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Ellen Crosby
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The Merlot Murders: A Wine Country Mystery (Wine Country Mysteries (Paperback)) Paperback – August 12, 2017

by Ellen Crosby (Author)
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 475 ratings
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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.
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  1. Book 1 of 12
    Wine Country Mysteries
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Sprache
    Englisch
  4. Publication date
    August 12, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1501188437
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1501188435
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"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"

About the Author

Ellen Crosbyis the author of Multiple Exposure, the first book in a series featuring photojournalist Sophie Medina. She has also written six books in the Virginia wine country mystery series. A former freelance reporter for The Washington Post, Moscow correspondent for ABC Radio News, and an economist at the US Senate, Crosby lives in Virginia with her family. Learn more about her at EllenCrosby.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Reprint edition (August 12, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1501188437
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1501188435
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 475 ratings

About the author

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Ellen Crosby

Ellen Crosby

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Ellen Crosby's newest book—DODGE AND BURN—is the fourth book in a mystery series featuring international photojournalist Sophie Medina. It will be published in the US, UK, and as an ebook on May 7, 2024, following the publication of BLOW UP last year. She has also written 12 Virginia wine country mysteries and MOSCOW NIGHTS, a standalone. Before writing fiction, Crosby worked as a freelance reporter for The Washington Post, an economist at the US Senate, and Moscow reporter for ABC Radio News. She lives in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. after spending many years living abroad in England, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and the former Soviet Union. She is now hard at work on her next mystery.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
475 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline enjoyable and first-rate mystery. They also describe the book as an easy read with interesting info on wines and winemaking. Opinions are mixed on the characters, with some finding them well-developed and memorable, while others find them unlikeable and unbelieveable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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StorylineReadabilityContentBook seriesCharacters
49 customers mention "Storyline"40 positive9 negative

Customers find the storyline enjoyable, fast paced, and interesting. They also say the book keeps their attention throughout with lots of twists and surprises. Readers also mention that the murderer is not too obvious.

"...Added to the first-rate mystery are fascinating snippets of the history of wine making in Virginia...." Read more

"This Wine Country Mystery is an excellent read. Very interesting storyline...." Read more

"...It's well-written, the story has enough twists and turns to keep me engaged and it has a stellar main character: Lucie...." Read more

"...Loved the wine growing information. Murderer was not too obvious. book arrived in a timely manner. However, I thought I was buying a Kindle book...." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, well written, and light. They also say it's a quick-read mystery-romance.

"...I found The Merlot Murders to be every bit as intelligently written and absorbing as Multiple Exposure and Ghost Image...." Read more

"...It's well-written, the story has enough twists and turns to keep me engaged and it has a stellar main character: Lucie...." Read more

"Light reading. The bad guy/girl is never obvious until the very end. Hope there will be more in the series." Read more

"It was quick reading and left you wondering who the murderer was and why.Enjoyed the plot and the wine references. Ordered her next two books." Read more

6 customers mention "Content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and informative about wines and winemaking. They also say it contains lots of information about the wine making process and history.

"...run a wine site for over ten years, I was also really pleased with the wine details...." Read more

"...It's rare. Lots of information about the wine making process and history, especially the history of wine making in Virginia...." Read more

"The book was good for an introduction to the series. Loved the wine growing information. Murderer was not too obvious...." Read more

"...The viniculture info is new in each and adds another dimension." Read more

3 customers mention "Book series"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book series a solid start, and a good stand-alone novel. They also say it's an easy read.

"...For the most part, this was also a good stand-alone novel - however after the climax, the story ended too abruptly - it needed more to make the..." Read more

"First time read for this author. Enjoyed the story and look forward to completing the series...." Read more

"it was ok, an easy read" Read more

17 customers mention "Characters"9 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book. Some find them well-developed and memorable, while others find them unlikeable and unbelieveable.

"...The characters are memorable but also quite realistic. You can imagine the pregnant sister-in-law being just that way, self-absorbed and demanding...." Read more

"...is preachy, the plot thin and obvious, and the characters just pickled in 1950s gender stereotypes...." Read more

"...murder mystery with a beautifully created setting and lots of well-developed characters...." Read more

"...instance I had a "you're kidding" moment because the villainry seemed a little contrived...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Lisa Shea
5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, great descriptions
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
I read this book twice, about three years apart. When I read it the first time, I enjoyed it but noticed a few quirky points. I then put it on my shelf and left it there for quite a while. I picked it up fresh a few days ago and read through it again. Again, I enjoyed it a lot - but the same points stood out to me again.

The story revolves around Lucie, one of three siblings in a winemaking family in Virginia. You begin with Lucie recovering from an accident, off in France. She gets the sad news that her father has passed away, which draws her back into the complicated family dynamics. Her brother is married to an annoying woman. Her younger sister is now dating her ex-boyfriend who caused the accident. To top it all off, it looks like her father might have been murdered!

Author Ellen Crosby does a fantastic job with just about every aspect of the story. The characters are memorable but also quite realistic. You can imagine the pregnant sister-in-law being just that way, self-absorbed and demanding. The world they inhabit is equally lush. The visuals are beautiful, from the rich scent of the lavender to the aquamarine waters dancing around them.

I really like that the main character - Lucie - is disabled and stands up for herself. She's a real inspiration to disabled people everywhere, and helps show all the problems disabled people run into just navigating the normal ins and outs of life.

Having run a wine site for over ten years, I was also really pleased with the wine details. Ellen does a great job of drawing you into the world of winemaking without making it a chore. There's just the right balance of information and entertainment. She adds in the commonly quoted line about "the way to make a small fortune in a winery is to start with a large one" which I've always loved. Winemaking is a very expensive hobby!

I only have one issue with the book, and it stood out glaringly at me both times I read it. There's a large room in the winery which has windows in it. Apparently the building inspector REQUIRED them to seal those windows shut because apparently anything which lets in both air and light doesn't conform to code?? The code of a building is that windows can't open? This makes NO sense to me and seems like a really inane plot device. If there really is a reason that some code requires all windows to be sealed shut, it would be nice if it was explained more clearly. I've been in many wineries and they all have had windows that open.

So that point aside, I definitely recommend this book. Enjoy!
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Bericht
Cathy G. Cole
4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoy Ellen Crosby's writing
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
Having read and enjoyed Ellen Crosby's Sophie Medina mysteries, I was looking forward to reading this first book in her Wine Country series-- even if I don't like wine. I found The Merlot Murders to be every bit as intelligently written and absorbing as Multiple Exposure and Ghost Image.

Lucie Montgomery is a complex character, and the plot certainly isn't short of family dynamics with her obnoxious brother Eli, his greedy wife, and their gullible little sister. There's also a head vintner on the property whose motivations aren't very clear.

Added to the first-rate mystery are fascinating snippets of the history of wine making in Virginia. Between this series and Martin Walker's series set in France, I have a feeling that I'm going to end up being a very knowledgeable oenophobe. Crosby also gives an outline of Lucie's family history as well as the house and vineyard. This information put me firmly in Lucie's No Sale camp, but it also made me wonder why no one else in the family felt the same way.

See? Although the mystery is taken care of through the course of The Merlot Murders, I'm left with questions about Lucie and her family, and this is definitely going to make me continue reading the series. Bring on the chardonnay!
4 people found this helpful
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Melissa H.
3.0 out of 5 stars A solid start to the series
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2017
Verified Purchase
After reading a later book in the series, I was impressed enough to go back and read this, which is the series' book #1. This was another enjoyable murder mystery with a beautifully created setting and lots of well-developed characters. For the most part, this was also a good stand-alone novel - however after the climax, the story ended too abruptly - it needed more to make the story feel complete. Hence the 3 stars. Too many novels nowadays are just set ups for the next book in the series, and so the endings are less satisfying and leave the reader feeling cheated - a real pet peeve of mine. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this novel enough to plan on reading the next one.
5 people found this helpful
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Carla C.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Merlot Murders
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
This Wine Country Mystery is an excellent read. Very interesting storyline. I was given six of the series and am purchasing the other six myself on Amazon. Wonderful series. Can’t put the book down.
One person found this helpful
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Nancy Hendrickson
4.0 out of 5 stars Gutsy woman saves the day
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2012
Verified Purchase
I am constantly looking for cozy mystery series for bedtime reading, so was happy to find Merlot Murders. It's well-written, the story has enough twists and turns to keep me engaged and it has a stellar main character: Lucie. Our girl has a badly deformed leg from an auto accident and has to use a cane - but that doesn't slow down her investigation. I will continue reading in this series, partly for a good story but just as much for such a strong female lead.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery in Virginia
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
Lucie spent two years in France recovering from a car accident. She had to return to Virginia in a hurry when her father died. Things have changed a lot in her absence and she receives a lot of shocking family information in short order, including the fact that her godfather thinks her father was murdered.
One person found this helpful
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P. Tracy
2.0 out of 5 stars Cliche after cliche
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
I love wine know the VA wine country pretty well, so wanted to like this, but the winemaking info is preachy, the plot thin and obvious, and the characters just pickled in 1950s gender stereotypes. (Heroine is plucky hut keeps falling for bad boys, but how do you tell the good guy? He's the one who talks rough -- kind-0f a Marlboro man -- but doesn't assault her when he gets the chance
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Uscher
5.0 out of 5 stars Spannend und außergewöhnlich
Reviewed in Germany on April 1, 2017
Verified Purchase
Dieser Krimi ist beste Unterhaltung, spannend und detailreich erzählt. I never knew that Virginia has had a wine making tradition.
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Pat Marrion
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series
Reviewed in Canada on February 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
I find the characters are believable and the stories provide both a look at a wine country I was not aware of, as well as entertainment.
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