About the Book:
When corporate attorney Noli Cooper visits her godparents’ Santa Cruz Mountain winery, she’s hoping for a few quiet days to consider her future. But the future will have to wait. The body of her childhood mentor, a crusading social justice lawyer and local hero, is discovered in a rocky ocean cove. The sheriff is quick to call it suicide. Noli knows he’s wrong. Teaming up with PI Luz Alvarado, Noli dives into a world where nothing is as it seems.
As threats mount and the winery teeters on the brink of ruin, Noli and Luz must navigate a treacherous landscape of greed, revenge, and long-buried secrets. Their investigation weaves through the rich tapestry of California’s vineyard history, the mystery of zinfandel grapes, and the haunting legacy of the Vietnam War. With a murderer on the loose, predatory neighbors circling, and Noli’s godfather framed for murder, the clock is ticking. Can two fearless women from different worlds unravel the truth before it’s too late?
My Review:
This is a good debut novel. A murder is discovered early on so there is an engaging hook at the beginning. It takes a while for the plot to get exciting but it does after a bit. There is a good amateur sleuth in Noli and her investigative actions are balanced with her relationships with others. The plot progresses by following a number of different characters. The narrative is not in first person so it is not confusing. There is more to the story than just solving the mystery, such as Vietnam War vets, their experiences and PTSD. There is a good dose of suspense near the end.
The strength of the novel is the fascinating information about zinfandel grapes and the history of grape varieties in general. There is also an exploration of the culture of grape growers and how grapes are processed. The setting is developed well and helps readers understand prime land for growing grapes.
This is an entertaining mystery woven around growing zinfandel grapes.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author:
Diane Schaffer, a Stanford PhD, is a retired professor and longtime resident of Santa Cruz County. Mortal Zin, her first mystery novel, is rooted in her summer work in a Santa Cruz zinfandel winery, where she became fascinated with the unique history of zinfandel, California’s mystery grape. When she’s not writing, she’s hiking, river kayaking, or reading a good mystery novel. She now lives in Ashland, Oregon, with her husband.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
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