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

ELLEN CROSBY THE FRENCH PARADOX In 1949 during her junior year abroad, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several 18th century portraits of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known female artist for a few francs in a Parisian bookstall. She also had a romantic relationship with Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather, a surprising revelation Lucie has only recently discovered. Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and one of Jackie's schoolfriends, is donating the now-priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie's grandfather is flying in from France to attend Cricket's 90th birthday, hosted by her daughter, a washed-up journalist who intends to finish a manuscript Jackie left behind about the relationship between Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. Days before her grandfather arrives from France, a world-famous landscape designer who knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie's vineyard among vines that are inexplicably dying. Now Lucie must uncover old secrets to discover whether he was murdered because of his inflammatory book on climate change - or was it tied to Jackie, the paintings, and her beloved grandfather?

Review Quotes

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

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

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