Rating: 5 ★
Killer Chardonnay, Kate Lansing
Berkley Prime Crime, 2020
Genre: Cozy Mystery
View on: Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
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—and doesn’t make it out alive. 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.
My thoughts
This was a fresh, fun, contemporary cozy that checked all my boxes.
Parker was an adorable sleuth, and I found myself wanting so bad to have her wardrobe and live in her apartment. The book was filled with enticing descriptions of wine, food, and of the setting, Boulder, Colorado.
As for the mystery, I stayed thoroughly invested throughout. The mystery was well-planned, with every piece of the puzzle was accounted for.
The writing was great, too. It’s written in first person and in the present tense, which I thought worked well for the story.
I loved how Lansing really stuck to her theme—the wine puns and references were as fun as they were educational. (I mean, Parker’s has a cat named Zin, as in Zinfandel! So stinkin’ cute!) All in all, this was simply adorable and a delightful cozy read.
There is a sequel out already, A Pairing to Die For, with a third book on the way. Mulled to Death hits shelves October 19.