The Merlot Murders

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 show more 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! show less

First in series regarding a woman disabled in a car accident who comes home to her family's dissolving vineyard.
Lucie Montgomery is a great character with plenty of physical and a few mental ailments to keep you interested and involved. Told in first person she has a good descriptive narrative of the things she loves: her family's vineyard, wine and wine making, and her mother. There are enough characters to keep you guessing as to who done it, but not so many you need to keep a character list. Living in Virginia, Crosby does a nice description of landscape and society in small town Blue Ridge valley and wine country. The action is not over-the top and the pacing is just right to keep one interested. And thank goodness for no drawn out show more denouements. I didn't think I would like this novel, but now, I have added the sequel to my wish list. show less

Lucie Montgomery returns from France when her Father dies. She finds many questions concerning his death and her sister and brother pushing her to sell the family winery. There is a new winemaker and the winery buildings seem to be the only things being maintained. When a dear friend of her father's also dies, Lucie tries to figure out what is going on. His share in the winery given to her allows her to oppose the sale. Determined to keep the winery and rebuild she begins to hunt for money to support it. But accidents keep happening. And now she is the target.
I liked the basic story and the family history, but the main character took too many risks and opposed any form of assistance. She never considers informing the law about any of show more the threats and confronts the bad guys alone when there were other options. I will probably give this series another try and hope this character becomes more sensible. show less

okay... here's the thing: a while ago, i bonked my head. badly. it's messed up many things for nearly 3 months now, including my reading. my ability to focus on more challenging or deeper books has been flattened. so i've been flailing about trying to find less taxing reads that are entertaining and well written. that, apparently, is a task easier said than done. cozy mysteries have worked for me in the past. i somehow stumbled onto this series, so decided to give it a shot. along with mysteries, i like wine. though the titles in this series are cheesy (more wine, please), i was drawn to the setting and the fact the author is a journalist. so there's how we got here.

overall, this novel was fine. it's a reasonable setup for the books show more which follow. the whodunnit dragged out a bit as the suspects piled up, and some plot points were flimsy, but i didn't mind several of the characters and i am curious as to how things will evolve through the series. the book worked for what i needed and there's potential here. show less

The unusual Virginia vineyard setting and a likable and vulnerable protagonist form the basis for what you would expect to be a cozy mystery. Lucie Montgomery is first painted as a young woman who ran away to France after a car accident left her with a badly-damaged leg, became involved with the wrong man, and grudgingly returns home when her father is killed. But she instantaneously becomes an obstinate and bull-headed fighter for the family house and vineyard that she's completely ignored for the past two years. Furthermore, the author repeatedly describes Lucie's frailties and then grants her near-superhuman powers to overcome the enemy. Unfortunately, a well-plotted story falls apart when the protagonist's actions are totally show more inconsistent and unbelievable. show less

An enjoyable mystery for this wine lover. Lucie is a likable character, kick-ass but with her insecure moments, too. Looking forward to checking out other titles in this series.

Review: The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby.

This book was like an old-fashioned mystery. It was a fast read and enjoyable. The author created excellent characters that kept the mystery and suspense flowing. The story is set in Wine Country along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The story starts out with a young woman who was injured in a car crash and went away to France as she had a slow recovery. Her leg was badly injured and she now walks with a cane. Back home in Virginia her father has died and Lucie Montgomery decided to travel home for her father’s funeral and to settle the Estate. Once Lucie gets home she finds the old vineyard which has been in the family for generations and where she and two other siblings grew up, has not been kept show more in a good condition. Her despicable brother Eli and her younger sister Mia have know interest in keeping the home and vineyard. In fact her brother already has plans to sell the whole estate because there was a heavy dept incurred by her family led them to no other choice.

However, Lucie differs with the selling of anything and thinks someone may have murdered her father and she had a very close friend and her Godfather, Fitz who agrees with her. The story moves on and the elder friend is murdered and a few attempts were made to kill Lucie. By pure luck and someone watching her back Lucie manages to stay alive. The story is filled with suspense and mystery to the very end. show less