Murder at the Barrel Room: A Read Between the Wines Cozy Mystery Series, #7

By Dani Simms

When a dead body appears during a winery tour, vineyard owner Avery Parker is suddenly thrust into the middle of a murder investigation.

 

Navigating wine country politics and rivalry, Avery searches for clues around her small town of Los Robles, California.

 

As she digs deeper, Avery realizes the killer may be closer than she thought.

 

Her livelihood is on the line, and she must find the killer before she becomes the next victim.

 

Will Avery unmask the killer before they strike again?

 

Set among the rolling vineyards and small-town charm of wine country, "Murder at the Barrel Room" is rounded out by quirky characters and a little romance.

 

Wine pairings and irresistible recipes included!

 

Scroll up to get your copy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dani Simms
• Release date: Nov 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781958118337

Book preview

Chapter One

The scent of wooden barrels had always been comforting to Avery. Her hands grazed across the wood as she took a deep, slow inhale. It was refreshing to be in the barrel room of another vineyard. She’d spent so much time in the barrel room of her own vineyard that it no longer really excited her in any way.

That was the entire reason she was taking that tour on that day. It was in the hopes that knowing what it was like in another space, she might feel more excited about her own space. Or at the very least, inspired. The room was pleasantly cold and quiet. Apart from a few staff members who walked in and out of the space, they were the only ones there.

The man leading the tour spoke with a smooth, low voice. It was as if Avery had stepped into an entirely different world. As if she had escaped her life for a few hours and joined the world of others. It was pleasant, and she made a mental note to do it more often. Their footsteps shuffled through the wide space around her.

They were at Robles Point Vineyard. The barrel room seemed to carry on forever around her in every direction. That was good news for Avery because it meant that they would still be there for some time and that she could likely enjoy another hour at least in the peaceful place. There was nothing else she wanted to be doing at that moment.

Are you having a good time? Charles asked from the right as he took her hand in his.

He had arranged the tour for them as a date. Their relationship was becoming more serious with each passing month, and Avery hoped it would continue to move that way.

When her husband James had died in a boating accident, she had felt as if she could never move on. It was so unbearable that she hadn’t even been able to stay in the city anymore. Everything there had reminded her of James. That’s how she found her way back to Los Robles, where she took over control of her parents’ vineyard. It was the best decision she could have made.

It had taken some time before she was comfortable to date again, but Charles had made it easy for her. He had been kind and considerate throughout their relationship. Now, Avery could hardly imagine her life without him in it.

Of course, I’m having a good time, Avery said. This is a sanctuary.

I knew you’d see it that way, he responded with a smile.

How did you arrange this? she asked, looking around her.

Robles Point Vineyard was a notoriously difficult place to get into for any reason, and Charles had managed to set it up within a matter of days.

I have a friend who works here, Charles explained with a shrug. He owes me a favor.

Charles was a detective at the local police precinct. That meant that many people owed him favors. It was certainly a perk of the job. However, it did mean that Avery spent many nights worried about his safety.

Sprinkles wormed his way between their legs, typical of a golden retriever. He meant the world to Avery, and she meant the world to him. There was hardly ever a time that Avery left the house without her dog. In fact, according to her, he was the kindest, best-trained dog in the universe, and no other dog could compete.

He sniffed at every barrel and every person that passed them by. It was as if he was going on a great adventure, and not once since they arrived had his tail stopped wagging.

The tour only took them deeper into the barrel room as the tour guide told them about the origin of each barrel and each grape that went into making the wine. Most of it, Avery already understood. However, she couldn’t help but feel marveled by it all. A very big part of her hoped that it was how visitors felt when they came to her vineyard. Charles had once told her about the role of a secret shopper. She’d thought then that it was silly and unnecessary. But as she continued with the tour, she reconsidered. She was curious to know what people felt when they visited her vineyard.

The ceilings of the barrel room stretched high over their heads, creating a perfect echo every time the tour guide spoke. It felt as if the three of them, along with Sprinkles, were the only beings in the world.

Just then, a man came to speak to the guide. His voice was hushed and sounded rather urgent. The guide stopped and flashed them a dazzling smile.

Do excuse me, he said. I’m afraid I need to step out for just a moment. It won’t be more than a few minutes. Please, keep walking around. I’ll find you again, and we can continue on with our tour then.

Avery and Charles made sure he knew that they had no problem with that arrangement whatsoever. In fact, she felt excited to experience the room alone with Charles. The sound of the tour guide’s footsteps disappeared into the distance as Avery and Charles strolled through the room.

Some of the barrels were so large that they towered over Avery.

Can you imagine if one of these were to burst? Charles asked.

Trust you to be thinking of that while we’re walking here, Avery said with a chuckle.

I’m serious. I was reading about this great molasses tragedy just the other day. An entire town was in trouble because this great big reservoir of molasses burst at the seams and flooded the streets! Charles explained.

That can’t be true, Avery said.

It is, Charles answered. Makes you think differently about walking in here, doesn’t it?

Avery let out a nervous laugh. I guess.

What do you think of when you look at these? Charles reached out and tapped his hand against the side of a large barrel.

I just want to taste what’s inside, Avery said with an excited smile.

Charles took her hand, and they continued to walk further toward the back of the barrel room.

So are you saying that this is the best date ever? he asked.

Avery nudged him. Certainly one of them. You tend to pick really good dates for us. It’s not a fair competition.

When she looked at him again, she noted that he was trying hard to hide a bashful smile by turning to look the other way. As expected, Sprinkles moved between them, his lead wrapping around the back of Avery’s legs. He didn’t often walk on a lead, and he was well-behaved enough without it. But in a space that large, Avery didn’t want to lose him or lose sight of him in any way. She feared she might never find him again.

They walked in silence for a moment, as if to pay respect to the process that was happening around them. The rhythm of their walking was steady and calm until Avery felt a yank on the lead attached to Sprinkles.

Come Sprinkles! she sang, tugging slightly at him.

But he would not budge. A stain on the ground had caught his attention, and he seemed to be putting all his energy into working out what it might be. Avery walked up to him and tried to move his face away from the stain so they could carry on with their walk, but he would not budge. Eventually, even his tail stopped wagging.

What is it with you and that stain? Avery asked, tugging lightly at the lead again.

Your dog must be a wine lover, like myself, the tour guide interrupted them. I leave you two alone for five minutes, and you find the only stain we have on this floor.

I find that hard to believe, Avery said. Only one stain in a barrel room?

That’s correct, the tour guide said. Of course, it does help that we recently had all these floors redone. The tour guide flashed them a smile.

We have wine all over the place at my vineyard, and he never does this, Avery explained, feeling somewhat embarrassed. I guess that must have been incredibly good wine.

Or terribly bad, the tour guide said. Either way, it landed on the ground. Makes no difference now.

Finally, Avery was able to get Sprinkles away from the stain. He had sniffed every inch of it and was satisfied that whatever it was he was doing, he had completed it. The tour could continue, and the guide wasted no time in returning them to where he had left them before. He was an excellent guide, which might have been due to the fact that he was touring another local vineyard owner. It was entirely enthralling that Avery was getting particularly special treatment, as she was competition for them.

Five minutes later, the group came to a stop in front of a seemingly unnoticeable barrel.

This is the oldest wine barrel in the entire Los Robles region, the tour guide explained. It was one of the first to be brought here, and it still stands and is in use to this day.

What have you got in there? Charles asked.

The guide smiled. Something truly special. Perhaps when it is ready for the first tasting, I can ask that your names are put on the list.

That would be incredible! Avery said in surprise.

I’m sure it will be no problem.

Thankfully for all involved, most of the vineyard owners in Los Robles got along with each other quite well. There was hardly any bad blood among them. It was only every so often when outsiders would buy a farm and move from the city that trouble would stir.

The city people would come into the small town with their city mentality. They would try to destroy the competition, rather than allow the town to grow together with support. Those owners quickly found themselves alone in their quest. It was always sad to see that happen, but it was expected.

There weren’t many owners like that around, but Avery was glad that the owner of Robles Point Vineyard wasn’t one of them. It meant that she could be friends with a man who likely owned one of the most important vineyards in Los Robles. A friendship like that would most certainly be good for business.

This has been an excellent tour, Avery said, voicing her thoughts out loud. You’re a fantastic tour guide.

It’s the least I can do for the woman who owns the Vine & Dine restaurant. Your restaurant served me one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. The guide seemed a little embarrassed to admit it. Likely because the vineyard where he worked had its own restaurant. It might have felt as if he was saying something he shouldn’t.

Thank you so much, Avery said, slightly embarrassed.

The restaurant was a new business endeavor on her farm. It had been a success so far, but the usual anxieties of running a business had gotten to her for the last few nights. She’d been waking up worried that it might be entirely empty through the coming winter months. That was a kind of panic she shared with all her local business owners.

We’re almost at the end of our tour, unfortunately, the guide said. But if you’ve got a few moments to spare, I’ve arranged a tasting of our most special wines for the two of you.

That would be just fantastic! Avery said with a slight hop in her step.

Sprinkles suddenly yanked the lead out of her hand and took off into a corner of the barrel room.

Get back here! Avery called as she took after him.

She was not used to Sprinkles having such bad behavior and felt silly running off after him into the dark corner, but she needed to get him back. She was making headway with the tour guide and really wanted her good reputation to reach the owner of the vineyard. She couldn’t do that if she was running after Sprinkles.

When she finally found him, he had his nose pressed against a cabinet and was sniffing deeply. He lay down then and refused to budge. A few moments later, Charles and the tour guide arrived.

He just won’t move, Avery said. I guess you must have some of that wine you spilled in there.

There shouldn’t be anything but paperwork in that cabinet, the guide said.

As Avery caught her breath, she noted a strange smell in the air. One that she was not in any way used to. Charles walked up to Sprinkles, hoping to lift him off the ground and carry him away.

I’m so sorry about this, Avery started to apologize, but the tour guide held up his hand.

Your dog is still miles more well-mannered than mine, he responded.

Charles had his hands tucked beneath Sprinkles when he stopped. He then leaned in and sniffed the air around the cabinet. At which point he took a sudden step back and his face appeared to drain of all color completely.

You’re sure that stain on the ground was from wine? he asked.

Of course, the guide said. It’s red and we’re in a barrel room. What else could it possibly be?

And you’re sure there’s nothing but paperwork in this cabinet? he asked.

There shouldn’t be anything else, the guide answered. What is all this about? Because I must admit, I am rather confused.

Charles sighed and pulled Sprinkles away from the cabinet, telling the dog to stand down.

I am afraid that I think I know the smell that is coming from this cabinet, Charles said with a heavy voice. In fact, there is no other smell like it in the world.

The guide stepped forward and smelled it too. His face screwed up as if he wanted to rid his lungs of the air he had just inhaled.

I’ve never smelled that before. What is that? the guide said.

I am going to have to open this cabinet, Charles said. But first, I need the two of you to take Sprinkles and stand back. Then, I am going to need to call in some backup here.

Charles, what is going on? Avery insisted.

I’m pretty certain there’s a body in that cabinet, Charles said.

He wasn’t one to joke around about things like that. As a detective, when he was fairly certain about something, he was almost always right. Avery didn’t need him to explain anything further. She took Sprinkles' lead and walked a few feet away from the cabinet.

It can’t be, the tour guide said, following her lead.

There’s only one way to be sure, Charles said. But I’m not doing this without the proper help. In the meantime, I suggest you keep anyone who isn’t us and my backup out of this room.

Chapter Two

When Chief Mathers walked in with Tiffany on his arm, the entire room fell silent.