Full Bodied Murder (Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Kensington (November 28, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496712103
Kindle ASIN: B06XFKNJ2S
As the newest member of the Rose Avenue Wine Club, Halsey wants to expand her palate—not solve murders. But when a neighbor is found dead, it’s up to her to pair the culprit with a deadly crime . . .
Leaving behind a failed marriage, New Yorker Annie “Halsey” Hall is ready to begin the next phase of her life in coastal Southern California. From the moment she arrives at her new digs on cozy Rose Avenue, she looks forward to joining the neighborhood ladies for their weekly Wine Club gathering. With only a rambunctious yellow lab puppy to keep her company, Halsey could really use a confidant—and a glass or two of her favorite white wine . . .
Unfortunately, she finds nothing but red at the Wine Club meeting—and judging by the dead woman lying face down in the backyard, it’s not spilled Merlot. Halsey accidentally stumbled into the wrong address at the wrong time, and with suspicions about her past on the rise, she must prove that she isn’t a killer. Enlisting the eclectic talents of the Wine Club ladies, Halsey searches for the true criminal at large. But separating friends from foes isn’t easy on Rose Avenue, and as she racks up a suspect list, Halsey can’t shake the feeling that someone in her inner circle has a taste for murder . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Annie “Halsey” Hall has moved to California and landed on Rose Avenue. She realizes immediately how different it will be from her life in New York. Here she has neighbors that she wants to get to know, so she is excited to be asked to join the Rose Avenue Wine Club. She sets off with her puppy to attend the first club meeting but when she arrives her dog drags her through the house where she discovers a dead woman. Not the welcome she had expected at all, especially when the police arrive and consider her their prime suspect.
She soon learns she was at the wrong address and meets up with the women of the wine club. They promise to help her clear her name and they start their own investigation. Halsey wants to get to know these ladies better as she fears one of them may actually be the killer.
We meet a lot of characters in this first book of the series. The wine club ladies all live on the same street and all of them seems to have a secret. The one thing they all have in common is their love of wine. They consume a bottle or two or more every time they meet. I am not sure if the helped or hindered their investigation 🙂 They do put themselves in some dangerous situations and more than one of them end up in the hospital.
I did enjoy the introduction of Halsey’s love interest. Jack, dog trainer/dog whisperer has been hired by Halsey to help her train her loveable Labrador puppy. Their relationship had a spark from their first meeting and continues to grow throughout the story.
The plot has a fever pitch as so much happens. In addition to the murder, there are drug dealers, middle of the night car deals, rats invading a business, theft, hidden security cameras, angry and nosy neighbors, illegal aliens, and general shady deals all over the place. It all comes together to make a darn good mystery.
Everyone would enjoy this story but wine lovers will find details about all the wine mentioned in the story and a Glossary of Wine Terms and the end of the story.
I feel as if we have just gotten a good sip into the lives of these characters. The author has left them plenty of room to grow. I am excited to see what she decants about them in the next book. Murder Most Fermented
About the Author
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This sounds like a vintage mystery! Cheers!
Sounds like a good read.
I enjoy trying new wines and some of the appeal of this book is that the author includes information about wines in it. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
Ready to uncork this mystery. New to me author. Thank-you for the opportunity.
Captivating and unique.
New author to me. Looking forward to reading the book. Sounds like an interesting read.
Wine and cozy mysteries–what can be better?
I think I would really enjoy this title
This sounds like a good book to curl up with on a cold day!
Thank you for introducing Christine E. Blum and her latest book on your blog. I am not familiar with her work so I would love to win this book. My fingers are crossed.
This sounds like a good start to a new series. Christine E. Blum is “new to me”.
Thank you for the giveaway! Sounds like a great read. Happy Holidays!
I’d love to read this–it sounds fantastic!
Mysteries are my favorite! Sounds great! Thanks!
Can’t wait to read about Halsey and the Rose Avenue Wine Club!
My hometown is Napa and I love anything to do with wine
The book sounds amazing, Thanks for your generosity. Happy New Year.
“Full Bodied Murder” (Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery) by Christine E. Blum sounds like an amazing book and one I’d LOVE to read!
Wishing you a Happy New Year and hoping it brings you happiness, good health and tons of books to read AND ideas to write!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I’m ready to meet Halsey & the other members of her Wine Club.