Murder Uncorked

By Michele Scott

Book Overview

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Emma Roberts and Lucas Bravo.

A swirl of romance, a splash of danger, a finish of murder...

Struggling actress Nikki Sands thought her big break had finally arrived until she was fired from her starring role as a TV detective after only four episodes.

Then she meets Derek Malveaux, the handsome owner of prestigious Malveaux Wines. When Derek offers Nikki a dream job at his Napa Valley estate, she believes her luck has finally changed. She may have even met the man of her dreams.

But on her very first night at the winery, Nikki discovers a body hidden among the vines.

Suddenly, Derek becomes the prime suspect.

Determined to clear his name, Nikki launches an investigation of her own. Accompanied by Ollie, Derek's devoted Rhodesian Ridgeback who quickly adopts Nikki as one of his own, she finds herself navigating a world of glamorous estate parties, family rivalries, and long-buried secrets.

The deeper Nikki digs, the more tangled the mystery becomes. Everyone at Malveaux Wines seems to be hiding something, and before long, suspicion falls on Nikki herself.

As the evidence against Derek mounts, Nikki begins to wonder whether the man she's falling for is truly innocent. With a killer hiding in plain sight and danger closing in, she must uncover the truth before another body turns up, or before she becomes the next victim.

Complete with wine pairings and recipes inspired by Napa Valley, Murder Uncorked is a deliciously twisty mystery filled with romance, humor, and suspense.

Perfect for readers who love:

- Amateur female sleuths
- Wine country mysteries
- Culinary cozy mysteries
- Mysteries with romance
- Wealthy society secrets and scandals

Pour a glass of wine and settle into Napa Valley for a sparkling mystery where romance lingers, danger simmers, and murder is always on the menu.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08GV97SD6
• ISBN13: 9798679666542
• Release Date: August 2020
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Fun Cozy!

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a light, funny read that kept me entertained and hooked all the way to the end, which I found delightfully funny. The main character, Nikki, is humorous and someone I could relate to because she says things and does things the rest of wish we would. From the Bimbo in the beginning to the off the wall characters scattered throughout, Nikki pegs them all. Sure, the story can be outrageous at times, but that's what I thought made it so fun. I love Derek Malvaux and hope the two of them wind up together. He sounds a bit like McDreamy on Greys Anatomy! Maybe Patrick Dempsey could play the part if it was ever a movie! The mystery had a nice twist at the end and I liked the author's approach to the wine information. It was not too much and it was an interseting fun way the way she did it at the end of the chapters. I'm not a very good cook, but I think I will try one or two of the recipes. A couple didn't look too difficult. I would like to try the wines. If you want a good cozy with a bit of romance and a chuckle on your day off, read this book. I can't wait to get her next book.

This mystery sparkles

What a charming book! The author captures the appeal of the wine country (one of my favorite places) so well and it makes a great setting for a mystery. Nikki is appealing and believable in her quest to solve the crime. The suspects make quite interesting characters and I was left guessing up until the end. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book, especially between Nikki and Derek. I also enjoyed the recipes and wine pairings with the author's voice shining through.

Have some wine with your mystery

Aspiring actress Nikki Sands researches all her roles, even her rent-paying gig as a waitress. When she impresses a customer with her wine knowledge, the customer's jealous date stages a spill to get Nikki fired. But this backfires. The customer, a Napa Valley vineyard owner, offers Nikki a job. Realizing her acting career isn't going anywhere, Nikki agrees. The job comes with gorgeous surroundings, a gorgeous guesthouse and a gorgeous boss. Less gorgeous is the dead body of the winemaker she finds on her first day there. Suspects abound. Eccentric family members, old and new lovers, rival vineyard owners. Then Nikki finds another body. Will she be next? Nikki is a smart and witty heroine, and I enjoyed spending time with her. The crisp writing, interesting characters and plot makes MURDER UNCORKED a great book. The recipes and wine suggestions are a bonus. I'm looking forward to Michele Scott's next wine lover mystery, plus her new equestrian mystery series. She writes the kind of books I like to read.

Grab a glass of wine, a comfy chair... and THIS BOOK

What a debut! Whether you're a mystery lover, a romance lover, a wine enthusiast or a foodie, this is the book for you. (And if you're all four -- even better!) Nikki Sands loses her waitressing job after a run-in with a blonde bimbo... only to receive an enticing career offer from handsome winery owner Derek Malveaux. She's not sure if it's the thing for her, but she agrees to spend a few days in wine country finding out. Unfortunately, no sooner has she unpacked her suitcase in the cozy guesthouse when she steps outside and makes a gruesome discovery -- Malveaux's winemaker, strangled with grapevines. With tantalizing recipes and descriptions of vintages that would drive a Baptist to drink, this book is a feast for the senses -- and a devil of a mystery. Highly recommended.

Great new wine mystery series. I don't drink wine and I loved it.

When Nikki Sands accidentally spills a drink on a nasty bimbo she was serving at her waitress job, she has no idea how it is going to change her life. The bimbo starts making a scene so Nikki quits. While getting a drink across the street, in walks the bimbo's date, the hunk. He buys her dinner. He was so impressed with her wine knowledge at the restaurant, so he has her order the wine for their dinner. After dinner he offers her a job at Maleveaux Estates, a Napa Valley winery. He is Derek Maleveaux. Having nothing to lose, she flies with him to his winery to look into this job. As Nikki is settling in at the guest cottage, she notices something strange outside. When she goes outside to check it out, she finds the murdered corpse of Gabriel Asant, Derek's winemaker and friend. Nikki, a wannabe actress, once played a detective on TV, so she decides to do some investigating. The police are interested in Derek. She doesn't believe he did it. Between the rival winery, Derek's strange family, and Gabriel's women, Nikki has plenty of people to investigate. But can she do that without becoming a victim herself? This is a great first book in a new series. The characters are wonderful and the setting is delightful. I'm not a wine drinker, but the information about wine and its making is not overpowering. The author has blended it in well with the mystery. I found myself laughing out loud. It is a very fast, enjoyable read. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book! [...]