It’s vintage Poppy McAllister when the gluten-free baker and B&B owner tries to solve a murder at a Cape May winery . . . When Poppy and Aunt Ginny agreed to host a Wine and Cheese Happy Hour for a tour group at their Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast on the Jersey Shore, they never anticipated such a sour bunch. Grumpy guest Vince Baker should be in a better mood—he’s filthy rich and on … better mood—he’s filthy rich and on his honeymoon with his much younger wife Sunny, who seems to dote on him almost as much as her high-spirited teacup Pomeranian, Tammy Faye Baker.
But the honeymoon is over when Vince drops dead the next day touring the Laughing Gull Winery. Turns out he’s been poisoned, and it seems like everybody on the tour is hiding something. Now Poppy has to put her gluten-free baking on the back burner and bottle up her feelings for the two men in her life while she charges after a bitter killer with a lethal case of sour grapes . . .
Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!
“Fans of Chopped will have fun juggling the complicated set of suspects and following a romantic triangle that has yet to be resolved.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Restaurant Weeks Are Murder
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Wine tasting rarely involves death, even if the wine is killer good but in the newest addition to the “A Poppy McAllister Mystery” series; Wine Tastings Are Murder, B&B owner Poppy finds herself once again involved in a murder mystery. This time she isn’t a suspect, but one of the people staying at her B&B or even a friend might be a killer.
Suspects are plentiful, and every one of them a believable candidate. None are overly likable, but at least one seems to be exactly what Poppy thinks she is. But that’s not saying much because Poppy isn’t a great judge of people, especially killers. The real killer isn’t hard to spot, and the motive is straightforward and easy to figure out. But many writers will enjoy the story from start to finish. Readers will love the B&B and the wine tasting aspect.
Unfortunately, many readers, myself included, are fed up with the love triangle. It is not necessary to the series, and it has become a sticking point. Even when you think it is finally resolved, at the end of Wine Tastings Are Murder, the reader is thrown into an entirely new situation, a very unwelcome one. This alone made my enjoyment of the book dwindle. Having the main character undecided for five books was terrible enough, but throwing the twist in at the end of this book made me unlikely to recommend this book or read the next one.
I love B&B-based cozies, they are always fun, and the wine tasting aspect of this one was intriguing, but overall, I didn’t enjoy the story. Aunt Ginny was a delight as always, and other returning characters were original and entertaining. I would have enjoyed the book far more if the author hadn’t thrown in an unnecessary new twist in the love triangle at the very end.
Wine Tastings Are Murder” the 5th instalment in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein. I love this series and I think this was best one yet.
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy, Sawyer, Aunt Ginny, and the “Biddies”! Plus we cant forget about her mischievous cat, Figuro! This time around a tiny fluff ball called Tammy Faye joins in the chaos at the B&B not to mention Alexa insert laughing…
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out what Poppy does next after declaring her love. What a surprise ending didn’t see that coming!
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A fun loving, laugh out loud who done it cozy mystery. The characters are wonderful and I would love to see this book as a romantic comedy. I already can see who would star in it. A great getaway, keeps one guessing till the end.