A Saucy Murder

Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mysteries #2

by A.J. Carton

One of Opera’s great sopranos is dead. Was it murder? If so, who killed her? The Roma? The jealous wife? The ruthless understudy? Or was it Emma’s tomato sauce? Newly residing in Blissburg, a quaint, wine country town north of San Francisco that caters to the rich and richer, amateur sleuth Emma Corsi has a week to solve the murder before her second career as a food writer is ruined. Her search entangles her with many of Blissburg’s quirky residents including a hunky Italian celebrity chef and an unlikely suitor named Jack Russo. In this first book of A. J. Carton’s new series, the Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mysteries, Emma must confront a career change, the death of a close friend, and her turbulent relationship with her ambitious, outspoken daughter, Julie, who criticizes Emma’s beau as too sleazy and her wardrobe as too hippy for upscale Blissburg. Things only get worse when Emma becomes a homicide suspect, and Julie finds her successful PR firm threatened with extinction. Will Emma blow off a budding romance, or will she find the killer before she ends up in jail?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2014

About the author

A.J. Carton is a cozy mystery writer and San Francisco native. Her books about Emma Corsi, a food and wine author and sleuth, are set in Sonoma County.


A.J. Carton on Facebook

Reviews

[Valerie]

I'm not one for cozy mysteries, as I think many of them as too twee for me. This one was a lot of fun & I liked how the main character was an older woman. Between the wine, caviar, bad behavior and the descriptions, I had a great read. I bought the other books in this 4 part series as soon as I finished.

[Chris]

This is the 2nd book in a series of 4. Sorry I didn't read the first one but I don't think that it really matters. The characters are likable and developed to the point that you know what they are about. The story itself goes with an even flow most of the time just a few bumps. The best part is that the main character is an elderly woman who is down to earth.

[Anne]

this was really good cozy mystery, it had everything mystery, just a hint of romance and really interesting storyline. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys cozies.

[MoHurley]

I tend to read novels set in a locale I know well with trepidation, but this book was fun. Sure, I know Blissville well, and could unravel the conflation of various landmarks. But I very nearly didn't read the book because, after the opening paragraphs, the story unfolds with rampant consumerism: name brand clothing used as a means to establish character, and, to boot, the list was more suitable for a 45-something year-old material girl, than a 65-year-old grannie sleuth. How does product placement enhance the storyline—is it an infomercial or a novel? It's a classic case of the author indulging in too much telling, and not enough showing. The author needed to use motivation and actions to establish character, not a clothing list. Ugh. Once I wobbled past the triteness, I did enjoy the story. I like the way the novel is structured so that the murder is solved within a week. Characters were interesting and engaging. But a deep read, this is not.


Read my full Amazon review here:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3LJ0TWC...

[Nola Arganbright]

A very well written and well flowing Cozy Mystery with a new to me author.
Emma Corsi is a 65 year old woman who is preparing her amazing Italian tomato sauce at a dinner given by a wealthy client of Julie's, her daughter, PR firm. When the star guest drops dead it is Emma's sauce that is suspected of delivering the poison. Julie and her mother know they must solve the murder before the Tox results are done. They have a week to solve the murder if they hope to save their reputations and their careers.
The story takes place in Blissberg a small town north of San Francisco. The town is home to the wealthy and wealthier, quirky characters and plenty of rumors.
The book is set in the beautiful Sonoma Vineyard area of San Francisco. The author gives the reader great history and descriptions of the area. The only issue I had with the book were the many twists and turns, there were almost too many. The characters were believable and very different from each other.
A great series that I will be reading more of.

[Heather Erickson]

SO enjoyable!

This is one of those books that makes you happy as you read it. I frequently laughed out loud as I read it. Each of the characters was distinct with a voice all their own. The plot was great, and unlike so many mysteries, you were kept guessing until the end. I absolutely lo ed the character, Jack. I hope to see more of him in the next book, which I look forward to reading. The only thing I didn't like was how Emma's daughter spoke to her. She constantly criticised this wonderful, lady. It wasn't enough for me to take away a star, though. The writing style was phenomenal. I felt like I was watching a movie, it was so vivid. Brava!

[Stacei]

Excellent wine country mystery

This was an excellent cozy mystery. Loved Emma. She is at the huge fundraiser, when the opera star is murdered, and her Sauce is featured as a possible cause of the death. As things unfold Emma finds she needs to "help" the police find the guilty party. Although I did figure out the guilty party right away it was still interesting how Emma came up with the right person. Loved Jack and look forward to seeing how things progress. I recommend to all who like the cozy mysteries.

[Candice Ellis]

Great and easy read

A Saucy Murder is a very easy read and very entertaining. The characters were relatable and not over the top. This was a well written book and very hard to put down. The author did a great job of guiding the reader through Emma's thinking process of solving the murder and there was not any stone left unturned. I will enjoy reading the next book in the series.

[Debbie]

Was It The Sauce

Emma Corsi has a new cookbook which she is promoting at a dinner party sponsored by the Buchanons, who own a vineyard. At this dinner, Natasha Vasiliev, an up and coming opera soprano, is murdered. At first the murder is blamed on Emma's sauce, which she prepared for the dinner. Emma, to save her and her daughter's reputation, figure out who the real murderer is. A nice little story about Italians and Romas(gypsies).

[Desi]

This book was ok. I didn't hate it, but I found the main character and her family to be really unlikable, depressed people. They're mean to each other and snobbish about and to pretty much everyone else. I gave this 2 stars because the writing was good. There weren't many grammatical errors and I did finish it, but I won't read anything else by this author.

[Nicki]

Cute story, food mixed with murder

I thought this book had a cute story. I am not an opera fan but I can see that part of the story would interest opera lovers. The mystery was good with plenty of suspects. Placed in wine country added a flair. The story does show the Roma in an unfavorable light.

[Gina]

A.J. Canton's "A Saucy Murder: A Sonoma Wine Country Mystery" was longer than I expected, made me hungry, and was wonderful to have a 60-something heroine! The only thing I found fault with was Emma's daughter... If she were a real person, I probably would have slapped her for her snobbery. Overall, a great novel, and I'd like to read more of Emma's adventures.

[Pernette]

A cute cozy mystery. Things are not always what they seem. Set in Sonoma Wine country a murder takes place and Emma, cookbook author sets out to find the murderer and clear her name as well as her daughter's reputation.

[Diane Wachter]

I guessed the murderer before the characters in the book figured it out, but that didn't spoil it for me. There were enough twists and turns to make it fun. All in all, a pleasant, quick read. Okay.

[Penny Friday-Baker]

Couldn't get into it

Gave up at only 3% into it. Too many Italian references......too sidetracked.....too much unnecessary information. Felt more like a store trying to sell Italy instead of a cozy mystery. Sorry but couldn't get into it.

[Marilyn]

Good

the murder and the many people who were on the list of people who could have committed the murder.surprise. ending

[Ann Winans]

Hooray for Older Women

It was fun to read a good about an older woman as the sleuth.she is a spunky gal with some interesting ways to solve the mystery. A fun read!

[C_lo]

Fun story. Quick read.

[Tru Steamer Moss Diavolo]

I live for a good mystery!

[Jeanne]

Ok

It was just ok. Nothing spectacularly thrilling, funny , romantic , or interesting. Just like many other cozy templates. Was free

[Ht]

kinda funny kinda boring

[Rose Blum]

An entertainment.