Uncorking a Lie

A Sommelier Mystery #2

by Nadine Nettmann

It was the kind of invitation Katie Stillwell had only dreamed about: a dinner party at the Sonoma mansion of famed wine collector Paul Rafferty to celebrate a rare bottle of wine. Everyone enjoys drinking the $19,000 wine, but Katie realizes it's not the older vintage listed on the label. When she confides in Mr. Rafferty, he asks her to investigate, and she soon discovers the deception goes beyond money. As Katie falls deeper into the world of counterfeit wine, she learns everything is at stake—even her life.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Amateur Sleuth

230 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2017

About the author

Nadine Nettmann, a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, is always on the lookout for great wines and the stories behind them. She pairs every chapter with a wine in her award-nominated Sommelier Mystery Series, which includes Decanting a Murder, Uncorking a Lie, and Pairing a Deception. Her latest novel, The Bootlegger’s Daughter, takes place in Los Angeles where she was born and raised.

Reviews

[Anusha Iyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was psyched to start this book. It’s a story about wine and, as if that’s not enough, each chapter comes with a wine pairing. I thought I would play along…you know 1 glass of an awesome wine per chapter. Needless to say I passed out around the 6th chapter.
Now that I devoured the book and the glasses of wine along with it, I can attest to the good time I had reading it. The story is very easy and instantly engaging. You are in the middle of the mystery from the start. There is ups and downs that the main character experiences that kept me flipping those pages.
Despite such a perfect formula for a great mystery, the book does have its drawbacks.
1. Katie Stillwell
The main character is oddly good at solving mysteries. She lacks the finesse of a detective but still manages to gather clues and string all the dots together. While this could be sheer talent except as the reader you start to wonder if people can afford a $19,000 bottle of wine why can’t they just hire a detective.
She has an awkward presence and seems to continually think in circles. There are countless pages where she mentions studying for the Sommelier exam and how she has no time for dating…but then she totally finds massive amounts of time to talk to random people about this mystery.
With the future books, I expect Katie’s character to gain depth and move on from this monotonous style. I want to learn what triggers Katie’s fears or even what excites her. She seems very one note.
2. The Plot
I understand that this is a mystery and there has to be an event at the start, some clues, and then a big reveal as to the culprit. This story followed that trajectory perfectly. I wished at times it wasn’t so predictable. Katie taking her time driving to and from every suspect’s house to talk to them and gain insight became quite routine and not exciting. When the twists and thrills came, it was the perfect time for them… which was quite predictable.
Given that this was a mystery surrounding wine, I expected the story to get more complex. I expected Katie’s unique skill of being a sommelier would be characterized in multiple ways not just one [her tasting wines over and over again].

The premise of the novel was quite intriguing and I had a lot of lofty expectations going into it. But despite all of that, I still enjoyed the book very much. I’m proud to say it was a quick and easy read. It also gave me a couple of new wines to try out. I wouldn’t be opposed to reading the next in the series either.

A big Thank You to the author and publisher for allowing me to review this ARC!

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in the series about Katie Stillwell, sommelier and sometime sleuth, as she uncovers chicanery in the wine business. She's busy studying for an exam that will take her to a rarified level of wine expert. But the death of the person she confided her suspicions about the provenance of the wine being tasted, leaves her unsure of whom to trust.

[Christina (Mystic) · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 (oh yes... it came very close to my first 1 star of the year)

Blah. Rant incoming... you have been warned. Tagging this whole thing for spoilers too because I just finished reading and my grievances are fresh in my mind.

I was hoping that Uncorking a Lie was going to improve upon Decanting a Murder (which I actually thought was a fairly decent book) but I was just really disappointed. It was a quick read, I'll give it that, but it was so bland and the main character (who I actually didn't mind in the first book) was a complete idiot in this book.

The side characters were not well written and were boring and forgettable. I spent the entire book having to look back at previous chapters so I could remember the difference between Simon and Martin. No one really was ever well described in the book and a few of the characters were very similar and it led to a lot of confusion for me.

The story itself was also not well written. It felt so forced and just didn't really come across as believable. It felt like half the time Katie was leaving her phone in the car (ever hear of a purse or a pocket, Katie?) which of course kept getting her into trouble because she could have easily called for help every time but "Oops! Teehee! I'm so silly I left my phone in my car, AGAIN. I should really break that silly habit." Lady, this is the 2nd time you've been in a situation that involves murder in the last 3 months and you didn't learn from the last time that you needed to bring your phone with you? Please.

And now for my main annoyance with Katie in this book... towards the end of the book Katie escapes from Martin's building. She's literally home free... but then she realizes that she forgets her wine opener and goes back. REALLY?!?!?! It was at this point that I almost threw the book across the room in frustration. I was literally shouting at her while I was reading, "Don't go back! What?! Why? You can't POSSIBLY be this stupid Katie, come on!" Look. I don't care if the wine opener was given to you by the Queen of England. If your life is on the line YOU DON'T GO BACK FOR YOUR DANG WINE OPENER. COME. ON. Was it an attempt at trying to actually bring some suspense or action into the book (of which it was severely lacking both)? I don't even understand why that scene was necessary. Life > wine opener. Seriously. Why was that even a thing?

The ending too was just weird and not believable. So many things happened that didn't need to happen. She's supposed to get into the auction with the help of Trevor but, oh, Trevor's out sick. That's ok though because she can just help some florist and therefore Trevor being sick was a moot point and didn't need to be in there in the first place. Then you have to read for an entire page about the finer points of Katie opening a wine bottle. The whole scene with her interrupting the auction seems highly unlikely. She opens a $6000 of wine that Dean can somehow suddenly afford, sips it, and she isn't somehow thrown out immediately? And then you never actually see Christopher, Vincent, or Alicia arrested but suddenly Katie is safe because she tasted the wine and proved it to be fake. Hooray! *gives a blank stare at the book*

*sigh* I'm really hoping this was just good ol' sequel syndrome rearing it's head, because I actually quite liked Decanting a Murder. Uncorking a Lie was a mess. I came very close to 1 starring it, but I tend to reserve that only for my "Did Not Finish" books. I actually DID finish this book, so I guess I'll give it a 1.5. Plus... y'know... the wine pairings at the beginning of every chapter were still kind of cool I guess.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I love when I can learn something while reading for fun and I learned about wines and a bit about the wine business and wine stewards, while enjoying a well-done mystery.

Right from the start, I was pulled into the story. Katie, the heroine, is a wine steward at a local and restaurant and studying for an exam on her way to becoming a master sommelier. She gets involved when a bottle of wine turns out to be fake and then there's a suspicious death. She's quite good at putting clues together and getting people to talk to her, despite her many insecurities and her constant claims of needing to study. She actually did very little studying but used it as an excuse to avoid life and entanglements. It got frustrating but she did some steps toward less avoidance, and actual studying. It was a little unbelievable at times how easily sleuthing came to her but she was smart and persistent, though she did suffer a few moments of stupidity.

There's some light romance, interesting secondary characters, and lots of information about wine. Nettmann superbly mixed information into the story without dumping it on the reader and wrote a tight story. I didn't guess who the villain was but was genuinely surprised at the reveal. I like when I'm kept guessing and can't figure it out. The ending was a bit over the top but overall the story was engaging and enjoyable. It was a quick read, and I was rooting for Katie to solve the mysteries and help her friend Paul. I look forward to reading more of her adventures

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Stillwell has one solved case under her belt but now she's hoping to really settle into studying for the next Sommelier Certification level. Paul Rafferty, of the regular customers of the restaurant where she works has requested she come as a guest to his dinner party where he is going to open a $19,000 bottle of wine he just won at auction. To a sommelier, this is always a dream come true so Katie is looking forward to an enjoyable evening, not one capped off with a murder and an investigation into the world of counterfeit wines. Katie needs to both clear her own name and save her own skin! This time she does have the help of her friend Detective Dean but there are still some close calls. After a second murder, Katie and Dean are afraid the killer is definitely going after Katie.

I read this in one sitting, it was that good. The author doesn't use a lot of unnecessary details, I like that she cuts to the chase but still gives enough clues and intrigue. That always makes for a quicker and more fun read. I definitely didn't have the killer guessed in this one, Katie beat me to it! ;) I hope the next book will let Katie and her dad work out their issues. In the first book he was really proud of her for going for her Certified Sommelier but this one starts out with them not speaking due to what he found out she had done as a teenager. I wish that Tessa had been in this one more. It was fun to reconnect with her and was just the perfect errand for her to go on with Katie. Although I did enjoy the growing relationship between Dean and Katie which could be why the author didn't focus much on Tessa in this book. I am very anxious to find out when the next Sommelier Mystery comes out!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie Stillwell is back tasting wine and solving mysteries. Once again, she's hoping to study for the next level in her Sommelier Certification Program, continue her job at Trentino and make enough money to pay her bills. When Paul Rafferty, one of the regular customers at Trentino's invites her to his dinner party where he is going to open a $19,000 bottle of wine he just won at auction, she jumps at the chance. Once there, she feels a bit out of place, until it comes to the wine opening and tasting. What started off as a night of wonderful expectations, ends with a murder and a counterfeit wine. Paul asks her to investigate to find out who duped him. As the investigation continues, Katie needs to clear both hers and Paul's names. She hooks up with once again with Detective Dean who is able to assist her with some of her sleuthing. After a second murder, Katie and Dean are afraid the killer is definitely going after Katie.

This is not a long book and I read it in a few hours. The story was well paced and moved along quickly. One thing I really liked was that the clues and the investigation were all about wine, so it seemed realistic that a sommelier would be able to unearth them. As a protagonist in this story, Katie seemed to be more self assured but still took a lot of chances. Katie is a flawed character who has poor self-esteem caused by her past. I hope as her relationship with Dean flourishes, she might become more positive. My only question, is how does a person who has very little money, spend so much time driving around? Overall, this was a good mystery with some interesting characters and of course wine. I enjoyed it a bit more than the last one and look forward to reading the newest book in this series.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie is studying to be a Sommelier while working at a trendy restaurant. One of the men she knows as a customer, invites her to a dinner party where he will be opening a rare bottle of wine he has acquired at an auction. Only there is something wrong with the wine and his assistant dies mysteriously during the dinner. Katie investigates and uncovers a counterfeit wine ring.

This is the second in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed the first as well (which was an Agatha Nominee). Katie is an interesting character who is smart and knows her wine inside and out. I love the wine info and I enjoy her burgeoning relationship with Dean from the first book.

I found this one just as great as the first and look forward to the next one.

The only thing I missed in this, is not enough Tessa (her best friend)

[Melisende · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this second outing, Kate Stillwell - sommelier in training - is attending an exclusive dinner party in which a special vintage is about to be opened. However, all is not what it seems and Katie puts on her sleuthing cap and starts an investigation into the host, Paul Rafferty.

This was a quick light read - a heady mix of wine and murder - as we are drawn into the counterfeit wine scene. The character of Katie still annoys me - she has to be the centre of attention; she has to be "the" expert, which makes her seem like a know-it-all and someone with more experience than she should have.

Having said that, there is a good build up to the plot twists and reveal. A good follow on from Decanting A Murder.

[Melanie Hooyenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I say whenever I sample the wine at a restaurant, "this is good!"

Nettmann's latest novel has me eyeing my bottles of wine with a bit of suspicion. I never knew there was such a thing as counterfeit wine, but Nadine not only shows us the underbelly of the wine world, she keeps us thirsting for more. Uncertain who to trust, the main character Katie must solve a murder and figure out who's behind the counterfeit wine... before it's too late.

[Jemima Pett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Sommelier book by Nadine Nettman, following on from the highly enjoyable Decanting a Murder which I read last May. Katie has passed the first level of her Master of Wine exams, but is now focused on the Advanced level. Her general demeanour has eased a little, though, and I found her a much more comfortable character - still driven, but not quite so full-on! I love the inclusion of the wine detail in these books. I suspect if you don't like wine... what am I saying? I'm sure you wouldn't have read this far if you found the topic abhorrent. It's all about wine, and there's always more to learn about the subject, so finding that Katie's wonderful palate has detected a counterfeit one - a recent win in a bottle sold as an old master - we embark on a lesson in fakery.

There are a limited number of people involved in the murder, but Katie takes up the investigation when she thinks the police are still treating it as an accidental death. That's all fair, in my view, and this time she does a lot of unearthing clues and motives because of her wine expertise, rather than general nosiness. Altogether I found the plot to be very well-balanced and the treatment of the police fair.

Even Dean (her love interest from last time, whom she has been stringing along a bit), is treated fairly in this book. The tendency of the author to throw Katie into dangerous situations at the drop of a hat seems to be as a result of Katie's impetuous nature, rather than wilful disregard for life and limb.

Uncorking a Lie is an easy, clueful crime mystery, and I finished it in one sitting. That is, I could have put it down, but since I had the time to indulge myself for a change, I really didn't want to.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Loved the development of the characters and the storyline. This is a quick, fun read. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Stillwell is thrilled to be asked to join a dinner party where wine collector Paul Rafferty is planning to share a rare bottle he’s recently purchased with his friends. However, Katie doesn’t think the bottle looks or tastes like an old bottle of wine should. Before the evening is over, someone is dead. When Paul asks Katie to look into what happened, she finds people covering up secrets. Can she find the truth?

Despite growing up in this book’s setting of Sonoma County, California, I’m not a wine guy. That wasn’t a factor for me at all in following this plot based very heavily on wines. Everything I needed to know was expertly explained. The plot was fast with lots of twists and clues to keep me engaged. The book also has strong characters, both returning and new.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/un...


Uncorking a Lie
A Sommelier Mystery, Book#2
By Nadine Nettmann
ISBN13: 9780738750620
Author’s Website: http://nadinenettmann.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra


Summary

It was the kind of invitation Katie Stillwell had only dreamed about: a dinner party at the Sonoma mansion of famed wine collector Paul Rafferty to celebrate a rare bottle of wine. Everyone enjoys drinking the $19,000 wine, but Katie realizes it’s not the older vintage listed on the label. When she confides in Mr. Rafferty, he asks her to investigate, and she soon discovers the deception goes beyond money. As Katie falls deeper into the world of counterfeit wine, she learns everything is at stake—even her life.

Review

I have discovered a new author to me…combining a number of my favourite things – reading in general, reading cozy mysteries specifically and wine – all in one fun story. A wonderful pairing this is.

Uncorking a Lie (the second book in the Sommelier Mystery series) begins with Katie Stillwell (sommelier at Trentino’s) receiving a dinner invitation to the home of Paul Rafferty (wine collector). Served at dinner was the 1975 Chateau Clair Bleu that Paul had purchased at an auction recently for $19,000. During the festivities, Cooper Maxwell (Paul’s assistant) heads down to the wine cellar. Cooper does not return in a timely fashion so Katie goes after Cooper but instead finds Cooper dead at the bottom of the stairs. Initially, his death is thought to be an accident, but following the autopsy, it is now changed to homicide. So, all the dinner guests are now suspects, even Katie. So, what is a girl to do to clear her name but solve the mystery herself.

One of Katie’s thoughts certainly parallel mine with respect to keeping bottles of wine:

“I understand saving special bottles for long periods of time, but to know that a wine would never be released from the bottle, never to get to live out its purpose of being enjoyed and savored, always gave me a tinge of sadness.”

In true sommelier fashion, Katie sipped wine while talking with Roberto and identified the wine with no problem while she was investigating:

“I swirled the wind and took a deep sniff, a heavy scent of lychee floating from the glass. I sipped. The wine was well-balanced with almost a limestone quality to it. There was grapefruit and lychee, along with strong minerality. My mind raced to identify the wine. Possible varietals included Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling… It’s an Alsatian Gewürztraminer. Gotta love that lychee.”

The mystery of “whodunit” managed to keep me guessing until the end – a quality I like in this genre. So many suspects Katie had to weed through. The relationship between them all certainly added depth. At times I was a bit frustrated with Katie…. for gosh sakes she had a concussion and was told to stay put but no…. she had to go and track down the bad guys herself. That certainly left me on the edge of my seat for a few pages 🙂 . She seemed so meticulous with respect to her sommelier duties and studies but when it came to sleuthing, she did not seem nearly as organized. But in the end, the bad guy was caught and all is well in the Napa Valley once again.

I found the interactions with Dean plausible and sweet in a “budding relationship” sort of way. I can’t wait to see what the next installment of the Sommelier Mystery series has in store for Katie and Dean.

“Katie, I’d do anything for you. Don’t you know that?” His blue eyes sparkled and there was a moment of electricity between us.

I have already obtained book one, Decanting a Murder, and cannot wait to start reading it. Hopefully more books are in the works for this series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uncorking a Lie by Nadine Nettmann is the second book in A Sommelier Mystery series. It is January in San Francisco, California. Katie Stillwell is a sommelier at Trentino. Katie is surprised when she receives a dinner invitation from frequent customer, Paul Rafferty. Paul has recently purchased a 1975 Chateau Clair Bleu, and he will be opening it at the dinner. Katie arrives and is greeted by Paul’s assistant, Cooper Maxwell. Cooper has been flirting with Katie, but she does not have time for a relationship. Other attendees are Leanor Langley, Simon Watkins, Roberto Marini, and Alicia Trager along with her husband, Martin. The group sits down to eat and Paul has Katie open the wine (which has special meaning to Paul). One sip and Katie knows that the wine is a forgery. She does not want to ruin Paul’s night by telling him, but Cooper can tell something is wrong. Katie tells Cooper who then starts asking the other guests rather pointed questions. Cooper disappears after dinner into the wine cellar. When he does not return, Katie goes looking for him and finds him at the bottom of the steps. Cooper is rushed to the hospital, but he does not survive. The next day Paul arrives at Trentino and Katie tells him about the fake wine. Paul purchased the wine at an auction from a private seller. He hires Katie to find the seller for him. But Cooper’s killer is less than thrilled with Katie’s nosy questions. Will Katie be able to unmask the killer before he strikes out at her?

Uncorking a Lie follows the traditional formula for a cozy mystery. There is a dinner (the event), a victim, investigation, and reveal. The mystery was simple, and the identity of the culprit is easy to decipher. Katie Stillwell is an awkward character (and hard to like). Katie lacks discretion when sleuthing. She is unable to pull off her own cover story (it is obvious she is lying). Katie continually mentions she has no time in her life for dating. She is too busy working and studying for the next level of the sommelier exam (she always has wine on the brain). But she can spend countless hour running around San Francisco and Sonoma Valley asking her pointless questions? Katie is a character who lacks self-esteem and is not willing to let anyone get close to her (she also has daddy issues). I found several bits of information repeated frequently throughout the book (Katie and her exam for instance). I did not feel that the characters were completely fleshed out (very flat) nor was the story. I give Uncorking a Lie 2 out of 5 stars (it was predictable and boring). Uncorking a Lie is just right the length and can be finished in a couple of hours. It is the second book in the series and can be read as a stand-alone. Each chapter has wine pairing suggestions for those who like to imbibe. A Sommelier Mystery series is just not the right cozy mystery series for me. I prefer more engaging characters with a complex mystery.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of meeting author AND Certified Sommelier Nadine Nettmann at Left Coast Crime earlier this year. After hearing her talk about her debut novel, DECANTING A MURDER, I immediately went to the bookstore and bought it. It didn’t take me long to devour the book, all the while wishing I had several of the lovely wines she mentions. I love how she starts each chapter with a “wine pairing” which adds enjoyment to the book… and a run to Total Wine and More to seek out her suggestions. When I found out that she was releasing UNCORKING A LIE in May, I downloaded to my Kindle just as soon as I possibly could and read with total enjoyment.

Back when I was in my twenties, I had the opportunity to live in Napa for a couple of years (bliss!). Nadine Nettman definitely captures both the valley and Sonoma settings, bringing them to life and making the reader feel like they are right there with Katie, the protagonist. It’s obvious the author has a passion for wine and the Napa region and she creatively applies that expertise, allowing Katie to use her wine deducing knowledge to unearth clues and figure out the murderer. There are a variety of suspects to keep the reader guessing while intriguing subplots round out the stories. Another interesting aspect is the way the author describes the characters using the characteristics of different wine varietals.

The protagonist, Katie, is struggling with a bad relationship with her father, after she failed to follow in his footsteps and flunked out of the police academy. She also has suffered a failed relationship and finds herself driven to pass the levels of sommelier testing, leaving no time for friends. The author provides some fascinating insight into the rigorous studying and training involved required to pass the exams. In fact, there is a 60% failure rate! It resonated with me when Katie muses that “maybe damage gives us all a little character,” in regards to people and to grapes when developing wine. And I think that is excellent insight into human nature and the author does a beautiful job weaving it into her delightful books. The Sommelier Mystery series whets your palate with a read that has a lovely bouquet and a full-bodied finish!

[Caryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being introduced in Decanting A Murder, Sommelier Katie Stillwell returns in Uncorking Murder. Paul Rafferty is a regular customer at the restaurant where Katie works. When he is the highest bidder for a rare bottle of wine at an auction, he hosts a dinner for the uncorking at his home and invites Katie. Katie is the only one there that is not part of an apparently tight knit group of friends, who are most curious about who she is and why she was included. Though she is a guest, she offers her expertise at uncorking the special bottle of wine. After the wine is served, she is immediately suspicious that the wine is not what the label says and in fact is neither old nor special. When she shares her doubts with Cooper, Paul’s assistant who is seated next to her, he decides to go to the wine cellar to retrieve the second bottle of wine Paul bought at the auction. When Cooper doesn’t return, Katie goes to get him only to find him unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. From there the mystery really kicks up. There are deaths and other attacks on people connected to the wine. Katie is clearly in danger. But why? What has she stumbled into?

I love the premise of this series. The author is a sommelier and her knowledge shines through. She is able to give readers a good bit of wine history and general information on how wine ages without it becoming preachy. The plot is well developed though I strongly suspected who the culprit was well before the case was solved.

The series is set in and around the Bay area, from San Francisco to Somona. The author really puts the reader in that location including enough local details to make it come alive for readers.

The one thing that keeps it from rating higher for me is that regardless of how smart Katie might be, she has a tendency to go rushing off into obviously dangerous situations. She seems to feel as though only she is capable of handling even the most dangerous people. This is known as the “too stupid to live” flaw of many mystery protagonists. For me, as much as I really liked this book, if the author doesn’t give Katie a bit more common sense, I won’t be reading any future books in the series.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it has been nominated for the 2018 Mary Higgins Clark award. It was a quick read and pretty good as far as theme mysteries (coffee/cheese/cupcake books) go.

There was one thing that I found annoying and that is that Katie thinks that every male she meets is lusting after her and drooling down the front of his shirt. This happens pretty much every time Katie meets someone with a Y chromosome.

On page 5 Katie arrives at a party and a male friend of the host is greeting guests at the door. She knows the man only from seeing him eating lunch at a restaurant with the host. He hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. Katie immediately assumes that he is hitting on her. "I'm not in the market for a boyfriend." In my head the jury would still be out on whether HE was in the market for a boyfriend.

Although she repeatedly reminds us that she is not in the market for a boyfriend, when Katie meets a random Sonoma sheriff's deputy, out of the clear blue sky she interrupts his investigation to ask him if he knows Napa sheriff's department Detective Dean because she is curious to find out how he is. But she's not in the market for a boyfriend...

My usual nit picking: Cooper said back on page 6 that he would like to say that he is Paul's personal sommelier and that Katie is not the only person who opens wine bottles on a regular basis but on page 20 Katie takes over because the job calls for an ah-so and Cooper has never used one. This struck me as odd since I only occasionally open a bottle of wine but have an ah-so in my silverware drawer in the kitchen and know how to use it.

On page 189 the bad guy says "We all do what we can to throw the scent off the trail." What??

Publisher's fault: I hate acknowledgements up front. Curtain calls come at the end of a performance.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I have not a clue about wine I find this series very interesting as it always talking about it. Maybe I will learn something about wine but I doubt it...lol.

Katie is a sommelier at Trentino's and when an acquaintance of hers buys a bottle of wine for 19,000 he invites her and some of his other friends to enjoy his bottle. Katie can tell that something is not right with the wine and that it could be a fake but doesn't want to hurt her host feelings so tries to keep it quiet but Cooper (Paul's assistant) gets the information out of her and decides to investigate in the wine cellar and never comes back. Katie goes and finds him at the bottom of the stairs. He dies from the fall but it seems suspicious to Katie.

When Katie tells Paul about her suspicion about the wine he wants to hire her to look into the matter. He wants to know who might have sold him a counterfeit. There were a lot of good suspects and it had a good mystery.

Katie is a good character and she has anxiety problems. She wants to be a master sommelier but she some times freezes when doing blind tasting, she works with a group of sommelier trying to get better but some times she second guesses herself. She seems to have relationship fears as well because she has a nice guy who wants to get to know her but she put him off and he quit calling but then with this case he is back in her life, so I am hoping she can find a happy medium somewhere.

Overall, it was another good installment in the Sommelier mysteries.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining mystery that is centered in the California wine industry. When I first started it I was in the wrong mindset and thought that the heroine was too focused on her insecurities. However, when I picked it back up again I read it from the beginning and didn't have that experience at all. The heroine is a Certified Sommelier and has been invited to the home of a regular diner of the restaurant where she works in order to enjoy the opening and drinking of a special bottle of wine. While she is a guest, she doesn't know anyone other than the owner and his assistant. When she suspects something is wrong, she finds it hard to keep her disquiet to herself. Then someone is seriously injured and the dinner comes to an end.

I hadn't realized that this is not the first book in the series until reading the mention of several events that had occurred earlier. Those events give her a false confidence when she finds herself drawn into the mystery of wine fraud and then murder. The book is peppered with information on wine and the process of becoming a master sommelier. This last was well-integrated into the plot and the heroine's daily life.

At times Katie really is TSTL, and I became annoyed a couple of times as she repeatedly decided to ignore her better judgment. Fortunately, she does do some intelligent things, and is able to figure out a good part of the mystery on her own.

I read a digital copy provided through NetGalley.

[Grace Koshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

San Francisco sommelier Katie Stillwell gets a dinner invitation to the home of wealthy Sonoma wine collector Paul Rafferty. Rafferty is a regular patron of the restaurant where Katie works and has bought a bottle of 1975 Chateau Clair Bleu, which he intends to serve at the dinner. Katie is horrified when she realises the $19,000 bottle of wine is a fake. After Katie shares her news with Paul's assistant Cooper, he is found badly injured at the foot of Paul's wine cellar steps. When Cooper dies in hospital, Katie thinks his accident is something more sinister and she convinces Rafferty to pay for her snooping. But it is not so easy for Katie to find the identity of the person who donated the fake wine to the auction where Rafferty purchased it. With the help of Napa detective John Dean who worked with Katie on her first murder, she visits several of the dinner party guests who are among the suspects. One has to wonder how plausible it is that Detective Dean would condone and even help Katie's snooping and final plan to publicly confront the wine counterfeiters at a Sonoma wine auction.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Leonide Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in a series of murder mysteries set within a wine connoisseur framework, the authenticity of wine lore shows through the author's background as a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. The protagonist Katie is a young woman who recently passed the Certified Exam and is studying for the Master level, working at a high end restaurant in San Francisco. Told in first person, the story follows her involvement in detecting a fake bottle of 1975 Chateau Clair Bleu, bought for an exorbitant price, and poured at a dinner during which the host's assistant is killed. Katie is recruited to explore the source of producing the fake, and all guests at the dinner are suspects both for the wine forgery and the murder. Her adventures include teaming up with a Napa policeman (her romantic interest) to investigate clues that force her to probe into all the suspects' lives, and puts her own life in danger. It's a fun read, but circumstances become a bit contrived and when the guilty parties are identified, their responses seem too mild for murderers.

[Sherry Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written fast paced cozy mystery. The reader will enter the world and learn about high dollar wine.
This was a fun and interesting read for me giving me a chance to know a little more about wine and it's intrigue. I was fascinated with the world of the Sommelier and wine tasters. I couldn't imagine being a part of that world.
As Katie begins investigation the source of a very expensive bottle of counterfeit wine she soon becomes one of the suspects when it is realized that there has been a murder.
It seems to be a race against time to find the truth and who is telling truth as each participant at the dinner party is questioned.
There is a budding romance that was introduced in book 1 that
begins to warm up a little at the end.

Uncorking A Lie was a nice cozy fast paced easy read.
There weren't too many characters to cause confusion for the reader.

I look forward to reading the series.

I received a complimentary copy.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the ARC received from NetGalley:

Uncorking a Lie takes place some months after the events of Decanting a Murder. Katie Stillwell has passed her sommelier exam and is studying for the Advanced exam. She gets invited to a famed wine collector's house for a dinner party only to determine that the expensive bottle of wine he is sharing with his guest is a counterfeit. The Palate then investigates with her friend Detective Dean in an effort to determine which of the wine collector's friends sold the counterfeit and murdered his friend.

It's a nice follow up to Decanting a Murder and the suspects all seem to have something to hide. There's a red herring that seems a bit contrived in the second half of the book and it doesn't really work to throw a careful reader off the tracks. The escape sequence late in the book and the subsequent bad guy cover up didn't work for me - it just smacks of too many conveniences. Beyond those two issues, it's a good read.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deception. And a murder?

Katie Stillwell is invited to a wine and dine party in which the high-priced bottle of wine (1975 Chateau Clair Bleu) is to be opened. But just one look and later, the smell and the taste confirms Katie's suspicions - the wine is a counterfeit. She talks wabout it with just one person - and soon enough, Cooper is dead.
As Katie continues to investigate the false wine, new and new dirt emerges. And maybe Cooper's death was not just an accident?

Nice book. The authoress obviously knows a lot about wine! It is always nice to be enlightened in one of my favourite subjects.
In my books, this is a cozy mystery, so I am not here for a brilliant solutions (don't get me wrong, this is not a dull book - but neither it is an Agatha Christie). I am here for new information, relatable heroine, the crisp taste of air in January when on vineyards and a nice drift away from my workday. It works, just as a glass of nice, cold rosé on summer evening.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sommelier Katie Stillwell is excited to be invited to a wine collector's dinner party, where she'll have the chance to taste a very expensive and rare bottle of wine he had recently purchased at an auction; however, it is soon very obvious to Katie that the wine everyone else appears to be enjoying is definitely not the wine it's supposed to be, which means someone has made a great deal of money selling a bottle of counterfeit wine to Katie's friend. As Katie begins to investigate the situation, it becomes apparent that someone will do whatever it takes to keep Katie, or anyone else, from learning the identity of the counterfeiter.

I like Katie. Although she makes some rash decisions sometimes, her heart is in the right place. She also sometimes doubts herself, as is only human, but does her best to move forward and beyond her panic attacks. I also love the California wine country setting. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. :-)

[Elisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this cover. I also love that this book is centered around wine and, each chapter has a wine pairing! Anyway, I love it when an author doesn't take forever getting into a story. I understand the need to set the scene and giving context and perhaps some history. I understand that. However, some books I have read feels like I am trudging through mud to get to the actual contents of the story. This book, was not like that. It was engaging and captivating from the very start. The only disappointment for me, it felt a bit predictable. However, that did not stop me from finishing or enjoying this read. This is a quick and easy read, took me a couple days. And, I have a few new wines I want to try!

For my full review, go to:
http://bookjunkiemom.blogspot.com/201...

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very interested in the wine pairing in this book. Lots of good information about wines, the information the sommeliers need to learn, etc. I had heard about fake old wines being discovered some time ago. I never read book one-- I don't think you have to read it to read book 2 -- it's referenced a few times, but very lightly. I was amazed that Dean is so interested in Katie -- if he's as good looking and interesting as the author makes him out to be -- why would he stay interested after she never calls him back? Most men would have long since moved on. Katie keeps mentioning (internally at least not out loud) that her friends call her "the Palate". It's interesting that she's too busy to study right now, but not too busy to investigate a murder. The book was interesting, but I really didn't think the characters made a lot of sense.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sommelier Katie Stillwell is thrilled to receive a dinner invitation from a renowned wine connoisseur. As she witnesses the opening of a rare bottle of wine he bought at auction, her reaction isn’t one of elation but one of dismay. She detects the wine is a fake. Soon murder, greed and deceit swirl around the shady business of counterfeit wines and threaten Katie’s goal to win her Master Sommelier designation. So does police detective Dean, whose interest in Katie may prove more of a distraction. Can she figure out what’s going on so she can get back to what’s important in her life? This delightful murder mystery mixed with a bit of wine lore is a charming debut in the Sommelier mystery series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 2 in a series. I haven't read the first in the series, but that didn't matter.

I liked the premise, and most of the story. I'm not entirely thrilled with the main character. I don't know diddly about wine, I just know what I like. Kate is that wine snob that bugs the crap out of me in real life, I don't really want to listen to her in a cozy. She's not always so pretentious, and at those times I sort of wanted to like her, but all in all, I can't really bring myself to care about her or her companions in this book.

I think I will give anymore books in this series a miss.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book received from the publisher, via NetGalley.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wine and a mystery -- what could be a better pairing? I should have kept notes about the different wines and their traits for future reference because the information here was really well done. Living in Europe, I've seen many of the wines or types of wines in my local stores. I'm pretty sure I'm going to miss the availability and prices when we move back to the States! I highly recommend this book. Maybe uncork a bottle of your favorite wine to accompany your reading!

I read an advance copy of this book through Netgalley so mark your calendars for May so you won't miss this!