What do you think?
Rate this book
Violet Vineyard Murder Mystery #1
Dead on the Vine
Everyone liked Kevin Harlan, even the person who beat him to death with a rusty shovel...
Claire de Montagne, proprietress of St. Helena's Violet Vineyards, has a husband who would rather date a teenager than raise one, an emotionally unstable daughter with a violent ex-boyfriend and a staff of two who treat her more like a mother than a boss. But she can handle all of that. After all, things could be worse.
Much worse.
Claire is preparing for the bottling of Violet's Vintner's Reserve, hoping to stave off bankruptcy for one more year, when her neighbor, Kevin Harlan, is found murdered in her vineyard. That's awful enough, but when her daughter is arrested for the murder Claire is forced to pursue the real killer on her own, placing herself and everyone she loves in the line of fire.
Claire de Montagne, proprietress of St. Helena's Violet Vineyards, has a husband who would rather date a teenager than raise one, an emotionally unstable daughter with a violent ex-boyfriend and a staff of two who treat her more like a mother than a boss. But she can handle all of that. After all, things could be worse.
Much worse.
Claire is preparing for the bottling of Violet's Vintner's Reserve, hoping to stave off bankruptcy for one more year, when her neighbor, Kevin Harlan, is found murdered in her vineyard. That's awful enough, but when her daughter is arrested for the murder Claire is forced to pursue the real killer on her own, placing herself and everyone she loves in the line of fire.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
203 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Harvey
1 book8 followersJM lives and writes in Dallas Texas. The author's childhood was spent in upstate New York's Finger Lake Wine Region. As a youth, JM worked in the family vineyard stretching trellis, tilling rows and trimming vines, all experiences that were invaluable in writing Dead on the Vine, the author's first published novel. JM hopes to generate enough interest in the characters, Claire, Victor, Samson, and the rest, and in the setting at Violet Vineyards, perched on a steep slope of the Mayacamas mountains overlooking the city of St. Helena in beautiful Napa Valley to warrant a series of murder mysteries. With that hope, JM has begun work on the second book in the series, A Vintage to Die For.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 25, 2016
This novel is the first in the series, Vineland Murder Mysteries. It takes place in Napa, CA. The town is St. Helena. This is an area well known for it's wineries and tourist shops. Fine dining and art shows. Great live music as well.
The book opens with us meeting the owner of 'Violet Vineyards,' Clair de Montagne. Clair has a French surname but her personal heritage is Italian/Irish and has the strength of character to prove it. Claire is a protective mother of one daughter, 23 years old. Clair, herself, is just fifty.
Clair is married but having been estranged (for reasons you will learn) for decades is becoming aware of wanting to share her life again.
This book is rich in description of running a vineyard and gardens, the processing of the finished product and sales of same. The wine sounded amazing and so did the food.
Now for the murder (s), in the wee hours of the dawn, Claire is made aware that a favorite neighbor of hers has been found murdered in her vineyard by a shovel. That is just a beginning...I was amazed at the layers this full-length novel kept revealing. People's lies, accidents that weren't, Missing children, vandalism, arsons, love affairs and more! It truly kept me turning the pages and being surprised in almost every chapter. I had a feeling about the culprit by location 4032 but was by no means sure. I was only partially correct.
Now, this is a murder with a lot of description and imaging. Sometimes, I was a bit overwhelmed by what my brain was filling in. This was an excellent novel but not a 'Cozy genre.'
The book opens with us meeting the owner of 'Violet Vineyards,' Clair de Montagne. Clair has a French surname but her personal heritage is Italian/Irish and has the strength of character to prove it. Claire is a protective mother of one daughter, 23 years old. Clair, herself, is just fifty.
Clair is married but having been estranged (for reasons you will learn) for decades is becoming aware of wanting to share her life again.
This book is rich in description of running a vineyard and gardens, the processing of the finished product and sales of same. The wine sounded amazing and so did the food.
Now for the murder (s), in the wee hours of the dawn, Claire is made aware that a favorite neighbor of hers has been found murdered in her vineyard by a shovel. That is just a beginning...I was amazed at the layers this full-length novel kept revealing. People's lies, accidents that weren't, Missing children, vandalism, arsons, love affairs and more! It truly kept me turning the pages and being surprised in almost every chapter. I had a feeling about the culprit by location 4032 but was by no means sure. I was only partially correct.
Now, this is a murder with a lot of description and imaging. Sometimes, I was a bit overwhelmed by what my brain was filling in. This was an excellent novel but not a 'Cozy genre.'
October 23, 2015
Not a bad mystery. But...I got tired of all the smoking references pretty quickly. Every character should have emphysema with how much they smoked. The main character Clare, got hurt often, yet never sought medical help, even when she was at the hospital.
April 14, 2020
Dead on the Vine earns 5/5 Cabernets...Engaging Fun!
A first-in-a-series is always fun! J.M. Harvey, new-to-me author, penned a delightful cozy with a bit of an edge...although too many references to smoking. I love the Napa Valley/St. Helena setting, one I’m personally familiar, and focusing on the ins and outs of a vineyard, something with which I am personally fascinated. The main character, Claire de Montagne, “pretentiously French” in name only, but in ancestry and maybe temperament Italian and Irish, is of a mature age, separated from a philandering husband, mother to a twenty-something daughter with an abusive boyfriend, and owner of Violet Vineyards. She also finds herself channeling her inner amateur detective when her neighbor’s bludgeoned body is found in her vineyard...murder, of course. But, that’s the proverbial can of worms when more crimes and misdemeanors wiggle out: cold cases, felonies, and accidents that prove not to be. It is a well-written drama engagingly complex with rumors, lies, and red herrings to examine closely...then, Boom! A great conclusion. Using a first-person narrative from Claire’s “I” perspective the drama also delves into her personal life and family angst. Exciting. Engaging. Entertaining.
A first-in-a-series is always fun! J.M. Harvey, new-to-me author, penned a delightful cozy with a bit of an edge...although too many references to smoking. I love the Napa Valley/St. Helena setting, one I’m personally familiar, and focusing on the ins and outs of a vineyard, something with which I am personally fascinated. The main character, Claire de Montagne, “pretentiously French” in name only, but in ancestry and maybe temperament Italian and Irish, is of a mature age, separated from a philandering husband, mother to a twenty-something daughter with an abusive boyfriend, and owner of Violet Vineyards. She also finds herself channeling her inner amateur detective when her neighbor’s bludgeoned body is found in her vineyard...murder, of course. But, that’s the proverbial can of worms when more crimes and misdemeanors wiggle out: cold cases, felonies, and accidents that prove not to be. It is a well-written drama engagingly complex with rumors, lies, and red herrings to examine closely...then, Boom! A great conclusion. Using a first-person narrative from Claire’s “I” perspective the drama also delves into her personal life and family angst. Exciting. Engaging. Entertaining.
July 4, 2017
E-Reader Mystery
Claire de Montagne owns, Violet Vineyard. Married but separated, with daughter, Jessica.
She found Kevin Harlan brutally murdered not far from her house.
Kevin was her neighbor who was trying to revive his parents vineyard, that his parents gave him. He had a wife. Their 3 year old daughter, Willow, went missing was murdered. A man confessed and is in prison.
But now you need to read this book. There are so many rumors & lies. This story takes many twists & turns it was hard to take it all in my mind. It blew me away. I
This author is very good.
Claire de Montagne owns, Violet Vineyard. Married but separated, with daughter, Jessica.
She found Kevin Harlan brutally murdered not far from her house.
Kevin was her neighbor who was trying to revive his parents vineyard, that his parents gave him. He had a wife. Their 3 year old daughter, Willow, went missing was murdered. A man confessed and is in prison.
But now you need to read this book. There are so many rumors & lies. This story takes many twists & turns it was hard to take it all in my mind. It blew me away. I
This author is very good.
March 13, 2018
Claire de Montagne owner of Violet Vineyard with a grown daughter and separated from her husband Roger. One morning found the dead body of Kevin Harlan a neighbor in her vineyard. Her daughter Jessica is accused of the murder and jailed. Claire starts to investigate because the police are not doing things fast enough for her. Exciting twists and turns up to the end. The working of the winery and St. Helena is written so well you think you are there!
August 30, 2017
Great mystery
This book is head and shoulders above the average cozy mystery. For one thing, it is longer than most and the characters are better defined, warts and all. I was surprised by the villain and there were a number of twists and turns. I enjoyed the winery setting, there were no typos that I noticed, no sex scenes....just good writing and an interesting plot.
This book is head and shoulders above the average cozy mystery. For one thing, it is longer than most and the characters are better defined, warts and all. I was surprised by the villain and there were a number of twists and turns. I enjoyed the winery setting, there were no typos that I noticed, no sex scenes....just good writing and an interesting plot.
June 25, 2017
A Valley of Wine Murders!!
Fantastic story of murder, murder, & more murder all involved in this Napa Valley mystery
Wonderful characters, plot twist at every turn, and when you think it's all over it's NOT!
Fantastic story of murder, murder, & more murder all involved in this Napa Valley mystery
Wonderful characters, plot twist at every turn, and when you think it's all over it's NOT!
February 23, 2018
Excellent Beginning!!
This is a first in a series and I can’t wait to read more!! Love that the main character is a blunt, over 50, independent woman. The side characters are just as lovable—can imagine myself sitting with them—enjoying a glass of wine....
This is a first in a series and I can’t wait to read more!! Love that the main character is a blunt, over 50, independent woman. The side characters are just as lovable—can imagine myself sitting with them—enjoying a glass of wine....
April 4, 2018
A fun read...
A mostly strong cozy that had a few bumps along the way. Some repetitive phrases. Other than that, it kept my interest and gained momentum as I got deeper into the story.
A mostly strong cozy that had a few bumps along the way. Some repetitive phrases. Other than that, it kept my interest and gained momentum as I got deeper into the story.
July 25, 2019
Claire owns and operates a vineyard. She finds her friend and neighbor dead on her property. This was a wonderful book that kept me on my toes until the end. I did not see it ending the way it did. Every interesting book through and through. I highly recommend starting this series.
September 14, 2019
This was a Kindle freebie, a good mystery that I enjoyed, but I don't think I'll read the next one. A little too violent, and way too many people smoking all the time. I didn't like Claire (owner of Violet Vineyard) enough to continue with the series.
May 12, 2017
Very engaging mystery thriller and especially interesting, since it involves winemaking and vineyards in Napa. A lot of twists and turns as to who did what.
February 9, 2018
Good
the story that shows how murder and this murder brings more on orther murders that happened several years in the past.
the story that shows how murder and this murder brings more on orther murders that happened several years in the past.
February 12, 2018
Entertaining read ... pretty tough wine making lady !!! I will most likely read more about her next adventures...love the Napa Valley setting !
August 14, 2018
This was a so so read. If you have an interest in wine making it would be quite interesting. I didn't realize that when I started to read it.
September 5, 2018
A lot of interesting information about wine-making and running a vineyard. Quirky characters and a story with twists and turns all the way to the end
May 18, 2019
Well worth reading
I read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. So many red herrings that kept you guessing right to the end.......and what an ending!
I read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. So many red herrings that kept you guessing right to the end.......and what an ending!
May 20, 2023
3.5 stars
June 10, 2019
Long
Most cozy mysteries that I have read were short, quick reads. This one was not. It had a plot that was not predictable and well developed characters, but it was hard to stay with it until the very end. The language was sometimes overkill, but all in all,I would read more from this author.
Most cozy mysteries that I have read were short, quick reads. This one was not. It had a plot that was not predictable and well developed characters, but it was hard to stay with it until the very end. The language was sometimes overkill, but all in all,I would read more from this author.
April 29, 2015
The characters in this book are more compelling than I realized. I read this book in two sittings and loved all the twists and turns in the mystery and the plot. Never a dull moment in the book. I did not see much of the ending coming until just before. I did solve the who- done-it part 2/3 through by catching a clue, but still lots of surprises. Claire stays with you after the book ends, and I want more from her daughter too. Her winery staff also held my interest, as did the drunken Marcy, the villains, and even the 4 main police officers. Sometimes the descriptions of the wine growing and making process got long, but it was necessary for the setting and to enhance reader understanding of Claire's business. I also liked that Claire is in her early 50's instead of young. It is nice to read about someone my own age for a change. Overall, an enjoyable book, and I am still thinking about all the characters hours later.
June 5, 2016
I enjoyed this book. I liked the references to life at a vineyard. I liked the character development. I thought it was too long in places. The writer needs a tougher editor. There were some scenarios that didn't flow naturally. Overall, I'd read a second in the series. It's a good summer read but some characters could use work. I'm thinking about Laurel Harlan. Such a shallow development for a villain. Also I have to say I knew who the killer was about the time of the big vineyard party. So no surprises there.
October 22, 2014
I enjoyed the storyline. I like reading books close to home. Napa is not far from me and I have been there many times. I was captured from the beginning and continued to the end. I’m not real patient with books that don’t grab me before the end of the first chapter. I would try other books by this author.
October 6, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. We own a small winery in Paso Robles and the interspersed vineyard facts were great. I would have given this book 5 stars but towards the end it got a tad unrealistic with what occurs. So really this is a 4 3/4 stars review! A well written book that has twists and turns
Read
April 10, 2015Dead on the vine
Good story. Interesting characters. Too much info on growing grapes and wine making.
Most of all you never see the ending coming at any time except at the very end.
Good story. Interesting characters. Too much info on growing grapes and wine making.
Most of all you never see the ending coming at any time except at the very end.
July 11, 2015
This was really good. Very gripping. It took a while to catch on to who the real killer was and why. Kind of a psychological thriller, but more of a cozy than true thriller. I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down. Read it, you'll see why.
October 27, 2014
A good mystery with lots of twists and turns.
July 1, 2017
I liked this one and will definitely read the next one. Lots of knowledge on wine included.
January 9, 2015
I was hooked right from the start. A lot of twists and turns, kept me guessing to the end. Loved this book and would certainly recommend it to everybody. Can't wait to read the next in this series.
January 19, 2015
Loved this book. Loved the characters, how they were developed. This book is definitely worth a read.
August 3, 2016
I liked the book. I like purple and wine. Now I want to go to Napa!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews