The French Paradox - (Wine Country Mystery) by Ellen Crosby

About the Book

In 1949, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis had a romantic relationship with Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather - until recently, a well-kept secret. Seventy years later, as Lucie's grandfather is flying to Virginia for a 90th birthday party for Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and Jackie's schoolfriend, someone is found dead in Lucie's vineyard.

Book Synopsis

Lucie Montgomery's discovery of her grandfather's Parisian romance unlocks a series of shocking secrets in the gripping new Wine Country mystery.

In 1949, during her junior year abroad in Paris, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several inexpensive paintings of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known 18th century female artist. She also had a romantic relationship with Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather - until recently, a well-kept secret.

Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and Jackie's schoolfriend, is donating the now priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie's grandfather is flying to Virginia for Cricket's 90th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Harriet. A washed-up journalist, Harriet is rewriting a manuscript Jackie left behind about Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. She's also adding tell-all details about Jackie, sure to make the book a bestseller.

Then on the eve of the party a world-famous landscape designer who also knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie's vineyard. Did someone make good on the death threats he'd received because of his controversial book on climate change? Or was his murder tied to Jackie, the paintings, and Lucie's beloved grandfather?

From the Back Cover

"Entwined with fascinating facts about wine and winemaking, this satisfying addition to the series will please oenophiles" Booklist on The Angels' Share "Crisp and elegant . The disparate plot threads come together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Crosby knows how to keep the reader guessing" Publishers Weekly on The Angels' Share "A corker of an entry in a series that often pairs fascinating historical mysteries with clever modern ones" Kirkus Reviews on Harvest of Secrets "Crosby is a steady hand in unravelling the tangled subplots . Fans of contemporary regional mysteries will be well satisfied" Publishers Weekly on Harvest of Secrets

Review Quotes

. . .intriguing 10th Wine Country mystery. This tale of ambition, artistic integrity, privacy, and wine should win Crosby new fans.-- "Publishers Weekly"

'Richly framed with details ... this entry in the long-running cozy series, with its sympathetic main character, will please fans'-- "Booklist"

A corker of an entry in a series that often pairs fascinating historical mysteries with clever modern ones-- "Kirkus Reviews on Harvest of Secrets"

Crisp and elegant ... The disparate plot threads come together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Crosby knows how to keep the reader guessing-- "Publishers Weekly on The Angels' Share"

Crosby is a steady hand in unraveling the tangled subplots, and she populates Lucie's world with sympathetic secondary characters who come fully alive. Fans of contemporary regional mysteries will be well satisfied-- "Publishers Weekly on Harvest of Secrets"

Entwined with fascinating facts about wine and winemaking, this satisfying addition to the series will please oenophiles-- "Booklist on The Angels' Share"

Imagined revelations about Jacqueline Kennedy's early life provide a brilliant background for a tale of treachery and deceit. The lifestyles of the rich and famous dovetail neatly with art history in Crosby's newest character-driven mystery.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Wine lore and mystery, both historical and modern, combine in an enthralling read-- "Kirkus Reviews on The Angels' Share"

About the Author

Ellen Crosby is a former reporter for the Washington Post and foreign correspondent for ABC News Radio. She has spent many years overseas in Europe, but now lives in Virginia with her husband and three sons. She is the author of ten previous Wine Country mysteries. ellencrosby.com