Wining and Dying

Cookbook Nook Mystery #10

by Daryl Wood Gerber

Crystal Cove is buzzing with the launch of its fifth annual Art and Wine Festival, when local wineries are paired with local artists to show off their latest creations. Jenna’s thrilled to be showing one of her own amateur paintings at the fair, but her excitement quickly fades when an up-and-coming artist is murdered. What’s more, all the evidence points to a good friend of Jenna’s as the culprit, and she’ll have to use all her wits to prove his innocence before he paints himself into a corner.

Certain that her friend is being framed, Jenna tries to blend in as she starts digging into an array of colorful suspects, including a tech guru with a penchant for stalking women, the mayor’s wayward son, and an older art instructor who might have been closer to the victim than anyone would have guessed. Jenna will have to wine and dine her way through all the clues before she can see the full picture and put the real killer behind bars—all the while avoiding her own brush with death . . .

Includes tantalizing recipes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2021

About the author

Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber writes the Aroma Wellness Mysteries, Literary Dining Mysteries, Fairy Garden Mysteries, Cookbook Nook Mysteries, and French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries.

In addition, Daryl also writes suspense including the stand-alone novel, THE SON'S SECRET, the Aspen Adams novels of suspense, and two more stand-alone titles, DAY OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN.

She has recently delved into the realm of romance with her first Christmas romance, HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

Visit Daryl at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wining and Dying is the 10th book in the Cookbook Nook Mysteries written by Daryl Wood Gerber. I've read all the previous novels in this series and most of Gerber's other series. I have one more to finish before I'm fully current in her entire collection, save a few short stories or stand-alone books from many years ago. Eventually, I'll get to them too. In this series, Jenna Hart, a ~35ish window has found love again, but she also finds a lot of dead bodies in her coastal California town.

As a result of the California fires, Jenna's wedding venue is under repair, and she's searching for a new one. When a food and wine festival comes to town, she enters one of her paintings into a competition, which gets much fiercer by the final round. A competitor is found stabbed to death, and Jenna's bestie's husband, Keller, is suspected of the crime. Toss in the art instructor, some of the judges, a current girlfriend, and ex-girlfriend, and a few newbies in town, and the chase is on to save the day. Even the mayor's unknown son is potentially guilty of something. Unfortunately, Jenna almost winds up dead herself. When will she listen to Cinnamon, Chief of Police?

I have really enjoyed reading this entire series in the last six months. All the characters are well developed. A lot happens between the books, not all of it good. It's a better way to incorporate sadness and death without wondering why characters aren't grieving more. In this installment, many things have changed, including marriages and babies. I find myself growing more and more drawn to this beautiful seaside town, and it made me miss living in California. Now that I'm current on the series, I can take a break for a while on Gerber's work to begin another series... but by year-end, I'll start her Cheese Shop books, written under the name Avery Aames.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trip back to Crystal Cove, California means it is festival time. The Fifth Annual Art and Wine Festival is kicking off with an art poster contest for the next event. Cookbook Nook and Café co-owner, Jenna, is one of the finalists out of several locals. Lots of events are planned around the artsy town, including in local businesses like the Cookbook Nook, for the long weekend. But it is marred by a murder when another contestant is found dead, killed by another artist's sharp tool and also had been poisoned. There had been several conflicts between him and others so there is a group of possible candidates to look at and of course, Jenna has to check them out. Local Police Chief Cinnamon is trying to keep her in line but Jenna and her friend, Bailey, does a little sleuthing to help out their friends. This is a fun addition with quirky, artsy folks, food and wine to taste during the festival activities. There are some interesting relationships that are previously unknown. Lots of surprises. Oh and Jenna and Rhett are trying to tie down a wedding venue.
I received a complimentary ARC from Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine only.

[Daryl Gerber]

As he helped me pour, I leaned in and said, “Is it the full moon or the impending storm or what? I feel like we’ve been cast in a bad soap opera tonight.”

Keller didn’t laugh. He was scowling at Quade, who was yet again approaching Naomi.




You can read more, see a trailer, and find book club questions on my website. https://darylwoodgerber.com

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wining and Dying continues the entertaining Cookbook Nook Mystery series with this 10th installment. I really enjoy this series. The author has done a wonderful job of creating an engaging group of characters that have continued to grow and evolve throughout the series. Jenna Hart, our amateur sleuth, is once again right in the middle of another murder in Crystal Cove. She has a strong sense of justice mixed with a dose of curiosity. When her friend's husband is set up to take the fall for the murder of a fellow artist, Jenna jumps in to "help" Cinnamon try to find the culprit - despite continued pleas from Cinnamon to butt out. There are plenty of suspects to choose from as the victim was not well-liked. The author provides clues that can lead her readers down a number of paths to reach several conclusions as to the killer's identity. I had some thoughts but was never able to fully commit to a suspect.

This is a fun series and the author has a descriptive writing style that allows her readers to become fully immersed in the town of Crystal Cove and whatever murder that happens during the current festival taking place in town. The characters are well developed and reading a book in this series feels like visiting with old friends. I will definitely be continuing with this series for as long as the author continues to write books.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Beyond the Page Publishing, through NetGalley. The thought expressed are my own.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book for this series! I have to admit that I am not caught up on all of them but I didn't feel lost with the story. Some of the relationships are a little more advanced but nothing spoil worthy of the other novels. I love Jenna and her crew. I need a Cookbook Nook and Nook Cafe near me!! Now I need to go back and read the ones I've missed!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber is the 10th A Cookbook Nook Mystery. It is always a pleasure to visit Crystal Cove where Katie is sure to be whipping up a delectable treat for Jenna and her friends. Jenna Hart and Rhett Jackson are working with their wedding planner on their upcoming nuptials. The final touches are also being done on their new home. The characters are the backbone of this charming series. They are warm and friendly. I like how they have evolved since the beginning of the series. The author lets this engaging cast of characters continue to grow, but she has not rushed it (like the romance between Rhett and Jenna). I just love Jenna’s cat, Tigger (I have a weakness for ginger cats). There are plenty of cozy moments for readers to enjoy interspersed with the mystery. When a fellow artist is killed and a friend is framed, Jenna works to uncover the truth. There are several suspects along with good clues and a red herring. I liked piecing together the clues and solving this whodunit. I also enjoyed the suspenseful reveal. One of these days, Chief Cinnamon Pritchett will arrest Jenna out of pique. There were some great cookbook references including a couple for cookies (those are the ones I jotted down). I look forward to Jenna and Rhett’s wedding (hopefully in the next book). There are recipes at the end of the book including one for Katie’s wine cookies. Wining and Dying can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series, though, I think it is best read in order. Wining and Dying is a delightful tale with wonderful wines, pretty paintings, tasty treats, a departed painter, wedding woes, a curious cat, and a framed friend.

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were perfectly suited for the story theme. Jenna and her friend, Bailey took the reader on many adventures. Having the festival over several days brought the reader along for all the activities which brought all the characters into the many parts of the story. The ending was brought to ahead with the realization of who had murdered Quade as well as telling the reader which direction the characters were going in their lives. I plan to read other books in this series as well as looking forward to the next one.

Thanking you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this ARC.

[Micky Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art festival is under way and Jenna's art is in the running for an award, but when a contestant is killed she jumps into action trying to figure out what happened before a dear friend is caused heartbreak if the police arrest the wrong person. A great cozy mystery with a lot of meat on it's bones as there is multiple plots twisting together to make one incredible book. A fantastic setting, wonderful characters and intrigue all create the perfect book to entertain and delight you. This is an excellent series if you haven't already read the previous books you absolutely should!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crystal Cove, California is hosting its fifth
annual Art and Wine Festival.
Jenna Hart owns and runs the Cookbook
Nook with her Aunt Vera. Aunt Vera is a
quirky character that readers will love. She
has a great sense of humor and adds flavor
to the story.
The reader gets to tour the restaurants and
shops, while they enjoy the wine, food and art
along with the tourists and other towns folk.
Jenna is one of the seven amateur finalists in
the town’s art competition. All is going well until
one of the other amateur finalists is discovered
dead.
A well created cast of characters. Several of
the characters have interesting backstories
that will deepen the puzzling plot.
I enjoyed going to the Art and Wine Festival.
I found the story very informative about art,
artist, culinary cookbooks and Latin-themed
cookbooks
I savored the recipes included after the story
ended such as: Asparagus-Gruyere Tart,
Gluten-free Single Crust Dough, Chicken-Basil
Parmesan, Chipotle Dipping Sauce, Chocolate
Mint Muffins, Gluten-free Chocolate Mint Muffins,
Savory Shrimp Appetizer, Wine Cookies and
Gluten-free Thanks Wine Cookies.
Plus you will get to meet Tigger, the cat and Rook,
the Labrador retriever as they embark on living
together.
This is book # 10 in Cookbook Nook Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone as the
past and present mix together effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Wining and Dining.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew,
Net Gallery and Beyond the Page Publishing.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 10 in this series, but I have to admit it is the first I read. I will definitely be reading more in this series as I really enjoyed the setting and characters. I really loved the Cookbook nook which is a place I’d like to find in real life. Jenna is an excellent amateur sleuth and I liked her relationship with the police (definitely felt the love/hate which feels right for a small town amateur sleuth). Jenna is in an art competition and the drama is high as they prepare for the finals. The drama hits the high point when one of the artists is found murdered. Jenna’s friend is the first suspect so she can’t help but investigate as she knows he could not be guilty. I did think her belief that nice and good people could not be guilty was a little naive, but in general I really enjoyed her sleuthing.

[Kathleen Chrisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna Hart is excited to enter an amateur art competition at the fifth annual Art & Wine Festival. Her excitement is quickly dimmed by the drama with the other artists. When one of the talented artists is murdered Jenna must gather all the clues to find the culprit before one of her friends is arrested for the crime.
I enjoyed so many things about this story. The Art & Wine Festival sounds like a place I want to visit and the characters are well developed and believable. The clues are artfully planted, leaving the reader guessing until the very end.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. A fun story. The characters have strong bonds of friendship and family. They are the type that you come back to read book after book to see what is going on with them. Parts did seem overly long. I was annoyed that Jenna puts herself in danger at the end to confront the killer when it really wasn’t necessary. She should have waited for the police. It satisfied my desire for a cozy mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wondered what it would be like to have a friend who is always getting involved in murder investigations.
Jenna would be the perfect friend, she really involves herself in these investigations, much to the chagrin of Cinnamon, the chief of police.
When another murder takes place in Crystal Cove, Jenna is hot on the trail, searching for clues, and making people uncomfortable and nervous.
The author does a fantastic job of bringing all these great characters together, while trying to figure out the latest whodunit.
Wining and Dying is another fun addition to this series by Daryl Wood Gerber.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great going back to visit Crystal Cove to visit some of my favorite book characters. This was definitely a roller coaster ride of a mystery! There were all kinds of secrets, and I wasn't sure who could be trusted, except for the key characters, of course. I'm really enjoying that Jenna has made a good friend out of Pepper and even police chief Cinnamon. But Cinnamon always gets to get in her snarky comments, because it just wouldn't be the same without lol.

I was never sure until Jenna figured it out as to whodunit. And what a showdown! Luckily, the killer was outnumbered. All the pieces of the mystery either fell into place with an explanation or from the killer personally. I'm hoping the next book will be featuring a wedding!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is never a dull moment in Crystal Cove and this week it is the 5th annual Art and Wine Festival. Cookbook Nook owner Jenna Hart is excited about the recognition that her own amateur painting has received but there seems to be a lot of problems brewing in the art scene. This causes a violent end for one of the artists.

The details and descriptions in this story are so well done that you cannot help but envision the setting and immediately feel comfortable with the characters. Thanks to Beyond the Page publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

WINING AND DYING, the tenth book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber, is another delicious addition to a charming series. With food, wine, and art galore showcased on the pages, the reader can’t help but become immersed as they catch up on Jenna Hart’s latest adventure. Trying to plan her wedding to Rhett, run her Cookbook Nook shop, and participate as a competing artist in Crystal Cove’s fifth annual Art and Wine Festival, Jenna never has a dull moment. With all the activities doing on, the reader is given a true sense of the type of person Jenna is – caring, kind, a good listener, and a great friend – to all that she meets. I adore her relationship with her close friends and her family, which includes her co-shop-owning Aunt Vera and her ex-FBI father. One of the strengths of this series are the characters and it’s been a delight watching them grow and change over the years… and all for the better. Another thing I’ve truly enjoyed that as owner of the Cookbook Nook, Jenna stocks a large variety of cookbooks of which she mentions several to fit the theme of the ongoing festival. I’ll have to admit I adore cookbooks and often research and sometimes purchase those cookbooks mentioned on the pages.

When a contentious fellow art contestant is found murdered and it’s clear that the suspect (one of Jenna’s bff’s husband and fellow contestant) has been framed, Jenna vows to help her friends and prove his innocence. But as she delves into the hidden life of the victim, nothing is quite as it seems. In fact, other friends of Jenna just might have reasons to have wanted the man dead which added to the suspense and had me turning pages until the very end. The clues were well placed and there were several twists that had me gasping out loud. With an unexpected reveal, the threads of the story came together in a highly satisfactory conclusion and has me eagerly waiting for the next book!

You can always count on Ms. Gerber providing mouthwatering details about the delectable dishes served around town and at the Cookbook Nook Café. To satisfy the home cook, she provides several recipes at the back of the book and they all sound fantastic!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lori Alden Holuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Daryl Wood Gerber deftly juggles red herrings while weaving together complex plot threads into a rich story of romance, revenge, and murder, while treating us to scrumptious food, tasty wine and breathtaking art as we immerse in Crystal Cove's fifth annual Art and Wine Festival.

Jenna Hart, owner of the Cookbook Nook and a hopeful artist herself, has her hands full keeping up with the tourist invasion while finding time to enjoy the festival with her friends. And if that's not enough, she's venue-shopping for her upcoming wedding. But when one of the featured artists is murdered, Jenna takes on even more as she becomes determined to identify the killer.

Crystal Cove is a fun tourist town, bursting with eccentric characters of all sorts. I enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them (even the ones I loved to hate!) You'll explore the local restaurants, shops and homes in enough detail to make you feel like you're on vacation, living the adventure alongside Jenna and her friends.

At the end of the story you'll find a bonus mini-cookbook with recipes for cookies, muffins and appetizers that are featured throughout the book. I especially liked how the author lets her characters write their own introductions for the recipes. I'm going to be baking some chocolate mint muffins very soon!

My thanks to author Daryl Wood Gerber, NetGalley, and Beyond the Page Publishing for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenna and Aunt Vera are ready for the wine festival. Books have been ordered, events have been scheduled and Jenna’s entry in the art contest is ready for judging. It’s the perfect event until one of the other artists is murdered.

When Naomi becomes a suspect,
Jenna realizes she has to help her friend anyway she can. With so many suspects the police have to do their due diligence, but Jenna knows a few of the suspects can’t be guilty and focuses on her own top candidates for murder. Will Jenna be able to help her friend or paint herself in the corner with a killer on her trail?

This author is one of my favorite! I read all of her series and find her work to be most enjoyable. A solid mystery with plenty of red herrings and a strong female protagonist will make the cozy mystery lover a happy reader, whichever of Daryl Wood Gerber’s books you read! Give her work a read, you won’t be sorry.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books in this series and they are all enjoyable. The town of Crystal Cove sounds amazing. It would be so much fun to visit during one of the many festivals they have. In this case it is an art and wine festival.

Jenna, the main character, has entered the local art contest and when one of her fellow contestants is murdered, she becomes involved in solving the mystery. Her method of investigating is pretty relaxed, and along the way we get to visit many of the festival events. There are several suspects, and we learn some secrets about some of the townspeople.

This is a pleasant book to read. This series always makes me happy. Also, Jenna owns a cookbook store with a shop cat. What’s cooler than that.

I received a free copy from the cozy mystery review crew in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dawn Halverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wining and Dying is the tenth book in Daryl Wood Gerber’s fabulous A Cookbook Nook Mystery series. While some series might feel like they’re losing their zing and becoming a bit stale as they continue on, nothing could be farther from the truth with this highly entertaining series. The mystery’s plot is exciting; the characters are becoming even more defined and relatable; and, the story itself is engaging and zips along at a nice speed. In Wining and Dying, everyone in Crystal Cove is getting ready for the annual Arts and Wine Festival. In addition to the extra prep work she has getting the Cookbook Nook ready for the influx of tourists who will be coming to town for the festival, Jenna is also putting the finishing touches on her own piece of art that she is entering into an art contest with other local artists. When one of those artists is murdered, and one of Jenna’s friends becomes a suspect in the murder, Jenna puts on her detective’s cap to find the real killer, much to the dismay and consternation of her friend the police chief who wants her to stay out of the police’s investigation. Alas, our truth-seeking and curious amateur sleuth will not be deterred when it comes to sifting through each suspect's story and alibi in order to bring a murderer to justice. Whether you’re reading this book while lying on your couch or while relaxing in your favorite recliner, Daryl Wood Gerber’s imagery and immersive descriptions will transport you to Crystal Cove where you will feel like the sights and sounds of this story are unfolding all around you. Although Wining and Dying is the tenth in a series, it can also be read as a stand alone book. If you haven’t tried this series yet, I highly recommend you give it a try along with any of the series by this fabulous author.

I received an ARC from the author and decided to write a review of this book. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions are my own.

[Alicia Kozak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The town is engaged in the annual Art and Wine Festival. Jenna herself is a finalist in the competition to design next year's poster, while also trying to plan a wedding and run the Cookbook Nook. She also sets out to investigate when another artist is murdered and suspicion falls on her friend's husband.

This would be such a neat town to live in, with all the festivals going on. This week is Art and Wine, and they mention the Cinco de Mayo will start next week. It keeps the series fresh and interesting, and provides plenty of new characters and situations. I also love the descriptions- I feel like I'm there at the festival myself. There were several suspects, though Jenna does get fixated on a particular person and keeps coming back to them, sometimes on flimsy reasoning. Probably intended as a red herring but it did seem to be a bit too obvious this time. As usual there's some great recipes included. I especially want to try the chocolate mint muffins. Always a great series and author and looking forward to the next.

[Amber Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being dropped into Crystal Cove during an art festival was so much fun. I found myself yearning for post-Covid days and festivals like this one. The details of jewelry, paintings, and decor were perfectly sprinkled throughout. I really enjoyed the ease of this book. Jenna knows who she is, knows she can piece together a mystery, and is just capable all around. This read felt like hanging out with that confident friend that has her life together and she knows that you’ll get there too. This one also kept me guessing until the very end, but once I paused to look back, every clue was tucked nicely in. I definitely will be reading more books from this author.

[Melissa Lowrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber is the 10th book in the A Cookbook Nook Mystery series. I have had the pleasure of following this fabulous series since the beginning and it never disappoints. This latest installment is another winner! The cast of characters is well developed and you continue to learn new things about them as the series evolves. The mystery is well thought out and engaging and the reader is kept guessing until the end. The author does a fabulous job maintaining the integrity of the series while also providing the reader with a great “stand alone” story if this is the first book they chose to pick up.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wining and Dying is book 10 in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber.

There is a wine and arts festival taking place and Jenna is a finalist in the art competition. All is going well until until another contestant is murdered. When a friend of Jenna’s is accused, she gets involved.

This was an interesting mystery with plenty of suspects. Every time I had it figured out, another person with a motive came to light. The description of the area and the festival made me feel like I was there.

I really enjoy seeing how the characters have grown and relationships have progressed through this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series by one of my very favorite authors. She does a good job of keeping the characters interesting and interactive. The small town of Crystal Cove sounds like a very fun place to visit! The shops and restaurants have such fun names, too. I appreciate the list of the characters in the beginning of the book as it has been a while since I read the last Cookbook Nook book, so it was good to refresh my memory. Jenna continues to look out for her friends after another murder takes place in town. It helps that she is a good listener so people talk to her. Next up, a wedding? Thank you for a fun read!

I forgot to add that the recipes look delicious! And I like that the author wrote them for both regular and gluten-free. Very nice!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna, her immediate family and her friends, too, have a lot of complications going on in their lives, and then comes a murder at the festival to make things even more difficult! As usual, Jenna is doing her own sleuthing to solve the murder, much to the sheriff’s consternation. The publisher's blurb is pretty good, so there's no need to summarize again, and spoilers are just dumb. I really enjoyed reading it, and the recipes are awesome.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Beyond the Page via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl Wood Gerber is one of my favorite authors, and I was happy learn about this latest addition to her Cookbook Nook series. I have read some (but not all) of the books in this series, and believe this one stands just fine on its own. There is a lot of character development that has happened over the course of the series, and you might appreciate some characters more if you're read the earlier books, but you'll have no trouble following the plot even if you haven't read the earlier stories. Plus, Aunt Vera (as always) is hilarious!

The mystery was great, with plenty of suspects and red herrings for Jenna try to sort out. I enjoyed the way she investigated, talking to as many people as possible, and going to places related to the case to see what she could learn. When she finally figured it out (about the same time I did), all the clues made sense, and the culprit and motive were logical.

I especially enjoyed that this mystery was set against Crystal Cove's Arts and Wine Festival. It was fun reading about the various art forms (and wine, of course!), and to see Jenna's art featured and learn more about that part of her background. The included recipes sound both delicious and possible, and I look forward to trying some of them.

Thank you to the author and the Cozy Mystery Review Crew on Facebook for providing me with a paper copy to read.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. There are plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. I will be reading more books in this series as I really enjoyed this one!

Merged review:

I enjoyed reading this. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and need to catch up on the books that I haven't read yet. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. Highly recommend.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wining and Dying, the tenth book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery Series, revolves around Jenna Hart, owner of the Cookbook Nook and Café in Crystal Cove. A yearly art and wine festival takes place during the story, and Jenna is one of the finalists in the art competition. When one of the finalists is murdered and a painting goes missing, Jenna takes it upon herself to find the culprit(s) as the evidence points toward a colleague and friend whom Jenna believes is innocent. Jenna has experience as an amateur sleuth and gets help from family and friends in her quest to find out the truth much to the chagrin of Police Chief Cinnamon Pritchett even though Jenna has been instrumental in the solving of earlier police cases. As the story progresses, the mystery to be solved becomes more complicated as multiple people have a motive for committing the murder, which keeps Jenna and readers guessing as to who might be guilty.

Daryl Wood Gerber has written a riveting mystery with first-rate character development and excellent use of imagery that allows readers to picture the characters and locations clearly and vividly in their minds. The plot moves along at a brisk and steady pace, and the well-placed misleading clues add to the overall tension and suspense. Anyone who enjoys the thrill and excitement of a tangled mystery that needs solving will find this book an enticing read. Along with criminal activities, the storyline includes an exclusive romantic relationship, fun events attended by the townspeople, strong family connections, and loyalty in friendships. Gerber does an excellent job of keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the guilty party is revealed. At the beginning of the book is a helpful list of characters, some of whom are part of the series and others who are introduced in Wining and Dying. At the end are both gluten and gluten-free culinary recipes for people interested in trying food from the story. I highly recommend this series for anyone who likes mysteries with exciting twists, well-developed characters, and true-to-life descriptions.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber is the tenth instalment in 'A Cookbook Nook Mystery' series and my third book in this series.

In this fabulous cozy mystery, it is the fifth annual Art and Wine Festival in the Californian town of Crystal Cove, and Cookbook Nook owner Jenna Hart is a finalist in the art competition. When the body of up and coming, arrogant artist, Quade is found dead and one of Jenna’s friends becomes a suspect in the murder, Jenna puts on her detective’s hat to find the killer, much to the consternation of the police chief who wants her to stay out of the official investigation.

The writing style of Daryl Wood Gerber is excellent and continues to impress me and even with the plethora of cast members, the story is easy to follow. Jenna is a great character and I love her for her savvy and her loyalty. The story whizzes onward and the whodunit aspect was great with plenty of opportunities for the most diligent of armchair detectives to play along. Each clue led to a revelation and I really liked the way things were all neatly wrapped up.

Although I have come into this series late in the day, starting at book eight, the story is self-contained enough to still be immensely enjoyable. This tremendous series is a hit for me and I am looking forward to starting it from the beginning and getting to know all of the characters to a greater degree. If you adore a fantastic cozy mystery, don't miss out on Wining and Dying.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.