In this second in the Nikki Sands wine country mystery novels, Nikki's best friend is accused of killing her cheating lover's new wife. Will Nikki find the real murderer?
In this follow-up to Michele Scott's first novel, Murder Uncorked, Nikki Sands is getting settled into her dream job as a wine sales consultant at the large Napa winery, Malveaux Estates. The work is engaging, the pay is great, and the boss is, well very interesting. She's also made several good friends, including Isabel Fernandez, the sister of a neighboring winemaker and the proprietor of one of the area's hottest eateries.
An Unpopular Bride
The story begins when Isabel runs to Nikki in distress over a recent lover's upcoming marriage. If that isn't bad enough, the bride, Susan Jennings, has asked Isabel at the last minute to arrange the food for the reception. Seeing a great opportunity to showcase her restaurant at this high profile winery wedding, Isabel has agreed.
Susan Jennings is no charming bride. The lanky, blonde beauty's pointed comments and actions belie her cover girl looks. This bridezilla finds more than one opportunity to make Isabel's life miserable, changing the menu at the last minute, among other things.
Nikki and Derek
Nikki, whose relationship with her boss and winery owner Derek Malveaux is conflicted at best, agrees to accompany him to the wedding. (Isabel's former love, Kristof, is the eldest son of a prominent Sonoma wine growing family.) At the event, Nikki agrees to take a glass of Champagne up to the bride as she dresses just after the ceremony. She finds the bride dead, sprawled on the floor.
Instantly, what should have been a joyous occasion turns into a tragic one, and the police feel they have a suspect -- Nikki's friend, Isabel. As Nikki works to clear her friend, she is threatened, almost run off of the road, and nearly poisoned. Will she be able to find the killer before the killer finds her?
Murder by the Glass is another fun and very readable mystery by Michele Scott. Ms. Scott combines the likeability of a cozy (complete with wine pairings and recipes) with the fast-paced action of a thriller. Her protagonist is someone with whom most women readers can identify -- a modern woman with flaws and limitations just like all of us. If you haven't yet sampled this series, I recommend it.
About Michele Scott
Michele Scott is a California native and the author of four mystery novels, including three in the wine country series. Aspiring writers take heart: it took Ms. Scott ten years of perfecting and submitting her writing to get published. Her next novel, Death Reins (the second in her horse series) is set to be published in the summer of 2007. Ms. Scott lives in San Diego with her husband, daughter, and two sons. You can read more about Michele Scott, as well as excerpts from her books, on her well-designed Web site.
Related Reviews
- Silenced by Syrah by Michele Scott
- Murder Uncorked by Michele Scott
- Dark Tort by Diane Mott Davidson
- Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle
