Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing is the first book in the NEW “Colorado Wine” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Penguin Random House, coming May 26, 2020.

A young winery owner won’t let one sour grape ruin the bunch in the first installment of this exciting cozy mystery series.

Parker Valentine has always dreamed of opening her own winery in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. But she gets more than she bargained for when a food and wine critic unexpectedly shows up at Vino Valentine on opening day. A negative review could be fatal for her business, and not only does he seem to hate her chardonnay, he also collapses and dies shortly after drinking it.

Although Parker hoped that the attendees would put a cork in it, soon her winery is at the center of a social media firestorm. With #killerchardonnay trending online, Parker’s business is in danger of closing, and she has no choice but to investigate the murder herself.

To restore her reputation, catch a killer, and keep her struggling business open, Parker needs only one thing: some good proof.

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Dru’s Musing:
This was a fast-paced and light-hearted whodunit that quickly became a page turner. With a well-developed mystery, a slew of suspects and clues left to find, this drama had me completely immersed in all that was happening. There was enough suspense and intrigue to keep me engrossed in this enticing story with visually descriptive narrative that placed me in the middle of all the action. When I thought I had a handle on who was responsible, the author changed direction with a few twists and turns that enhanced my reading enjoyment. The engaging dialogue and various scenarios set the tone for the how well this tale was being told. Parker is a great protagonist who surrounded herself with likable characters, most who had pivotal roles in the apprehension of the killer. This was a fun read and I truly hope the love triangle that was present, ends quickly in book #2. Overall, this was a delightfully charming debut and I look forward to more times with Parker and her friends.

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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher.