What do you think?
Rate this book
Party Planning #5
How to Dine on Killer Wine
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!
307 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Penny Warner
142 books138 followersPenny Warner is an award-winning author of over sixty books, including DEAD BODY LANGUAGE mystery series (Macavity winner), HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY series, and the upcoming Food Festival series. Her middle-grade mystery, THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB, won the Agatha Award for Best Children's Mystery.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 1, 2022
Another fun cozy in the Party Planner series.
Presley Parker hosts a wine tasting event in Napa Valley, only to find between rival wineries and environmentalists, life isn't a bed of roses. The inevitable happens, and the jerk is killed. Presley starts poking around to find out who really killed her, and finds out a lot of things, not the least of which is how to play competitive bingo at a senior center.
Fun and engrossing.
Presley Parker hosts a wine tasting event in Napa Valley, only to find between rival wineries and environmentalists, life isn't a bed of roses. The inevitable happens, and the jerk is killed. Presley starts poking around to find out who really killed her, and finds out a lot of things, not the least of which is how to play competitive bingo at a senior center.
Fun and engrossing.
July 16, 2016
Reasonably good mystery. Good characters and interesting setting. I liked the inclusion of Presley's mother who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's as this added a very human element to her character. I did not particularly care for the wine party tips at the start of each chapter and after a while I just skipped them as they are not my thing and it did not impact the story at all. Cute idea but not really for me. I'd read this author again.
December 24, 2018
Im not sure why I keep trying. A majority of these books are too predictable and don't excite me. There is no suspense or drama that you get in something like Dean Kontz's novels. Each book seem to follow the same pattern which bores me when every book does the same thing in a different way. Boring. They characters are cute but I would like more suspense and character development and less drivel.
July 29, 2017
Sad to see there are no more entries in this series.
August 5, 2019
Even though I came into the series at this point (book #5), it was easy to get to know the characters. All the wine party tips were nice chapter starters. Really good mystery
January 16, 2016
This is one of my favorite series!
Presley Parker's event planning business is the toast of San Francisco. In this installment she takes her business on the road to Napa Valley for a wine tasting event for the Purple Grape, a boutique winery.
JoAnne Douglas, the head of the Green Grape Association, an environmental group, believes the small local wineries are ruining the local environment and she is determined to shut down the event.
But the corks are popped, the amuse-bouches have been served, and a good time was had by all. Well almost everyone. While Presley and her crew was doing the clean up chores, they were shocked by what they found under one of the tables. The what was a who, and none other than JoAnne Douglas and she was quite dead.
Of course all the evidence points to the hosts of the party, but the victim had several individuals that wouldn't mind seeing her corked. Presley is on the case to find the real culprit even if she has to take some time and taste a lot of wine in the process.
Dollycas's Thoughts I love this series and all the reoccurring characters. Meeting the winery owners this time was quite a treat, they are as unique as their homes. The wineries are marvelous, picture a medieval castle complete with suits of armor or a Tuscan style mansion. Penny Warner is so descriptive in her writing you almost feel like you are right there in Napa Valley.
Presley just can't stop herself, she just has to do her own investigating and takes her mother along for the ride. Thankfully Brad is there to clean up most the messes she gets herself into. My favorite character in this edition was definitely Presley's mom. She is battling early Alzheimer's but she doesn't let it slow her down.
Warner also includes some Party Planning Tips for wine tasting parties or those of us just wanting to learn more about wine. We also learn what about another great pastime in the Valley. No spoilers here you will have to read the book.
Pure pleasure to read. Pour yourself a nice glass of wine. Sit back and enjoy this perfect party mystery. It is most definitely A Perfect Escape!
Presley Parker's event planning business is the toast of San Francisco. In this installment she takes her business on the road to Napa Valley for a wine tasting event for the Purple Grape, a boutique winery.
JoAnne Douglas, the head of the Green Grape Association, an environmental group, believes the small local wineries are ruining the local environment and she is determined to shut down the event.
But the corks are popped, the amuse-bouches have been served, and a good time was had by all. Well almost everyone. While Presley and her crew was doing the clean up chores, they were shocked by what they found under one of the tables. The what was a who, and none other than JoAnne Douglas and she was quite dead.
Of course all the evidence points to the hosts of the party, but the victim had several individuals that wouldn't mind seeing her corked. Presley is on the case to find the real culprit even if she has to take some time and taste a lot of wine in the process.
Dollycas's Thoughts I love this series and all the reoccurring characters. Meeting the winery owners this time was quite a treat, they are as unique as their homes. The wineries are marvelous, picture a medieval castle complete with suits of armor or a Tuscan style mansion. Penny Warner is so descriptive in her writing you almost feel like you are right there in Napa Valley.
Presley just can't stop herself, she just has to do her own investigating and takes her mother along for the ride. Thankfully Brad is there to clean up most the messes she gets herself into. My favorite character in this edition was definitely Presley's mom. She is battling early Alzheimer's but she doesn't let it slow her down.
Warner also includes some Party Planning Tips for wine tasting parties or those of us just wanting to learn more about wine. We also learn what about another great pastime in the Valley. No spoilers here you will have to read the book.
Pure pleasure to read. Pour yourself a nice glass of wine. Sit back and enjoy this perfect party mystery. It is most definitely A Perfect Escape!
February 6, 2013
How to Dine on Killer Wine by Penny Warner is the fifth of the Party Planner mysteries, all of which are set in and around San Francisco. This one takes Presley to Napa — one of two large wine producing areas in the North Bay.
Presley has been hired by a winery to put on a party to celebrate the launch of a new line of wines. There's also a lot of bad blood between the rival wineries. At the two extremes: an eco-warrior who wants to get every winery to be green certified; and a giant conglomerate who is buying up the smaller wineries to produce massive amounts of cheap (box) wine.
So of course a guest ends up dead. Her most memorable parties end up this way. And of course, her client is accused with the crime. Somewhere in the middle of the rivalries and the Bingo night gossip is the truth. Presley with the help of her mother are on the case!
Any qualms I had about the direction of the series (see my review of How to Party with a Killer Vampire) were put to rest in How to Dine on Killer Wine. Clearly Presley is back in her element — catering at famous landmarks around the Bay. The Napa Valley felt like Napa and the rivalries came off as believable.
The tension between the different characters as well as Presley's removal from the urban bustle of San Francisco, brings to mind another book I read around the same time, Winter Study by Nevada Barr. The approach, though, is much lighter in Warner's book.
Presley has been hired by a winery to put on a party to celebrate the launch of a new line of wines. There's also a lot of bad blood between the rival wineries. At the two extremes: an eco-warrior who wants to get every winery to be green certified; and a giant conglomerate who is buying up the smaller wineries to produce massive amounts of cheap (box) wine.
So of course a guest ends up dead. Her most memorable parties end up this way. And of course, her client is accused with the crime. Somewhere in the middle of the rivalries and the Bingo night gossip is the truth. Presley with the help of her mother are on the case!
Any qualms I had about the direction of the series (see my review of How to Party with a Killer Vampire) were put to rest in How to Dine on Killer Wine. Clearly Presley is back in her element — catering at famous landmarks around the Bay. The Napa Valley felt like Napa and the rivalries came off as believable.
The tension between the different characters as well as Presley's removal from the urban bustle of San Francisco, brings to mind another book I read around the same time, Winter Study by Nevada Barr. The approach, though, is much lighter in Warner's book.
July 26, 2012
Party event planner, Presley Parker, packs up her crew and mother and heads out to Napa, CA for a wine party event. The hosting vineyard is the "Purple Grape." Presley quickly learns that life is not bucolic for this particular hosting party.
When the body of an opposing winery owner is found beneath the serving table at the end of the party, Presley and all are 'involved' in trying to save the host from a first degree murder charge.
We are taken through, internal fraud, switching wines, blackmail and more in this novel. Meanwhile, Mother is busy with an old, yet new, paramour. Can there be trouble in the Bingo hall?
You will have to help Presley solve these crimes and share a laugh or two. Enjoy!
When the body of an opposing winery owner is found beneath the serving table at the end of the party, Presley and all are 'involved' in trying to save the host from a first degree murder charge.
We are taken through, internal fraud, switching wines, blackmail and more in this novel. Meanwhile, Mother is busy with an old, yet new, paramour. Can there be trouble in the Bingo hall?
You will have to help Presley solve these crimes and share a laugh or two. Enjoy!
October 19, 2014
This is the 5th in a series but the first Party Planner mystery that I've read. I had the opportunity to meet the Author at a book conference, and was going on vacation to the Napa Valley so the title intrigued me. It was a quick easy read, and the action moved forward quickly. The Protagonist was believable and relatable and I could easily visualize the characters, places and activities in my mind's eye as I read. I found it to be enjoyable and look forward to reading more from this author. As a beginning writer myself, I try to read as many different kinds of things as I can and I find something I can learn from every time. This story impressed with the ease and rhythm of reading it and yet it was a page turner I didn't want to put down.
June 30, 2015
I always enjoy an outing with Presley.
This time it is in the Napa Valley and the annoying "green" advocate is killed.
I thought Presley was a bit of a dare devil in this one, although she did try to keep her team up to speed with who she was talking to and where, she seemed to be alone with the suspects a lot.
I enjoyed the Bingo sessions and learning about how the valley is trying to be "green".
The characters were well developed, and the writing was very professional.
For those who like a continuous timeline, there were no interruptions for flashbacks, and no other historical events to distract from the investigation.
I bought a copy of this book and would read more if the series continues.
This time it is in the Napa Valley and the annoying "green" advocate is killed.
I thought Presley was a bit of a dare devil in this one, although she did try to keep her team up to speed with who she was talking to and where, she seemed to be alone with the suspects a lot.
I enjoyed the Bingo sessions and learning about how the valley is trying to be "green".
The characters were well developed, and the writing was very professional.
For those who like a continuous timeline, there were no interruptions for flashbacks, and no other historical events to distract from the investigation.
I bought a copy of this book and would read more if the series continues.
June 22, 2014
This is the fifth in the party planner series but the first one that I've read. Fun read involving San Francisco based party planner Presley Parker who has helped plan a wine tasting party in Napa Valley. Whenever a local environmentalist is found dead after the party, Presley starts snooping to help clear the owner of the winery. Full of interesting characters from her party planning staff, party goers, her crime scene cleaner boyfriend, and her bingo playing, on the verge of Alzheimers grandmother, it kept me entertained. Would definitely read another in the series.
July 23, 2012
I really enjoy this series, even though the main character can be somewhat annoying. This one takes place in wine country, and though what I know about wine you can stick on the head of a pin and still have room left over, I always enjoy books set in this part of the country. I figured out the murderer fairly early on, but the story was good enough for me that it didn't detract from my enjoyment. A fun series and a good addition to it! RECOMMEND!
March 1, 2014
Presley Parker's latest party is a wine tasting in the beautiful Napa Valley. But murder follows her when a despised environmental crusader is found murdered after the party. Convinced the cops have the wrong killer, she starts investigating. I find these books fun. The plot was a bit uneven, but overall an enjoyable read.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 27, 2015
Presley Parker is back again - planning another party when a murder happens. She plays Nancy Drew to try and solve the mystery without getting herself killed. This series is an okay series with an okay mystery. There was a lot of wine references in this story since it was set in Napa, but I think it went a little overboard. Meanwhile her relationship with Brad is on the back burner with barely any mention of their relationship. I wish there was a little more story there.
July 11, 2014
I was so disappointed. While the party planning details were as entertaining as usual the murder and investigation were so poorly plotted! So much relied on coincidences and called for a huge suspension of disbelief.
August 16, 2012
A fun addition to this cozy mystery series!
September 3, 2014
Nice cozy. Are there going to be any more? I have enjoyed the whole series.
August 18, 2016
Presley is up to her old tricks again...in Wine Country! Murder & mayhem was never so robust & full bodied.
April 15, 2016
The Napa Valley and wine--what more could a reader ask for?
August 22, 2012
I have not read any of the other books in this series but now will have to. I enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews