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Cece Barton Mystery #1
Murder Uncorked
Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Maddie Day.
As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!
With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . .
As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!
With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . .
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2023
301 people are currently reading
22289 people want to read
About the author
Maddie Day
34 books1,561 followersMaddie Day is a pseudonym for Agatha Award-winning mystery author Edith Maxwell.
As Maddie Day, Edith writes the Country Store Mysteries, from Kensington, set in southern Indiana. Maddie lived in the area some years ago and loves writing the adventures of Robbie Jordan, a country store owner and chef in South Lick, Indiana.
She also writes the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, with bike shop owner Mackenzie Almeida and her cozy mystery book group solving murders in a fictional Cape Cod village.
Her new Cece Barton Mysteries series, set northern California wine country, releases in fall, 2023
Please see Edith Maxwell's author page for more information about her other mystery series and her award-winning short stories.
As Maddie Day, Edith writes the Country Store Mysteries, from Kensington, set in southern Indiana. Maddie lived in the area some years ago and loves writing the adventures of Robbie Jordan, a country store owner and chef in South Lick, Indiana.
She also writes the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, with bike shop owner Mackenzie Almeida and her cozy mystery book group solving murders in a fictional Cape Cod village.
Her new Cece Barton Mysteries series, set northern California wine country, releases in fall, 2023
Please see Edith Maxwell's author page for more information about her other mystery series and her award-winning short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 415 reviews
September 9, 2023
Murder Uncorked is the debut Cece Barton Mystery written by Maddie Day, a prolific cozy mystery writer whose books have entertained me for the last few years. Set in California wine country, the background is exciting and educational, offering a wonderful setting that soothes as it whets the appetite for murder and drama. Cece is a mother, just over 40 years old, and widowed. There's a mystery with her husband's death but we don't know it yet. And her daughter, Zoe, and Cece are a bit disconnected, but there is hope for the future. In this installment, we get to know her friends, an eclectic and diverse cast of characters who grow on you over the course of the book. While the mystery is easy to solve, it does provide strong character development, letting readers get to know Cece's neighbors, colleagues, and friends, not to mention the hunky guy who takes her on a date while she's crime solving. Looking forward to more to come.
October 21, 2023
This one is supposed to be the first in the series but apparently there was a prior novella. Which would be fine except the story keeps referring to previous happenings in that book and this became a little irritating.
However if I disregard that minor problem Murder Uncorked is actually an excellent read. We meet Cece Barton who manages the Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Sonoma County, California. Her twin sister runs a nearby guest house and, when a guest is murdered after he has had words with Cece at the wine bar, both sisters may be suspects. Of course they have to start their own investigation in order to clear their names.
A good mystery, well written and with nice characters. I might just have to seek out that novella.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
However if I disregard that minor problem Murder Uncorked is actually an excellent read. We meet Cece Barton who manages the Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Sonoma County, California. Her twin sister runs a nearby guest house and, when a guest is murdered after he has had words with Cece at the wine bar, both sisters may be suspects. Of course they have to start their own investigation in order to clear their names.
A good mystery, well written and with nice characters. I might just have to seek out that novella.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 15, 2025
This is a charming cozy mystery set in beautiful wine country. The vibes were as expected...a quaint small town with lots of found family and many interlopers who may or may not be the murderer. I was excited to start a new cozy series; however, throughout this book there are many, many references to a previous murder solved by the very main character at the center of this book. Each time this previous solving of a murder was discussed, I was a bit more irritated. Turns out there was a 0.5 novella preceding apparently which I found out only by clicking on the series. That aside, it was a cute enough palate cleanser.
Thanks to the author and publisher for the gifted copy of this book. All thoughts/reviews are my own.
Thanks to the author and publisher for the gifted copy of this book. All thoughts/reviews are my own.
October 28, 2023
DNF. I don't like it when an author's political views are so much part of the story. I read cozies to get away from all the madness and relax, laugh a little. I don't like having to roll my eyes so much that I get dizzy. Just not my type of cozy.
November 7, 2024
A great start to a new series. I love the characters and can't wait to read the next book.
November 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Murder Uncorked is a good start to a new cozy mystery series set in the Alexander Valley wine country in California. The main character is Cece, who has relocated to the fictional town of Colinas to manage a wine bar in its historic district. Her twin sister, Allie, lives there and of course, that was a major reason the location and job appealed to Cece. Cece is 42 and widowed, but her marriage wasn’t a great one. Her daughter is in college a couple of hours away; their relationship isn’t a close one and Cece hopes to repair it now that she’s closer than LA.
When a murder occurs in town, Cece is one of the initial suspects because of some unpleasant business emails between her and the murder victim. So she turns into a bit of an amateur sleuth to clear her name.
I enjoyed all the wine talk and information along the way (not heavy-handed at all, it just naturally happens within the story) and a number of the local residents, especially her elderly neighbor. A possible romantic connection in the future is included. There were a lot of locals to keep track of, so that was a small issue, trying to keep straight who was who.
There’s a lovely author’s note at the beginning of the book that explains why she decided to set this new series in California wine country and the story behind some of the names she uses.
The story refers a few times to a previous case Cece helped solve, which confused me, since this is the first book in a new series. It turns out that Cece appeared in a short story/novella as part of a book called Christmas Mittens Murder. I just may try to read that book now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I am a bit late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Linda Jones, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.
Murder Uncorked is a good start to a new cozy mystery series set in the Alexander Valley wine country in California. The main character is Cece, who has relocated to the fictional town of Colinas to manage a wine bar in its historic district. Her twin sister, Allie, lives there and of course, that was a major reason the location and job appealed to Cece. Cece is 42 and widowed, but her marriage wasn’t a great one. Her daughter is in college a couple of hours away; their relationship isn’t a close one and Cece hopes to repair it now that she’s closer than LA.
When a murder occurs in town, Cece is one of the initial suspects because of some unpleasant business emails between her and the murder victim. So she turns into a bit of an amateur sleuth to clear her name.
I enjoyed all the wine talk and information along the way (not heavy-handed at all, it just naturally happens within the story) and a number of the local residents, especially her elderly neighbor. A possible romantic connection in the future is included. There were a lot of locals to keep track of, so that was a small issue, trying to keep straight who was who.
There’s a lovely author’s note at the beginning of the book that explains why she decided to set this new series in California wine country and the story behind some of the names she uses.
The story refers a few times to a previous case Cece helped solve, which confused me, since this is the first book in a new series. It turns out that Cece appeared in a short story/novella as part of a book called Christmas Mittens Murder. I just may try to read that book now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I am a bit late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Linda Jones, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.
December 9, 2023
I love Maddie Day's Country store and Cozy Capers series, so it makes me sad to give this one a one star rating. I can't believe this new series was written by the same author. The characters in the Country Store series are so down to earth and likable. The ones in Cozy Capers are also likable. I enjoy spending time with them, Both series focus on the mysteries and don't try to hammer home a social agenda. I know that's a common complaint from readers who disagree with an author's social agenda. I agree with most of her viewpoints—I just don't like having them hijack the mystery. We are bonbarded with her views on vegetarians, water conservation, sustainable humane farming, gay couples, bi-racial children, Indigenous People's Day, and probably other dog whistles I didn't hear. I felt as if I had been cornered and lectured by a zealot wanting to solve all the social problems of the world when all I wanted was to be entertained by an interesting mystery. None of it was relevant to the plot and didn't help to solve the mystery. If Cece Barton would rather eat fish than chicken or beef, it's no skin off my nose, but does she have to keep mentioning it as if it makes her better than those of us who do eat beef and chicken? I know Californians have to be careful about water usage, but her explanations of how she conserves water in planning and maintaining her garden don't move the plot or help solve the mystery. We quickly understand that her nephews are bi-racial. She doesn't have to keep reminding us. It doesn't move the plot or help solve the mystery. I'm sorry her native American friend's biracial daughter is bullied at school. But it's just another distraction that doesn't move the plot or help solve the mystery. I'm sorry her first husband cheated on her then killed himself. She didn't have to stay with him. She could have and should have left. Instead, she let it embitter her and alienate her from her daughter. All those rants and tirades just make Cece seem like a bitter, self-righteous crusader. If I were her daughter, I would get as far away from her as possible! Maybe if she had chosen just one crusade, and made it relevant to the plot, it wouldn't have been so annoying. Instead she slaps the reader upside the head with one after the other after the other. I will NOT be continuing with this series.
October 29, 2023
I stopped early on when she referred to the rifle club for line dancing as a bunch of gun nuts. I should have known with book being set in California.
August 23, 2023
This is the first in a new series by one of my favorite authors, Maddie Day. It takes place in the California wine country. Cece Barton has recently moved to Colinas, California to manage a wine bar and to be nearer her twin sister. When a local man is murdered, Cece decides to find out why.
I enjoyed this book. I like Cece’s relationship with her sister and her friends. The characters are well-written, and I love cozies set in small towns. I also enjoyed the references to a previous meeting and collaboration between Cece and Cam Flaherty, the main character of Maddie Day’s Local Foods series. The beginning started a little slow for me, while the story and characters were introduced. But soon after, the story picked up and really held my attention. There were references to a previous murder that Cece helped solve — I think it would have been helpful to have read that story first. I will definitely read Book 2 in the series.
I won an Advanced Reading Copy of Murder Uncorked in a Facebook contest, and I am providing an honest review. The book will be released October 24, 2023. The novella introducing Cece Barton, Murderous Mittens, is part of Christmas Mittens Murder, which will be released September 26, 2023.
I enjoyed this book. I like Cece’s relationship with her sister and her friends. The characters are well-written, and I love cozies set in small towns. I also enjoyed the references to a previous meeting and collaboration between Cece and Cam Flaherty, the main character of Maddie Day’s Local Foods series. The beginning started a little slow for me, while the story and characters were introduced. But soon after, the story picked up and really held my attention. There were references to a previous murder that Cece helped solve — I think it would have been helpful to have read that story first. I will definitely read Book 2 in the series.
I won an Advanced Reading Copy of Murder Uncorked in a Facebook contest, and I am providing an honest review. The book will be released October 24, 2023. The novella introducing Cece Barton, Murderous Mittens, is part of Christmas Mittens Murder, which will be released September 26, 2023.
July 24, 2023
First in a new series by cozy author Maddie Day, Murder Uncorked follows wine bar manager Cece, who has just moved to town where her twin sister already lives, in order to be closer to her estranged daughter, who's in school nearby. But when one of her customers is discovered dead the day after she first meets him, she fears she's a top suspect, along with a man who's been staying at her sister's B&B. So, obviously, she's got to get to the bottom of this. Full of a large cast of fun townspeople, Murder Uncorked is a good start to a new series.
Just, maybe not for me? I'd read another of these, but this one annoyed me a bit. Cece kept holding off on telling the police things they should know. Someone tried to break into her house in the night and she just goes back to bed instead of calling the police. Someone runs her down in the street and she only gets around to telling the police ages later, after she's lost the info a witness gave her about the license plate number.
Also, there's the fact that this is listed as the first in a series, but it feels like a second. The author CONSTANTLY refers to a mystery Cece solved when she first got to town, but this all happened before the series started? 😒
Just, maybe not for me? I'd read another of these, but this one annoyed me a bit. Cece kept holding off on telling the police things they should know. Someone tried to break into her house in the night and she just goes back to bed instead of calling the police. Someone runs her down in the street and she only gets around to telling the police ages later, after she's lost the info a witness gave her about the license plate number.
Also, there's the fact that this is listed as the first in a series, but it feels like a second. The author CONSTANTLY refers to a mystery Cece solved when she first got to town, but this all happened before the series started? 😒
April 18, 2023
This is a cozy mystery story. Cece runs a bar in a small town, a murder occurs and she is a suspect. In order to clear her name and to help catch the culprit she starts investigating on her own.
"I have lived a long life, and a good one. I don't choose to live in fear. I hope you won't, either."
This book is a quick read and an enjoyable one too. The characters are lovable and the story is smooth. Cece has her own past that she's trying to sort out along with fighting her present battle. It is not easy to guess the murderer because too many people are the suspects with strong motive. The best part about this book is that it actually explains what a cozy mystery novel is, flawlessly. Overall, it is a fun read and is recommended to all mystery lovers.
"I have lived a long life, and a good one. I don't choose to live in fear. I hope you won't, either."
This book is a quick read and an enjoyable one too. The characters are lovable and the story is smooth. Cece has her own past that she's trying to sort out along with fighting her present battle. It is not easy to guess the murderer because too many people are the suspects with strong motive. The best part about this book is that it actually explains what a cozy mystery novel is, flawlessly. Overall, it is a fun read and is recommended to all mystery lovers.
April 9, 2023
#MurderUncorked #NetGalley.
Maddie Day has added a new character and series to her published works.
Cece Barton is a solid character, who is the new manager of the local wine bar.
Cece finds herself involved in a murder investigation, and the suspect list has a wide variety of suspects.
The story is interesting and even though I didn't feel an immediate connection with Cece, I'm hoping that will come with future books.
The other characters are colorful and add a bit of humor to the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Maddie Day has added a new character and series to her published works.
Cece Barton is a solid character, who is the new manager of the local wine bar.
Cece finds herself involved in a murder investigation, and the suspect list has a wide variety of suspects.
The story is interesting and even though I didn't feel an immediate connection with Cece, I'm hoping that will come with future books.
The other characters are colorful and add a bit of humor to the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
April 26, 2023
Sparkling new series from a tried-and-true author introduces us to Cece Barton, a widowed empty nester who sells her Southern California home, moves north to be in the same community as her twin sister and gets a job managing a wine bar. When the death of an obnoxious colleague leaves her in the cross hairs of a murder investigation. Smart and entertaining this first book bodes well for a debut of a new series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2023
Finished. I liked how she owned and operated a wine bar but I don't think I'll continue with he series.
March 28, 2023
Good start to a new series by an author I really like! Lots of suspects, a possible romance, great friends and family, disturbing things like a near break-in and truck vs bicycle incident. Cece spends a lot of time and energy delving into the dead man's past and relationships to people in town despite the rude deputy who gives Cece a slight case of paranoia. The publisher's blurb does a good job, but the story itself is what kept me up way too late!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
August 2, 2023
Since one of my favorite ways to relax is to pour a glass of wine and crack open a mystery novel, naturally I was delighted to discover that Maddie Day has created a new series set in California’s iconic wine country. With colorful characters, a satisfying plot, and some interesting mother-daughter and sister dynamics adding depth to a satisfying plot, Murder Uncorked is everything you could ask for in a cozy mystery.
January 27, 2024
A new series for fans of Maddie Day
A delicious sip of wine and murder in a new series from Maddie Day set in the California wine countryside.
CeCe Barton proves she knows her wines and her way around a murder investigation. This is the first full length novel in the series but she was introduced in the novella collection, Christmas Mittens Murder (which I need to read.) She has proved to be a strong female character that will go to great lengths to protect her loved ones.
I’m interested in learning more about wines as the series continues. I never realized there were so many blends and names. I’m also hoping CeCe’s relationship with her daughter continues to improve and we get to meet her. Also, will we get to see more of Handsome Benjamin?
If you like Day’s Country Store series I believe you will like this series as well.
A delicious sip of wine and murder in a new series from Maddie Day set in the California wine countryside.
CeCe Barton proves she knows her wines and her way around a murder investigation. This is the first full length novel in the series but she was introduced in the novella collection, Christmas Mittens Murder (which I need to read.) She has proved to be a strong female character that will go to great lengths to protect her loved ones.
I’m interested in learning more about wines as the series continues. I never realized there were so many blends and names. I’m also hoping CeCe’s relationship with her daughter continues to improve and we get to meet her. Also, will we get to see more of Handsome Benjamin?
If you like Day’s Country Store series I believe you will like this series as well.
May 24, 2024
Didn't realize that this was in reference to another series, and it dropped hints about what happened there throughout the book. This was also a wine mystery and honestly, I don't know shit about wine, however the mystery itself wasn't bad at all. I guessed accurately who the killer was halfway through the book, but it has a satisfying resolution. I didn't really connect with the characters, but the writing was good and I did like the cats in the book. 3.5 ⭐
February 10, 2024
A good cozy mystery. I'll read more of her books.
October 20, 2023
Cece Barton manages a wine Bar in Colinas, California. She recently moved from L.A. Her twin sister lives close by. Cece is estranged from her daughter since the death of Cece’s husband. So, Cece has her hands full, but she had no idea just how full they would be when murder strikes the small town. Cece takes it upon herself to find the killer, especially since she argued with the victim just the day before.
Murder Uncorked is the first in a brand-new cozy mystery series, the Cece Barton Mysteries. I’ve been wanting to read this author for a long time, and I was delighted to see a new series. I could get in on the ground floor.
I love the wine bar setting, although I was craving for a glass of wine as I read through this book.
It took me some time to warm up to Cece and the rest of the supporting cast. It got off to a slow start for me, which sometimes happens when the author is introducing a new cast of characters. There were quite a number of them in this story. I had a bit of difficulty keeping them all straight, but then it all came together.
Some parts of the book were slow-moving for me, while other parts kept me at the edge of my seat. I wasn’t overly surprised at who the culprit turned out to be, but it made perfect sense. The ending was quite intense. I’m looking forward to continuing this series and seeing where it leads.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Murder Uncorked is the first in a brand-new cozy mystery series, the Cece Barton Mysteries. I’ve been wanting to read this author for a long time, and I was delighted to see a new series. I could get in on the ground floor.
I love the wine bar setting, although I was craving for a glass of wine as I read through this book.
It took me some time to warm up to Cece and the rest of the supporting cast. It got off to a slow start for me, which sometimes happens when the author is introducing a new cast of characters. There were quite a number of them in this story. I had a bit of difficulty keeping them all straight, but then it all came together.
Some parts of the book were slow-moving for me, while other parts kept me at the edge of my seat. I wasn’t overly surprised at who the culprit turned out to be, but it made perfect sense. The ending was quite intense. I’m looking forward to continuing this series and seeing where it leads.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 13, 2023
DNF. Will probably throw in the recycling.
October 24, 2023
It’s the last Wednesday of October! That means it’s review time. I stuck with the cozy mystery genre for this month, mostly because I was too lazy to look for anything else. Murder Uncorked is the first novel (though there is a short story prequel) in a new series by Maddie Day and was released from Kensington Books yesterday (the 24th). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it.
Murder Uncorked follows Cece Barton as she moves to be closer to family and tries to settle in a small California wine country town. She’s kind of a suspect when a guy she’s been arguing with via email about business matters ends up dead. She’s only met him once, but she feels the need to clear her name. Toss in every cozy mystery stereotype (enthusiastic supporter of shenanigans, inept and exasperated detective, mysterious love interest, etc.) and you’ve got yourself a story.
If I’m being honest, the plot is super thin here. The obvious killer is the killer. There’s no real hiding it. The bank robbery thing that’s thrown in there to muddy things up is extremely awkward and not set up at all. It comes out of left field and just feels random and unnecessary. It made me cringe. Besides that, the plot is pretty standard and not all that entertaining.
Also, the pacing is rough. This is most obvious in the dialogue with the completely random and jarring changes of topic. All of these characters blurt things out like it’s a natural thing, and in real life, a few conversations might go that way, but not in books. The dialogue needs to flow naturally and convey information in a smooth manner. Just like the rest of the book should. But everything here is choppy and annoying and jars me out of the story.
The characters were all flat and did nothing to break free of their stereotypes. The attempted growth between Cece and her daughter is the most interesting thing in the book and it’s just emotional blackmail. I mean, seriously. Cece calls up her basically estranged grown ass daughter and is all like “I almost got killed because I keep putting myself in stupid situations. Feel bad for me and love me again.” And the daughter falls for it. There’s no actual growth despite what the story says. You can’t just put emotional blackmail in a book and call it character development. It’s gross. And none of the other characters are any better.
I have nothing nice to say about the writing either. A lot of the problems came from the poor quality of the writing. I don’t know if this book was just rushed to publication or what, but it really needed more edits.
Ultimately, Murder Uncorked was not worth reading. I know Maddie Day has another series, but I have zero desire to check it out. Hopefully it’s better than this one.
Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. One and a half, really. One because it got published so someone likes it and a half because I finished reading it. But unless you’re a fan of the author, I don’t recommend wasting your time with it.
Murder Uncorked follows Cece Barton as she moves to be closer to family and tries to settle in a small California wine country town. She’s kind of a suspect when a guy she’s been arguing with via email about business matters ends up dead. She’s only met him once, but she feels the need to clear her name. Toss in every cozy mystery stereotype (enthusiastic supporter of shenanigans, inept and exasperated detective, mysterious love interest, etc.) and you’ve got yourself a story.
If I’m being honest, the plot is super thin here. The obvious killer is the killer. There’s no real hiding it. The bank robbery thing that’s thrown in there to muddy things up is extremely awkward and not set up at all. It comes out of left field and just feels random and unnecessary. It made me cringe. Besides that, the plot is pretty standard and not all that entertaining.
Also, the pacing is rough. This is most obvious in the dialogue with the completely random and jarring changes of topic. All of these characters blurt things out like it’s a natural thing, and in real life, a few conversations might go that way, but not in books. The dialogue needs to flow naturally and convey information in a smooth manner. Just like the rest of the book should. But everything here is choppy and annoying and jars me out of the story.
The characters were all flat and did nothing to break free of their stereotypes. The attempted growth between Cece and her daughter is the most interesting thing in the book and it’s just emotional blackmail. I mean, seriously. Cece calls up her basically estranged grown ass daughter and is all like “I almost got killed because I keep putting myself in stupid situations. Feel bad for me and love me again.” And the daughter falls for it. There’s no actual growth despite what the story says. You can’t just put emotional blackmail in a book and call it character development. It’s gross. And none of the other characters are any better.
I have nothing nice to say about the writing either. A lot of the problems came from the poor quality of the writing. I don’t know if this book was just rushed to publication or what, but it really needed more edits.
Ultimately, Murder Uncorked was not worth reading. I know Maddie Day has another series, but I have zero desire to check it out. Hopefully it’s better than this one.
Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. One and a half, really. One because it got published so someone likes it and a half because I finished reading it. But unless you’re a fan of the author, I don’t recommend wasting your time with it.
October 28, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Cece Barton was originally introduced in a novella as part of Christmas Mitten Murder.
Cece Barton is a widowed single mom. With her daughter away at college and their relationship struggling Cece has moved north to Colinas where her twin sister Allie Halstead owns a Bed and Breakfast. She is now the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar and is learning the politics regarding the local wine association. She is also experiencing her first Alexander Valley harvest and all it entails. The tourists are now flocking to the area too and a wildfire is getting closer and closer to Colinas.
When Vincent Sardo who works for the VVA, a regional group of vineyard owners, is murdered Cece finds herself at the top of the list of suspects because of a few terse emails and phone calls. New to the area Cece is going to need her sister's help to clear her name and catch the killer before she is forced to take up residence behind bars where they don't serve any wine.
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We enter Cece Barton's life at an interesting time. She is trying to move on after her husband's death while her daughter is still dealing with her own grief and is not ready for her mother to make changes. Their relationship is a struggle. Cece is very close to her sister and is happy to have her nearby. She starts out a little less confident being new in town and being a murder suspect doesn't help but she gets stronger as the story continues. I enjoy the relationship she has with her sister and the relationship that is growing with her elderly neighbor, Richard. The relationship with her daughter is conflicted but is a work in progress. Ms. Day always creates characters that feel very true to life and leaves room for them to grow as the series continues. That again, is the case here in the first book of the Cece Barton Mysteries. I am invested and want to get to know them all better.
The victim in this story had made plenty of enemies and was just very unlikable so I had no problem with his death. The author plotted out this mystery so well with some admirable twists. One clue stuck in my head though that helped others fall into place faster for me than they did for Cece. That didn't take away from my excitement of the reveal and the showdown. The only thing that I wish Cece would have done differently would have been to trust the police more and report crucial events and pertinent information.
I do love the wine bar theme and the town of Colinas and all its happenings. The author always does an excellent job of setting the scene making it easy to visualize everything.
Murder Uncorked has set this series off to a grand start. While the murder mystery is wrapped up Cece's life in Colinas is just getting started. I am excited to see what Ms. Day has planned for her next.
Cece Barton was originally introduced in a novella as part of Christmas Mitten Murder.
Cece Barton is a widowed single mom. With her daughter away at college and their relationship struggling Cece has moved north to Colinas where her twin sister Allie Halstead owns a Bed and Breakfast. She is now the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar and is learning the politics regarding the local wine association. She is also experiencing her first Alexander Valley harvest and all it entails. The tourists are now flocking to the area too and a wildfire is getting closer and closer to Colinas.
When Vincent Sardo who works for the VVA, a regional group of vineyard owners, is murdered Cece finds herself at the top of the list of suspects because of a few terse emails and phone calls. New to the area Cece is going to need her sister's help to clear her name and catch the killer before she is forced to take up residence behind bars where they don't serve any wine.
____
We enter Cece Barton's life at an interesting time. She is trying to move on after her husband's death while her daughter is still dealing with her own grief and is not ready for her mother to make changes. Their relationship is a struggle. Cece is very close to her sister and is happy to have her nearby. She starts out a little less confident being new in town and being a murder suspect doesn't help but she gets stronger as the story continues. I enjoy the relationship she has with her sister and the relationship that is growing with her elderly neighbor, Richard. The relationship with her daughter is conflicted but is a work in progress. Ms. Day always creates characters that feel very true to life and leaves room for them to grow as the series continues. That again, is the case here in the first book of the Cece Barton Mysteries. I am invested and want to get to know them all better.
The victim in this story had made plenty of enemies and was just very unlikable so I had no problem with his death. The author plotted out this mystery so well with some admirable twists. One clue stuck in my head though that helped others fall into place faster for me than they did for Cece. That didn't take away from my excitement of the reveal and the showdown. The only thing that I wish Cece would have done differently would have been to trust the police more and report crucial events and pertinent information.
I do love the wine bar theme and the town of Colinas and all its happenings. The author always does an excellent job of setting the scene making it easy to visualize everything.
Murder Uncorked has set this series off to a grand start. While the murder mystery is wrapped up Cece's life in Colinas is just getting started. I am excited to see what Ms. Day has planned for her next.
April 8, 2023
Cecelia Barton is the manager of a wine bar called Vino y Vida. Earlier a man named Vincent Sardo stopped by the bar to hire Vino y Vida to host an event for the valley association. But Cece decided they couldn’t accommodate the event under the conditions he proposed. The next day Vincent turns up dead. According to the sheriff he was murdered. Who would want him dead and why?
Thank you to Maddie Day, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the arc of this book
Thank you to Maddie Day, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the arc of this book
December 11, 2023
Tried so hard to like this book but I was just so bored. There is a murder and the main character starts to investigate, I have no clue why. The first 30% of the book is just the main character driving around and talking to people.
Also, the author is setting the tone with her own political views and I'm not sure that it added anything to the book.
I really loved the setting and the wine bar, but it wasn't enough to keep me interested. It's a DNF for me.
Also, the author is setting the tone with her own political views and I'm not sure that it added anything to the book.
I really loved the setting and the wine bar, but it wasn't enough to keep me interested. It's a DNF for me.
January 12, 2024
While I love me some wine and a murder mystery, this book just wasn’t it for me. I really struggled getting into and finishing the book. The details in the plot and story in general were just very boring. There was more detail in the food that the main character was eating than the story itself.
August 12, 2023
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and I voluntarily reviewed it.
I really like this author's Country Story Mystery series and I was excited when I heard of this new series. Murder Uncorked is the first book in this new series set in California, where main character Cece runs a wine bar. I think this is the first cozy mystery I read that takes place in California and I felt the setting and store made for a different vibe than her other series, but Maddie Day's writing style is the same and I could get easily sucked into the story. I read the prequel story in Christmas Mittens Murders before starting this book, so I was already a bit familiar with the characters.
I liked Cece as a main character, she's smart and capable. It made sense how she got involved and I liked how she went about it in a smart way and took the danger seriously. Even though that doesn't stop her from investigating I liked how she took the threat seriously and tried to be smart about things.
I liked reading about her relationship with her twin Allie, they are quite close and I haven't read many cozies with a close sister dynamic. Allie's sons also made some appearances and it was fun to see how Cece was an aunt to them. Cece also has a daughter who is studying at a university nearby, but their relationship is a bit difficult at the moment and she tries to improve that. Cece also has some good friends, like restaurant owner Ko and the couple Henry and Eddie. She also interacts with her older neighbor. And there is a possible love interest in Benjamin. They all made numerous appearances in the book and I liked she had such good friends around her. It was fun reading about all the character and seeing them interact.
The daily life and the cosy vibe of it all really worked for me and is one of the aspects I liked about Maddie Day's country store mystery series as well. I already feel like I've gotten to know the characters and I look forward to spending more time with them in the next book.
The mystery was a solid one and I liked seeing how things progressed throughout the book. It didn't keep me guessing too much though due to some important clues not coming to light later on. And when some clues came to light it felt quite obvious who the killer was. There is a lot of Cece asking questions and some characters involved to the mystery she gets to know. One of the suspects got ruled out in an unusual way, which was interesting.
To summarize: Murder Uncorked is a great start to this new series by Maddie Day and I already look forward to the next one. I liked reading about main character Cece who was smart and capable. It made sense how she got involved and I liked how she tried to be smart about investigating, although she still gets in trouble. I liked reading about Cece's relationship with her twin Allie, I haven't read a lot of cozies with a close sister dynamic. Cece has some good friends around her as well as a possible love itnerest. The cozy vibe and reading about Cece's life was one of my favorite parts of this book. The mystery was a good one, but didn't keep me guessing as much. There were some important clues that only came to light late in the book and after that it was quite clear who the murderer was. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to read more about these characters in the next one!
I really like this author's Country Story Mystery series and I was excited when I heard of this new series. Murder Uncorked is the first book in this new series set in California, where main character Cece runs a wine bar. I think this is the first cozy mystery I read that takes place in California and I felt the setting and store made for a different vibe than her other series, but Maddie Day's writing style is the same and I could get easily sucked into the story. I read the prequel story in Christmas Mittens Murders before starting this book, so I was already a bit familiar with the characters.
I liked Cece as a main character, she's smart and capable. It made sense how she got involved and I liked how she went about it in a smart way and took the danger seriously. Even though that doesn't stop her from investigating I liked how she took the threat seriously and tried to be smart about things.
I liked reading about her relationship with her twin Allie, they are quite close and I haven't read many cozies with a close sister dynamic. Allie's sons also made some appearances and it was fun to see how Cece was an aunt to them. Cece also has a daughter who is studying at a university nearby, but their relationship is a bit difficult at the moment and she tries to improve that. Cece also has some good friends, like restaurant owner Ko and the couple Henry and Eddie. She also interacts with her older neighbor. And there is a possible love interest in Benjamin. They all made numerous appearances in the book and I liked she had such good friends around her. It was fun reading about all the character and seeing them interact.
The daily life and the cosy vibe of it all really worked for me and is one of the aspects I liked about Maddie Day's country store mystery series as well. I already feel like I've gotten to know the characters and I look forward to spending more time with them in the next book.
The mystery was a solid one and I liked seeing how things progressed throughout the book. It didn't keep me guessing too much though due to some important clues not coming to light later on. And when some clues came to light it felt quite obvious who the killer was. There is a lot of Cece asking questions and some characters involved to the mystery she gets to know. One of the suspects got ruled out in an unusual way, which was interesting.
To summarize: Murder Uncorked is a great start to this new series by Maddie Day and I already look forward to the next one. I liked reading about main character Cece who was smart and capable. It made sense how she got involved and I liked how she tried to be smart about investigating, although she still gets in trouble. I liked reading about Cece's relationship with her twin Allie, I haven't read a lot of cozies with a close sister dynamic. Cece has some good friends around her as well as a possible love itnerest. The cozy vibe and reading about Cece's life was one of my favorite parts of this book. The mystery was a good one, but didn't keep me guessing as much. There were some important clues that only came to light late in the book and after that it was quite clear who the murderer was. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to read more about these characters in the next one!
May 10, 2024
Murder Uncorked is the first book in a new series by Maddie. In the Cece Barton Mysteries, we meet Cece, a widowed single mom who moved to Colinas, California to be close to her twin sister. Her daughter is away at college, and Cece is running the local wine bar, Vino y Vida. Cece is trying to fit in, but juggling her job and all the politics of the local wine association, as well as worrying about her relationship with her daughters, she is constantly on her toes. When a local man, one that Cece had argued with, is found murdered, Cece is the prime suspect. With her livelihood and freedom on the line, she begins her own investigation into the death, and with Allie's help, there is no doubt the real killer will be found.
As this is the first book in a series, we get to know Cece, her friends, and family. I enjoy books set in small communities, especially where there is an eclectic and diverse cast of characters. The mystery was an easy one for me to figure, but I was still interested in the story. The book sets up the series with good character development, descriptions of the town, area, and local police, and even a possible love interest for Cece. There were a lot of suspects, and some red herrings to add interest to the story. The showdown was great, with Cece coming out on top, with some minor injuries. I enjoyed this one enough to look forward to the next book to see what Cece gets up to.
As this is the first book in a series, we get to know Cece, her friends, and family. I enjoy books set in small communities, especially where there is an eclectic and diverse cast of characters. The mystery was an easy one for me to figure, but I was still interested in the story. The book sets up the series with good character development, descriptions of the town, area, and local police, and even a possible love interest for Cece. There were a lot of suspects, and some red herrings to add interest to the story. The showdown was great, with Cece coming out on top, with some minor injuries. I enjoyed this one enough to look forward to the next book to see what Cece gets up to.
October 21, 2023
An exciting new cozy mystery set in a small California tourist town and centered around a wine bar serving locally grown wines. Cece finds herself in the midst of a police investigation when a very unlikable man that she only tangentially knew dies and the police start asking her for an alibi. There are so many potential suspects that Cece who is definitely not an investigator by any means, must turn into an investigator to clear her name. However, it seems the killer may not be satisfied with just one killing! The town is well described so that you feel as if you are standing in the streets next to Cece as she travels about. The characters are extremely realistic with lots of realistic issues that they are unraveling and which Cece gets to know about as she talks to people. I will definitely be adding this one to my must-read list and will be waiting rather impatiently for the next book to drop!
October 25, 2023
I received this book as a part of a Goodreads giveaway. Usually ARCs and giveaway books fall to the bottom of my TBR, but it was set in October so I had to read it now! It’s a simple cozy mystery, maybe a bit more targeted to older women than myself, but enjoyable nonetheless. I wouldn’t consider the mystery to be earth-shattering, and the writing was a bit tell-not-show. Still, it’s a good palette cleanser that you can easily consume in 2-3 hours. Plus the cover is soooo cute. 3/5
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