Corked by Cabernet (A Wine Lover's Mystery)

Realistically, I always find series mysteries best read in order. It's harder to jump right into a series and pick up the different nuances of each characters' personality. CORKED BY CABERNET is the fifth book in Michelle Scott's Wine Lover's Mystery Series. The heroine, Nikki Sands, has moved in with Derek Malveaux, owner of Napa Valley's popular winery Malveaux Estates. As her life starts down this new path, Derek heads off to NY to conduct business. Not before Nikki learns that Derek's brother has agreed to open their hotel to the Source Enlightened Elite (S.E.E.) So, Nikki, Derek's brother Simon and Simon's significant other make plans to host this group for a week. As is typical in Nikki's life, nothing goes quite as planned. One of the group members is murdered on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Nikki plans to let the detective do all the investigating, but he does ask her to keep her eyes and ears open. With that, Nikki gets sucked into another murder mystery while Derek is helpless to get home because of a snow storm in the east. As usual, there are some great recipes in this latest book: Pork Loin with Pearl Onions and Grapes Butter Sauteed Chicken Breasts with Creamy Walnut Cilantro Sauce Serrano Lime Grilled Prawns Cheese Ravioli with Sweet Italian Sausage Partygoer Chili Chicken Fried Steak with Biscuits and Gravy I haven't tested any of them yet, but definitely will be doing so in the near future. With the arrival of warmer weather, I think the serrano grilled prawns might have to be first on the list! The mystery is difficult to solve, mainly because clues are revealed later in the book, but I was focused more on the characters' relationships, so I found it didn't bother me much. Watching Derek and Nikki's relationship was a main draw, though he doesn't stay a main feature in the book for long because of his trip to NYC. Best of all, thanks to a surprise twist, I find myself very eager for next book!

Corked by Cabernet expands upon some of the characters we've met in the previous volumes in the series. Derek's brother Simon and Simon's domestic partner Marco have been enthusiastic about Guru Sansibaba for a while now; in this outing, Sansibaba, aka Alan Sansi, is bringing his group to the vineyard for a seminar. When one of Sansi's business associates is found dead, and then the associate's wife is discovered as well, it's up to Nikki to help Detective Robinson solve the murders and save the vineyard's reputation. Derek is (somewhat conveniently) away on business and missing throughout most of the story, but that works well plot-wise. We get to know not only the Sansi family but also Jonah Robinson and a character from a previous book, Alyssa. I agree with Harriet in her opinion that "the motive comes late and seems a bit weak." I thought the book wrapped it up in a hurry and conclusion felt a little rushed to me. Still it's enjoyable to see again characters that we've gotten to know through previous books, and it's a light and fun read. Included as well are a handful of wonderful-sounding recipes and the wines to pair them with. Really, though, Ms. Scott, chili ought to have beans in it. No point in disagreeing. Chili. Needs. Beans. :)

In Napa Valley, Malveaux Estates manager Nikki Sands and owner Derek Malveaux are in love and plan to live together on the property. However, she is bit upset at a time she is overly busy to learn Derek's gay brother Simon and his partner Mario have arranged for Guru Alan Sansi and his Source of Enlightened Elite (SEE) to conduct a seminar on the estate. Derek explains he needs the money while he also informs his beloved he is going to New York on business. The SEE attendees arrive and Nikki realizes they have family conflict starting with the guru's daughter Sierra and Japanese publisher Iwao Yamimoto who wants to become the SEE publisher and demands Alan look at a video he brought with him; Alan refuses. On the Napa Valley Wine Train, a drunken Sierra heads to the storage car to find more wine only to see the body of Iwao. Nikki contains the crime scene until Detective Jonah Robinson arrives. He warns her to not sleuth, but asks her to listen to the SEE members when they talk. She enlists Simon and Mario, but though Nikki tries to do no more than listen, she begins to sleuth. Although the motive comes late and seems a bit weak, the latest Vintage Murder amateur sleuth (see MURDER UNCORKED and MURDER BY THE GLASS) is a lighthearted fun Napa Valley whodunit that goes well with red wine. The recurring cast is solid though Derek is conveniently across the country during the "not" investigation as he would have taken his beloved to task for her involvement. The SEE members especially the guru and his family are a fascinating crew as each has issues, especially the three adult children. Fans of the series will enjoy Nikki's inquiry as she swears she is not investigating just assisting Robinson. Harriet Klausner