This is the third book in the Sommelier Mysteries series by Nadine Nettmann who is actually a Master Sommelier. Anything you read in the book isn’t just research, it’s this author being knowledgeable about her subject, pretty impressive even if you don’t know anything about wine (that would be me). I had been really anxious for this book to come out. I voluntarily read and reviewed the book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
My Goodreads review:
Pairing a Deception by Nadine Nettmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had borrowed both of the first two books of this series from my library and enjoyed them so much, I was thrilled when this one was available for request on NetGalley before its recent release. I am voluntarily reviewing the book after reading it.
It was such a fun theme, a Wine and Food Festival and I love how Katie and Dean’s relationship had developed in the six months that passed from the last book, obviously in a good direction since he was with her for the weekend. I was really fooled by who the killer was, had no idea until the clues started pointing that way. Even then I wasn’t really sure since the author did such a good of having several other likely suspects or maybe unlikely 😉
Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend Dean were attending a Wine and Food Festival as a relaxing getaway, or about as relaxing as it can get when one of the festival guests ends up murdered outside of the festival emcee’s hotel room. Katie and Dean were on the case and by the last day they had it wrapped up, maybe not as neatly as they’d hoped since she managed to get hurt in the take down. But she was ready as ever to take her Advanced Sommelier exam since the festival had given her some practice especially with blind testing.
Katie and Dean were the only regulars in this installment since they were actually on a little getaway for the weekend. Darius from the restaurant showed up towards the end. The festival characters of Walt and Ben were absolutely hilarious at times. I can just see these two old married guys ditching their wives for a weekend of drinking as many different kinds of wines as they could. Hudson, the festival emcee who was a Master Sommelier and would proctor the Advanced exam, seemed like a likable enough guy. He was definitely not stuffy and had a good personality for running a big festival. I liked how he was willing to hang out with festival members.
I would love to see Katie continue with her police training from earlier years since she and Dean make a really good team solving these mysteries. But I can tell her heart is really into her sommelier job. I can’t wait to find out if she passed her Advanced Sommelier exam in the next book–at least I’m hoping for more books in the series.
Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery 