The second in Nancy J. Parra’s Sonoma Wine Country mysteries is sure to make fans of Ellen Crosby heady with delight.Which suspect drowned an inspector in the Zinfandel? Sonoma tour guide Taylor O’Brian uncorks another intoxicating Sonoma Wine Country mystery.Taylor O’Brian, founder of “Off the Beaten Path”, takes small groups on wine country tours of romantic Sonoma County. Friends are … Sonoma County. Friends are everything in the tour business, so Taylor is happy to guide investors to the winery owned by her friend Tim Slade. But vintage turns to vinegar when an FDA inspector is found floating face down in one of Tim’s vats of squished grapes.
Tim is arrested on suspicion of murder, and Taylor and her friends rally to prove his innocence. But it’s not an easy task, especially since the winery proprietor’s acidic sense of humor tends to reap a harvest of sour grapes. Taylor’s investigation is withering on the vine until she discovers that Tim’s girlfriend, Mandy, is having an affair with a self-help guru. But before she has a chance to confront Mandy, Taylor finds Tim standing over the body of the dead guru.
This tart turn of events sends a bottle shock through Sonoma. Might Taylor’s friend really be a Zin-ful killer? If so, could Taylor be the next victim? The tour guide and her friends come to realize that the true murderer’s scent is obscured by an unsavory bouquet of red herrings.
A complex mystery designed to delight the palate of wine and cozy mystery enthusiasts alike, Seven Deadly Zins is the second quirky installment in Nancy J. Parra’s Sonoma Wine Country mysteries.
more
A full-bodied mystery with a hint of revenge, romantic notes and a satisfying finish redolent of its origin in the rich Sonoma County terroir. Drink up!
Seven Deadly Zins by Nancy J. Parra has us traveling to Sonoma County, California. Taylor O’Brian owns and runs Off the Beaten Path which features quirky wine tours. Tim Slade, who owns Rock Paths Winery, asks Taylor to bring a tour by his winery and she is happy to accommodate him. The following week, Taylor brings a group of entrepreneurs who are interested in investing in wineries by Tim’s winery. Tim is demonstrating to the tour group how he stirs a vat of zin twice a day when a purple body floats to the top. The victim is realtor, Jeffery Hoag who Tim had a public argument with recently. When Tim is arrested for Jeffery’s murder, Taylor starts nosing around. Dr. Adam Brinkman, offers seminars on spiritual healing, has arrived in town and he is causing quite a stir. Mandy, Tim’s girlfriend, is gaga for the guru and gets Taylor into one of his seminars. After the lecture, Mandy takes Taylor to meet Dr. Brinkman. Taylor sees Tim who is currently out on bail exiting the man’s dressing room and find Dr. Brinkman dead on the floor with a knife sticking out of his chest. Tim is once again arrested and this time he is denied bail. Something smells off and Taylor intends to get to the bottom of this conundrum. She is also dealing with a rival tour owner who is taking the area by storm. Just when Taylor seems to be making headway on the case, Aunt Jemma is kidnapped. Can Taylor get a bead on the killer before it is too late?
Seven Deadly Zins is the second book in A Wine Country Mystery series and I did feel it can stand on its own. Taylor O’Brian was lured to Sonoma County by her Aunt Jemma from her job in advertising in San Francisco. Instead of working at Aunt Jemma’s winery, Taylor created Off the Beaten Path to provide tourists with unique wine tours. Unfortunately, Bridget Miller decided to do the same thing and her business has doubled since she began (with fancy pink buses too). It would help if Taylor networked and advertised her business (use social media too). The author started this storyline and then it disappeared. I wonder if she will pick it up again in the next book. Taylor is a slightly annoying main character who wants to help her friends when they need assistance which is how she gets herself mixed up in a second murder. Taylor enjoys spending time with her girlfriends eating barbecue and drinking wine (they do this frequently). There are two men who are potential love interests for Taylor and she waffles between them. I hope the author is not heading down the love triangle road. The mystery appears to be convoluted, but the solution can effortlessly be discerned. I was not a fan of how the police were portrayed (that they were not up to the task of solving the crime). Taylor believes she can solve the crime better than the professionals and believes she is always right. The author took the time to describe the female characters outfits (every single one of them) in detail. I wish the author had spent the time describing what zinfandel looks and tastes like instead (I reached the end of the book and still had no clue—you can tell that I do not drink wine). I also felt that Aunt Jemma’s fake séance was not needed in the book (really did not add anything). The story could have used more character development and depth along with stronger dialogue. Seven Deadly Zins is a slow starter, but it picks up as the story progresses. There are some loose ends at the end of the book plus there are missing details (Aunt Jemma’s last name and the name of her winery for example). I am giving Seven Deadly Zins 3 out of 5 stars. Seven Deadly Zins is an airy cozy mystery with recipes at the end.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Taylor O’Brian owns Off the Beaten Path Wine Country Tours. She offers unique outings for small groups to visit local wineries and other points of interest in Sonoma County. This time she has a group of investors and their first stop is a winery owned by her friend Tim Slade. Unfortunately when Tim demonstrates one of the key processes of winemaking he gets a terrible surprise. A body in one of the vats. Without an alibi, he is arrested. Tim can rub some folks the wrong way, but he is not a killer. Since this is not the first time Taylor has been involved in a murder investigation she knows the ropes. She knows she is going to have to come up with a least one alternate suspect. Strangely it is a visit to see a self-help guru that points Taylor in the right direction. Yes, she is there when another dead body is found, but it helps her to start to uncork this wine filled mystery.
There is a lot happening in this story and at times it gets to be a little chaotic. In addition to the main murder mystery, Taylor learns she has new competition in the wine tour realm. I must say the other woman seems far more organized and business savvy, she makes Taylor look like an amateur. Also, Dr. Adam Brinkman, a renowned self-help guru comes to town and crowds are lined up for his seminars. Aunt Jemma leads a “seance” when her psychic friend is unavailable and then that psychic takes over one of Taylor’s tours when Taylor has to handle a family crisis. It all blends together but not as smoothly as I would have liked. There is a really nice twist at the end that really saved this story for me.
Taylor has evolved a little bit since the first book, A Case of Syrah, Syrah, but I still find her frustrating. She is her own worst enemy. She pushes ahead without a clear plan of where she is headed or what she is trying to accomplish. She leads with her heart and not with her head, which can be endearing until it happens too often. I enjoyed her get-togethers with her friends and the relationship she has with her aunt. There are two potential love interests for her but she is indecisive about them as well.
The setting is wonderful. I could picture most of the places traveled very easily. I have always wanted to take a vacation to Sonoma and visit as many wineries as possible. The setting and the colorful covers are what really drew me to this series.
This story missed the mark for me a little bit, but I have hope that Taylor will continue to evolve and I will grow to like her as much as I do the supporting cast.
A delightful new series that will tingle your taste buds and make you want to pick up and move to Sonoma. Don’t miss this reading deliciousness.
A fun book! This series has a great location, interesting characters, and the book had a fun plot with lots of twists. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books in the series. I look forward to seeing what happens with Taylor’s wine tours and seeing who she ends up in a relationship with. The killer in this book was a complete surprise to me, which made it so much more intriguing!!
“Seven Deadly Zins” earns 4/5 Glasses of Blood Red Zin…Clever and Entertaining!
Cheers! I was very eager to join Nancy J. Parra fans of her Wine Country Mystery, and although I started with the second book in the series, I never felt at a disadvantage because the references to background and character connections kept me engaged. Taylor O’Brian has moved to live with her aunt on her aunt’s Sonoma winery, and dreams of making her own way begins with starting her own business, Off the Beaten Path Wine Tours. But, she didn’t expect coming “taste to taste” with a dead body in the vat at a friend’s winery. The mystery followed the traditional cozy formula I enjoy (happen upon a dead body, family or friends implicated, amateur investigation needed, and perp is caught), and delightfully colored with an interesting setting, unique business focus, quirky characters, additional murder, and easy-to-follow recipes. I enjoyed my reading experience hoping to see more with the competitive twist in Taylor’s business, romantic entanglements, and information on wine and the industry. I will go back to read book one and future books, but I see room for characters to develop more and dialogue to be less casual. I would like to see a more collaborative, rather than combative, relationship with law enforcement. All-in-all I recommend this book to cozy fans!
Mix together a plucky heroine who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, loyal friends and family, a cute puppy, a hot sheriff, delicious wine in scenic Sonoma, and you have the perfect read to pair with your own beverage of choice. A Case of Syrah, Syrah, the first in Nancy J. Parra’s new series, bubbles like the finest champagne.
Seven Deadly Zins is the second book in the A Wine Country Mystery series.
Taylor O’Brian has recently formed Off The Beaten Path and provides tours of the smaller wineries and walking tours of some of the beautiful spots in the area. Her next group that will be touring is a group of investors looking to purchase or invest in local wineries. Tim Slade, who owns a winery near Taylor’s Aunt Jemma asks when his winery will be one of the stops on her tours. She agrees to include with this group. As Tim is explaining the process of producing wine he finds a body in one the vats. The will soon be identified as Realtor Jeffrey Hoag. Tim’s girlfriend, Mandy, worked for Hoag in his real estate office. Sheriff Hennessey feels he has enough evidence to charge Tim with the murder of Hoag. Taylor’s friend, a lawyer. is able to get Tim released on bail.
Also going on in Sonoma, Dr. Brinkman, a meditation guru, has moved to town and is seeking new followers. Mandy has arranged for free tickets to Taylor, Holly, Taylor’s best friend, and Chelsea, a friend and newspaper reporter. Drinks are provided to everyone to “relax” the potential followers. Taylor and Chelsea decide to abstain, but Holly drinks hers. After the meeting, Holly wants to pursue the meditation ritual that Brinkman is backing. Taylor and Chelsea feel that there was something mind-altering in the drink. A couple of days later, Holly wants to go to another meeting and Taylor agrees to go along to make sure Holly doesn’t turn over savings to the group. When they arrive, Mindy sees them and offers to take them backstage to meet Dr. Brinkham. What they find is Tim looking over Brinkaham’s body and Tim has blood on his shirt. Once again the police arrest him and bail will be denied.
Taylor can’t believe that Tim would ruin a vat of wine by putting a dead body in a vat and with the help of Chelsea and Holly they set out to find the killer.
In addition to being concerned about finding the killer Taylor is also concerned about the new tour company that has just started operating. The owner, Bridget, has a high-tech bus and Taylor is worried about Bridget taking away some of her business.
A wonderful addition this fun series which also has an interesting cast of characters.
Recipes are also included with the book.
I will be watching for the next book in the series
amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, murder, wine, California, law-enforcement, lawyers
Taylor appears to be a magnet for dead bodies, and this one is a shady realtor discovered in a vat of very desirable zinfandel. She has some very good friends and a dear aunt who aid and abet her in all things. From this basic start, add in the beleaguered vintner, a fascinating sheriff and similar lawyer, an iffy and expensive guru, and Taylor’s rather neglected tour guide business just for interest, then let the sleuthing begin!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.
Sonoma Vineyard Cozy Mystery
This book is part of a series. I have not read the first book, although I will. This book stands alone well and the reader does not feel ‘left out ‘ of the details. This book is very well written with just the right amount of detail and enough left to the reader’s imagination. The final plot reveal was a surprise and that is rare in my reading experience. The characters are completely realistic, all could be your own relatives, none were over-the-top. I would love to read the rest of this series! I received this ARC book for free and this is my honest review.