Silenced by Syrah: A Nikki Sands Mystery
By Michele Scott
At Malveaux Estates, Nikki Sands is a virtuoso of wine pairings, but her own love life is a complex blend still waiting to be savored.
As the Vineyard Manager, she’s cultivated more than just grapes; she’s nurtured a lasting crush on her charming boss, Derek Malveaux. Yet, the tantalizing presence of winemaker Andres beckons, leaving Nikki torn between two paths to her heart.
With changes sweeping across the winery, it seems her days of leisurely sipping wine and reveling in roses may be numbered because Malveaux Estates is undergoing a transformation, adding a luxurious boutique hotel and spa to its already enchanting grounds. Napa Valley is abuzz with excitement over the opening of the hotel’s pièce de résistance, Georges on the Vineyard, a restaurant destined to become legendary. But its debut is marred by the idiosyncrasies of the star chef, Georges Debussey—renowned for his culinary artistry, yet equally famous for his lack of social grace. When Georges mysteriously vanishes from the kitchen on opening night soon after an indulgent Syrah bath at the spa, Nikki suspects the bubbles may have gone to his head. But it’s not champagne corks popping—it’s gunshots that reverberate through the night.
Now, Nikki is thrust into a chilling puzzle, wondering which wine pairs best with murder. Can Nikki uncork the secrets hidden within these treacherous vineyards before it’s too late, or will she be left with a bitter aftertaste of deception and danger?
At Malveaux Estates, Nikki Sands is a virtuoso of wine pairings, but her own love life is a complex blend still waiting to be savored.
As the Vineyard Manager, she’s cultivated more than just grapes; she’s nurtured a lasting crush on her charming boss, Derek Malveaux. Yet, the tantalizing presence of winemaker Andres beckons, leaving Nikki torn between two paths to her heart.
With changes sweeping across the winery, it seems her days of leisurely sipping wine and reveling in roses may be numbered because Malveaux Estates is undergoing a transformation, adding a luxurious boutique hotel and spa to its already enchanting grounds. Napa Valley is abuzz with excitement over the opening of the hotel’s pièce de résistance, Georges on the Vineyard, a restaurant destined to become legendary. But its debut is marred by the idiosyncrasies of the star chef, Georges Debussey—renowned for his culinary artistry, yet equally famous for his lack of social grace. When Georges mysteriously vanishes from the kitchen on opening night soon after an indulgent Syrah bath at the spa, Nikki suspects the bubbles may have gone to his head. But it’s not champagne corks popping—it’s gunshots that reverberate through the night.
Now, Nikki is thrust into a chilling puzzle, wondering which wine pairs best with murder. Can Nikki uncork the secrets hidden within these treacherous vineyards before it’s too late, or will she be left with a bitter aftertaste of deception and danger?