Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day
Series Name: Cece Barton Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: October 24, 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A.-to-California-wine-country transplant who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award-winning author Maddie Day.
As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!
With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . . .
Dru’s Short Musing:
There’s a new amateur sleuth in town and her name is Cece Barton, manager of a Colinas, CA wine bar.
This was a well-written book with a wickedly solid plot and a comfortable tone that made it easy to follow along with what the author intended. Cece investigates a murder when she appears to be a suspect in order to clear her name and reputation. The mystery was nicely executed with a few suspects who have strong motives for killing the victim. The narrative was visually descriptive with engaging dialogue and a small-town atmosphere where I felt like I was part of the action. The author did a great job in keeping me invested and intrigued in this drama and when I thought I had a handle on the person responsible, the author changed directions, all to enhance the telling of this tale. The more Cece inquired about a person’s motive, the more she gets pushback until someone takes matters into their hand and Cece finds herself in harm’s way. How far will the killer go to silence her? You’ll have to read this enticingly delightful whodunit. Bonus: I loved that you gave a shout-out to cozy authors in your book.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.