Wine influencer turned accidental sleuth Francine Witt heads to New York’s most exclusive gala expecting glamour, gossip, and good champagne. Instead, she finds a perfectly curated family tableau with one glaring someone is missing.
As whispers spread about a figure erased from the Moncrief legacy, the dynasty’s polished façade starts to unravel. Accidents turn deadly, and anyone who gets too close to the truth is quickly silenced.
With her intuitive partner Rosalind at her side—and a sceptical NYPD detective watching closely—Francine digs into a world of privilege, power, and carefully crafted lies. From Capote-style high society to the shadows of a family secret, nothing is quite what it seems.
To expose the truth at the heart of the Moncrief empire, Francine must risk her reputation, her friendships, and perhaps her heart.
Witty, feminist, and irresistibly sharp, POURED OUT uncorks a sparkling new instalment in the Francine Witt Mystery series. Dorothy Parker’s ghost would surely raise a glass, then cut the whole affair to ribbons.
Steve Exeter is a master storyteller whose works captivate readers with their vivid imagination and compelling narratives. With a passion for weaving intricate plots and creating unforgettable characters, Steve has established himself as a prominent voice in literary fiction.
Steve’s journey as a writer began at a young age, fuelled by a love for reading and a fascination with the power of words. Over the years, he has honed his craft, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres and life experiences. His books are known for their rich detail, emotional depth, and the ability to transport readers to new and exciting worlds.
In addition to his novels, Steve is an accomplished filmmaker. His award-winning short film, Òran na h-Eala (Song of the Swan), is a vivid dream exploration of Moira Shearer’s heart and mind, just before and after she agreed to star in Powell and Pressburger’s beloved cinema classic “The Red Shoes.” The film has received extensive critical acclaim for its creativity, depth, and stunning visuals.
Francine and Rosalind are back and better than ever in the 3rd installment of the Francine Witt series.
Fran and Rosalind are invited to an exclusive New York gala hosted by the wealthy and influential Moncrief family. An invite only event that people would do anything to be at... so why is there an empty chair with weird place settings? And why do the family avoid the question at every time? As people around the family start committing suicide Fran and Rosalind are the only ones suspicious that things are not as they seem.
I absolutely adored the characters in this, even all the smaller ones were so well done. The performance art and nature of influential and high society really got your brain thinking about what's real, what's not and others perceptions.
There were tons of really small, beautiful moments in this. Including one at the end that had me tearing up (but I don't want to quote it for fear of spoilers). And also lots of funny moments, heart and friendship.
Highly recommend... can be read in order or as a standalone. Can't wait to read more from Fran in future.
💜 Blurb - Wine influencer turned accidental sleuth Francine Witt heads to New York’s most exclusive gala expecting glamour, gossip, and good champagne. Instead, she finds a perfectly curated family tableau with one glaring someone is missing. As whispers spread about a figure erased from the Moncrief legacy, the dynasty’s polished façade starts to unravel. Accidents turn deadly, and anyone who gets too close to the truth is quickly silenced. With her intuitive partner Rosalind at her side—and a sceptical NYPD detective watching closely—Francine digs into a world of privilege, power, and carefully crafted lies. From Capote-style high society to the shadows of a family secret, nothing is quite what it seems. To expose the truth at the heart of the Moncrief empire, Francine must risk her reputation, her friendships, and perhaps her heart. Witty, feminist, and irresistibly sharp, POURED OUT uncorks a sparkling new instalment in the Francine Witt Mystery series. Dorothy Parker’s ghost would surely raise a glass, then cut the whole affair to ribbons. 🩵 Review - I really enjoyed the first two books in the Francine Witt Mystery series and Poured Out certainly didn't disappoint. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved following Francine's adventures in the story. There were even some funny parts that I found myself laughing at. The author is a brilliant writer and I look forward to seeing what he writes next. I can't recommend it and the other books in the series enough. 💝 Thank you to the author, Steve Exeter for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
‘Why should somebody want to hide these photos?’ – A scintillating novel!
Author/filmmaker Steve Exeter, highly regarded for his historical series SEVERUS, combines wit, charm, style, and a fascinating dalliance with high society in this third volume of his cozy mystery series – POURED OUT A Francine Witt Mystery. Francine Witt is a blogger, influencer and wine expert and the novel opens the publication of Francine’s ‘The Queenmaker: The Lost Life of Penelope Radcliff’ and that lifts the lid off this mystery excursion through the secrets of the wealthy Moncrief dynasty, opening at the Moncrief Ball (about as rich as it gets!). And so we’re off to a new adventure!
Incorporating appropriate illustrations between chapters, Exeter has polished his tremendously entertaining primary character - Francine Witt - and the admixture of contemporary tools of communication as in Francine’s expertise with wine topics with a tale that includes immersing the reader with feminine history and a cauldron of secrets makes for a unique and wholly satisfying novel. Thankfully Exeter has decided to continue his adventures with this memorable journalist cum ‘detective.’