“Crosby keeps the plot flowing like the wine she writes about, with likable characters, inclement winter weather, and enough plot twists to keep readers guessing. For mystery buffs who enjoy wine, jazz, and a juicy scandal or two, The Champagne Conspiracy is a light, satisfying treat.” Shelf Awareness
Description
Lucie Montgomery, vintner at a Virginia winery, must solve a mystery that connects a presidential scandal with a murder in Prohibition-era DC that echoes all the way to the present.
Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori have decided to make champagne, a first for the the Montgomery Estate Vineyard in Atoka, Virginia. But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a San Francisco hotel in 1923 under suspicious circumstances. It seems there’s no coincidence that her death came the day after President Warren Harding passed away in that same hotel. Gino needs answers before his blackmailer takes him for all he’s worth—or exposes an explosive family secret.
Lucie searches for what happened almost a hundred years ago as she delves into Prohibition-era Washington, DC—a town of bootlegging and duplicity, jazz clubs and speakeasies. But then the investigation turns deadly, threatening Lucie, her relationship with Quinn, and the vineyard. Someone is still out there nearly a century later who will go to any lengths to keep the truth about Zara’s death a buried secret.
Praise
“Crosby keeps the plot flowing like the wine she writes about, with likable characters, inclement winter weather, and enough plot twists to keep readers guessing. For mystery buffs who enjoy wine, jazz, and a juicy scandal or two, The Champagne Conspiracy is a light, satisfying treat.” Shelf Awareness
“In Crosby’s winning seventh mystery…a series of cliff-hangers help propel the intriguing, well-paced plot. Like Lucie’s best wines, this story combines freshness, body, and considerable complexity.” Publishers Weekly
"[A] cozy charmer.” Library Journal
“The wine industry and the ins and outs of running a winery provide the background for this mystery with its well-drawn characters and satisfying puzzles.” Booklist
“Crosby’s cases…are always good value. Even mystery mavens who miss the clue to who’s pulling the strings will savor the spicy family relationships.” Kirkus Reviews
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Oct 31, 2016 |
| Release Date | November 1, 2016 |
| Number in Series | 7 |
| Series Display String | The Wine Country Mysteries |
| Release Date Machine | 1477958400 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery, Women Sleuths, Cozy, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult, Bestselling Mysteries, Bestselling Mystery |
Author Bio
Ellen Crosby is the author of the Virginia Wine Country Mystery series and the Sophie Medina Mystery series, as well as the stand-alone novel Moscow Nights. She is a former freelance reporter for the Washington Post and was the Moscow correspondent for ABC Radio News and an economist at the US Senate.
Narrator Bio
Christine Marshall is an actress, director, and designer living in Portland, Maine. She teaches for the Maine State Ballet and produces plays with her theater company, Mad Horse. In addition to audiobooks, she records the online version of the New Yorker.
Overview
Lucie Montgomery, vintner at a Virginia winery, must solve a mystery that connects a presidential scandal with a murder in Prohibition-era DC that echoes all the way to the present.
Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori have decided to make champagne, a first for the the Montgomery Estate Vineyard in Atoka, Virginia. But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a San Francisco hotel in 1923 under suspicious circumstances. It seems there’s no coincidence that her death came the day after President Warren Harding passed away in that same hotel. Gino needs answers before his blackmailer takes him for all he’s worth—or exposes an explosive family secret.
Lucie searches for what happened almost a hundred years ago as she delves into Prohibition-era Washington, DC—a town of bootlegging and duplicity, jazz clubs and speakeasies. But then the investigation turns deadly, threatening Lucie, her relationship with Quinn, and the vineyard. Someone is still out there nearly a century later who will go to any lengths to keep the truth about Zara’s death a buried secret.
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