Acton Manning’s “End of the Vine” is a mystery novel about a San Francisco police detective who suspects that some apparent suicides are actually murders. Although not a romance forward novel, the subplots delves into the navigating love and loss and possibly love again. The love and devotion that is portrayed is heartwarming and provides a reprieve from the captivating mystery murder plotline. Manning’s telling of this murder mystery is captivating albeit a baseline plotline. Manning excels at painting a picture and had us drooling over his food pairings and reaching for a bottle of wine. If you are looking for a novel that is light on the romance but has an interesting storyline, this is for you.
Acton Manning’s “End of the Vine” is a compelling mystery novel centered around a San Francisco police detective who suspects that a series of apparent suicides are actually murders. While not primarily a romance, the novel explores themes of love, loss, and the potential for new beginnings. The portrayal of love and devotion adds a heartwarming layer that contrasts with the gripping murder mystery. Manning’s storytelling is captivating, despite a straightforward plot, and his vivid descriptions, especially of food pairings, are particularly engaging. This novel is ideal for readers seeking an intriguing storyline with a light touch of romance.
The almost sommelier turned detective would appreciate our selection of the 2020 Torbreck The Struie Shiraz to pair with this novel. This full-bodied wine is flavorful with intense notes of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry. Enjoy this beautiful wine as you sit back and solve this mystery along with our wine loving detective.
