Whine and Dine

Redwoods Country Mystery, #2

by

Marc Jedel

Return to the humor, charm, and murders of Redwoods Country!

Whine and Dine is the second book in veteran author Marc Jedel’s excellent Redwoods Country Mystery series, and proves to be a fabulous follow-up to last year’s debut, Rivers and Creaks. While all Andy Shirley wants is peace, quiet, and a lot of alone time, his ownership of the Quilt House Inn requires a much more hands-on effort. Thankfully, he has Nadia, the housekeeper and chef, to handle the day-to-day, and Charlie, the plumber/electrician and daughter of his new friend, Police Chief Joann Blaylock, on speed-dial for the more complicated jobs he can’t handle himself. But when Charlie’s friend is suspected of murder, Andy reluctantly agrees to join forces with her to clear her friend’s name, in exchange for a hefty discount on some upcoming plumbing repairs, of course. 

The story hits the ground running with a dramatic arrest on the porch of the inn and the discovery of the murder victim in the small, nearby town of Monte Rio, happening almost before the dust settles from the detective’s car leaving the inn’s parking lot. Andy, a retired copy editor with a penchant for puns, is a cranky, grumpy wannabe recluse, and his inner monologue and dialogue with literally everyone absolutely sparkle with wit. The pairs’ unofficial investigation is fun as they attempt to stay on Charlie’s mother’s good side while getting the job done. The secondary characters not only provide solid support but are also a quirky, colorful bunch, especially Nadia Radu. I was fortunate to be able to kick back and read the whole book in one delightful evening; the pages and time flew by. 

I recommend WHINE AND DINE to cozy mystery fans, especially those who enjoyed the series kickoff and the author’s other series. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.