Book ~ "The Corpse with the Golden Nose" (2013) Cathy Ace

From Goodreads ~ A heartfelt plea to look into the death of a world-famous vintner goes hand in hand with the opportunity to attend an exclusive gourmet event in British Columbia's stunning wine country. How can overindulgent foodie and criminologist Cait Morgan resist?

Sure that the award-winning owner of a family-run vineyard was murdered, Cait shares her findings with Bud Anderson, a retired homicide cop. But he is convinced that the woman took her own life, whatever her grief-stricken sister might say. That is, until death strikes once again, in the neat rows of grapevines that clamber up the banks of magnificent Lake Okanagan. 

Uncovering obsessions that might have fuelled murderous thoughts among the victim's wacky neighbours is a start but as Cait unravels the clues, she realizes that more lives are at stake. Can she think, and act, quickly enough to thwart the killer?

Cait is a middle-aged criminologist in Vancouver, BC, and dating Bud, a retired police officer.  Bud's wife, Jan, had recently been murdered and he'd joined a grief support group.  He was buddied online with Ellen, whose sister, Annette, had recently committed suicide.  Ellen doesn't believe that and thinks her sister was murdered.  She owns a family winery in Kelowna, BC, and invites Bud to a gourmet event weekend so he can informally investigate and figure out who murdered Annette.  Cait goes as his "other".  Bud from the start believes Annette did indeed commit suicide but Cait goes in with an open mind and is looking forward to the delicious food and beverages.

This book is the second in the Cait Morgan mystery series (and the second book I've read by this author) and I liked it.  Though part of a series, it works as a stand alone as there is enough background provided (I recently read and liked the first one).

It is written in first person perspective in Cait's voice.  I liked that Cait wasn't perfect ... she was 48-years-old, shorter than average, overweight with greying hair she usually pulls back into a ponytail.  She enjoys her own company and isn't a joiner. 

I thought that Cait and Bud getting together at the end of the first book was too quick ... his wife had just been murdered and he suddenly realized he was in love with Cait and wanted to get married.  In this book, they acknowledge that they love each other but seem to be taking it slow.

I found there were a lot of characters and I had a hard time keeping them straight at times.  Occasionally I would have to stop and try to remember who was who and what they did ... no problem with the more flamboyant ones.

The ending ("whodunnit") was a bit convoluted but entertaining.

I look forward to reading the others in this series.