In wine country, a federal judge is murdered and Aunt Lettie’s old friend, Judge Colin Brinkley, quickly becomes a suspect. Lily, Austin, and her friends are excited about the Calla Lily Winery vintages entered in this year’s Taste of Napa Challenge. The event turns out to be more challenging than anyone imagined when a fire ends the awards ceremony. The plot thickens when one of the wines … wines entered in the competition turns out to be a killer vintage. The U.S. Marshals Service is on the job, but when Aunt Lettie’s old friend becomes a suspect, Lily and her friends are soon caught up in the mystery too. Is the murder of a federal judge about a rivalry among vintners, one of the judge’s cases, or something more personal? Join Lily and Austin as they try to discover who’s responsible for fall’s killer vintage.
Grab your copy of the latest installment in the Calla Lily Mystery series by USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke.
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Fall’s Killer Vintage earns 5+/5 Chardonnay Sips…Exciting and Engaging Fun!
Wow…third time grabbing me with nail biting efforts to rescue the trapped guests, an unexpected explosion, and a chase to nab a suspicious character. From there, suspects are too close to home, motives are personal and professional, misdirection keeps me guessing, and secrets, of course, are key. Characters continue to develop nicely and more peril leads to a Wow! ending. Lily and Austin were outside waiting for the announcement of whose wine would get the Taste of Napa honors and taking some quiet time to admire the moon as it illuminated the Ladera Winery’s orderly row of vines. Then hearing a shriek of alarm, they see black smoke inside the hall, but the exit was blocked and padlocked. One can always count on a federal agent with a concealed weapon’s permit. He shoots out the large window for guests to escape, but despite smoke billowing out, there’s no heat…A smoke bomb, but to what purpose? While milling around, accounting for all the guests, and dealing with first responders, Lily spies a stranger who is oddly gleeful of the scene. Then a whoosh…smoke and flames erupt…and after a body is found. A judge! Not a wine competition judge…a real federal judge. Aunt Lettie’s friend, as well as Lily’s, Judge Colin Brinkley was seen arguing with the victim making him a serious person of interest!
I so enjoy all of the series that Anna Celeste Burke pens, but her Calla Lily series has become a favorite. Napa vineyard, wine and treats, romance, and mayhem…what’s not to love! Her writing style has made me a fan, often unable to put it down, with descriptive language and dialogue illustrating the setting, characters, tone, and personalities, but it’s her realism, humor, and the chapter titles I really like. There are a lot of characters, but you’ll find a Cast of Characters list at the beginning to keep you in the know. And several delicious bonuses from Anna wearing her trained chef’s toque blanche, are included. Don’t worry! You don’t need professional skills to make these treats: Champagne Cake with Chambord Filling and Butter Cream Frosting, Chili Upside Down Pie, Fried Plantains, Pumpkin Spiced Muffins, and Brandy’s Mom’s Southern Lemon Cream Cookies. Seems like we need a cookbook someday!
This is the 3rd book in the series. To help introduce the characters, the author has a section at the front of the book. I found it helpful.
This story starts out quickly. A smoke bomb explodes at an event. That is followed by a fire, and then a murder is discovered. The Calla Lily murder club jumps into their own investigation and determines a list of suspects. As they investigate, they turn over more and more interesting points of data.
The book keeps you going because so much happens within the pages. Very engaging.
Fall’s Killer Vintage is the third book in Anna Celeste Burke’s Calla Lily Mystery series. The storyline is well-plotted, the well-developed characters are three dimensional, and the mystery is complex and intriguing. Twists, turns, and red herrings are abundant in this fast-paced book, and when combined with several potential suspects, they keep the reader engaged and guessing. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy clean, well-crafted mysteries.
Lily Callahan and Marlowe (her protective Miniature Pinscher) are living in the home she inherited when her Aunt Lettie passed away and have adjusted well to life in California’s Napa Valley. Lily’s relationship with Deputy U.S. Marshal Austin Jennings, who is always watching her back, is progressing nicely. Judy Tucker (her aunt’s best friend), Carrie Cramer, Julie Hemsley, Melody Skidmore, and Zelda Gomez (Lily’s Hollywood diva posse), and Billie Dundee (Lily’s temporary ward) are staying with her. The Calla Lily Players have been performing their first production in the theater complex Aunt Lettie built for Lily, which has been a huge success. Lily and Austin are attending the Taste of Napa Challenge and waiting for this year’s winning vintages to be announced when mayhem breaks out when smoke bombs explode, fire erupts, and the body of Federal Judge, Trevor Howard, is found in the debris. When Judge Colin Brinkley, a close friend of Aunt Lettie, becomes a suspect, Lily, Judy, and the divas launch into their own investigation to prove his innocence even though Austin, Rikki (Austin’s boss), and the local authorities officially work the case.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
If you are not familiar with this series yet there is a cast of characters at the very beginning which will clue you in. If you have read one or both of the other two you will recognize all the lovable people and their pets!
This time the Diva’s have to find a murderer because one of their friends is the top suspect and he did not do it!! I have to say they always make sure that Billy, the young boy who is living with them, never manages to see or hear anything he should not–much to his disgust!
Twists and turns galore which are certain to leave your head spinning along with the law enforcement people who can’t seem to keep up with the Diva’s!!
I am certain you will love this one as I did–I am looking forward to the next book in this series to see what trouble the Diva’s can get into then out of next!
“…It may be true that there’s no fool like an old fool, but if I’m going to play the fool, I’ll do it by being overly paranoid.”
Lily and her “family of choice”are back. A few months have passed without a murder. Things are kind of settling into a “routine” as the Calla Lily Players’ first season is about to close. Lily, Judge Colin Brinkley, Austin and others have gathered for the fall Taste of Napa Challenge at the Ladera de Santa Maria Mountaintop Winery where another murder occurs and in true diva posse fashion the newly dubbed “Calla Lily Murder Club” ferrets out the mystery. Question becomes will everyone come out the other side alive?
Author Anna Celeste Burke has written a story that will keep your nose in this book until the very last page! A combination of mystery, history and recipes will keep you coming back for more! I love these characters ! Highly Recommended 5/5
Well just when you think this series cant get any better, it does! Yes there is a dead body..yes its dangerous, and yes, Calla Lily wants to find the murderer! Wine judging events are usually fun especially when your wine is destined to be the winner…until fire, smoke and a dead body stop the judging..but one good thing, it didnt happen at Lilies winery. This is a good mystery that has lots of secrets revealed. Its hard to figure out who murdered the judge…but the process is intriguing to follow. This writer has another hit ! She always keeps you guessing.
Another winner in the Calla Lily Mystery Series! The gang is all back to help solve another mystery. There are plenty of twists and turns, as well as suspects, to keep you guessing whodunit as the Calla Lily Murder Club investigates a murder and arson at a local winery. Another murder adds to the intrigue and keeps everyone busy digging for answers. A satisfying conclusion makes the third book in the series a 5-star read.
Fall’s Killer Vintage by Anna Celeste Burke was an engaging and intricate addition to her Calla Lily mystery series.
Lily and the Diva Posse have their hands full on this case as a long time friend is suspected of murder during the Taste of Napa Challenge. A federal judge could have a long list of people who wanted him dead but it was professional or personal. A tightly paced plot with plenty of twists and many suspects keep Lily, Judy and the Divas busy trying to find answers. Ms. Burke writes mysteries that keep me turning the pages. She also includes heartfelt relationships within her stories that always make me feel like her characters are “real” people that I would love to know and spend some time with them. I had a hard time putting this book down and want the next one in the series NOW.
A vintage to die for!
Lily Callahan has the family she has always wanted even if it no longer includes her Aunt Lettie. Her romance with Deputy U.S. Marshal Austin Jennings is only getting better and Billie is the son she always wanted. If the Calla Lily Winery wins the Taste of Napa Valley everything will be perfect but the event is put on hold with a touch of arson and a corpse. When her old friend Colin becomes the prime suspect Lily and her diva posse are determined to find the real murderer.
Anna Celeste Burke has delivered another non-stop action mystery with all my favorite story elements. There is death, romance, drama, and plot twists in this fun cozy mystery. I would definitely recommend it!
Fall’s Killer Vintage is a twisty tale of who killed the judge? Lily, Austin and the Divas will have their hands full trying to clear an old friend. There are multiple other suspects with possible motives. Is the arson connected to the murder? Only reading this well plotted book will give you the answers. There is never a dull moment with this group.
Book 3 in this cozy series. I have read books one and two but it was a little bit ago and I found myself having a hard time getting back into the characters. I love the location of this series Northern California Wine country and it so happened that while reading this book a horrible real fire happened in Sonoma County making it all so real too. I will continue with this series as I see there is a book four.
I had a hard time reading this book. There was too much dialog and discussion, not enough interaction with others outside the Club. It was also hard to keep up with all the characters. The dialog for Billie seemed more like a 10 year old rather than 13.
This third installment of the series takes off flying…Lily and her Diva Posse have their hands full on this case, helping a friend who is accused of murder during the Taste of Napa Challenge. A fire broke during the festivities trapping guests inside everyone escaped or so they believed until a body was discovered. It was determined that it was a federal judge called Trevor Howard. Who could have wanted him dead, was it personal or professional? But the main suspect is a long time friend of Lilly’s family, Judge Colin, who was heard arguing with him prior to the fire.
Lily, Judy and all the Divas are working hard to find out what really happened. Austin is trying to find the killer as well. Lily feels that the local law enforcement believe that Colin is guilty without really looking at other suspects. The reader will soon discover that there are several suspects who wanted Trevor dead. Ms. Burke has woven several twists into this one to keep the reader on their toes. The closeness between all of Lily’s friends is wonderful and grows with each book as well as the romance between Lily and Austin.
In my opinion this is the best one yet! I eagerly read through this book and look forward to the next one. I received an ARC of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.