Dead In The Dregs: A Babe Stern Mystery (babe Stern Mysteries)

From Richard Wilson, a prominent wine critic, routinely makes or destroys the careers of winemakers in his popular newsletter, The Wine Maven. When he disappears after a tasting in California’s Napa Valley, his sister, Janie, asks her ex-husband, Babe Stern, to investigate. Babe gave up a successful career in the wine industry to run a local bar that does not appear on the tourist circuit. Working with the police after Wilson’s body turns up in a vat at Norton Winery, he uncovers a long list of possible suspects who would like to get revenge for the bad reviews that ruined their businesses. As Stern digs further into Wilson’s life, the trail takes him to Burgundy, France, and to the family of a young intern at the Norton Winery who was one of the few people in the winery when Wilson died. This is a well-crafted debut that will appeal to mystery fans interested in winemaking. --Barbara Bibel Product Description Prominent wine critic Richard Wilson makes a living elevating and destroying winemakers’ reputations with the stroke of his pen. When he disappears after a tasting at Napa Valley’s Norton Winery, his sister Janie looks to her ex-husband Babe Stern for help. But when Wilson’s body is found floating in a vat at Norton, Stern’s search turns into a hunt for the killer. Working with the Napa Valley police, Stern quickly finds a string of suspects, all with one thing in common: their desire to get revenge for the reviews that shattered their wines and livelihoods. But as the police work to quickly clear the case, those same suspects have a string of alibis and the trail begins to fade. Stern digs further into the circumstances of Wilson’s death and finds himself following his only lead, to Burgundy, France. In cellars and tasting rooms from Beaune to Nuits-Saint-Georges, Stern tracks the troubled son of a family of vignerons , one of the few people in the winery the night Wilson died. But the wine families of the C?te d’Or are secretive and entangled, and the further Stern goes to discover the truth, the more he becomes the ultimate target. In a stunning debut mystery packed with revenge and murder, Stern’s only choice is to find the truth.

prominent Wine Critic Richard Wilson Makes A Living Elevating And Destroying Winemakers’ Reputations With The Stroke Of His Pen. When He Disappears After A Tasting At Napa Valley’s Norton Winery, His Sister Janie Looks To Her Ex-husband Babe Stern For Help. But When Wilson’s Body Is Found Floating In A Vat At Norton, Stern’s Search Turns Into A Hunt For The Killer.
working With The Napa Valley Police, Stern Quickly Finds A String Of Suspects, All With One Thing In Common: Their Desire To Get Revenge For The Reviews That Shattered Their Wines And Livelihoods. But As The Police Work To Quickly Clear The Case, Those Same Suspects Have A String Of Alibis And The Trail Begins To Fade.
stern Digs Further Into The Circumstances Of Wilson’s Death And Finds Himself Following His Only Lead, To Burgundy, France. In Cellars And Tasting Rooms From Beaune To Nuits-saint-georges, Stern Tracks The Troubled Son Of A Family Of vignerons, One Of The Few People In The Winery The Night Wilson Died. But The Wine Families Of The Côte D’or Are Secretive And Entangled, And The Further Stern Goes To Discover The Truth, The More He Becomes The Ultimate Target. In A Stunning Debut Mystery Packed With Revenge And Murder, Stern’s Only Choice Is To Find The Truth.

kirkus Reviews

a Case Of Sour Grapes. When Wine Critic Richard Wilson Goes Missing, His Sister Asks Her Ex-husband, Babe Stern, To Ask Around And See If He Can Locate Him. Leaving The Operation Of His Bar, Pancho's, To His Partner, Babe Begins Scouring The Napa Valley Looking For His Ex-brother-in-law. Wilson Turns Up In A Vat Of Cabernet Sauvignon At The Norton Winery With His Head Smashed And His Hand Amputated. Who Wanted Him Dead? Quite A Few Vintners Whose Offerings He Trashed In His Newsletter, It Turns Out. But The Lead Babe Chooses To Follow Sends Him To Burgundy, France, To Chase Down A Young Man Named Jean Who Had Been Interning At Norton When Wilson Was Murdered. The Investigation Uncovers Secrets That Have Festered For Years, Eating Away At Families, Prosperity And Vineyard Productivity. Babe Will Narrowly Escape Death Himself; Two Other Wine Writers Will Be Less Fortunate. Restaurateur And Former Wine Columnist Lewis's Mystery Debut Is Short On Character Development And Plot Intrigue, But He's Knowledgeable About Winemaking, Wine Tasting And Wine Pretensions.

It’s murder in Napa Valley in this “thrillingly knowledgeable, insider’s odyssey into the world of fine wines [and] . . . particularly lurid homicides” (Anthony Bourdain).With a stroke of a pen, prominent wine critic Richard Wilson lives to elevate and, more often, destroy winemakers’ reputations. How fitting, his death: found murdered, floating in a vat of a particularly bold Cabernet Sauvignon at a Napa Valley tasting. Who did it? Any vintner whose career was ruined by Wilson’s sour grapes. But when those trail turns cold, Wilson’s sister Janie enlists the help of her ex–husband, Babe Stern. The ex–sommelier turned Sonoma County bar owner is following his own lead—to Burgundy, France.In cellars and tasting rooms from Beaune to Nuits–Saint–Georges, Stern tracks down a family of vignerons, whose troubled son was interning at the winery the night Wilson died. But it doesn’t end there. And as the investigation uncovers secrets bottled up for years, Wilson won’t be the last to die. In fact, the further Stern digs for the truth, he may be the next. “An evocative insiders’ tour of French wine country that a tourist will never see” (Seattle Times), restaurateur and former wine columnist Peter Lewis’s juicy mystery is “a rare and engrossing wonder dealing with the murderous grotesqueries of the wine world . . . in an atmosphere of homicide, sex and food” (Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall). Its murder in Napa Valley in this thrillingly knowledgeable, insiders odyssey into the world of fine wines [and] . . . particularly lurid homicides (Anthony Bourdain). With a stroke of a pen, prominent wine critic Richard Wilson lives to elevate and, more often, destroy winemakers reputations. How fitting, his found murdered, floating in a vat of a particularly bold Cabernet Sauvignon at a Napa Valley tasting. Who did it? Any vintner whose career was ruined by Wilsons sour grapes. But when those trail turns cold, Wilsons sister Janie enlists the help of her ex-husband, Babe Stern. The ex-sommelier turned Sonoma County bar owner is following his own leadto Burgundy, France. In cellars and tasting rooms from Beaune to Nuits-Saint-Georges, Stern tracks down a family of vignerons, whose troubled son was interning at the winery the night Wilson died. But it doesnt end there. And as the investigation uncovers secrets bottled up for years, Wilson wont be the last to die. In fact, the further Stern digs for the truth, he may be the next. An evocative insiders tour of French wine country that a tourist will never see ( Seattle Times ), restaurateur and former wine columnist Peter Lewiss juicy mystery is a rare and engrossing wonder dealing with the murderous grotesqueries of the wine world . . . in an atmosphere of homicide, sex and food (Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall ). With a stroke of a pen, prominent wine critic Richard Wilson lives to elevate and, more often, destroy winemakers' reputations. How fitting, his death: found murdered, floating in a vat of a particularly bold Cabernet Sauvignon at a Napa Valley tasting. Who did it? Any vintner whose career was ruined by Wilson's sour grapes. But when those trail turns cold, Wilson's sister Janie enlists the help of her ex-husband, Babe Stern. The ex-sommelier turned Sonoma County bar owner is following his own lead-- to Burgundy, France, where Stern tracks down a family of vignerons, whose troubled son was interning at the winery the night Wilson died. But it doesn't end there. And as the investigation uncovers secrets bottled up for years, Wilson won't be the last to die. As Stern digs for the truth, he realizes that he may be next