard – book #3, COMING in Sept!
Marriage, Merlot Murder – book #4, COMING in January 2020!
This story does not contain any graphic violence, language, or sexual encounters. It's rating would be similar to PG-13 or what you would find on a Hallmark Channel movie or TV series.
The Oak Valley Vineyard has been in Emmy Oak's family for generations. So when the small Sonoma winery is suddenly in financial trouble and in danger of being gobbled up by the corporate giants, Emmy moves home to try to save her legacy with her modern culinary know-how. First step—she throws a party showcasing her latest vintage and signature tasty treats to a group of wine country's most elite enthusiasts. Only when one of her VIP guests sips a glass of poisoned wine and dies in her cellar, Emmy's name is on everyone lips for all the wrong reasons.
The victim was the young, boy-toy husband of one of Silicon Valley's most successful female CEOs... and his playboy ways and suspicious spending habits have almost no one mourning his death. Enter Detective Christopher Grant, recent SFPD transplant, who is assigned to the case and immediately homes in on Oak Valley. But Emmy is determined to clear her winery's name—even if Grant's dark eyes, sexy smile, and mysterious past threaten to distract her. After calling in the big guns to help her—a.k.a. her jewelry designer best friend and copious amounts of cookie dough ice cream—Emmy finds herself digging through a slew of suspects to uncover crimes, grudges, and secret affairs that could put a soap opera to shame. Can Emmy find out just which of the upper crust poisoned the victim's vintage...or will Emmy's next sip be her last?
**Simple and delicious recipes included!**
**USA TODAY bestseller!**
"Ms. Halliday is the undisputed queen of the she knows how to blend fashion, suspense, laughter, and romance in all the right doses."
~ Fresh Fiction
"Gemma has a natural flow to her writing, a vibrant, witty voice that makes you want to keep reading. 5 stars!"
~ Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine
" Halliday is on top of her game!"
~ Booklist
Wine Dine
A Sip Before Dying – book #1
Chocolate Covered Death – book #2, COMING in July!
Victim in the Vineyard – book #3, COMING in Sept!
Marriage, Merlot Murder – book #4, COMING in January 2020!
This story does not contain any graphic violence, language, or sexual encounters. It's rating would be similar to PG-13 or what you would find on a Hallmark Channel movie or TV series.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2019
838 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Gemma Halliday
95 books1,893 followersGemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to be a writer.
Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.
Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.
Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.
Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 10, 2020
This was a fun cozy mystery, basically was exactly what I expected. I think these types of mysteries can be really fun to read and usually are nice and easy reads and that's what I got here. I do generally prefer for my cozy mysteries to be a bit humorous so I would have preferred a bit more comedy in this.
I feel like throughout this story I got a pretty good sense of Emmy's personality and what her background was which I appreciated. There is also a cop/love interest that I wish we had seen more of because I felt like I didn't know him at all. Emmy's friend Ava was fun and present a lot through the story but we definitely don't know as much about her.
This plot is very similar to other books in this genre that I've read. It seems like a lot of these books have a food element and this one did as well, as Emmy is a trained chef. It definitely made me very hungry reading this and through sometimes long descriptions of food bother me, it was fun here.
I would recommend this if you're looking for a fun amateur sleuth cozy mystery.
I feel like throughout this story I got a pretty good sense of Emmy's personality and what her background was which I appreciated. There is also a cop/love interest that I wish we had seen more of because I felt like I didn't know him at all. Emmy's friend Ava was fun and present a lot through the story but we definitely don't know as much about her.
This plot is very similar to other books in this genre that I've read. It seems like a lot of these books have a food element and this one did as well, as Emmy is a trained chef. It definitely made me very hungry reading this and through sometimes long descriptions of food bother me, it was fun here.
I would recommend this if you're looking for a fun amateur sleuth cozy mystery.
April 22, 2019
The Wine & Dine Mystery series looks to be a great new series by Gemma Halliday. Emmy Oak left her job in the city in the culinary field to move back to the Sonoma area to save her family's Oak Valley Vineyard after her father's death and her mom's early onset dementia. But, it is not working out well financially with low sales. To promote her new wine, she has a wine tasting with treats but it ends badly when the young husband of the founder of a powerful tech company is killed-apparently with poisoned wine. Not good for business. When a friend from high school and half sister of the victim is charged, Emmy and her best friend Ava set out to find the real killer and save her winery. But the playboy had some bad habits and enemies. Emmy and Ava take some chances with their investigation to get close to all who could have done the deed. Hunky Detective Grant tries to restrain them but his patience is tried, especially when Emmy is attacked. They must be getting close to finding the killer.
This is a fun mystery with some danger, suspense, food and wine, investigation to do with a hint of attraction. The characters are likable and Detective Grant is a sweet man under the stern exterior.
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine only.
This is a fun mystery with some danger, suspense, food and wine, investigation to do with a hint of attraction. The characters are likable and Detective Grant is a sweet man under the stern exterior.
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine only.
May 14, 2021
4 stelle e mezza
Confesso che la prima volta che sono inciampata in questa serie sono rimasta colpita dalle copertine: in particolare questa mi ricorda il mio amato Chianti. Poi ho letto le trame e mi sembravano interessanti così, quando questo primo libro era in offerta, l'ho comprato. Devo dire che non sono rimasta delusa: la storia mi è piaciuta, la protagonista idem anche se preferirei che fosse più propensa a condividere i suoi pensieri con la polizia (ma ho buone speranze per il futuro) e sono stata sicura del colpevole solo un capitolo prima della rivelazione. Insomma, credo che proseguirò anche questa serie...
Confesso che la prima volta che sono inciampata in questa serie sono rimasta colpita dalle copertine: in particolare questa mi ricorda il mio amato Chianti. Poi ho letto le trame e mi sembravano interessanti così, quando questo primo libro era in offerta, l'ho comprato. Devo dire che non sono rimasta delusa: la storia mi è piaciuta, la protagonista idem anche se preferirei che fosse più propensa a condividere i suoi pensieri con la polizia (ma ho buone speranze per il futuro) e sono stata sicura del colpevole solo un capitolo prima della rivelazione. Insomma, credo che proseguirò anche questa serie...
June 25, 2021
A Sip Before Dying by Gemma Halliday was decent, but nothing that I’m going to rave about. I was really excited since I enjoy drinking wine and the tech mogul is a woman, but that wasn’t enough for me to really get into this cozy.
All the tropes of the typical cozy are here; young woman given a business, hot cop who the protagonist doesn’t tell any clues to, and a best friend side-kick. There was nothing that really made this cozy stand out though. Even the killer was pretty easy to spot by way of no one talking to them. And as far as Emmy talking to the suspects, I was really surprised by how quickly and in depth everyone answered her questions… that was just a bit too unrealistic…
I would give the second book in the Wine & Dine Mysteries a read if it magically showed up in my TBR pile, but I wouldn’t go seeking it out.
All the tropes of the typical cozy are here; young woman given a business, hot cop who the protagonist doesn’t tell any clues to, and a best friend side-kick. There was nothing that really made this cozy stand out though. Even the killer was pretty easy to spot by way of no one talking to them. And as far as Emmy talking to the suspects, I was really surprised by how quickly and in depth everyone answered her questions… that was just a bit too unrealistic…
I would give the second book in the Wine & Dine Mysteries a read if it magically showed up in my TBR pile, but I wouldn’t go seeking it out.
April 28, 2019
Emmy Oak has come back to her hometown to run the vineyard her father left her. Things aren’t going too well with the business so she decides to throw a shindig, which ends with a dead body. This is a wonderful first book in the series and I can’t wait for the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
November 18, 2019
i always enjoy this author's cozy mysteries. emmy oak and the winery will be another enjoyable series.
September 15, 2020
Gemma Halliday is a new author to me but I am loving this first cozy mystery in this series. What's not to like, it is set in Sonoma's lovely wine country. The lead character is Emmy and she has come back to run her father's winery. Emmy is funny and smart and just getting to know the ins and outs of running the winery. I can see this series just getting better and better.
May 15, 2019
I could not put A Sip Before Dying by Gemma Halliday down. Once I started reading it, I was hooked !! The chapters were so short and captivating that there was no saying "one more chapter....". A reader can breeze through this story in no time. The only bad thing is that the reader can breeze through this story in no time.
You cannot help but fall in love with the main character, Emmy and her best friend, Ava. Emmy is running her family's vineyard (hopefully not into the ground) and Ava owns her own little boutique. While Emmy is trying to keep her family business afloat, Ava is right there to help in any way that she can.
Emmy decides to host a party for an elite clientele hoping to get her business in the red.....unfortunately when the husband of a powerful business woman is found dead in the wine cellar, things aren't looking too good for Emmy. And when she finds out that the local detective is looking at an old high school friend of Emmy's as the top suspect, Emmy knows that she has to do something to prove her innocence.
While Emmy and Ava try to prove Jenny's innocence, they uncover more than they wanted about the deceased. This leads them down some dark roads. No matter what Detective Grant tells Emmy, she knows that she should listen to him but its going to take more than a sexy detective to stop her from helpiing a friend. Even when Emmy is attacked, that fuels her fire more......
I loved the friendships in A Sip Before Dying and the storyline. Halliday set the stage nicely and introduces the reader to a great scene and characters. You feel right at home with Emmy and Ava. I was sorry to finish the story but look forward to more in this series. The Wine & Dine Mystery series is a definite to read and keep an eye out for more to follow.
You cannot help but fall in love with the main character, Emmy and her best friend, Ava. Emmy is running her family's vineyard (hopefully not into the ground) and Ava owns her own little boutique. While Emmy is trying to keep her family business afloat, Ava is right there to help in any way that she can.
Emmy decides to host a party for an elite clientele hoping to get her business in the red.....unfortunately when the husband of a powerful business woman is found dead in the wine cellar, things aren't looking too good for Emmy. And when she finds out that the local detective is looking at an old high school friend of Emmy's as the top suspect, Emmy knows that she has to do something to prove her innocence.
While Emmy and Ava try to prove Jenny's innocence, they uncover more than they wanted about the deceased. This leads them down some dark roads. No matter what Detective Grant tells Emmy, she knows that she should listen to him but its going to take more than a sexy detective to stop her from helpiing a friend. Even when Emmy is attacked, that fuels her fire more......
I loved the friendships in A Sip Before Dying and the storyline. Halliday set the stage nicely and introduces the reader to a great scene and characters. You feel right at home with Emmy and Ava. I was sorry to finish the story but look forward to more in this series. The Wine & Dine Mystery series is a definite to read and keep an eye out for more to follow.
May 7, 2019
A delicious SIP of a mystery!
I was pleased to have the opportunity to read a new series written by one of my favorite authors.
The first book in the Wine & Dine Mysteries series features Emmy Oak, who has the responsibility of the family vineyard, Oak Valley Vineyard. In order for Emmy to pull the vineyard out of the red, she invites some of the area's high caliber clientele to a tasting event featuring their best wines and foods in hopes of providing the vineyard as a venue for weddings, parties, and other social gatherings.
Among the participants at the tasting event is the billionaire software company Price Digital including CEO Vivienne Price-Pennington, her husband Chas Pennington and various other Price and Pennington family members. Chas is a known womanizer, gambler, and druggie, all vices using Vivienne's company's money. It's not a surprise when he is found dead in Emmy's wine cellar, poisoned by Emmy's Petite Sirah. There seems to be plenty of suspects with all of Chas's vices hanging over his head.
With a death on the vineyard property making the headlines, venue cancellations are turning up left and right, potentially causing the family business to go belly up, Emmy feels she needs to clear Oak Valley Vineyard's name and and restore its reputation by finding the murderer. That is, unless the murderer gets to her first.
I loved Gemma Halliday's High Heels (Maddie Springer) series and was sad to see it come to a close. When I learned she was writing a new series, I was excited. It's different from the High Heels series but I love the main characters, supporting characters, the location, and theme. Seems as though a few books will be written in this series so I will anxiously be awaiting more SIPS with the next book ... hopefully soon!
I was pleased to have the opportunity to read a new series written by one of my favorite authors.
The first book in the Wine & Dine Mysteries series features Emmy Oak, who has the responsibility of the family vineyard, Oak Valley Vineyard. In order for Emmy to pull the vineyard out of the red, she invites some of the area's high caliber clientele to a tasting event featuring their best wines and foods in hopes of providing the vineyard as a venue for weddings, parties, and other social gatherings.
Among the participants at the tasting event is the billionaire software company Price Digital including CEO Vivienne Price-Pennington, her husband Chas Pennington and various other Price and Pennington family members. Chas is a known womanizer, gambler, and druggie, all vices using Vivienne's company's money. It's not a surprise when he is found dead in Emmy's wine cellar, poisoned by Emmy's Petite Sirah. There seems to be plenty of suspects with all of Chas's vices hanging over his head.
With a death on the vineyard property making the headlines, venue cancellations are turning up left and right, potentially causing the family business to go belly up, Emmy feels she needs to clear Oak Valley Vineyard's name and and restore its reputation by finding the murderer. That is, unless the murderer gets to her first.
I loved Gemma Halliday's High Heels (Maddie Springer) series and was sad to see it come to a close. When I learned she was writing a new series, I was excited. It's different from the High Heels series but I love the main characters, supporting characters, the location, and theme. Seems as though a few books will be written in this series so I will anxiously be awaiting more SIPS with the next book ... hopefully soon!
March 16, 2020
This was a quick read. It takes place at a winery in California. The food sounded delicious. There is a party, a murder, and several suspects. I was surprised by the identity of the killer. There is also a bit of romance.
May 6, 2019
I really loved this novel. I'm a huge fan of cozies though and it seems to take a lot to disappoint me. I want a great cast, a fun story, and a difficult to solve mystery. This book definitely has it all! Along with wine and recipes. Emmy's a great character, and it was such a quick read. I highly recommend it!
August 10, 2020
I liked this one because there were lots of interesting theories that Emmy and Ava came up with and all the possible whodunit. And i also loved how smart and gutsy they were. I somehow guessed the killer because it is usually the one you least expect or the one that doesnt get a lot of scrutiny.
May 7, 2019
Wonderful new series! It has an enticing storyline that kept my interest. The setting in the Sonoma wine country was lovely. A possible new romance in the making was a bonus. Overall it was a great read! Looking forward to the next one!
July 3, 2020
A Sip Before Dying (Wine & Dine Mysteries #1) by Gemma Halliday
Emmy moves home to try to save her Family Vineyard. She holds an event at the Vineyard in the hopes of getting new customers, what she doesn't expect is a death that turns out to be murder. The victim is the brother of one of her childhood friends. The suspect list is long, seems the victim had a lot of enemies. Emmy does some investigation, along with a new detective Christopher Grant, to try to solve the case.
A fast paced cozy murder/mystery with a fun plot and likable characters. Set in a Vineyard with wine being a topic was interesting (I am a wine drinker). A classic who-done-it that kept me guessing until the end. Bonus recipes at the end of the book (I will try a few). Overall I enjoyed A Sip Before Dying and feel those who love murder/mysteries will enjoy it as well. I look forward to reading more books by Gemma Halliday
Emmy moves home to try to save her Family Vineyard. She holds an event at the Vineyard in the hopes of getting new customers, what she doesn't expect is a death that turns out to be murder. The victim is the brother of one of her childhood friends. The suspect list is long, seems the victim had a lot of enemies. Emmy does some investigation, along with a new detective Christopher Grant, to try to solve the case.
A fast paced cozy murder/mystery with a fun plot and likable characters. Set in a Vineyard with wine being a topic was interesting (I am a wine drinker). A classic who-done-it that kept me guessing until the end. Bonus recipes at the end of the book (I will try a few). Overall I enjoyed A Sip Before Dying and feel those who love murder/mysteries will enjoy it as well. I look forward to reading more books by Gemma Halliday
August 14, 2019
Oddly Memorable
This murder mystery is easy to put down, but even easier to pick up, even after several distracted weeks.
Once picked up again, the first words you see evoke memories of all the details among which you know the real clues are hidden. If you have ever tried to write a mystery, you know this is an astonishing feat.
The ending makes perfect sense. The main character is brave, smart, daring and determined. She is as heroic as anyone could imagine, but it is easy to walk in her shoes.
This murder mystery is easy to put down, but even easier to pick up, even after several distracted weeks.
Once picked up again, the first words you see evoke memories of all the details among which you know the real clues are hidden. If you have ever tried to write a mystery, you know this is an astonishing feat.
The ending makes perfect sense. The main character is brave, smart, daring and determined. She is as heroic as anyone could imagine, but it is easy to walk in her shoes.
June 30, 2020
Nicely written easy read enjoyed it
September 24, 2020
A good cozy mystery, quick and entertaining.
May 12, 2019
"A Sip Before Dying" earns 5/5 Glasses of Petite Sirah...Clever & Entertaining!
Cheers to a great beginning! Gemma Halliday's signature well-written story filled with wonderful characters is just what I expected. At the age of twenty-nine, Emmy Oak inherited. her family's Oak Valley Vineyard with its ten-acres of vines, oak-lined driveway, Spanish-style buildings, and "the cave," a wine cellar housing a variety of reds and whites. It's true most business owners worry about the ratio between assets and debts, but for Emmy this angst could mean ruin. She doesn't want to be the one to lose the vineyard, so she devises a plan to turn things around and bring the vineyard into the black. Her first event went very well, compliments flowed, and hopes to become a destination are bright, all comes to a screeching halt when one guest is found in the wine cellar...dead! Noooo, this cannot be happening! Ok, the effect on the vineyard shouldn't really be foremost in Emmy's thoughts, someone is dead, but after seeing the less-than-encouraging headlines and at her BFF's insistence, she is spurred on to find out what happened and restore the vineyard's image.
Unlike some firsts where authors spend several chapters setting up the the setting, characters, and conflicts, Gemma weaves background and connections throughout the story, and quickly arrives to the point of every cozy mystery...the murder. The investigation uncovers multiple suspects with some traditional motives like money and family, but still it ends with a very clever solution. I was engaged with the first-person narrative from Emmy's perspective sharing her inner thoughts and fears along with vivid descriptions, dialogue illustrating emotion and personality, and enough oops for giggles and peril for nail-biting. All in all, this is the beginning of a great cozy series no one should miss!
And, of course, a book about wining and dining is not complete without some wining and dining. Six marvelous recipes with helpful shortcuts for timid chefs and suggestions for the perfect wine pairing! First, Emmy's Spanish Style Paella that was a big hit at her evening event. Then be prepared for the delicious Baked Brie Fettuccini, Espresso Waffles with Mocha Sauce paired with Raspberry Bellinis, Mexican Lasagna, and Truffle Risotto Bites. Ok, now my experience is complete!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
Cheers to a great beginning! Gemma Halliday's signature well-written story filled with wonderful characters is just what I expected. At the age of twenty-nine, Emmy Oak inherited. her family's Oak Valley Vineyard with its ten-acres of vines, oak-lined driveway, Spanish-style buildings, and "the cave," a wine cellar housing a variety of reds and whites. It's true most business owners worry about the ratio between assets and debts, but for Emmy this angst could mean ruin. She doesn't want to be the one to lose the vineyard, so she devises a plan to turn things around and bring the vineyard into the black. Her first event went very well, compliments flowed, and hopes to become a destination are bright, all comes to a screeching halt when one guest is found in the wine cellar...dead! Noooo, this cannot be happening! Ok, the effect on the vineyard shouldn't really be foremost in Emmy's thoughts, someone is dead, but after seeing the less-than-encouraging headlines and at her BFF's insistence, she is spurred on to find out what happened and restore the vineyard's image.
Unlike some firsts where authors spend several chapters setting up the the setting, characters, and conflicts, Gemma weaves background and connections throughout the story, and quickly arrives to the point of every cozy mystery...the murder. The investigation uncovers multiple suspects with some traditional motives like money and family, but still it ends with a very clever solution. I was engaged with the first-person narrative from Emmy's perspective sharing her inner thoughts and fears along with vivid descriptions, dialogue illustrating emotion and personality, and enough oops for giggles and peril for nail-biting. All in all, this is the beginning of a great cozy series no one should miss!
And, of course, a book about wining and dining is not complete without some wining and dining. Six marvelous recipes with helpful shortcuts for timid chefs and suggestions for the perfect wine pairing! First, Emmy's Spanish Style Paella that was a big hit at her evening event. Then be prepared for the delicious Baked Brie Fettuccini, Espresso Waffles with Mocha Sauce paired with Raspberry Bellinis, Mexican Lasagna, and Truffle Risotto Bites. Ok, now my experience is complete!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
September 6, 2020
Emmy Oak comes home to Sonoma to reverse the declining fortunes of her family's Oak Valley Vineyards. Although she has solid plans to return the vineyards to profitability, she never anticipated having to defend the safety and appeal of the wines they produce. Emmy lands in just such a predicament, however, when a guest at an upscale winery event is found dead on the premises after imbibing copious amounts of Oak Valley's coveted Sirah.
Chas Pennington was no boy scout, but his unexpected death at the winery throws the country club set into a tizzy and Emmy's struggling business into a free fall. In an effort to redeem the winery's reputation, Emmy begins her own investigation into the source of the poison placed in the wine. As she closes in on the secrets some would prefer to keep buried, Emmy's personal safety is at considerable risk. Can she expose the truth before she is silenced forever?
Filled with a mix of quirky, likable, and dastardly characters, A Sip Before Dying--the first book in the Wine & Dine mystery series--is an entertaining escapade set in California wine country. The plot's locale, trickery, secrets, and deceit firmly set the story in the realm of appealing cozy mysteries. Moreover, the introduction of spirited, resourceful protagonist Emmy Oak, her faithful best friend Ava, and potential suitor Detective Christopher Grant establishes enough curiosity and interest to look forward to reading more books in the series.
Chas Pennington was no boy scout, but his unexpected death at the winery throws the country club set into a tizzy and Emmy's struggling business into a free fall. In an effort to redeem the winery's reputation, Emmy begins her own investigation into the source of the poison placed in the wine. As she closes in on the secrets some would prefer to keep buried, Emmy's personal safety is at considerable risk. Can she expose the truth before she is silenced forever?
Filled with a mix of quirky, likable, and dastardly characters, A Sip Before Dying--the first book in the Wine & Dine mystery series--is an entertaining escapade set in California wine country. The plot's locale, trickery, secrets, and deceit firmly set the story in the realm of appealing cozy mysteries. Moreover, the introduction of spirited, resourceful protagonist Emmy Oak, her faithful best friend Ava, and potential suitor Detective Christopher Grant establishes enough curiosity and interest to look forward to reading more books in the series.
June 8, 2025
Definitely a fun read with mystery, intrigue, and a snarky heroine who made me laugh!
A Sip Before Dying is book one in Gemma Halliday's entertaining new cozy mystery series, Wine &Dine Mysteries. This novel perfectly blends lighthearted and snarky banter, intriguing mystery-adventure, and a touch of suspense with the right amount of romance sprinkled in. Without graphic violence, foul language, or explicit sexual encounters, Gemma Halliday manages to deliver a captivating tale that kept me engaged for many hours. A Sip Before Dying would make an excellent Hallmark Channel movie!
I love that the characters are not your usual twenty-something, fresh out of college heroines. Emily and her friends are midlife women who have been around the block and have the scars to prove it! Starting new careers independently, they are clever enough to problem-solve and rely on their loyal friends to get through even the worst situations, even a poisoning at a Wine tasting!
Gemma Halliday had me so captivated by her story that before I knew it, I had finished the book and was taking a deep breath, not realizing how long I had held it! The best part was the recipes included and the wine and food pairings. YUM!
I am ready to jump on a plane and return to my native California for a much-needed tour of the Napa Wine Country! See you in California Wine Country! If only in my dreams!
A Sip Before Dying is book one in Gemma Halliday's entertaining new cozy mystery series, Wine &Dine Mysteries. This novel perfectly blends lighthearted and snarky banter, intriguing mystery-adventure, and a touch of suspense with the right amount of romance sprinkled in. Without graphic violence, foul language, or explicit sexual encounters, Gemma Halliday manages to deliver a captivating tale that kept me engaged for many hours. A Sip Before Dying would make an excellent Hallmark Channel movie!
I love that the characters are not your usual twenty-something, fresh out of college heroines. Emily and her friends are midlife women who have been around the block and have the scars to prove it! Starting new careers independently, they are clever enough to problem-solve and rely on their loyal friends to get through even the worst situations, even a poisoning at a Wine tasting!
Gemma Halliday had me so captivated by her story that before I knew it, I had finished the book and was taking a deep breath, not realizing how long I had held it! The best part was the recipes included and the wine and food pairings. YUM!
I am ready to jump on a plane and return to my native California for a much-needed tour of the Napa Wine Country! See you in California Wine Country! If only in my dreams!
March 23, 2019
First in a new series:
Emmy (Emmeline) Oak returned to Sonoma California to take over the family winery business after her mom is moved to a home due to the early onset of dementia.
She is a trained chef, and is hosting a Spanish style dinner and wine tasting to help get her companies name out to the public. Everything is going great until she closes everything up for the night and discovers a body in her wine cellar.
Pro's: This is a good story that was mostly enjoyable, with solid characters and a strong plot line. It has several twist, and I was surprised by the reveal at the end.
Con's: There are way too many detailed descriptions of the clothing that the protagonist is wearing at any given time, almost every time she goes to a new venue, along with the descriptions others are wearing also.
One example (By noon, I was ensconced in a long-sleeved T-shirt style dress in a bold floral pattern that felt right for spring at an exclusive club. I tossed on a couple of silver bangles Ava had made for me last year, and capped it off with a pair of silver wedge sandals.) This was one of the milder descriptive given. I found the multiple descriptions to be very distracting, they did nothing to enhance the story, nor do any have any bearing on the story.
Emmy (Emmeline) Oak returned to Sonoma California to take over the family winery business after her mom is moved to a home due to the early onset of dementia.
She is a trained chef, and is hosting a Spanish style dinner and wine tasting to help get her companies name out to the public. Everything is going great until she closes everything up for the night and discovers a body in her wine cellar.
Pro's: This is a good story that was mostly enjoyable, with solid characters and a strong plot line. It has several twist, and I was surprised by the reveal at the end.
Con's: There are way too many detailed descriptions of the clothing that the protagonist is wearing at any given time, almost every time she goes to a new venue, along with the descriptions others are wearing also.
One example (By noon, I was ensconced in a long-sleeved T-shirt style dress in a bold floral pattern that felt right for spring at an exclusive club. I tossed on a couple of silver bangles Ava had made for me last year, and capped it off with a pair of silver wedge sandals.) This was one of the milder descriptive given. I found the multiple descriptions to be very distracting, they did nothing to enhance the story, nor do any have any bearing on the story.
April 27, 2019
A truly enjoyable and entertaining read! If you love fun cozy mysteries, come along for a ride through wine country with Emmy, her friend Ava, and that blasted but oh so adorable new investigator in town, Detective Grant! Emmy is trying to get her vineyard back into the black when a dead body turns up in the wine cellar. What else is an enterprising owner supposed to do but sleuth her way to the answers before sales get any worse.
It's quite the cast of characters you meet along the way. All are well developed, complex, and thought provoking. Was the deceased a cheater and gold-digger? Was it the jealous step son or the grieving widow? Emmy has her challenges ahead and someone is clearly trying to dissuade her sleuthing. This is a page turner. You will smile and wonder your way to the end, and if you are like me, you won't be able to stand the wait to see these folks again. Gemma Halliday does it again. Don't miss it!
It's quite the cast of characters you meet along the way. All are well developed, complex, and thought provoking. Was the deceased a cheater and gold-digger? Was it the jealous step son or the grieving widow? Emmy has her challenges ahead and someone is clearly trying to dissuade her sleuthing. This is a page turner. You will smile and wonder your way to the end, and if you are like me, you won't be able to stand the wait to see these folks again. Gemma Halliday does it again. Don't miss it!
May 17, 2020
With everything closed I found myself looking for a book that combined two of my favorite things....a good mystery and wine.
My nook search led me to A Sip Before Dying.
As a fan of cozy mysteries and the ever popular Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series I had high hopes and wasn’t disappointed. The initial book gives enough background on the characters for the initial mystery. You become invested in the characters and I look forward to learning more in future books. I enjoyed detective grant and look forward to learning more about how he ended up in wine country. The book read like a movie with enough details of each scene to put your own imagination on the location. Also a mystery with a lot of possible suspects that I didn’t figure out to the end. I will have to reread to see if I missed any clues.
I’ve now got all the books on my “to read” list and a new favorite author.
My nook search led me to A Sip Before Dying.
As a fan of cozy mysteries and the ever popular Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series I had high hopes and wasn’t disappointed. The initial book gives enough background on the characters for the initial mystery. You become invested in the characters and I look forward to learning more in future books. I enjoyed detective grant and look forward to learning more about how he ended up in wine country. The book read like a movie with enough details of each scene to put your own imagination on the location. Also a mystery with a lot of possible suspects that I didn’t figure out to the end. I will have to reread to see if I missed any clues.
I’ve now got all the books on my “to read” list and a new favorite author.
February 6, 2026
I really enjoyed this first book in the wine ad diner series.
Emmeline "Emmy" Oak is a much more grounded and mature character. She is hosting an event at her families vineyard Oak Valley Vineyard to drum up business of the who's who of Sonoma wine lovers and everything is going great until Emmy discovers the body Chas Pennington the husband of billionairess Vivienne Price-Pennington in her wine cellar after everyone has gone.
Now Emmy along with her best friend Ava have put on their sleuthing hat to find Chas's killer and prove 1. husband sister Jenny is not the killer and 2. save the reputation and business of Oak Valley
The mystery was solid and there was lots of laughs and fashion which is a hallmark of Gemma Halliday. I love how Emmy & Ava complimented each other.
My one con is I felt that Emmy really neglected the family business and the sleuthing was priority
Emmeline "Emmy" Oak is a much more grounded and mature character. She is hosting an event at her families vineyard Oak Valley Vineyard to drum up business of the who's who of Sonoma wine lovers and everything is going great until Emmy discovers the body Chas Pennington the husband of billionairess Vivienne Price-Pennington in her wine cellar after everyone has gone.
Now Emmy along with her best friend Ava have put on their sleuthing hat to find Chas's killer and prove 1. husband sister Jenny is not the killer and 2. save the reputation and business of Oak Valley
The mystery was solid and there was lots of laughs and fashion which is a hallmark of Gemma Halliday. I love how Emmy & Ava complimented each other.
My one con is I felt that Emmy really neglected the family business and the sleuthing was priority
May 20, 2019
This is a new series by Gemma Halliday and it has everything I like in a cozy mystery! It has interesting, likeable characters, friendship, an intriguing, exciting cozy mystery, and a potential romance! Emmy (Emmaline) is taking over her family's struggling winery. She decides to have a big party with wealthy locals to promote the winery. A guest ends up dead and Emmy and her friends need to clear the winery's reputation and find the culprit, which is no easy task. Detective Grant is working on the case and he and Emmy don't hit it off. Very enjoyable! This book was hard to put down! I can't wait for the next one in this series!
April 10, 2022
This was my first mystery by Gemma and I loved it. I received a copy when I sighted up for her emails. This review is my honest opinion. I liked the main character Emmy and her best friend Ava. It was fun having the book take place in a favorite spot of mine, Sonoma, CA. I followed the clues and tried to guess who the killer was along with Emmy. The author was thorough and gave the reader lots of details. I also enjoyed the inclusion of recipes and wine pairing ideas. As a huge Chardonnay fan, I was thrilled to see my favorite Rombauer included. I gave it 5 stars and hope to read the next book soon.
May 16, 2024
Killer Wine and Lucious Recipes
This was a fun cozy to read. Interesting characters, decent mystery, and decadent recipes at the end that go with the wines featured in the story.
Emmy is barely making ends meet (and more often than not - having them be not even close to each other) at her family’s winery. During a large, fancy tasting/meal event, one of the more affluent guests ends up dead—from her (poisoned)wine. Determined to prove that it wasn’t her friend or her wine that did the deed, she goes on the hunt to find the real killer—bumping heads with the hot detective who’s really on the case.
Recommended.
This was a fun cozy to read. Interesting characters, decent mystery, and decadent recipes at the end that go with the wines featured in the story.
Emmy is barely making ends meet (and more often than not - having them be not even close to each other) at her family’s winery. During a large, fancy tasting/meal event, one of the more affluent guests ends up dead—from her (poisoned)wine. Determined to prove that it wasn’t her friend or her wine that did the deed, she goes on the hunt to find the real killer—bumping heads with the hot detective who’s really on the case.
Recommended.
May 15, 2019
This was easy to read and entertaining to read. However my problem is there are so many different series going on right now that this author is writing and it’s hard to keep track of them. I’m unsure if the Tahoe Tessie series is done with but that was my favorite and never really got closure with if it is done. There’s also the Sherlock Holmes series which is great too. And there’s also Jamie Bond. It’s a lot and it’s hard to keep track of all the different characters then when new books are released to go back and remember what happened last time and who all the characters are again.
May 15, 2019
Enjoyable
First in a new series. One can't help to like Emme and routing for her. With her being the one in care of her family winery and taking care of her mother she is in need a big turn around. But what happens is just the opposite . A murder happens at her winery and her reputation is on the line. When a friend is arrested for the crime she sets out to help her friend and save her winery 🍷.
I'm ready for the next one to see where her relationship goes with the Hottie Cop.
First in a new series. One can't help to like Emme and routing for her. With her being the one in care of her family winery and taking care of her mother she is in need a big turn around. But what happens is just the opposite . A murder happens at her winery and her reputation is on the line. When a friend is arrested for the crime she sets out to help her friend and save her winery 🍷.
I'm ready for the next one to see where her relationship goes with the Hottie Cop.
April 10, 2020
Emmy Oak is trying to save her family's vineyard, Oak Valley Vineyard. She decides to host a party using her specialty wines to drum up more business. After the party, a body is found in her cellar. Things look bad now for Emmy and the vineyard. The investigation doesn't seem to be leading anywhere, so Emmy figures a little snooping around couldn't hurt.
Good start to the series. There did seem to be a bit of a slow start. However, I really liked the main character, Emmy. This is a series that I plan to continue, and think other readers will enjoy this.
Good start to the series. There did seem to be a bit of a slow start. However, I really liked the main character, Emmy. This is a series that I plan to continue, and think other readers will enjoy this.
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