- The Merlot Murders - Library Thing
The Wine Country Mysteries are a series of mysteries following Lucie Montgomery, a wine and history aficionado, who owns and operates a vineyard, wine-making operation, and a catering business on a historical site near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
In addition to managing her business (which has financial difficulties, a demanding schedule, and challenging staff), Lucie also has to deal with a stressful family life, a strained relationship with her ex-boyfriend, and the murders that seem to keep happening around her. Luckily, she has the intelligence, innovation, and determination (not to mention a reporter friend with inside information and a friend from high school on the police force) to solve those murders.
Ellen Crosby, a freelance journalist who has worked for The Washington Post and ABC News, began this series in 2006 and has published three books in the series since then. Her background can be seen in her ability to offer detailed facts and interesting tidbits about the history and wine-making of the region behind the scenes of the stories.
The Merlot Murders
The first book in the series begins with Lucie enjoying the wine of Southern France where she’s lived for two years until she is called back to the family business in Virginia when her father is killed in one of the vineyards. Her father’s business partner insists that it wasn’t an accident and is then killed himself. As Lucie struggles with returning to her home, her dysfunctional family, and the family business, she looks for the murderer and tries to decide her future.
It’s an interesting plot with detailed background information, but a somewhat abrupt ending.
The Chardonnay Charade
In the second novel of the series, Lucie has begun to settle into the stress and demands of running the family business, including trying to prevent a summer frost and having to deal with the murder of a local political figure on her estate. A family friend is charged with the murder and Lucie takes it upon herself to solve the murder and clear her friend’s name.
With a complex story and what appears to be an intriguing developing romance between two characters, the second book is just as appealing as the first.
The Bordeaux Betrayal
Published in 2008, the newest book in the series follows Lucie as she hosts a charity auction at her vineyard. A very old Bordeaux given to George Washington by Thomas Jefferson is a precious contribution, but leads to mystery as a wine writer covering the event is murdered. A fox hunt, an ex-lover, and a French grandfather all add to the story.
Crosby’s research into wine history is clear and the story is absorbing; this book appears to be the best in the series.
Book Information
Title: The Merlot Murders
Author: Ellen Crosby
Publisher: Pocket
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 978-1416536048
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Amazon’s Kindle, Audio, Large Print
Title: The Chardonnay Charade
Author: Ellen Crosby
Publisher: Scribner
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-0743289924
Format: Hardcover, Audio
Title: The Bordeaux Betrayal
Author: Ellen Crosby
Publisher: Scribner
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-1416551669
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Amazon’s Kindle, Audio
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