Crosby, Ellen Wine Country Mysteries. #bk. 3

Read by Christine Marshall

When Valerie Beauvais, author of a book on Thomas Jefferson's travels through the wine regions of France and Italy, turns up dead near Lucie Montgomery's Virginia vineyard, Lucie is certain Valerie's murder has something to do with the authenticity of a 200-year-old bottle of Bordeaux Jefferson may once have purchased for his good friend George Washington. Though Lucie plans to auction off the valuable bottle at a charity fundraiser, it soon becomes apparent others want to get their hands on what's quickly becoming a wine to die for. As Lucie and her eccentric winemaker, Quinn Santori, bring in the last grapes of the season, Quinn's controversial past becomes intertwined with Valerie's death and the rare Bordeaux. What begins as Lucie's quiet investigation into the provenance of the Washington wine ends in revealing a web of deceit and betrayal affecting not only the international wine world, but her own world as well. "Red wine and murder pair up nicely." "During an oenophilic supper at Mount Vernon, glamorous guest lecturer Valerie Beauvais hints there's something suspect about the prize bottle-a Bordeaux Thomas Jefferson supposedly bought for George Washington in 1790-to be auctioned at the upcoming charity fund-raiser Lucie will be hosting. But before the wine scholar can make it to Montgomery Estate Vineyard for a personal inspection, she's the victim of a fatal accident. Or is it murder? Turning detective, Lucie quickly finds plenty of bad blood…action canters along briskly, infused with plenty of local color and wine lore." "Vintner Lucie Montgomery is getting ready for the harvest at her vineyard near Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. When she attends a lecture at Mount Vernon, she learns about the wines that Thomas Jefferson discovered in France and brought to George Washington. The lecturer later turns up dead, and Lucie suspects that the murder is related to the authenticity of a bottle of Chateau Margaux supposedly purchased for Washington that will be auctioned at a charity fundraiser…This will have broad appeal for its wine lore and historical detail and has enough action to keep the pages turning fast."

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