Review & Giveaway: Uncorking a Lie by Nadine Nettmann

Series: A Sommelier Mystery #2
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 8th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from the author:

It was the kind of invitation Katie Stillwell had only dreamed about: a dinner party at the Sonoma mansion of famed wine collector Paul Rafferty to celebrate a rare bottle of wine. Everyone enjoys drinking the $19,000 wine, but Katie realizes it’s not the older vintage listed on the label. When she confides in Mr. Rafferty, he asks her to investigate, and she soon discovers the deception goes beyond money. As Katie falls deeper into the world of counterfeit wine, she learns everything is at stake―even her life.

My Thoughts:

I love when I can learn something while reading for fun and I learned about wines and a bit about the wine business and wine stewards, while enjoying a well-done mystery.

Right from the start, I was pulled into the story. Katie, the heroine, is a wine steward at a local and restaurant and studying for an exam on her way to becoming a master sommelier. She gets involved when a bottle of wine turns out to be fake and then there's a suspicious death. She's quite good at putting clues together and getting people to talk to her, despite her many insecurities and her constant claims of needing to study. She actually did very little studying but used it as an excuse to avoid life and entanglements. It got frustrating but she did some steps toward less avoidance, and actual studying. It was a little unbelievable at times how easily sleuthing came to her but she was smart and persistent, though she did suffer a few moments of stupidity.

There's some light romance, interesting secondary characters, and lots of information about wine. Nettmann superbly mixed information into the story without dumping it on the reader and wrote a tight story. I didn't guess who the villain was but was genuinely surprised at the reveal. I like when I'm kept guessing and can't figure it out. The ending was a bit over the top but overall the story was engaging and enjoyable. It was a quick read, and I was rooting for Katie to solve the mysteries and help her friend Paul. I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

About the Author ~ 


Nadine Nettmann, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, is always on the lookout for great wines and the stories behind them. She has traveled to wine regions around the world including Chile, South Africa, Spain, Germany, and every region in France. When she’s not visiting wine regions or dreaming up new mysteries, her travel articles have appeared in AAA Hawaii, New Mexico Journey, Modern Luxury Hawaii, and Inspirato. Nadine is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in California with her husband.

Find Nadine Online:

Website: http://nadinenettmann.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NadineNettmann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NadinesNotes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14416658.Nadine_Nettmann

 

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