Death in a Wine Dark Sea - Hardcover

Lisa King

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1579622828 ISBN 13: 9781579622824

Publisher: The Permanent Press, 2012

Synopsis

Imagine a 32-year old Nancy Drew who's seen a thing or two, has a sophisticated career as a wine magazine writer, is not interested in monogamy, and has the kind of sex appeal only an independent woman can possess.

Though she despises the groom, Jean Applequist boards an elegant yacht in San Francisco Bay for the wedding of her good friend Diane and wealthy real estate developer Martin Wingo. But things go terribly wrong: the evening ends in tragedy, not celebration when, after exchanging vows, Wingo disappears into the bay.

Diane asks Jean to investigate Martin's murder out of fear that the police will uncover too many of his secrets. Jean agrees, but discovers it's not easy to find out who killed a blackmailer and a womanizer. The list of potential suspects is long.

Joining forces with the young and geeky Zeppo, Martin's former assistant and armed with the details of Martin's operation, the two soon find themselves way ahead of the San Francisco homocide detectives, a dangerous place to be.

Their questioning of Martin's victims elicits strong reactions, from fear to rage to attempted murder that endanger them both and force Jean to fight for her life - twice.

About this title

About the Author

Lisa King graduated from U.C. Berkley. She has written for San Francisco magazine and among other notable celebrities interviewed Julia Child, who made her lunch (a delicious open-faced omelete browned with a blow torch). Lisa was Wine Spectator's first copy editor and wrote a cover story for the magazine on Thomas Jefferson's love affair with fine wine.

As senior editor of Wine Country Living magazine in Sonoma, she determined conclusively, after exhaustive research, that California produces better wine than Virginia. Lisa is currently a magazine editor in Southern California. She has three children, four cats and a bad dog.

Review

Sexy? Absolutely. Suspenseful? Ditto. Along with her nonstop action, King manages to make foodies and wine aficionados drool. --Library Journal

Numerous plot twists, verbal sparring, humor, and tasty details about wine are woven throughout the story. Those who enjoy Nancy Martin s Roxy Abruzzo s books will like Jean, a similar free
spirit. --Booklist

The brisk plot offers surprises even a seasoned reader won t see coming. Lively, well-drawn supporting characters add to the fun. --Publishers Weekly

The mystery of who-killed-Martin is first-rate, and the descriptions of fist fights, gunfire, and stabbings are great fun, but in the end, it s Jean herself who keeps you turning the pages. That sexy broad is irresistible. --Mystery Scene Magazine

Death in a Wine Dark Sea is pleasingly dark but filled with light, intriguingly unconventional while still being a satisfying. It's a red-herring filled mystery, a sensuous feast for all the senses, and a fantastic introduction to a modern-world, thoroughly American, high-society and intrepid Miss Marple for the 2000s. --Sheila Deeth, Gather.com

I became invested in Jean s journey from the beginning which is part of the secret to creating a quality character. I ve found that if I don t stress too much then it all unravels if there s a skilled writer behind the story. Author Lisa King certainly holds a lot of promise in the mystery genre. If you re a wine connoisseur or enjoy the occasional glass of wine, you ll find it ludicrous or delightful as everything Jean eats gets paired with wine illuminated with commentary. --Entertainment Realm

DEATH IN A WINE DARK SEA by Lisa King is for mystery lovers who choose a book because it conforms to the conventions of classic mystery but who want something more than a great puzzle. It is for readers who like surprises, who delight in characters well drawn, who relish stories told in transparent prose with a consistent style. If you are one, you won t want to miss this book, Ms. King s debut novel. --LL Book Review

Jean and Zeppo embark on a chase with enough twists to keep a pretzel factory in business for years....King has a wonderful sense of place. San Francisco and its environs emerge as a colorful character in the story, which she brings to both a sad and an appropriate conclusion. --Reviewing the Evidence

Great pacing, complex characters, and the juicy details of people's darkest secrets make for a book I couldn't put down. I'm sure I won't be alone in hoping for more of Jean and Zeppo. --Crimespree Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: The Permanent Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1579622828
• ISBN 13: 9781579622824
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 352