Dollycas's Thoughts
The author takes a new approach for this second book in the series following One Foot in the Grape. She gives us a version of a locked room mystery, on a moving train.
Penny Lively and her neighbor and fellow winery owner, Antonia Martinelli have been asked to invest some land into a project that would have a train traveling through wine country and right pass their vineyards. They along with Chantal, Antonia's daughter, and Connor, Penny's winery manager, travel to Monterey County to meet with other investors and get more details about the plan. Penny cringes at the idea of Chantal accompanying them on the trip. It's not enough that she blatantly flirts with Connor, but she will probably flirt with any man she meets. The pairs decide to travel separately but when they arrive they are forced to spend time together and just as expected Chantal causes trouble almost immediately A Knock Down Fight with an investor's wife. O.K. maybe it was totally her fault but not long after the train leaves the station, it comes to a screeching halt and that investor's wife is found dead. You guessed it, Chantal, is suspect numero uno. While Penny may not like Chantal she knows Chantal didn't kill this woman. With Antonia's gentle shove Penny starts her own little investigation. Someone on that train is a murderer and she needs to figure out who before her caboose it cooked.
This mystery was ripe for the picking and a pure pleasure to read. We leave Cypress Cove behind and arrive at the spectacular Silverado Mission Inn and Spa where we meet the other investors. They are quite a bunch. Bill, the chief engineer for the line, a car dealer and his wife, Big Dave and Tara, from Tennessee, and Jim and Kim from Chicago, in California for the first time. Later we meet Vance Dupont, Big Dave son, Olympio Berninni, owner of one of the local vineyards and a friend of Antonia, and Barb and Seth, who work for both the train line and Berninni. A wonderful mix of personalities and all but Olympio were on the train at the time of the murder along with our group from Cypress Cove.
My favorite character this time was Antonia. I liked the way her relationship with Penny has grown, but Penny still has the secret from the first story. I wonder if she will ever be able to tell Antonia what she knows.
This story moves along at a nice pace as the characters travel the area on train and on foot. In addition to the spa we visit the Berninni Winery. It is much bigger than Antonia's or Penny's winery and built in an extraordinary way.
Every chance Penny gets she is asking questions and trying to put the clues together. The story was perfectly plotted because I didn't have a clue whodunit until the final reveal. The twists and turns along the way were so good. I loved the risk Penny took to bring the case to a conclusion.
After reading this I wish I could really visit the places in this book. I would check in to the Silverado Mission Inn and Spa and probably never leave, I would have to be rich of course, :) and be friends with all the vineyard owners.
Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy your trip to the California wine country.
The author takes a new approach for this second book in the series following One Foot in the Grape. She gives us a version of a locked room mystery, on a moving train.
Penny Lively and her neighbor and fellow winery owner, Antonia Martinelli have been asked to invest some land into a project that would have a train traveling through wine country and right pass their vineyards. They along with Chantal, Antonia's daughter, and Connor, Penny's winery manager, travel to Monterey County to meet with other investors and get more details about the plan. Penny cringes at the idea of Chantal accompanying them on the trip. It's not enough that she blatantly flirts with Connor, but she will probably flirt with any man she meets. The pairs decide to travel separately but when they arrive they are forced to spend time together and just as expected Chantal causes trouble almost immediately A Knock Down Fight with an investor's wife. O.K. maybe it was totally her fault but not long after the train leaves the station, it comes to a screeching halt and that investor's wife is found dead. You guessed it, Chantal, is suspect numero uno. While Penny may not like Chantal she knows Chantal didn't kill this woman. With Antonia's gentle shove Penny starts her own little investigation. Someone on that train is a murderer and she needs to figure out who before her caboose it cooked.
This mystery was ripe for the picking and a pure pleasure to read. We leave Cypress Cove behind and arrive at the spectacular Silverado Mission Inn and Spa where we meet the other investors. They are quite a bunch. Bill, the chief engineer for the line, a car dealer and his wife, Big Dave and Tara, from Tennessee, and Jim and Kim from Chicago, in California for the first time. Later we meet Vance Dupont, Big Dave son, Olympio Berninni, owner of one of the local vineyards and a friend of Antonia, and Barb and Seth, who work for both the train line and Berninni. A wonderful mix of personalities and all but Olympio were on the train at the time of the murder along with our group from Cypress Cove.
My favorite character this time was Antonia. I liked the way her relationship with Penny has grown, but Penny still has the secret from the first story. I wonder if she will ever be able to tell Antonia what she knows.
This story moves along at a nice pace as the characters travel the area on train and on foot. In addition to the spa we visit the Berninni Winery. It is much bigger than Antonia's or Penny's winery and built in an extraordinary way.
Every chance Penny gets she is asking questions and trying to put the clues together. The story was perfectly plotted because I didn't have a clue whodunit until the final reveal. The twists and turns along the way were so good. I loved the risk Penny took to bring the case to a conclusion.
After reading this I wish I could really visit the places in this book. I would check in to the Silverado Mission Inn and Spa and probably never leave, I would have to be rich of course, :) and be friends with all the vineyard owners.
Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy your trip to the California wine country.
Ripe for Murder by Carlene O'Neil is the second book in A Cypress Cover Mystery series. Penelope "Penny" Lively owns Joyeaux Winery in Cypress Cove, California which she inherited from her aunt. Penny and her neighbor (and friend), Antonia Martinelli have been invited to St. Katrina Silverado Mission Inn and Spa by a train line company. The company wants to set up a rail line through the area and it will stop at the local wineries (which will mean more visitors and sales for the wineries). Penny and Antonia will be contributing land instead of money (for the rail line). Connor Lavigne, Penny's manager, will be attending with Penny. Penny is attracted to Connor but has yet to act on it. Maybe they will have a chance to get closer on this trip. Unfortunately, Chantal Martinelli is attending with her mother. Chantal and Penny do not get along. Chantal is a big flirt as well as annoying. One of the potential investors is Dave Dupont of Dupont Automotive who has brought his new wife, Tara (she is a piece of work). The group then boards a train to experience the companies train tours. They are at the Berninni Winery when Chantal and Tara have a fight (cat fight). Penny actually comes to Chantal's defense (shocking). The group departs back to the train. Soon the train comes to a sudden halt. Someone pulled the emergency brake cord. Tara Dupont is dead on the tracks and Chantal is the main suspect (found unconscious in the last car). Penny might not be fond of Chantal, but she does like her mother (who wants her daughter cleared). So Penny starts sleuthing to find Tara's real killer.
Ripe for Murder was too much like a romance novel. I read mystery novels for the mystery (shocking I know). There was too much fixation on Connor by Penny (feeling that Chantal was paying him too much attention, Connor spending time with Chantal, admiring his physique, etc.). Penny and Connor are not even dating. I hate to see what Penny would be like if these two were a couple. One thing that did not make sense was Penny's blood phobia. She faints at the sight of blood (happened more than once). Not a good trait for a sleuth. I think it is supposed to be a quirky trait, but it came across as ridiculous (I think it was just an excuse for her to be caught and carried by Connor). The author did provide good clues and does a credible attempt at misdirection. I did find that the killer was obvious, and I knew who had done the deed as soon as the murder scene was described. Ripe for Murder is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone book (information from the first book is included). I give Ripe for Murder 3 out of 5 stars. I will read the next book in the series to give it another chance (to see if the writer has improved).
I received a complimentary copy of Ripe for Murder from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.
Ripe for Murder was too much like a romance novel. I read mystery novels for the mystery (shocking I know). There was too much fixation on Connor by Penny (feeling that Chantal was paying him too much attention, Connor spending time with Chantal, admiring his physique, etc.). Penny and Connor are not even dating. I hate to see what Penny would be like if these two were a couple. One thing that did not make sense was Penny's blood phobia. She faints at the sight of blood (happened more than once). Not a good trait for a sleuth. I think it is supposed to be a quirky trait, but it came across as ridiculous (I think it was just an excuse for her to be caught and carried by Connor). The author did provide good clues and does a credible attempt at misdirection. I did find that the killer was obvious, and I knew who had done the deed as soon as the murder scene was described. Ripe for Murder is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone book (information from the first book is included). I give Ripe for Murder 3 out of 5 stars. I will read the next book in the series to give it another chance (to see if the writer has improved).
I received a complimentary copy of Ripe for Murder from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.
