Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby

Are you a wine connoisseur?  Do you also enjoy mystery novels?  Why not combine both interests by delving into Ellen Crosby's popular Wine Country mystery series (M).

The series has been very well received by readers and critics alike. Started in 2001 with The Merlot Murders, the series is now six novels deep. The latest is 2011's Sauvignon Secret.

The series features Lucie Montgomery, who has inherited her family's longstanding Virgina vineyard. Lucie is a very determined individual, one who won't back down from what needs to be done, no matter how messy. She also enjoys having a few glasses of wine, which can sometime complicate things....

NoveList describes the writing style as engaging, lush (no pun intended), and rich in detail. The storytelling is fast paced and plot driven. The tone is atmospheric*. Mixing in a dash of romance, an entrancing landscape and intriguing secondary characters, this series provides readers with a satisfying full bodied reading experience.

"Crosby, a journalist who lives in Northern Virginia, infuses this full-bodied novel with the clarity of a reporter, the bite of a good Pinot Grigio and more than a hint of local color. Mystery lovers will enjoy the intelligent plot and well-drawn characters, oenophiles will savor the winemaking angle, and Virginians will revel in Crosby's spot-on descriptions of people and places. Give this one the order of merit." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch

"I popped my cork over this dazzling debut... ...has hints of Daphne DuMaurier and Margaret Maron, making it grand cru all the way!” - Jane Dentinger, Mystery Guild Magazine, Sept. 2006

"Like a fine wine, Crosby's debut is complex and intricate... Crosby, a freelance reporter for the Washington Post, has seamlessly woven in details about wine making and interesting historical tidbits about Thomas Jefferson's (unsuccessful) efforts to establish a wine industry in early Virginia. This is a terrific kickoff to what promises to be a highly satisfying new series." -Publisher's Weekly