Murder Uncorked

by Maddie Day Narrated by Linda Jones

Overview

Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award-winning and national bestselling 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. 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 . . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Murder Uncorked
 
"A mouthwatering new cozy series. I'm looking forward to more of Cece Barton's sleuthing in California's wine country." —Gigi Pandian, Agatha-Award winning author on Murder Uncorked
 
“Beautifully balanced plotting pairs nicely with rich sensory details and distinctive characters in this top-shelf debut. California dreaming at its finest, Maddie Day had me at Merlot.” —Carlene O’Connor, USA Today bestselling author of the Irish Village mysteries
 
“Murder Uncorked is cozy mystery perfection. Cece Barton is a wonderful protagonist; smart, intrepid, and compassionate. Maddie Day’s writing is so vivid that I can envision the rolling hills of California’s Wine Country and taste the delectable vintages that Cece pours at Vino y Vida Wine Bar. And the plot is full of unexpected twists and turns. A toast to a wonderful new series uncorked by a master of mystery.” —Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author of the Cajun County mysteries
 
“Cece Barton’s wine glass is definitely half-full in Maddie Day’s series debut, Murder Uncorked. Day’s genius is to pair a plotty puzzle of a murder mystery with a richly detailed small-town setting, like the perfect platter of bar snacks and the perfect pour. Cheers!” —Catriona McPherson, award-winning author of the Last Ditch Motel mysteries

Kirkus Reviews

2023-08-25
Already the author of mysteries set in Cape Cod, Indiana, and a British retirement village, fourth-generation Californian Day launches a series set in her native Sonoma wine country.

Vino y Vida offers tastings of the Alexander Valley’s best wines, curated by Southern California transplant Cece Barton. But when Vincent Sardo puts the arm on her to host a Vineyard Valley Association event, she bristles. His proposal would lose her a day’s worth of business on Saturday, her most profitable day, and he makes it clear he’d expect her to pay for the wine as well. Sardo’s unexpected death ends his badgering but poses another challenge: Will his murder disrupt the functioning of the little historic complex that houses her wine bar? There are plenty of suspects, including Inez, Sardo’s estranged wife, and Nico Rispoli, owner of the Vino y Vida building. But Detective Sergeant Kelly Daniell of the Colinas police seems too interested in Cece for her comfort. Cece’s twin sister, Allie, reminds her that she’s no stranger to sleuthing, but Cece doesn’t want anything to distract her from reestablishing a positive relationship with her daughter, Zoe, now in her second year at the University of California, Davis. She’s also exploring a relationship with handsome Benjamin Cohen, who’s staying at Allie’s bed-and-breakfast. Daniell’s persistence, along with customers’ speculations about how Vino y Vida may have contributed to Sardo’s demise, make Cece rethink her priorities.

Day’s series debut more than does justice to her West Coast roots.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159515247
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	10/24/2023
Series:	CeCe Barton Mystery , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	566,365

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