Sadie Greene has worked hard to prepare for the latest bicycle tour she’s about to lead through northeastern France. Since the debacle of a trip that thrust her and her small business into unwelcome notoriety – due to her involvement with apprehending a murderer on that ill-fated excursion – she’s meticulously gone over every detail of this next experience in order to ensure that it goes off without a hitch.

It won’t be easy though. The Silver Spinners who’ve booked the tour are a group of four globetrotting seniors and their slightly younger friends, most of whom have plenty of experience with both bicycling and getting into riotous misadventure. Sadie and the other members of the Oui Cycle crew already have their hands full even before one of the seniors, Keiko Andersson, wakes Sadie up in the middle of the night, claiming to have seen a dead body. Alarmed, Sadie cycles back out with her to the beautiful little village near where they’ve been staying… only to find that the corpse has disappeared, if it was ever there at all.

The rest of the Silver Spinners assure Keiko that she must have been sleep-cycling and dreamt it all up, an assertion that she understandably does not take well. Sadie is just relieved not to have to deal with any more corpses. That all changes, however, when another of the Silver Spinners crashes into a wine barrel shortly afterwards and the very same dead person Keiko found the night before comes spilling out.

Sadie would really love to let the local police handle this, but the revelation of the body’s identity ties the Spinners to the case inextricably. Worse, the seniors are almost all eager to play amateur detective, especially after one of their own is accused of the crime. Will Sadie be able to keep them all safe before the killer decides to strike a death blow against her company’s reputation or, worse, one of the cyclists under her care?

Poor overwhelmed Sadie is the perfect heroic foil to the Silver Spinners’ madcap antics in this second book of the Cyclist’s Guide mystery series. Her anxiety is a sensible reaction to their reckless penchant for danger, in addition to being the reasonable aftereffect of having just gotten out of another murder investigation. The appearance of her sweetheart Detective Jacques Laurent is a nice touch that helps further ground her despite all the chaos of her latest cycle tour.

There was one recipe included with this novel, that I’ve edited lightly here for space:

QUOTE
Sadie’s Tarte Flambée

Crust dough (recipe in book!)
¾ cup crème fraîche
1 large white or yellow onion, thinly sliced
Approximately 7 oz. lardons or bacon, diced or cut into small strips
Salt and pepper to taste
A pinch of nutmeg (optional but tasty)
¼-½ cup grated Gruyere cheese, other pizza cheese, or rounds of goat cheese (optional, although Sadie would say there’s no question and she would probably add even more)
Fresh chives, parsley, or basil for garnish (optional)

Slice the onion as thinly as possible.

In a skillet, cook the lardons or bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Add the crème fraîche to a mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg, if desired. Stir in the onions.

Preheat your oven to its highest setting (around 500°F if possible). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up for at least half an hour.

Stretch the dough very thinly on a floured surface.

Transfer the dough to a pizza peel (if using a pizza stone) or to your pizza pan.

Spread the crème fraîche and onion mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.

Scatter the cooked lardons or bacon on top.

Add cheese if using.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and crispy and the onions and cheese are lightly browned.

If using a pizza stone, your tarte flambée may cook faster, so keep an eye on it.

Remove from the oven, garnish with herbs if desired, and serve immediately.
END QUOTE

I cheated and used store bought pizza dough, which was definitely on the puffier side than the traditional cracker-like crust. I thus erred on following the baking instructions that came with that dough, though certainly kept this recipe’s steps in mind to ensure that the overall dish came out as intended.

And oh, what a delicious pizza-like result! This tarte flambée is very onion-forward, so if you’re not a huge lover of onions, definitely get one that’s more medium than large. That said, the baked onions in this dish have a sweet, almost apple-like quality to them that I really liked, a flavor which goes excellently with the bacon and cheese.

Speaking of which, I skimped on the salt because I assumed that the beef bacon and cheese I used would have more than enough for the entire dish. I was wrong, so definitely use as much as you normally might to season the onion and sour cream mixture.

This tarte flambée is a delicious alternative to tomato-sauced pizzas, that you should definitely whip up the next time you’re looking to impress with a twist on a classic (or if you have an extra onion that you’d like to use up creatively!) I’ll definitely be making it again.

Next week, we travel back States-side to bake up a sweeter treat while investigating whether a death was truly the result of a burglary gone bad. Do join me!

This is the second series I have read by this author, and I have enjoyed both of them so far. She does a really great job at bringing her characters to life and fully developing them. Each book has a solid mystery filled with the red herrings twist and turns that are gonna keep you guessing straight until the end.

While I highly recommend this series, anything by this author is absolutely fabulous if you’re a cozy mystery lover.

A Cyclists Guide to Villains and Vines is the sophomore book in the Cyclist’s Guide Mysteries by Ann Claire. Sadie, proprietor of Oui Cycle, is back in action, guiding a group of senior cyclists known as the silver spinners through the French countryside. This group is a bit more spunky than the last with a real zest for life, good food, and good scenery. Trouble arrives on the tour when the group stumbles across a body belonging to a man who disappeared 15 years prior. The wife of the man just so happens to be a member of the silver spinners, who is on the tour with her boyfriend. Of course Sadie can't help but to get involved in the investigation, bringing her face to face with inspector Laurent once again.

A Cyclists Guide to Villains and Vines is a charming cozy mystery full of immersive descriptions of the French countryside and the mouth watering cuisine that will have you looking to book your next trip to France. I highly enjoyed the first book in the series and was so delighted to jump back into the world of French tourist cycling with a side of murder. Ann Claire has a real talent for crafting well developed characters with fascinating back stories that flow seamlessly into the narrative. She also interjects fascinating bits about the world of travel cycling that add another element of enjoyment to the mystery. The murder mystery is well paced and plotted with a clever reveal you won't see coming. While the murder investigation is devastating, there is plenty of humor throughout, balancing it out. The spunky group of cyclists pair nicely with Sadie's sassy personality. I highly recommend this charming mystery to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a good whodunnit set in a charming setting.

I LOVE THIS SERIES. I seriously cannot get enough of this series and Sadie and this book was even better than book 1 (which I adored).

I would go on a cycling tour with her in a instant (regardless of the constant crimes) because she is so much fun. I love her attitude, her fun facts, her passion for both cycling and the beauty of France (and all the croissants of course). I love how she balances being a tour guide and letting her guests get their way, with keeping them on track AND investigating crimes. I love her relationship with Laurent and how they trust each other and treat each other kindly; I cannot wait for more of them!

I adore small villages and this one sounds like the ideal visit. This book had my mouth watering from the food (wine and cheese and cabbage!) and I wish I could stroll the streets browsing. The mystery was heartbreaking, but I love how this group of sassy and strong headed seniors kept the humor HIGH and made this book so delightfully cozy. The ending was drama and I could not turn the pages fast enough.

I hope we get more of this series, I already miss it!!

Likeable and fleshed out characters, great setting and descriptions, a solid mystery that kept me hooked and having fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A CYCLIST'S GUIDE TO VILLAINS & VINES by Ann Claire (A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants) finds the head of Oui Cycle, Sadie Greene, leading a group of older cyclists (the Silver Spinners) in Alsace. Nothing is ever easy for Sadie as a body is discovered and several members of the group are considered prime suspects. The local gendarmes are not big fans of Sadie and her group (pointing out that they have broken into a private residence, recreated a murder scene without police involvement, and confessed to murder), but luckily romantic interest (and police officer) Jacques Laurent arrives to run interference. These stories, while rather improbable, are light and amusing with some touristy background on French regions, foods, and wines. The mystery itself was puzzling and no doubt Sadie will soon be embroiled in another.

A charming mobile cozy that sees Sadie's tour of Alsace with the Silver Spinners turn into a murder investigation. It's the second in a series but will be just fine as a standalone. Here's the thing about that dead man-he was once involved with one of the Spinners but then ghosted her. So is she the murderer or is her partner? Or any one of the other Spinners? This mixes murder and a delightful destination with wine (always fun). The Spinners might occasionally go a bit over the top but the chaos adds to the plot. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to wherever Sadie goes next.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

After having loved the first in this series, I couldn't wait to read the next one! Sadie is taking a group of English riders to northeastern France, but murder gets in the way. I didn't love this one as much as it seemed a bit repetitive in the story and I missed the characters from the first one. However, it was still fun learning about the area in France with a bit of mystery. Looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars

Another fun and wonderfully cozy mystery!! I absolutely love the setting, and the Oui Cycle travel adventures had me texting my friend about a trip to France.

I was surprised by the resolution, but I wish there were more hints leading up to it. At times, the writing felt a little too “quippy” for me, but I overall enjoyed Sadie, the Silver Spinners, and the rest of the characters.

Thank you to Kensington for an advanced copy!

Sadie Greene loves her new life in France, leading bicycle tours, but the way she keeps stumbling into murders is getting in the way of the peaceful life she had envisioned when she decided to take on the touring company. With a new group of quirky seniors in tow, she takes on Alsace -- and quickly encounters a corpse. Her dreamy detective boyfriend takes on the case, along with a detective who turns out to be his ex, but Sadie and her tour group can't keep themselves from joining in the sleuthing.

This book is well written, filled with intriguing and well-developed characters, and rich in local color. The plot is complex and yet tightly constructed. The story is a frolicsome romp, great for a beach read, but not too lightweight to enjoy with book group.

A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO VILLIANS AND VINES is the second book in the Cyclist’s Guide Mysteries by Ann Claire. This charming cozy mystery combines all the elements that keep me coming back for more: delightful characters (both core and auxiliary alike); mouthwatering food; a unique career; and lovely and dramatic descriptions of the locale. Oh, and did I mention the setting is in France?! Oui, s’il vous plaît—sign me up! Plucky protagonist Sadie Greene owns and operates Oui Cycle, an appealing bicycle tour company, pedaling across the French countryside. The author has done her research and brings the setting to life, along with realistic descriptions of the biking and the historical aspects of their visits. I especially loved the dribbles of tour guide tidbits interjected and I found the information on storks utterly fascinating. Yet Ms. Claire manages to keep the mystery and the action moving forward while entertaining her cycle group and readers.

The setup to the mystery is topnotch with a group of chaotic senior cyclists, known as the Silver Spinners at the center of it all. The senior citizens provide humor as Sadie tries to keep them on pace and out of mischief… which is a losing battle. When one of the seniors crashes, a murder victim is uncovered and the mayhem increases. While Sadie hopes it won’t impact their tour, the dead man has a shocking connection to the group and the Silver Spinners are all in for investigating the death. There are plenty of suspects—including the Silver Spinners themselves—and several twists to keep the reader guessing. It was a delight following along as the clues unfolded, yet I didn’t guess the culprit or the reason behind the crime. If you enjoy an armchair vacation with colorful characters while reading a puzzling mystery to solve, then I highly recommend A Cyclist’s Guide to Villains and Vines!

I love cozy mysteries like “A Cyclist’s Guide to Villains & Vines.” Sadie, our main character, is fun and relatable. She is living the dream - running her cycling tourism business in Southern France, doing her best to keep her customers happy, and falling for the handsome detective. This time around, her tour is made up of a group of seniors who travel the world together. They seem a little mysterious and sneaky. A dead body is found and an art thief is at large in the area. Not to mention, the dead many has an interesting connection with a cyclist and the inn owner. This story was filled with hijinks and really kept me guessing!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Poor Sadie. Her latest bike tour group are an experienced, older crop of bikers who know their own minds. And their minds are always looking for mischief and mayhem. Sadie does her best to wrangle them into an acceptable level of submission but when murder intrudes, all bets are off!
Another delightful French adventure.

To be clear, this was an enjoyable read! A bicycle tour guide is a fresh character, and of course there's the opportunity for a rotating cast of characters with each new tour group. And the French countryside as a setting isn't too shabby either!

I really like tour guide Sadie, and I love the way the author works the cycling into all aspects of the story! The mystery is well-plotted.

I gave the first book in this series 5 stars. This one gets 3.5 stars, mostly because the antics of the Silver Spinners were so over the top and repetitive. I'm glad I read the first title first. Also, this title doesn't quite have the oomph, the weight, that the first title managed.

Still, I look forward to the next book in the series.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Cyclist’s Guide to Villains & Vines is the perfect blend of charming landscapes, eccentric characters, and high-stakes mystery served with a splash of wine and a whole lot of pedal-powered fun! From the first chapter, it zips along with the breezy confidence of a seasoned cyclist, then slams you with a murder that crashes into the storyline like a rogue touring bike.

Sadie Greene is a lovable, determined tour leader who just wants her latest Oui Cycle trip to be unforgettable in a good way. But when her globetrotting guests, the hilariously sharp Silver Spinners, arrive with more stories than luggage, Sadie knows this tour will be anything but predictable. And boy, is she right.

The strength of this story lies not only in its twisty plot but in its delightful cast. A Cyclist’s Guide to Villains & Vines is clever, comedic, and packed with suspenseful detours that keep you hooked until the final page.

Another cozy French-set mystery? It's a OUI for me! I had so much fun as Sadie tried to solve the mystery while rangling her rambunctious group of senior cyclers. I will admit, I was hoping for a touch more romance between Sadie and Laurent, but I'll take what I can get. I loved getting to experience another French getaway; these books always make me want to travel and eat lots of bread and cheese!

Sadie and Oui Cycle are back again, this time in Alsace with a group of senior cyclists. She would have her hands full with this group even if it weren't for the murder they stumble upon! Of course, things are made all the more complicated by the fact that the deceased is the very same man who disappeared fifteen years ago, leaving behind a wife who happens to be ON THE TOUR with her boyfriend. Poor Sadie can't catch a break, it seems, but at least this time the first victim isn't part of her tour group!

Ann Claire does a wonderful job with her characters. They all have well-developed personalities and back stories; how I wish I could be Scarlett's bestie! While descriptions of the settings are not totally immersive, they certainly give you a taste for the area and make you wish you were there. The mystery had some well-placed red herrings, but the solution made complete sense in the end., which is a must for this reader.

I just got back from a wonderful "cycling tour " of the beautiful French countryside with it's delicious food and wine, a lovable but frustrating senior cycling group, a huge and affectionate dog and murder.... once again Oui Cycling Tours is right in the middle of a mystery.

Of course, my "trip" took place in my favorite reading area. The book was a wonderful balance of mystery, humor, food, wine and the countryside. Sadie Greene , the main character, was a likable and determined heroine that didn't rush into danger and worked with the police. Even so, Sadie found herself trying to protect her group of sophisticated seniors from running into danger and away from the police.

I love my "vacations" and can't wait for the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

fun and very cozy cozy mystery that i would recommend. the plot was twisty and the culprit was reasonable but surprising. 4 stasr. tysm for the arc.

Sadie Greene is the proprietor who enjoys her business of a cycling tour through the French countryside. The group she is travelling with are the Silver Spinners who are a riotous bunch of oldsters who truly appreciate the food and scenery. But not so much the disappearing and reappearing dead body who turns out to be one of theirs. Of course they have to investigate!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected E-galley file from Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Pub Date May 27, 2025
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