Silenced by Syrah

A Wine Lover's Mystery #3

by Michele Scott

As the Vineyard Manager at Malveaux Estates, Nikki Sands knows a lot about wine pairings, but she has a harder time making matches in her own life. Is it finally time to give up her crush on her boss, Derek Malveaux, and commit to winemaker Andres? With big changes afoot at the Estates, Nikki’s days of wine and roses may be over sooner than she thinks…

Malveaux Estates has added a boutique hotel and spa to its beautiful grounds, and everyone in Napa is abuzz about the hotel’s restaurant, Georges on the Vineyard. Its opening has been delayed a bit by the quirks of star chef Georges Debussey, better known for his cuisine than his couth. When Georges doesn’t return to the kitchen after a relaxing Syrah bath splash at the spa on opening night, Nikki figures the bubbles must have gone to his head. But instead of bubbles, it was a bullet-leaving Nikki to wonder what kind of wine can be paired with murder…

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Wine, Cozy, Romance

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2007

About the author

Michele Scott is an American author and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professional’s Choice, Inc. She has written over forty novels in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult mysteries, fantasy, and women’s fiction. Her thriller Daddy’s Home from her Holly Jennings’ series written under her pen name of AK Alexander has sold over one million copies and was the #1 bestselling book in the UK Amazon. Her thriller Mommy, May I? and was number 2 on the Amazon list.

Subsequently, Daddy’s Home hit #4 in the US Amazon store (over all books). She was a featured author in Jeff Bezos letter to the shareholders and one of fifteen authors invited to the reveal of Kindle Fire. Amazon also produced a short documentary about her and her writing story and featured her in a book on bestselling Amazon writers. Daddy’s Home was also a top ten bestseller on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

Michele’s bestselling mystery series (The Wine Lover’s Mysteries) has gone into multiple printings and has been optioned by a Los Angeles based producer and production company.

Michele is a lifelong equestrian, having horses since she was five-years-old. If you don’t find her at her desk writing, you’re sure to find her at the barn!

Reviews

[Nancy]

Another delightful outing with vineyard manager Nikki Sands. Nikki has her hands full juggling two dashing suitors, but when a big-time chef is shot at the winery and spa, she takes on a new challenge: find the killer before she becomes the next victim. Lovable characters, steady pacing, and secretive suspects will keep you guessing until the end.

[Cindy]

An OK third book in this series. I was getting annoyed at Nikki's on-going disregard for her safety. But as the book progressed, particularly to was the last third of the book, the pace picked up and got more interesting. I'll keep this series on my "fun" reading list.

[Candace Davidson]

Wow, great book, cliff hanger at the end!

[Dara Bohn]

Started but got sick of the gay guys and the triangle romance

[Lybo Buchanan]

The famous chef that the winery hires takes a relaxing "Syrah" bath after an evening of drinking. When he doesn't show up to work, Nikki figures it was the wine, but instead, it was a bullet. I dropped it to a 3 stars...too much of the triangle. I think Nikki knows where her heart really lies, but keeps setting things up that create a riff between them. This should get resolved by the next book though. There is a cliff hanger here in that regard. I do like her fun association with Simon & Marco & how they're willing to help her with her little escapades.

[Ana]

Nikki is juggling boyfriend Andrés and her attraction to boss Derek while waiting for the new restaurant to open in the vineyard. Things come to a halt when the chef is found dead while having a syrah wine bath at the spa. I like the recipes in this series, but I'm not sure about the love triangle. I got really tired of them with the Hannah Swansen series. It is an older book, though, so hopefully it has been resolved by now. I would continue to read this series.

[Joni]

love this series

It is well written, has likable characters and recipes! I didn’t figure out who killed the chef .. total plot twist at the end. Oh and Ms Scott leaves us hanging as to who Nikki gets on a plane with…gotta read the next book and find out.

[Colleen]

Fun mystery! Recipies & wine pairings were an added bonus!

[Agatha Glowacki]

Couldn’t connect with the characters but the mystery was enough to keep me interested

[Blue]

Intrigued

Looking forward to see who Nikki ends up flying with in book number 4. Hard choices. Each have pros and cons.

[clara]

I am enjoying these books---found this one fun, and will continue the series!!!

[Saadia]

Nikki Sands is now a little more experienced in the workings of the winery and familiar with the geography - Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, San Francisco.

She is supposedly carrying a mundane dating relationship with Andres Fernandez for the past 3 months, which has yet to progress beyond a light kiss. That is hard to believe for experienced 30-somethings who have the hots for each other, but go figure... Nikki is finding it hard to decide which man she likes best. She needs to listen to her heart and move on!

There are other characters in the story who pursue the leading men or who romp between the sheets at the drop of a hat.

Lively friendship with the two gay men, Simon and Marco, which make good buddies for Nikki. Author must have drawn these characters from real live persons, maybe?

Story line involves a dead restaurateur and some shady persons in his life who might have designs on his assets... Arson and murder keep Nikki investigating on behalf of the people she cares about. A bit difficult to swallow the whole thing but hey, it is just a light weight mystery.

[Deborah Boerema]

I was about ready to give up on this series. However, a friend gave me Book 4, so I guess I'll stick it out for at least one more. One thing I don't like about the main character, Nikki Sands, is that she doesn't have any girlfriends that she hangs with. Aside from missing the social interaction and emotional support that a BFF or group of friends would provide, I miss that Nikki doesn't have anyone with whom to discuss case details. Therefore, we're constantly reading Nikki's questioning thoughts as she goes over the details in her mind. These thoughts are always along the lines of, "Is Susie as nice as she seems, or did Nikki just have lunch with a killer?" For a woman who's quite determined about getting into dangerous situations while investigating murders, she seems surprisingly indecisive when it comes to reaching conclusions about people's characters. Maybe that's why she's been debating which of two guys she wants to get involved with for three books now.

[Romancing the Book]

Silenced by Syrah is the third novel in Michele Scott's Wine Lover series. It's set in the Napa Valley on a vineyard. The sleuth, Nikki, is the owner's assistant and in this tale she is helping with the opening of a spa, restaurant and hotel at the vineyard. However, when Nikki finds the head chef murdered in his bath at the spa, she decides that she has to find the killer.

I've enjoyed this series from the start and this book was no exception. Ms. Scott has created an interesting set of characters and a fascinating world. And there is a touch of romance, which warms my heart. For those cooks out there, recipes and wine pairings are included to enhance the reading experience. I strongly suggest reading these books from the start of the series (Murder Uncorked and Murder By the Glass).

http://www.romancing-the-book.com/200...

[Susie]

The third in the Wine Lover's Mystery finds Nikki helping Malveaux wineries open a new restaurant and hotel/spa. When the head Chef ends up murdered in the spa, Nikki starts trying to figure out who dunnit, despite being discouraged by the new police detective. And, of course, what would Nikki's life be without her love triangle with Andres and Derek?

Once again Michele Scott brings us a fun mystery with amazing recipes and wine pairings (the Pissaladiere is awesome!) My favorite part of this book was the ending. I had no clue who the murderer would be and the cliffhanger ending was great! Makes me wanna rush out and get book 4.

[Michelle]

Nikki is a modern day Nancy Drew of sorts and very down to earth. This book is easy to read and I did want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I liked she left us hanging in the end about Nikki's love life, although unfortunately I read the back of the next book and it gives it away! If you don't want to have it spoiled, do not read the quick synopsis's of upcoming books - I am sorry I did.

Every now and then there is are still some foul works thrown in that feel out of place for the story and really not necessary.

I enjoyed the ending and found it quite intriguing.

[Patti]

Amusing and informative cosy mystery about a vineyard owner's assistant torn between two attractive men. One of them is her boyfriend and the other is her boss. Throw in the murder of a famous chef, killed while indulging in a treatment at the vineyard's new luxury spa, and you'll understand the stress that likeable heroine Nikki Sands is under. As a bonus, the book is laden with delicious recipes and wonderful suggestions for the perfect wine pairings.

I read this without realizing that it was the 3rd in a series, so now I am looking forward to reading the first two and then any others that Michele Scott has written. I also will be trying the food and wine suggestions!

[Kimberly]

Book 3 in the Wine Lover's Mysteries.
I just love this series. It's a cozy mystery at it's finest. The description of the places, atmosphere, wine and food are perfect. The assortment of characters are fun and believable. The story line sucked me in right away. It included a good combo of humor, romance and mystery. I was definitely shocked by the ending. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I have to find out who Nikki picked and if she ended up going with Andres to Spain or with Derek to Australia!!!

[Kari]

Vineyard Manager Nikki Sands discovers a body in the hottub. Star chef Georges was soaking in a relaxing syrah bath, but when no one heard a peep from his retreat in time, Nikki was sent to see what was going on.
Interwoven with solving the mystery is the romantic triangle of Nikki, pretty-boy boyfriend Andres who wants to whisk her off to Spain for 6 months, and dashing boss and secret crush Derek Malveaux.
Intriguing enough that I want to continue to read the series and get to know this cast of characters better.
Includes recipes and suggested wine pairings from Napa Valley.

[Lanelibrarylady]

Read books 1 & 3 so far...clever detective stories set in Napa Valley, California. Semi-believable, although there are many sub-plots to throw you off the trail. Of course, actress-turned-amateur sleuth Nikki Sands always manages to piece together the murder-mysteries. I love author Michele Scott's descriptions of the characters...the books may be just a bit cheesey, but entertaining reads nonetheless. I will read the remaining 2, just for yuks.

[Natalie]

Meh. I was disappointed. It seems like Scott's editor came to her and said "We need a new book in the series, GO!" The characters are getting cliched, as are some of the locations and set-ups (really, I doubt that Scott has ever been to a strip club or known a stripper....)

That being said, I will continue in the series because I have a feeling things are FINALLY going to heat up between Nikki and Derek.

[Lester Allen]

Fun in the spa or death by relaxation. Nikki has more problems than just a dead body.

The new hotel and spa is ready to hope and Nikki may have a new love but both have problems to solve. Murder and mayhem abound in this fourth book. Will we get a happy ending or will Nikki end up over her head at the spa.

[VJ]

I'm thinking I read this book before, as I vaguely remembered some of the plot. It was a pretty good cozy. Not a lot of clues as to the real killer but a fun ride getting there.

I'm off to read the next book to find out where Nikki ends up next: Spain or Australia?

[Lesley Looper]

This was a decent read, and a nice addition to the series. Love triangles can get a little tiresome, but I am curious about what happens next with the protagonist (and who she chooses!), so I'm sure I'll pick up the next installment.

[Maggie Blumberg]

I love this series! Easy to read and includes recipes and wine pairings - fun :) The author is local too - lives behind Pt. Loma High!

[Helen Taylor]

Third in this great cosy mystery series. Michele left us hanging at the end of this book, waiting to find out how the heroine's romance will develop. Can't wait for the next installment!

[Tammy]

You get to vote on which love interest the protagonist chooses? (Or I would've if I'd read it before the 4th book was written.)

[Sarah]

Love the recipes. A little frustrated by the lovelife strand. Overall enjoyable little mystery.

[Kathy]

I read this book before. It was as good the second time around! I'm waiting on the next book to find out who Nikki picks.

[Sue]

First read this book in 2008. Rereading it in 2012. Still a fun read!