Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 7/24/2015 + 457 more book reviews

This is the first installment in the Cypress Cove Mystery series. Penelope "Penny" Lively has left her job as a photojournalist and returned to Cypress Cove, CA to take over her Aunt Monique's Joyeux Winery after the woman's death. With the help of her niece Hayley and winery manager Connor, Joyeux is well on it's way to having a successful harvest and making a name for itself in the wine market.

As the 24th Annual Autumn harvest approaches, Penny is looking forward to having her wines entered into the by invitation only tasting contest. A knock on her door announces the arrival of neighboring winery owner and distant relative, Antonia Martinelli. Antonia tells Penny that somebody is sabotaging the Martinelli wines and doesn't know if it is one of her 3 children, their spouses or an employee of the vineyard. Antonia knows that being a photojournalist Penny has a reputation for her nosiness and begs her to help find the culprit.

This is a terrific debut with a likeable cast of characters, a great insight into the behind the scenes making of wines, and breathtakingly beautiful descriptions of the California wine country. A murder mystery that offers up plenty of suspects and a plot that keeps you interested from page one (with a little romance thrown in too).

I will be looking forward to the next in the series "Ripe For Murder", to see what adventures are in store for the Joyeux gang.

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