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Wine Valley Mysteries #1
Burgundy and Bodies
Reach into the past for answers—and the past reaches for your throat.
If the Addams family’s daughter Wednesday grew up to become a forensic psychologist, she would be Dr. Joy Burton—and Det. Max King's nightmare. In this thrilling page-turner, a beautiful blond is found dead by a creek after a poker game. Max and Joy dig through the lives of the suspects, including the chief of police.
And the cunning murderer sets eyes on them.
But other eyes follow too. Max and Joy dissect their bizarre shared lives before being adopted by two different , now deceased, fathers, The dead can’t tell secrets. Those living want to keep them buried.
Their quest is personal—and deadly.
Step into the vineyards and revel in the wicked world of Wine Valley. Read Burgundy and Bodies today. See more titles and release dates at sandrawoffington.com.
If the Addams family’s daughter Wednesday grew up to become a forensic psychologist, she would be Dr. Joy Burton—and Det. Max King's nightmare. In this thrilling page-turner, a beautiful blond is found dead by a creek after a poker game. Max and Joy dig through the lives of the suspects, including the chief of police.
And the cunning murderer sets eyes on them.
But other eyes follow too. Max and Joy dissect their bizarre shared lives before being adopted by two different , now deceased, fathers, The dead can’t tell secrets. Those living want to keep them buried.
Their quest is personal—and deadly.
Step into the vineyards and revel in the wicked world of Wine Valley. Read Burgundy and Bodies today. See more titles and release dates at sandrawoffington.com.
- GenresMystery
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2019
About the author
Sandra Woffington
31 books124 followersHi, readers! I love to create stories with pithy dialogue, gritty action, mind-blowing plots and unique characters: flawed, passionate, and sometimes disturbed.
I'm a USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling author. I completed the Humanities Honors Program at U.C. Irvine and earned my MFA in Creative Writing and MA in English from Chapman University. I've spent 15+ years teaching multiple subjects to middle school students. I love to teach as much as I love to write. My students inspire me!
Wine Valley Mystery series is for adults—Noir Crime/Traditional Detective. The boxed set hit #1 Best Seller on Amazon upon release. The prequels of light and cheery Detective Max King, dark and disturbed Dr. Joy Burton, and tough-guy, Officer Reed Steele are FREE.
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/91qn64o3vc
My debut novel, Unveiling, a stand-alone, takes place in the colorful deserts of Saudi Arabia as well as America. It won Honorable Mention from the Writer's Digest SP book awards. Evil Speaks, first book in the Warriors and Watchers Saga Series, a middle grade fantasy, was Finalist (4th place) in the Reader's Favorite 5-star awards (that's out of all of the 5-star books in that category for the year).
I love to hear from readers! Please email me at sandra@sandrawoffington.com or visit my website at SandraWoffington.com. Join my FB Reading group Woffington's Reading Warriors: Mystery, Murder, Magic & More for updates and freebies. Or follow me on Amazon. Thanks for spending time with me!
I'm a USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling author. I completed the Humanities Honors Program at U.C. Irvine and earned my MFA in Creative Writing and MA in English from Chapman University. I've spent 15+ years teaching multiple subjects to middle school students. I love to teach as much as I love to write. My students inspire me!
Wine Valley Mystery series is for adults—Noir Crime/Traditional Detective. The boxed set hit #1 Best Seller on Amazon upon release. The prequels of light and cheery Detective Max King, dark and disturbed Dr. Joy Burton, and tough-guy, Officer Reed Steele are FREE.
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/91qn64o3vc
My debut novel, Unveiling, a stand-alone, takes place in the colorful deserts of Saudi Arabia as well as America. It won Honorable Mention from the Writer's Digest SP book awards. Evil Speaks, first book in the Warriors and Watchers Saga Series, a middle grade fantasy, was Finalist (4th place) in the Reader's Favorite 5-star awards (that's out of all of the 5-star books in that category for the year).
I love to hear from readers! Please email me at sandra@sandrawoffington.com or visit my website at SandraWoffington.com. Join my FB Reading group Woffington's Reading Warriors: Mystery, Murder, Magic & More for updates and freebies. Or follow me on Amazon. Thanks for spending time with me!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 22, 2020
Anna as we briefly know her, loves to flirt with the men, and has a gambling problem. Went thru her inheritance, and even to having a monthly bill at the local casino. Borrowed from a loan shark. Nurse and now drugs missing at the hospital, even she told others her life was a mess. After a friend’s monthly poker night, it turned out to be a terrorizing death for her. We meet Max as he tries to put the pieces together with the interviews, of what she was liked. Going to a class at night to learn more about forensics and the criminal mind. The instructor.Dr Joy.Burton keeps looking at him. An early call by the chief brings him in, to find Dr Burton is his new partner to help solve the case. Then the realization they have the same picture of two men their fathers, what was the meaning did they know one another and why the names of Pride and Joy. There is murders, and there is mystery to figure out. Good flowing plot, in which you get to know the characters. I like Max and Joy together as partners, their banter adds a lot. Good beginning.
June 13, 2019
An enjoyable read. Felt a little lost at first when there were references to Detective Max King's past that seemed to be from a previous book. It finally started to make sense later on as the connection between him and Dr. Joy Burton was more fully revealed. It appears they were together as foster children and adopted by separate law enforcement fathers and both have followed in their adoptive parent's footsteps. Joy is a bit strange.
The mystery itself was ok, they are trying to find who murdered a woman. The victim had a gambling problem and there are multiple suspects. I had actually figured out who the killer was fairly early on. After the murder was figured out the last couple of chapters felt more like an add on and it was definitely the set up for the next book.
The mystery itself was ok, they are trying to find who murdered a woman. The victim had a gambling problem and there are multiple suspects. I had actually figured out who the killer was fairly early on. After the murder was figured out the last couple of chapters felt more like an add on and it was definitely the set up for the next book.
November 30, 2023
Good but predictable
A good story, easy to read but the culprit was easy to spot very early in the book.
The unwrapping of the villain was done quite well even if a bit slow.
Learning more about the personalities of the three main characters was done well but probably slowed the story down a bit as unveiling characters too quickly spoils a story more than unveiling a villain too slowly.
I like the story and I like the characters. I would like more about the vineyards and the wines.
A good story, easy to read but the culprit was easy to spot very early in the book.
The unwrapping of the villain was done quite well even if a bit slow.
Learning more about the personalities of the three main characters was done well but probably slowed the story down a bit as unveiling characters too quickly spoils a story more than unveiling a villain too slowly.
I like the story and I like the characters. I would like more about the vineyards and the wines.
June 19, 2019
Excellent new series!
Max and Joy, linked mysteriously by their early childhood, meet again as adults in crime solving situations. As they try to unravel their shared past, they solve mysteries for the Wine Valley Police Department. Adventure is fun and their characters often disagree but they work in concert in the final confrontation with murderers!! They are both engaging personalities and their murder investigation is fun.
Max and Joy, linked mysteriously by their early childhood, meet again as adults in crime solving situations. As they try to unravel their shared past, they solve mysteries for the Wine Valley Police Department. Adventure is fun and their characters often disagree but they work in concert in the final confrontation with murderers!! They are both engaging personalities and their murder investigation is fun.
June 4, 2023
What an exciting start to a series!
Detective Max and Dr. Joy have met and realize they have an entwined past through their fathers, both recently dead but good friends in the past. As they tackle a tough case together, the detective and forensic psychologist try to figure out what happened in this complex murder. To make it more difficult, it seems there are quite a few suspects, along with some strange twists to the case. Fascinating!
Detective Max and Dr. Joy have met and realize they have an entwined past through their fathers, both recently dead but good friends in the past. As they tackle a tough case together, the detective and forensic psychologist try to figure out what happened in this complex murder. To make it more difficult, it seems there are quite a few suspects, along with some strange twists to the case. Fascinating!
June 2, 2019
Good story. A twisting plot,interesting characters.
I enjoyed the story of murder among the characters. But, the description of places and locations was over done. Also,I had the murderer figured out very early in the story.
I enjoyed the story of murder among the characters. But, the description of places and locations was over done. Also,I had the murderer figured out very early in the story.
February 16, 2022
Great story and introduction to the two main characters, explains how they got together in solving the case. The story will keep you guessing right to the end who the killer is and what the reason behind it was.
July 12, 2022
Good Introduction to series
On a warm summer afternoon under a big shade tree, this book was just what I needed to forget the worl's problems. Every character has flaws and therefore many suggested story lines to keep this series going for quite a while.
On a warm summer afternoon under a big shade tree, this book was just what I needed to forget the worl's problems. Every character has flaws and therefore many suggested story lines to keep this series going for quite a while.
May 12, 2019
Great read!
Plot twists galore as Max and Joy work to solve a murder with plenty of suspects. It’s not over when it’s over either!
Plot twists galore as Max and Joy work to solve a murder with plenty of suspects. It’s not over when it’s over either!
May 12, 2019
Great storyline
This book was hard to put down and I am looking forward to the second and the rest of the series.
This book was hard to put down and I am looking forward to the second and the rest of the series.
July 7, 2019
A complex mystery with even more complex character motives and relationships.
September 26, 2021
Interesting read, my first by this author. Looking forward to another!!
March 31, 2022
An interesting story with a nice twist at the end.
The story was very intriguing ,well played out by all the characters in the story with a really strange ending.
The story was very intriguing ,well played out by all the characters in the story with a really strange ending.
September 12, 2022
enjoyed
Enjoyed reading this book. Twists and turns, keeps you on your toes. Went back and forth with guilty party, all comes out in the end.
Enjoyed reading this book. Twists and turns, keeps you on your toes. Went back and forth with guilty party, all comes out in the end.
October 16, 2022
Witty mystery
This well-written mystery will keep you guessing until the end. And you probably guessed wrong. Just when you think it's over, more things happen.
This well-written mystery will keep you guessing until the end. And you probably guessed wrong. Just when you think it's over, more things happen.
August 25, 2023
Well written and entertaining
This is a great detective story! Intriguing characters and a clever plot. Wine country and murder are an attractive combination!
This is a great detective story! Intriguing characters and a clever plot. Wine country and murder are an attractive combination!
December 9, 2020
WINE VALLEY MYSTERY
only 3 stars because I had trouble keeping up with the names and investigation.. Pretty good story, but did not like that style of bringing it together..
only 3 stars because I had trouble keeping up with the names and investigation.. Pretty good story, but did not like that style of bringing it together..
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews