The 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 first novel in the Wine Country Mystery series, set in the wealthy Blue Ridge wine country of northern Virginia, where vineyard heiress and amateur sleuth Lucie Montgomery must find a killer or lose her cherished family heritage.

A phone call at two thirty in the morning is never good news. Lucie Montgomery's semiestranged brother, Eli, calls her in France to tell her their father, Leland, has been killed in a hunting accident on the family's five-hundred-acre Virginia vineyard just as the fall harvest is about to begin. By the time he calls, Eli has already made funeral arrangements with what Lucie argues is indecent haste.

It is an emotional trip home--the first since an automobile accident two years ago, which left Lucie disabled and dependent on a cane. Her family's once elegant home and winery are now shabby and run-down, thanks to her father's penchant for fringy business deals. Eli, also cash-strapped and desperate to support his new wife's extravagant lifestyle, has already convinced their rebellious younger sister, Mia, to sell the debt-ridden estate and reap the profits from the valuable land it sits on, overruling Lucie's protests.

On the eve of the funeral Lucie's godfather, Fitz, a partner in the family business, tells her Leland's death was no accident. Whoever killed him was motivated by the potential sale of the vineyard. It is the last conversation she will have with Fitz. Now the lone holdout preventing the vineyard sale, Lucie realizes she's next in line for another "accident." With her greedy brother, hell-raising sister, and a seemingly cut-rate vintner hired by Leland just before he died, all the suspects are disturbingly close to home. Unsure whom she can trust, Lucie must uncover the truth about the deaths of her father and godfather--and oversee a successful harvest to save the vineyard she loves.

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"