Fans of historical cozy mysteries who find themselves fascinated by art history and the inner workings of a museum will enjoy the Dulcie Chambers series by Kerry J Charles. Dulcinea (Dulcie) Chambers is Chief Curator at the Maine Museum of Art and would rather be at home with a glass of wine, a good book and delicious fried rice, but thanks to her ex-boyfriend, the adventurous and roguish Brendan MacArthur, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
In Last Of The Vintage (Edmund+Octavia Publishing), Dulcie finds herself in a perilous situation involving shipwrecks, icebreakers, a dead sommelier and a centuries-old bottle of wine, courtesy of her ex-boyfriend, whose mysterious reappearance raises questions not only for Dulcie but for Detective Nicholas Black as well. It might well be chilly along the coast of Maine but for Dulcie and Nick, things are heating up. They race to discover why someone would murder an up-and-coming sommelier and what’s so special about a centuries-old bottle of wine found in an abandoned shipwreck.
A SERIES AGING LIKE A FINE WINE
Charles has a unique voice when it comes to this series. The tone, overall, is one of sophistication; this reader believes it is the author’s background in research, having studied in places such as Harvard, National Geographic and the prestigious Smithsonian Institution, that lends to the singular quality of her writing. And it is this background that brings to life the city of Portland, ME, where the series takes place.
Readers will find themselves captivated by Charles’ descriptions, which make them feel as though they can hear the waves crashing on the shore, feel the icy air against their skin and see the lone harbor, frozen over with sheets of ice. With the history surrounding the wine bottle at the center of this particular mystery, readers may get the impression that they’ve actually traveled back in time despite the novel, and their reading of it, taking place in the present day.
Though the story centers on our leading lady detective, Dulcie, Charles explores several other characters through the novel’s multitude of storylines. As readers become acquainted with those around Dulcie, they’ll start to suspect that there’s more to each of them than meets the eye.
A MISCHIEVOUS MYSTERY AFOOT
The most prominent among these characters is the mysterious and somewhat obsessive Patrick and his mischievous uncle, as well as the attractive yet demure weather forecaster, Samantha. Readers will find themselves pondering whether or not Patrick is the true bad guy in this story and the reason our sommelier met his untimely end. Or perhaps, there’s someone else who’s up to no good lying just out of reach.
Fans of authors such as Robyn Carr, Jana DeLeon, Melanie Hudson and Mildred Abbott will enjoy this classic, engaging and enticing cozy series! Last of the Vintage is Charles’ fifth installment of the Dulcie Chambers Mysteries, which began with An Exhibit of Madness. (Read reviews of other books in this series here.)
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