MULLED TO DEATH

Murder derails a promising young vintner’s sales presentation.

In spite of her name, Parker Valentine no longer considers Feb. 14 her favorite holiday. Once upon a time, her Aunt Laura hosted elaborate celebrations, and since Laura’s death, the day just makes Parker sad. So she sees the upcoming Valentine’s weekend at romantic Silver Creek Lodge less as an opportunity to be alone with her new boyfriend, Reid, than as a chance to sell the resort on her new Snowy Day Syrah. In spite of Parker’s delayed arrival, Silver Creek’s owner, Olympic gold medalist Annmarie Bauer, is impressed with her wine. Pleased with the champion skier’s promise of a contract for Vino Valentine, Parker goes skiing the next morning with Reid, her brother, Liam, and her best friend, Sage. To her dismay, she finds Annmarie’s lifeless body just past Lockdown Pass, halfway down the Clymen run. Now her hope of a lucrative contract for Vino Valentine is in jeopardy, as wine steward Akira tells her that the new owner may not honor Annmarie’s offer. Meanwhile, Parker’s distressed by her inability to make Valentine’s weekend as special for Reid as he’s making it for her. She grows even more upset when Sheriff Jenny Scott tells her that Annmarie’s death was no accident. Soon a series a near-lethal mishaps lets Parker know that this Valentine’s holiday may not only be a downer, but may also be her last.

Cascading distractions make Lansing’s latest a challenging read.