Merlot Murders - (Wine Country Mysteries (Paperback)) by Ellen Crosby (Paperback)

About the Book

Lucie Montgomery must sift through years of family secrets and betrayals to uncover the truth about her fathers death and save the vineyard that she loves in this unique mystery debut set at a family-run vineyard in Virginias historic horse country.

Book Synopsis

"Finely ladled suspense," says the Sun-Sentinel about the complex flavor of Ellen Crosby's debut mystery set in the wealthy Blue Ridge wine country of northern Virginia, where vineyard heiress Lucie Montgomery must find a killer or lose her cherished family heritage.
Leland Montgomery's death was deemed accidental, but when his daughter Lucie returns home from France, she finds the once-thriving family vineyard run down, collapsing under huge debt. Lucie's godfather warns her that Leland's demise may have been the result of an attempt to force the sale of the vineyard. Her extravagant brother and rebellious sister are determined to sell the estate, and there's something suspicious about the vintner her father hired right before he died. When another oenophile turns up dead, asphyxiated in a tank of Merlot, Lucie -- the lone holdout preventing the vineyard's sale -- realizes she's next in line for an "accident." Can she trust in the proverb in vino veritas -- in wine there is truth -- as she attempts to survive a very bad year for Merlot?

Review Quotes

"A neat whodunit." -- The New York Times

"A terrific kickoff to what promises to be a highly satisfying new series." -- Publishers Weekly

"Like a fine wine, full-bodied, complex and satisfying." -- Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)

"A neat whodunit." -- "The New York Times"

"A neat whodunit." -- The New York Times

"A neat whodunit."

-- "The New York Times"

"A fast-paced, intriguing debut that holds interest from cover to cover."

-- "Kirkus Reviews" (starred review)

"A great Merlot like a Chateau Petrus is a feast for your senses. A great mystery is a feast for your mind. Ellen Crosby skillfully combines both feasts in "The Merlot Murders." It's a story well told and shows an impressive knowledge of the wine world."

-- George Taber, author of "Judgment of Paris"

"An absorbing plot, rich with details on the wine industry, and an evocative sense of the lush Virginian countryside."

-- Barbara Bibel, "Booklist"

"In this suspenseful, mesmerizing novel, Ellen Crosby reveals both the fascinating world of a small Virginia vineyard and the complex and troubled lives of the family who owns it. Highly recommended!"

-- Donna Andrews, author of "Owls Well That Ends Well"

"Merlot, Malice, Murder, and Mayhem: Ellen Crosby's U.S. debut novel is rich in history and evokes the mysterious world of Virginia viticulture that Thomas Jefferson could only dream of."

-- Katherine Neville, author of "The Eight"

"A perfect choice for readers who love mystery with a touch of history."

-- Nancy Pickard, author of "The Virgin of Small Plains"

"Like a favorite bottle of wine, "The Merlot Murders" has an elegant structure and complexity -- and a wonderful finish that will leave you wanting more."

-- Daniel Stashower, author of "Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle"

"Merlot, Malice, Murder and Mayhem: Ellen Crosby's debut novel is rich in history and evokes the mysterious world of Virginia viticulture that Thomas Jefferson could only dream of."

-- Katherine Neville, author of "The Eight"