Songs of Wine and Murder

by Lynn Cahoon

Every good cozy mystery has a focus and a crime to be solved. The plot in Songs of Wine and Murder centers around a band competition as part of the Moonstone Beach festival to be held in South Cove, a town which has both commuters and businesses that depend on tourists. Jill owns a combo coffee shop and bookstore; her fiancé Greg is the police chief. In this book, a band member that no one likes is found dead. There are many suspects after it is determined that the death is a homicide, not a drug overdose or a suicide.

Jill has to put in a lot of work hours during the festival as she supervises both the coffee shop and a food truck. Jill is a great boss, giving her workers full benefits and treating them with respect. During the festival she takes orders and provides her staff with meals from the town’s only full-service restaurant. Greg has to put in extra long hours along with his officers as they interview suspects and others who might have information about the murder. Jill tries to stay out of the investigation, but she stumbles across clues and conversations that help Greg.

The mayor’s wife can be over-the-top mean if she doesn’t get her way. She gets very angry when she thinks her nephew is being treated unfairly in the competition, and she blames that and everything else she can think of on Jill and Greg. Jill has a number of friends who are involved in this story, and the reader gets to know them well. My favorite of her employees is Deek. He is a good looking young man with blond dreadlocks and violet eyes who has really grown over the course of the series. He is an aspiring writer who takes the bookstore seriously and also has lots of very good ideas for managing events and pushing the coffee shop/bookstore through PR efforts. He is somewhat intimidated by Greg referring to him as “Police Dude.” Her staff member, Toby, works as a cop and a barista. An attractive guy, he can’t understand why Tilly, a new hire at the shop, says she has never met him. He claims hey were an “item” in high school. Which one of them is lying?

The murder is solved…until new information comes to light opening the investigation up again. It was a great twist to the story; just as Greg and Jill think they can relax and resume planning for their wedding, they are thrown back into the chaos of “whodunit?”

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #15 in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. It includes some humor, some mystery, and some relationships—new and old. Songs of Wine and Murder was fun for me, but not Cahoon’s best work. I am not recommending it as a standalone, but if you are a fan of the Tourist Trap Mystery Series, you will probably enjoy it.
2. Includes a recipe for “Jill’s Neptune Salad Wrap” as a healthy replacement for all the fish and chips Jill devours in this book.

Publication: June 6, 2023—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

The fight was over. Neither participant looked victorious, which was what happened most times when people were in love. Everyone felt the pain of the fight, not just the loser.

“The one thing I can promise you about relationships is that as soon as you start thinking the other person can read your mind, you’re in trouble.”

I delivered Harrold and Aunt Jackie’s meals and noticed Lille had put in two slices of cherry pie that I hadn’t ordered. She’d known that this order would be given to Harrold, and she loved him like a grandfather. I suspected that Lille had a heart; it was just hidden under all that snark.

This is such an amazing series! I think this one is even better then the first! I can't wait for the next one!

Songs of Wine and Murder is the 15th book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. This is another of my favourite series and it is wonderful that this series is still going strong with original stories. Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, is always happy to have festivals brought to town that will help local businesses. The the Moonstone Beach Festival coming up and this year they have added a Battle of the Bands to the lineup. Darla, the owner of South Cove Winery, has organized that part of the festival, hoping that the band her boyfriend, Matt plays in, will win. Jill will move her food truck to the beach as well as have her store operating, a busy weekend for sure. When one of the bands loses it's lead singer to murder, things heat up. The bands are bickering, stealing each other's bandmates and the mayor's wife is sticking her nose in and aggravating Jill. Will they find the killer before someone else ends up dead?

This is such a strong series due to well developed mysteries and great characters. The team that Jill has assembled at Coffee, Books, and More are a found family. They work together, support one another and sometimes date each other. Jill and Greg, the local police chief, are now engaged, living together and planning a wedding. I enjoy seeing their personal lives and issues as much as the mystery that has to be solved. There were several suspects, and when Jules finds some information that gives Greg the information he needs, she has to be careful not to become a victim. At least this time, the arrest did not put anyone else in danger. I enjoyed this book and will be watching for the next mystery in this series, as well as Greg and Jill's wedding

Songs of Wine and Murder, the fifteenth installment in Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap series, is a must-read. Like a fine wine, this series keeps getting better and better with each new book. Jill Gardner and the citizens of South Cove are like family, and each visit with them brings the promise of a new adventure.

Jill Gardner, proprietress of Coffee, Books, and More is preparing for the Moonstone Beach Festival where she will be offering coffee, pastries, and books from her food truck. One of the most intriguing features of the festival is the Battle of the Bands where local bands will be competing for a recording contract. Jill’s friend Darla’s boyfriend is in one of the bands vying for the honor, so of course Jill will be paying special attention to the contest. However, before the band can take the stage, the lead singer is murdered; and suspicion falls on the various bandmembers and competitors. A replacement singer is (too?) quickly obtained and the show goes on. Although Jill steadfastly tries not to investigate, clues keep falling into her lap and she finds herself on the trail of a killer.

The mystery here is an intriguing one. The concept of the band battle is an excellent backdrop for murder. Given the competition and brisk replacement of the band’s frontman, it is no wonder that there is a surfeit of viable suspects. Despite the vibrancy of the mystery, Jill and her boyfriend, Greg, take center stage. Greg, a detective with the South Cove police, constantly warns Jill to stay out of the investigation. But, try as she might, it seems circumstances collide to thrust her into the middle of it. We get to visit with some of my favorite side characters, particularly Deek (who once again proves himself invaluable) and Aunt Jackie (whom we get to know in more depth as she faces a potential health crisis). There were also a couple of subplots involving Sadie and the minister and Toby and his former girlfriend, Tilly, which in my opinion were largely unnecessary, but due to their brevity really did not distract from the story.

It is worthwhile to note that I listened to the audio version of this book. Once again, narrator Susan Boyce gives a sterling performance. I can’t imagine listening to this book without her jovial expressions. Her rendering of Aunt Jackie, in particular, is spot-on and so fitting for the character.

If you are a fan of the series, I highly recommend Songs of Wine and Murder. If you have never read a Tourist Trap novel, I suggest you start with the first book and work your way through the series. You won’t be disappointed, especially if you listen to the audiobooks.

Note: I received an ARC of Songs of Wine and Murder from NetGalley and Kensington Books, Lyrical Underground. The above is my honest review.

This is book 15 in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. Jill and all the business owners are preparing for the Moonstone Beach Festival and Band competition. When event planner, Dara is late for the final meeting people are not happy. The murder of a band singer starts the event off on the wrong foot. This series always has great story line and the cast of returning characters are always helpful.

I really enjoy this series and love Jill and Greg as well as the other fun personalities.

This was a fun read as Jill expands the business and works a battle of the bands festival.

The ending felt a little rushed to me, and I thought there could have been more discussed around the culprit, but it was a fun read overall.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Kensington books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I agree with Greg, Jill is a brat in this book. I don’t know if I really want these two to get married. They just don’t seem to fit as a couple. So much of the story focused on their issues that the murder mystery was almost secondary to everything else. Since when did Jill become the relationship expert? Can Tina disappear soon? Maybe a new mayor will be elected soon.

The author does such a fantastic job of weaving the characters personal lives throughout the mystery and wrapping a variety of plots throughout so you can count on getting your money's worth.

When the lead singer in the local band is murdered and the lead singer from another band defects to take his place, the question is who benefits most from the man’s death? Jill can’t help but hear the things people say and she finds herself in yet another case. Will this be her final chapter, or will she help her fiancé Greg find whodunit and make it the killer’s swan song?

Songs of Wine and Murder is the 15th book in Lynn Cahoon's, A Tourist Trap Mystery Book series. I always enjoy heading back to South Cove, California to hang out with Jill and her friends.
This book takes place during a battle of the bands festival weekend. There is a death surrounding one of the bands and we get some sleuthing surrounding that. The main part of the book was more about town life. Jill and her relationships, with her fiance, her aunt and her friends/employees. Lots of character building and if you have been following the series, you will likely enjoy that. If you have never read the series before or are looking for a deeper mystery, you may not be satisfied with the book. I recommend starting from the beginning of the series!

Songs of Wine and Murder is the 15th book in Lynn Cahoon's, A Tourist Trap Mystery Book series. I have read every book in the series and every time I read the next book, it's like visiting old friends in a quaint town on the California coast. If you haven't read this series by Lynn Cahoon,, now is the time to start.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed the Tourist Trap series as Jill and all the other characters have grown and flourished. The people in the books seem real and while her fiancé is the detective in town, Jill never goes down the rabbit hole trying to solve the cases on which he is working. And they seem like the kind of people with whom the reader would want as friends.

There is a big rock contest in town and Darla’s boyfriend is a member of one of the bands competing. So is the nephew of the wife of the mayor. If there is any character who needs taming, it is her. She is seriously warped in the way she treats people and is thoroughly miffed when her nephew’s band is not even one of the finalists. What she does for revenge is so over the top, it did detract a bit from the story. Good thing the rest of it was really good and compelling.

The lead singer of a band is murdered and everyone is a suspect because no one liked him. Jill is helpful in trying to help find the killer and the villain is brought to justice. But for me, the relationships in the stories, is what brings me back time and time again. Five purrs and two paws up.

Songs of Wine and Murder, the fifteenth book in the A Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon, like all the previous installments, is fast-paced, intriguing, and as Ms Cahoon excels so well at, keeps you guessing until the end. The twists and turns, red herrings, and the unique and quirky cast of characters keep the story engaging while at the same time creating more and more layers to the mystery. Even after fifteen books, the series continues to be unique and captivating.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

South Cove is hosting a band competition. Jill will be busy with her food truck and selling a few books from her shop Coffee, Books, and More at the festival. She gets to meet some of the bands including the nephew of the mayor's wife's Tina. Darla is Jill's friend. She runs the local winery and is in charge of the festival. Her boyfriend just happens to have a band that is competing. When their lead singer is found dead, Jill tries to stay out of it, but when her friends are accused, what can she do.

I love Lynn Cahoon. Her stories are fun and engaging. I like her characters.

I thoroughly enjoy the books in the various series by Lynn Cahoon. When I see a new book is going to be released, it’s immediately added to my “to be read” list. She does a great job with the cozy mystery genre and always manages to pull me into the story from the first page. The characters are richly developed and the mystery and clues that continue to be sprinkled throughout the pages keep me invested in the story and the lives of the characters. I love getting to know the people of South Cove, California and especially those involved in Jill’s bookstore/coffee shop. My stomach was growling as I read about the treats people were enjoying. The mystery doesn’t resolve until the very end and I found myself constantly changing my mind about who was the culprit. I can’t wait for the next adventure with the gang in South Cove.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Lynn Cahoon is one of my favorite authors. This book in her Tourist Trap Mystery series does not disappoint. While juggling both a brick and mortar location and a food truck, Jill finds herself investigating another murder. The mystery was strong enough to keep me second guessing myself. I do admit that this particular bit had a some extra fluff added in. I remain a fan of the series and look forward to the next installment.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When a band member is murdered during a festival Jill can't help but start looking into his murder. It's a good quick read, although there are a few things that i didn't like. First- Jill and Greg's relationship is getting a bit stale. Why are two financially secure adults even taking a class on finance? They've been living together for a while but haven't discussed their finances yet and are so desperate that they need a class that is taught by a local pastor of all people? A class on finances?
Second- Toby's long lost love shows up and doesn't remember him. That story line was unnecessary and took away from the murder. Toby is just perpetually unlucky in life and constantly mopes around.
Otherwise i did enjoy the book and i really like all the characters.

The Moonstone Beach Festival has hit town mad is keeping Jill quite busy. The store is doing well but they also have a food truck set up to entice festival goers. The Battle of the Bands is the big draw and one lucky band will end up with a contract. When a band member is killed and another member swaps bands everyone is shocked. Jill can't must sit.by and do nothing so she starts asking questions while her detective fiance does his job. Follow along and see what the two.u cover, will either find a killer or will someone get away with murder?

While I love this series by Lynn Cahoon, I am a little disappointed by the formulaic feel of 'Songs of Wine and Murder', the latest in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. The relationship between Jill and Greg seems a little stale. It seems unrealistic that by this time they hadn't discussed their financial status with each other and needed to take a financial prep class. The only thing about this book that excited me was the Toby storyline and the hope that his former love regains her memory. I will look forward to more but hope the quality gets back to what is expected.

I love this town and I love the residents but I really miss the mysteries. I feel like they’ve been neglected in favor of world building, which is fine, but then it’s not really a mystery. There was barely an investigation, which I guess makes Greg the fiancé happy, but not the reader. There were so many other stories here that didn’t need to be included (Sadie and the Pastor, Toby and Tilly) and took away from what little mystery there was. However, if you need marketing strategies, you might find some good ones here. I can recommend this book as a cozy story but not a mystery, which is what I was looking for.