Bottle-Shock

Deadman Gulch Mysteries #1

by Kim Fielding

Just don’t call it a midlife crisis.

Everett Vaughn divorced his husband, quit his job as a Chicago attorney, and spent a year wandering the country as he tried to decide what to do with the rest of his life. Now he’s landed temporarily in the former gold rush town of Deadman Gulch, California, where he’s helping his sister open a new bookshop just in time for the annual celebration of local wineries.

When property developer Blake Cannon is in need of a handyman, it seems like an easy way for Everett to pad his dwindling bank account—until Cannon balks at paying him. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Everett soon discovers him dead in Cannon’s wine cellar.

Eager to remove his name from the list of suspects, Everett starts to do a little nosing around, much to the displeasure of his sister and the insufferably smug and handsome investigating sheriff, Sergeant Cole McBeth. In a town where most people are happy to see the last of Cannon but otherwise seem like very nice folk, Everett faces a challenge bigger than any of his courtroom battles.

Genres: M M Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2026

About the author

Kim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that eighth tattoo.

Reviews

[Kim]

I'm so excited for this new series in a new-to-me genre! Bottle-Shock is a cozy mystery set in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Expect an amateur detective in way over his head, a quirky town full of quirky characters, and, of course, a murder to be solved. Oh, and then there's the hunky cop....

If you've read my book Rattlesnake, you can imagine that Deadman Gulch is set not far from there. This is wine country, although it's very different from some of California's glitzier places like Napa and Sonoma. If you're familiar with the region, think Murphys.

This is not a romance, although there's a touch of that in this story (did I mention the hunky cop?). I hope you'll join me in my newest literary direction!

[QuietlyKat]

I’ll start by saying that I’m a big Kim Fielding fan. If I weren’t, I would have DNF’d this one for sure. But since it’s Fielding and since it appears that it’s the first in a series, I really wanted it to work for me and to give it all the way to the end to prove itself. It. Did. Not. Every once in awhile a Fielding story is a swing and a miss for me and this one missed BIG.



I’m not sure what Fielding was going for with this one. Bottle-Shock is set in the US in modern times, with mentions of the COVID shutdown and Steven Universe, so we know it’s current. At the same time, it’s a murder mystery that seems to want to evoke an Andy Griffith 1960’s Mayberry with all the cutesy, fluffy, small town, folksy charm. Maybe that could have worked but I didn’t buy any of it. Everett’s internal monologue is cheesy. His gumshoe investigation and motivations for it are unconvincing and inconsistent. The investigating sheriff is so wholesome and *cough* professional *cough*, he invites the key witness to the murder into his home to discuss possible suspects over dinner with the sheriff’s teenage daughter. The story was scattered and asinine; if I didn’t know it was Fielding, I never would have guessed it.

Typically I don’t 1 star books unless they’re really bad or the messaging is problematic, toxic, offensive or pisses me off somehow, so I guess this one would be 2 stars at most for me but damn did I struggle to finish it. What a HUGE disappointment *sigh*

Thank goodness I borrowed this from the library!

Note to Future Kat: do not ever revisit this book and unless trusted GR friends can attest to significant improvement in the storytelling of the rest of the series, do NOT invest time or money on them. I really did not like anything about this one.

[Ami]

Everett Vaughn arrives in Deadman Gulch, California, courtesy of what can only be described as a midlife crisis. Newly divorced, no longer a lawyer, and trying to figure out what comes next, Everett's initial plan is to help sister open a bookstore. Somehow Everett ends up being hired as handyman by a not-well-liked property developer, and then few days later stumbling across that developer's dead body.

Bottle-Shock is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Kim Fielding, and I think it works well as an introduction. The story is told entirely from Everett's perspective (third person), so we really get to settle into his character.

I enjoyed getting to know the people of Deadman Gulch too and was quite amused to see Everett slowly turn into the town’s everyday jack-of-all-trades. Probably not what he had in mind when he moved there.

The mystery itself was engaging. I liked how Everett approached the investigation and pieced things together. UNFORTUNATELY, the resolution was a bit of a letdown for me as a cozy mystery reader.

Yes, Everett was on the right track -- but he didn’t actually solve the case. The murderer essentially shows up before Everett can fully connect the dots. Even Sergeant Cole McBeth, the lead investigator, doesn't quite get there before the reveal.

So yes, strong setup… but a less satisfying payoff, in my opinion.

That said, I still gave this 4 stars because I'm definitely intrigued by the series. I genuinely enjoyed the small-town vibe of Deadman Gulch. As expected, news travels fast and everyone knows everyone - but thankfully, it doesn’t feel overly nosy or suffocating.

Also, I'm curious to see how Everett settles into his new life - especially with his new cat - and whether a certain romance might develop. (I’m calling it now: Everett and Cole. Feels very on-brand for this genre 😄)

[PaperMoon]

The author is a beloved autobuy for her M-M paranormal romances (for me) and I believe this might be her first cozy-ish murder offering. Whilst the murder itself is nothing to write home about (the victim literally screamed 'Kill me' at the very start of the book), Deadman Gulch proved a truly delightful setting for this new series - populated with a raft of interesting and memorable townsfolk who could well have been plucked from the screens of Schitt's Creek.

The internal snarky voice and musings/imaginings of MC Everett had me rolling about in laughter most of the way through. E.g. “It’s not a date,” Everett reminded himself sternly. It was a search and interrogation… with food. The main love-interest (Cole McBeth) seemed a delightful cross between Steve McGarrett and Gomer Pyle. And then there is the ginger cat!

That said, I screamed aloud in mild frustration after the nth reference to Everett's scalded tongue from coffee. And despite a large number of suspects, the murderer's identity was guessed by midway point. I'm beyond excited as the second book Fool's Gold is already touted in the offing. 4.5 stars

[Terri]

4.5 stars; entertaining, good characters & setting, fun mystery! It meandered here & there, but then, that fit the MC's state of mind, so. This is part one of an ongoing couple, so not a romance, yet. I will definitely get book 2.

[Meep]

I was excited as I love mysteries and some Kim Fielding.
This felt awkward, even the sample was trying too hard, like characters needed to be quirky to be valid.

[Tex Reader]

4.5 of 5 stars - Gay City Slicker Is The New Cowboy In This Here Town

I love westerns, historical and contemporary, and enjoyed how Kim Fielding set the small town scene and had her MC imagining what it was like in the Old West. I'd say her initial flurry into writing a cozy mystery was a success.

I'm always amused at the term "cozy mystery," because how is murder cozy? Well, if Jessica Fletcher and Poirot could pull it off, why not Everett? And like Jessica's town, it'll be interesting to see how many murders there can be in a series in this former gold rush town. But for now, I was fully engaged in this one.

For one, the mystery itself was quite good. First, you wonder about the who and how of the murder. And then, how will Everett get out of it. And it's pretty reasonable in how he tries to do that as an amateur sleuth. The clues are there, which helped me early on, even before Everett (lol, *talking to my screen,* Everett, don't you remember this?!).

For two, Everett is very likeable, almost too perfect - visiting to help his sister, can do any handyman job, but forthrightly says he's not licensed (of course, he is escaping from being an lawyer in Chicago, where I live, so I liked those references). I appreciated that he was middle aged (but "don't call it a mid-life crisis," lol, I can relate to that as well). And while this may be termed m/m romance, I'm sure that is coming in the series. A few teases here where seeds are planted and we'll have to see how they grow.

For three, in addition to those possibilities, a slew of other local characters are introduced that I truly enjoyed in Kim's development of them. Look forward to seeing them, as well as any romantic developments, in the coming sequel.

[Deeze]

Was not sure on this one at the beginning. Everett can be a little childish at times but I think his quirks grew on me over time.

Mystery was OK although like the rest of gulch I didn't really care about the victim.

I did enjoy getting to know the people of gulch and I'm sure I will enjoy Cole and Everett getting closer lol.

A slow and easy start to what I hope will be an ongoing series.

[Sue B]

Everett Vaughn hasn't been living in Deadman Gulch,California for all that long. When his divorce became final, he'd quit his job as a corporate lawyer, moved most of his belongings to a self-storage unit and put Chicago in his rear-view mirror. His divorce had been an amicable one, but divorce always comes with an emotional gut punch. Everett had spent much of the next year just traveling around, seeing the country. He came to Deadman Gulch, more often known by the locals as simply “Gulch" to help his sister with a newly-leased retail space that she and a friend were turning into a book store. They didn’t need Everett's legal skills, good thing seeing as he isn't licensed in California. They needed a chief gopher and cheap hands-on labor, something Everett's status as family made him more than qualified to do.
Now that the Grand Opening is at hand, Everett is kind of at a crossroads. Everett knows what he DOESN'T want to do with himself, such as moving back to Illinois and resuming his law career, but he's up in the air as to what he DOES want. In addition, he does have somewhat of a need for certain niceties in life such as food, water, shelter and gas for his truck.
Blake Cannon is also new in town. He recently bought an older house plus a whole bunch of property on the edge of town. He's trying to develop the property into a new resort and shopping complex. Blake, approaches Everett about doing some repairs at the house. Everett is upfront about not being a licensed contractor and that he's neither insured nor bonded, but he's more than happy to help out and pad his wallet into the bargain. The two men agree upon a to-do list and an hourly wage and so it begins.
Less than a week into the new job however, Everett finds something down in the wine cellar that he can't fix -- Blake Cannon's body, and it appears to have been neither natural causes nor an accident. Not knowing who killed his employer or why is something Everett will not be able to let go of, or (as it turns) keep his nose out of.
This book is a cozy mystery, so I'll say no more about the plot. I don't do spoilers except when said spoiler is eating dessert before the meal.
I loved Everett. While some of his actions in terms of his “investigating" seem rash or foolhardy, Everett actually is neither. He is very deliberate with the choices he makes and the questions he chooses to ask. Had he not been the one to discover the body I'd have thought it odd that he didn't leave the whole thing in the very capable hands of the cops, but he did find the body so there you go.
I'm giving this book a 5/5. The book was a fun read, and while clues to the who-dun-it were there (though, I admit, there were a couple I only caught on to in hindsight), the end was not telegraphed so the reader can really get into the meat of the story.

[Colette]

I received an ARC from the author

Everett Vaughn is not having a mid life crisis - yes he quit his job, yes he divorced his husband, yes he's been floating around finding himself for the last year - but it is NOT a mid life crisis.

He has temporarily settled in Deadman's Gulch to help his sister set up her new bookstore/coffee shop and has taken odd jobs as a handy man/fix it guy. It is one of those jobs that leads to Everett finding a dead body and getting involved in solving this murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in a new series - I like all the characters - Everett is funny and engaging, a little lost but working finding what will make him happy. Charlotte, his sister and Jess or cafe owing partner are well scripted, they and the other colorful residents of the town add local flavor and color to Deadman's Gulch. Sgt Cole McBeth - local law enforcement and future love interest, as Everett says "looked how Everett imagined a Western deputy sheriff ought to look: tall, well-built, and ruggedly handsome" he also has a sense of humor and is, I think, a little out of practice showing interest in someone. He is also the single parent of a precocious young daughter.

Overall I thought this was an even blend of mystery and setting the stage for future books in the series. While the mystery was kind of easy to figure out, the book was nevertheless a fun read. I look forward to the next in this series

[Mia]

The description alone sold me, and the cover sealed it

I haven't started reading yet, but I'm already invested and that says something.
The description opens with "Just don't call it a midlife crisis," and honestly? That one line does more work than most back-cover blurbs do in five paragraphs. It's wry, it's self-aware, and it immediately tells you the kind of voice you're about to spend 400 pages with. A Chicago attorney who divorces, quits, and wanders and lands in a former gold rush town called Deadman Gulch just in time to find a body in a wine cellar. Kim Fielding clearly knows her setup is a little absurd, and she's leaning into it with full confidence.
The cover matches that energy perfectly, it has a warm, sun-baked California feel that hints at both the winery festival backdrop and the slow-burn tension simmering underneath. It doesn't scream "cozy mystery" in the generic sense; it feels like it has a personality.
Between the premise, the tone of the blurb, and Kim Fielding's track record of writing flawed heroes who always find their footing, I already know this one's going to earn more stars by the last page. Picking it up this weekend.

[Jennie Kaplan]

I love this first book in Kim Fielding’s cozy mystery series! The character development - all the details of the side characters that I can anticipate knowing better as the series progresses makes the story relatable and engaging.
In this series, Everett Vaughn is an ex-lawyer with an ex-husband starting over in a small western town. As he figures out what to do next in his life (what to be when he grows up), he finds himself the suspect of a murder. He thinks he just may be able to solve the mystery himself.
I love Everett because he has such a quirky sense of humor and does not take himself too seriously. He has an active imagination and hasn’t quite figured out if he has a crush on the local deputy or the receptionist at the veterinarian’s office.
I definitely want to read what’s next!

[Kaje Harper]

This is a pretty classic cozy mystery. You have the dead man no one liked, the busybody MC - in this case an ex-lawyer in his 40s, and the small town where everyone knows everything. Kim Fielding's solid writing makes this a good read, if you're looking for low-angst in that genre. There is just a hint of romance, but the pace is glacial. There is also a hint of past angst, in the impoverished and bad-parented backstory for Everett and his sister, but it's only touched on lightly here.

I expect we will see advances between Everett and his likely love interest in the series to come. But this first book is more about Everett figuring out what he wants to do with his life, now he's left behind his divorce and being a lawyer, and moved to a small town to support his sister. I am invested enough in Everett and the other characters to pick up the next one when it releases.

[Sunne]

So....Kim Fielding writes a Cozy Mystery. And it was nice, main characters are wholesome, the bad guy was really bad, so no grey area here. A whole cast of supportive side characters, like an older meddling sister and a nosy but nice daughter. And I love cozy mysteries and usually Kim Fielding's writing. I will continue reading this series.....despite it didn't click 100% with me. I'm not sure what was the goal behind Everett's fantasies? Imagining himself as detective in a film noir or similar day dreams? Was it supposed to make him appear quirky? Also the crime itself was...meh...too obvious, I had that cleared too soon and was screaming at them to finally use their brains.
But - that sounds like I didn't enjoy the book, that's wrong. Kim Fielding's writing is very good and it was cute.

[J Braide]

I don't have a lot of experience with KF's work, but this one felt... Soulless is perhaps the best word. I had no idea what the MC wanted. He ran hot and cold but for reasons I couldn't fathom. When he decides he wanted to discover the murderer of this man who was a dick to him—without former experience as an investigator—I had to put the book down. The sentiment felt too much like, "Let's put on a play!" and I just didn't care. I've heard a lot of great things about this author, so I intend to explore her other works.

[Arlen Orchard]

Small town m/m murder mystery with snark and charm

Strong main character elevates the small town mystery with a very slow burn “maybe” romance. Everett is a 40 something former lawyer wading through his mid-life crises who stumbles on a murder. His vivid imagination and just the right amount of snark make him a likable and unlikely hero. A good start for a very promising new series.

[Christy]

4.5 stars ~ I do so adore this author and her first venture into a cozy mystery is outstanding. I only figured out whodunnit about five pages before the reveal and so this was exciting and adventurous. Everett is hilarious with his overactive imagination and Cole is wonderful as well. There are a lot of great secondary characters and I really look forward to the next book.

[Bb]

Good but not great. Everett was kind of quirky and some of his questions were inappropriate. I did like how he was trying to figure out a new life path. I did really like Cole. He seemed like a really solid decent guy and perfect for a deputy sheriff. He was pretty tolerant of Everett's behavior.

Definitely a story in progress.

[T K]

So far I am really enjoying this book.The characters feel well developed, both Everett and the side characters. I also like the small-town setting. The mystery has me interested, and I’m excited to see how it ends and where the series goes next.

[Sharon Cox]

This was exactly what I wanted to read yesterday and I loved every minute of it. It's a cozy mystery with likeable characters, a great setting and a good mystery.
I want to start haunting Kim Fielding now for book 2 in the series.
Highly recommended.

[Spitz]

This belongs to the cozy mystery genre.

[Kobie]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Mystery, not romance,, and still good.

[frankie]

I've read bad Kim Fielding books before, but this is surprisingly bland and hollow. It seems as though her writing has regressed.

[Miriam]

I found this difficult to engage with. Hard to put my finger on anything specifically wrong, just a disconnect between me and the characters.

[Ni]

⭐ 4.5
I truly enjoyed this one. I liked the writer's style, unfussy and heartwarming slice-of-life storytelling. The characters are all endearing, too. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Ann]

Based on the KF's past works I was hoping for a romance that I didn't get.

And even though the property developer was cruel, he did have a point about the bookstore display. A new bookstore in a small town--with no existing brand loyalty and operating on presumably razor thin margin bc they can't afford real employees--needs to attract as many customers as possible. Especially on your grand opening. To create a politically polarizing front window display on your grand opening weekend is shooting yourself in the foot in a way that most businesses wouldn't do.

[Errantknight]

Great start of a new cozy mystery series. For an ex-lawyer, Everett is a very quirky fellow with a delightfully humorous inner dialogue. Really fun read. I'm looking forward to the next installment.