One dead critic. One innocent man. And twenty-eight hours to save a friend. When caustic wine reviewer Trixie Thorne collapses at Erie Bluff’s inaugural wine festival, the police chief — juggling budgets and hungry for a quick win — targets George Fenn, a gentle, mushroom-obsessed introvert with a grudge and the wrong fungi. It looks like an easy case. Too easy for the people who truly know George. With the system stumbling and the clock running down, Piper Merriwether — a guarded newcomer — teams up with her fiercely loyal aunt Dottie, a young constable, and his occasionally-retired K-9 partner. Together they sift through gossip, vineyard rivalries, and the polite façades of a town that prefers its secrets neatly corked. In Erie Bluff, secrets simmer, loyalties matter, and one untimely death can unearth wounds the town tried to bury. Because here, the truth matters — and so do the people willing to stand by a friend. The first heart-forward mystery in the Eh! Team Mysteries. I very much enjoyed this murder/mystery from the pen of talented author, Marcy Lane. In many ways, she's a writer who's not in a rush, the murder happening well into the story after many of the characters have been introduced. We get to meet Piper, the protagonist, with her 'toolkit of analytical skills', her aunt, who's a vital character in the story - and, of course, the victim, Trixie, a wine lover, a 'keeper of gossip' and a woman who seems (at the outset) determined to kill her own dog! This is a story of small-town politics, gossip, rivalry, and a little wine (my favorite part!). There's a lot to enjoy here, folks, particularly if you are a fan of TV shows like Midsomer Murders and Bergerac, or you enjoyed The House in the Woods by Mark Dawson or Margaret Yorke's wonderful Dead in the Morning. Why? Well, firstly, the character work in Her Final Toast is excellent, the author doing a superb job of developing all of them, even the minor characters. Secondly, the author works competently with dialogue using it not only to develop the characters, but also the plot. And, thirdly, the author (simply put) is a good writer, who knows the importance of suspense and how to keep the reader gripped and turning the page till the very end. So, if you enjoy a smartly plotted, cosy murder/mystery filled with complex characters, lots of red herrings, and populated by a smart, female protagonist who's fun to root for, this book is for you. And even if 'murder' is not for you, I think most older readers, particularly if they live in a village or small town, will recognize many of the characters. All in all, a FAB read! A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review