Corks and Corpses
(2025)(The first book in the Grape Expectation Mystery series)
A Story by Maisy Marple and Wendy Winchester
From New York publishing to country winemaking... to murder investigation?
When Vivian Barnes trades her senior editor position at a prestigious New York publishing house for a second act as a vintner in the charming town of Prose Valley, she expects a peaceful new beginning. Her literary-themed winery, Prose & Vines, seems like the perfect blend of her two passions—books and wine.
But her grand opening turns sour when the region's most feared wine critic, Vernon Palmer, publicly eviscerates her signature rosé. When Palmer is found dead the next morning among her vines—with her promotional corkscrew in his back—Vivian becomes the prime suspect in a murder that threatens to crush her dreams before the first bottle is sold.
With her business at stake and the detective eyeing her for the crime, Vivian must put her editor's eye for detail to work alongside her loyal cat Shakespeare and new friend Ellie Chen, the town's librarian. Together, they uncover a complex web of blackmail, counterfeit wines, stolen manuscripts, and secrets worth killing for.
As they navigate through a suspect list including a competing vintner with a perfect rating streak to protect, a restaurant owner with a questionable wine list, and a distinguished bookseller hiding literary theft, the unlikely investigators race to find the real killer before Vivian's second act comes to a premature end.
A delightfully witty cozy mystery that pairs complex characters with notes of danger and a satisfying finish. Perfect for fans of wine country mysteries and literary sleuths who know that sometimes the best detective skills come from years of reading between the lines.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
When Vivian Barnes trades her senior editor position at a prestigious New York publishing house for a second act as a vintner in the charming town of Prose Valley, she expects a peaceful new beginning. Her literary-themed winery, Prose & Vines, seems like the perfect blend of her two passions—books and wine.
But her grand opening turns sour when the region's most feared wine critic, Vernon Palmer, publicly eviscerates her signature rosé. When Palmer is found dead the next morning among her vines—with her promotional corkscrew in his back—Vivian becomes the prime suspect in a murder that threatens to crush her dreams before the first bottle is sold.
With her business at stake and the detective eyeing her for the crime, Vivian must put her editor's eye for detail to work alongside her loyal cat Shakespeare and new friend Ellie Chen, the town's librarian. Together, they uncover a complex web of blackmail, counterfeit wines, stolen manuscripts, and secrets worth killing for.
As they navigate through a suspect list including a competing vintner with a perfect rating streak to protect, a restaurant owner with a questionable wine list, and a distinguished bookseller hiding literary theft, the unlikely investigators race to find the real killer before Vivian's second act comes to a premature end.
A delightfully witty cozy mystery that pairs complex characters with notes of danger and a satisfying finish. Perfect for fans of wine country mysteries and literary sleuths who know that sometimes the best detective skills come from years of reading between the lines.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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