Presley Parker owns an event-planning business in San Francisco, and she's overseeing her first wine tasting in Napa Valley. Little did she know that it would be such a politically charged event. JoAnne Douglas is the president of the Green Grape Association, which is an environmental group. JoAnne believes that wineries are damaging the local environment, which is a pretty unpopular stance in Napa Valley. On the eve of the big party, JoAnne publicly threatens to sabotage the event.
The party is well-attended and people enjoy tasting the wines offered by Rob and Marie Christopher, the owners of Purple Grape, a boutique winery. But just as Presley is congratulating herself on a job well done, JoAnne's dead body is found under one of the event tables. As JoAnne had made it no secret that she wanted to take out all of the local wineries, there is no shortage of suspects, but the local police department waste no time in zeroing in on Rob. It seems that the corkscrew found in JoAnne's chest was from his collection, and he had an opportunity.
Presley has a bit of a reputation for being a Nancy Drew and she's sure there's no way Rob could have killed JoAnne, so she's determined to prove him innocent. Between finding clues, though, Presley is also trying to spend time with her mother (who suffers from dementia) and her boyfriend. Her mother loves her bingo games, and Presley soon discovers that the bingo hall is a hotbed of gossip and may be the best place to turn up clues. Before Presley can close the case, another body turns up dead. Can Presley solve this case before there are more bodies than stomped grapes?
HOW TO DINE ON KILLER WINE is a quick-paced read with a fun protagonist. Presley is smart and witty, and I like that she's running her own business while balancing a boyfriend and a mother with health issues. The fact that each chapter kicks off with tips about how to plan a great wine-tasting party is also a fun addition to the book. Overall, the book is well-written, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is fun.
Presley Parker’s event-planning business is the toast of San Francisco. But when she ventures into Napa Valley to oversee her first wine tasting, an unexpected death could leave a stain on her reputation.… For Presley Parker, a wine-tasting event at the boutique winery the Purple Grape is a job worth savoring. But she quickly discovers that, even in idyllic Napa Valley, local politics can have a bitter finish. JoAnne Douglas, president of the Green Grape Association environmental group, believes the wineries are damaging the local environment, and she’s determined to sabotage the event. But Presley manages to pull the party off without a hitch. Until JoAnne’s lifeless body is discovered under one of the tables…. JoAnne had plenty of enemies in the area, but all evidence points to Purple Grape owners Rob and Marie Christopher as the murderers. Now it’s up to Presley to clear their names before someone else gets corked. Includes wine-tasting party tips!
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