Synopses & Reviews
The Chardonnay Charade begins with a daring helicopter flight in the middle of the night. Facing a freak spring frost that threatens to kill the grapes in her vineyard, Lucie Montgomery hires a chopper to fly over the vines in order to blow warm air on them. But her thoughts soon turn from grapes to murder when she discovers the body of Georgia Greenwood, a controversial political candidate, lying near the fields. Georgia's husband, Ross, Lucie's friend and doctor, immediately falls under suspicion. To make matters worse, Ross, a renowned collector of Civil War documents, has just discovered a letter that seems to prove that Confederate president Jefferson Davis had prior knowledge of the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. In the small town of Atoka, Virginia -- proud home to the Gray Ghost, the Confederacy's legendary guerrilla commander -- the letter is a bombshell.
Three years ago Ross saved Lucie's life after she was involved in a near-fatal car crash. Now she intends to return the favor and prove Ross's innocence. As the search for Georgia's killer escalates, Lucie crosses swords with her attractive but cantankerous winemaker, Quinn Santori, and confronts her own unwelcome feelings of jealousy over his new romance and job prospects. Her worries about her kid sister's out-of-control drinking and a second vineyard-related death further ratchet up the tension. Even though Lucie believes that in vino veritas -- in wine there is truth -- she finds that the path to uncovering a murderer involves making a heartbreaking decision that will alter the lives of those she loves.
Review
"Fast-paced...filled with interesting facts about wine making and Virginia history." -- Virginia Living magazine
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"Crosby bottles a fine yarn..." -- Richmond Times Dispatch
Review
"Like a fine wine, Crosby's debut is complex and intricate.... Crosby has seamlessly woven in details about wine making and interesting historical tidbits.... This is a terrific kickoff to what promises to be a highly satisfying new series."
-- Publishers Weekly
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"A neat whodunit, supported by enough wine-making lore to give it some extra body."
-- The New York Times Book Review
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"A fast-paced, intriguing debut that holds interest from cover to cover."
-- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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"An absorbing plot, rich with details on the wine industry and an evocative sense of the lush Virginian countryside."
-- Booklist
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"Fast-paced...a treat for those who like unusual settings."
-- Library Journal
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"Superb. Crosby delivers a fine mystery full of twists, realistic characters, and finely ladled suspense."
-- South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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"Light and refreshing, like a glass of white wine on a summer day...." -- Associated Press
Synopsis
Mixing fine wine and murder produces "another hit" (Kirkus Reviews) in Ellen Crosby's second mystery as Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery discovers that uncovering a killer can bring a harvest of dilemma and danger. Lucie Montgomery thinks she has troubles enough with a freak spring frost that is threatening to kill her tender young Chardonnay grapes, but when the body of Georgia Greenwood, a controversial political candidate, is found lying in her vineyard, the situation becomes complex indeed. Suspicion immediately falls on Georgia's husband, Ross Greenwood, who is not just Lucie's doctor but also a close friend. Determined to prove Ross's innocence, Lucie crosses swords with her attractive but cantankerous winemaker, Quinn Santori. Then a second vineyard-related death drives the tension even higher. Lucie still believes that in vino veritas -- in wine there is truth -- but she's starting to wonder if her own risk level is moving into the danger zone along with this year's Chardonnay.
Synopsis
Following the success of "The Merlot Murders," Crosby returns with another tale of suspense set amidst the vines of the Virginia wine country, as Lucie Montgomery discovers that uncovering a killer can bring a harvest of danger.
Synopsis
Mixing fine wine and murder produces "another hit" (Kirkus Reviews) in Ellen Crosby's second mystery as Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery discovers that uncovering a killer can bring a harvest of dilemma and danger.
Lucie Montgomery thinks she has troubles enough with a freak spring frost that is threatening to kill her tender young Chardonnay grapes, but when the body of Georgia Greenwood, a controversial political candidate, is found lying in her vineyard, the situation becomes complex indeed. Suspicion immediately falls on Georgia's husband, Ross Greenwood, who is not just Lucie's doctor but also a close friend. Determined to prove Ross's innocence, Lucie crosses swords with her attractive but cantankerous winemaker, Quinn Santori. Then a second vineyard-related death drives the tension even higher. Lucie still believes that in vino veritas -- in wine there is truth -- but she's starting to wonder if her own risk level is moving into the danger zone along with this year's Chardonnay.
About the Author
Ellen Crosby is the author of six books in the Virginia wine country mystery series:
The Viognier Vendetta, The Riesling Retribution, The Bordeaux Betrayal, The Chardonnay Charade, and
The Merlot Murders. She also wrote
Moscow Nights, a stand-alone novel published in London. A former freelance reporter for
The Washington Post and the Moscow correspondent for ABC Radio News, Crosby lives in Virginia with her family. Learn more about her at EllenCrosby.com